For the first time in history, Bangladesh will compete in surfing at the 2026 Asian Games. The Bangladesh Surfing Association has confirmed its participation in the 20th edition of the Games, scheduled to take place in Nagoya, Japan.
The breakthrough came after Bangladesh’s performance at the Asian Surfing Championship in Tamil Nadu, India. The fourth edition of the event, held from August 3–12, featured surfers from 18 countries. Representing the red and green, five Bangladeshi surfers—including two women—competed and secured ninth place, finishing ahead of nine nations, including Thailand, Singapore, Japan, and Kuwait. This achievement earned Bangladesh its maiden qualification for the Asian Games in surfing.
The team returned home on August 15 and wasted no time getting back to training. On Saturday, August 16, the surfers hit the waves at Cox’s Bazar beach, pushing themselves against towering swells in preparation for the international stage.
Rashed Alam, the coach of the Bangladesh Surfing Team, said, “Our inclusion in the Asian Games is a direct result of our performance at the championship. Both male and female surfers are now undergoing intensive training, aiming to sharpen their skills and achieve good results.”
Team leader, Md. Saifullah Sifat of the Bangladesh Surfing Association added, “After overcoming many challenges, our surfers have finally made it to the Asian Games. The focus now is on participating in more international events and taking Bangladesh surfing to the next level.”
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
