A contingent of 62 individuals, with 36 athletes, is set to participate in the upcoming 6th Islamic Solidarity Games scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from November 7 to 21. The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is optimistic about the team’s performance and aims for a successful medal haul.
Bangladesh will be competing in a total of 10 sports among the 21 disciplines featured at the Games, including athletics, fencing, karate, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, judo, and taekwondo. While the country excelled in shooting, archery, and wrestling in the previous edition, the absence of shooting and archery events this year might pose a challenge to Bangladesh’s medal prospects.
Chef de Mission Selim Fakir expressed confidence in the team’s preparation, stating that athletes across various disciplines are geared up to deliver commendable performances at the Games. He highlighted that athletes have been diligently training for the upcoming South Asian Games, and the ongoing preparations are being monitored by four dedicated committees under the National Sports Council.
It was announced that table tennis player Muhtasin Ahmed Ridoy and weightlifter Mabia Akhter will lead the Bangladesh delegation during the march past carrying the national flag. Dildar Hossain Dilu, the General Secretary of the Wushu Federation, affirmed the team’s determination to secure medals, with the promise of cash rewards for the medalists.
Mezbah Azad, the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Wrestling Federation, expressed optimism about the wrestling team’s performance and emphasized the importance of supportive facilities at the Games. Representatives from other sports federations, including the Bangladesh Athletics Federation and the Bangladesh Karate Federation, also shared their aspirations for medal success at the event.
The briefing was attended by NSC Director General Kazi Nazrul Islam and BOA Director General Brigadier General (retd) ABM Shefaul Kabir, underscoring the collective support and encouragement extended to the athletes representing Bangladesh.