117 athletes to represent Bangladesh in Asiad

A 163-member contingent including 117 athletes will represent Bangladesh in the 45-nation 18th Asian Games to be held in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang from 18 August to 2 September, reports UNB.

Indonesia is hosting the Asian Games for the 2nd times after Jakarta Games 1962 under President Soekarno.

Some 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 Asian nations will battle for the gold medals of the 463 events of the 16-day meet.

12th South Asian Games gold winning wrestler Mabia Akhter will carry the national flag of Bangladesh in the march past of the opening ceremony on 18 August.

Out of the 40 discipline of sports, Bangladesh will compete in 14 sports-Archery, Athletics, Basketball, Golf, Football, Beach Volleyball, Bridge, Hockey, Kabaddi, Shooting, Swimming, Weightlifting, Wresting and Rowing.

Of the 14 sports, Bangladesh excepting good results in Shooting, Archery and Kabaddi.

Secretary general of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) Syed Shahed Reza disclosed the details and preparations of the Bangladesh team for Asian Games at a press conference at BOA Bhaban on Tuesday.

BOA deputy secretary general Ashiqur Rahman Miku and Asaduzzaman Kohinoor, treasurer Kazi Rajibuddin Ahmed Chapal and deputy chief de mission of Bangladesh contingent AK Sarkar were also present on the occasion.

Although the games will formally inaugurate on 18 August, but football competition will begin on 14 August and the Bangladesh football team, now in South Korea for preparations, will reach Indonesia on 11 August.

In the 16th Asian Games held in in the Chinese city of Guangzhou in 2010, Bangladesh men's cricket team won gold medal, women's cricket team earned silver medal and women's kabaddi team won the bronze medal.

In the 17th Asiad in the South Korean city Incheon in 2014, Bangladesh women's cricket team clinched the silver medal, men's cricket team bronze medal and the women's kabaddi bagged the bronze medal.