Atique Anam

Soumya Sarkar might have failed to score big against Nepal, but there was no failure in drawing fans wherever he goes since coming to Kathmandu for the 13th South Asian Games.

Mabia Akter Simanta ended Bangladesh’s three-day gold-drought at the 13th South Asian Games yesterday before two more gold medals on the day turned it into Bangladesh’s best day of the Games since Day 3.

Ardina Ferdous was overcome with joy after she won a silver medal in the women’s individual 10m air pistol event of the 13th South Asian Games at the Satdobato Sports Complex in Kathmandu yesterday.

The front pages of most of the national newspapers in Nepal on Friday were flush with blown-up pictures of Gaurika Singh, the Nepalese swimmer who just won her country its first-ever swimming individual gold in the history of the South Asian Games.

Bangladesh’s 400m sprint hope Zahir Raihan and fellow sprinter Abu Taleb failed to participate in the final of the event yesterday, owing to breathing problems and high pulse-rates due to the high altitude of Kathmandu, raising serious questions about the Bangladesh Olympic Association and Bangladesh Athletics Federation’s preparation and planning regarding the 13th South Asian Games.

Bangladesh’s best rifle shooter Abdullahel Baki’s wait for a gold medal in South Asian Games continued as he settled for a bronze in his pet event of 10m air rifle on the fifth day of the Games, which proved to be another gold-less day for the country.

“Nah, bhalo lage na. Duijon injured hoia gese,” said the Bangladesh karate team’s Japanese coach Tetsuro Kitamura in clear, if colloquial, Bengali following the women’s team’s close defeat to Pakistan in the final of the women’s kumite event of the 13th South Asian Games in Kathmandu yesterday.

Marzan Akter Priya saw both sides of the coin in less than 24 hours. On Tuesday morning, the 29-year-old karateka was basking in the glory of winning a gold medal in the South Asian Games.

Bangladesh coach Jamie Day defended his players, saying his team deserved to win based on performance, after a 1-1 draw against Maldives jeopardized their bid to reach the final of the football event of the South Asian Games.

Humaira Akhter Antara could barely finish her sentences as she choked back the tears while expressing her feelings after winning Bangladesh a gold medal in women’s karate (under-61kg kumite) in the 13th South Asian Games at the Satdobato Sports Complex in Kathmandu yesterday.

Bangladesh coach Jamie Day, in the pre-match press conference, had said that despite their two comfortable victories at home last month against Bhutan, the opening match of the South Asian Games in Kathmandu could be difficult. T

Dipu Chakma could hardly believe his feat after he won Bangladesh the first gold medal of the 13th South Asian Games in Lalitpur, Nepal yesterday.

As Bangladesh take on Bhutan in the opening match of the men’s football event of the 13th South Asian Games in Kathmandu today, the plans and ambitions in the tournament took a backseat, overtaken by controversy surrounding very hectic scheduling of the event.

A colourful opening ceremony launched the 13th South Asian Games, the biggest multi-sport extravaganza of the region, at the Dasarath Rangasala in Kathmandu yesterday, with words of peace and unity in diversity of the South Asian region writ large on the displays and performances.

Bangladesh will field a 462-member team of athletes in the 13th South Asian Games starting in Kathmandu today, hoping to better their dismal performance from the previous edition three years ago.

The 13th South Asian Games is all set to get underway through a colourful opening ceremony at the Dasarath Rangasala in Kathmandu today.

Better competition, poorer organisation: The tournament featured eight teams -- two from Bangladesh, three from India and one each from Maldives, Laos and Malaysia.

Terengganu FC showed their superior technical ability in the attacking third to get the better of hosts Chattogram Abahani 2-1 in the final of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup at the MA Aziz Stadium yesterday.

Chattogram Abahani stand just a game away from their second title of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, and will have the home advantage along with a day’s advantage when they take on Terengganu FC in the final at the MA Aziz Stadium today.

Andrew Lee Tuck scored his second successive hattrick as Terengganu FC romped into the final of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup with a 4-2 victory over Mohun Bagan at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.