Bangladesh made a promising debut in surfing at the Asian Games as Fatema Akter and Mohammad Mannan advanced to the second round of their respective events in Tahara, Japan, on Friday.
Despite challenging weather and small waves disrupting the competition several times, both Bangladeshi surfers progressed to the next round, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
Fatema competed in the second heat of the women’s first round alongside surfers from China and Indonesia. She finished third in the three-surfer heat.
The women’s competition was interrupted several times because of adverse weather and unfavorable wave conditions. The remaining heats resumed at around 12:45pm and the women’s first round was completed before 2:00pm.
The men’s competition began afterward, with Mohammad Mannan competing in the fifth heat against surfers from Afghanistan and Indonesia. He finished second in the heat to secure his place in the second round.
Md Saifullah Sifat, a team official of Bangladesh’s surfing team, said both Fatema and Mannan had advanced to the second round on the opening day of Bangladesh’s surfing debut at the Asian Games.
“Fatema finished third and Mannan second in their respective heats. The competition was interrupted several times because of the weather and wave conditions, but the first round in both categories was eventually completed,” he said.
Both Bangladeshi surfers are scheduled to compete in the second round on Saturday. Mannan will compete in the third heat, while Fatema’s heat will be determined based on the wave and weather conditions.
Mannan expressed satisfaction with his performance and hoped to do better in the next round.
“Today’s heat went very well. I competed against surfers from Indonesia and Afghanistan and finished second. I am very happy and, InshaAllah, hope to do even better in the next round,” he said.
Bangladesh’s surfing debut at the Asian Games has therefore produced two second-round berths, with Fatema and Mannan now aiming to progress further towards the quarter-finals.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
