DHAKA: Dipu Chakma bagged first gold medal for Bangladesh in the 13th South Asian Games in the taekwondo poomsae event 29-plus-year category at Satdobato, Lalitpur on Monday (Dec 02).

Dipu scored 16.24 points, beating competitors from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Nepal to clinch gold.

Dipu said; “I am still in a dream. I can’t still believe that I won the gold medal. I can’t express my feelings in words.”

Earlier in the day, Humaira Akther Antara bagged first medal, bronze, for Bangladesh finishing third in the women's individual kata event in karate at Satdobato Sports Complex in Kathmandu.

This time the mascot of the 13th SAG features ‘Krishnasar’ (the blackbuck antelope). More than 5,000 delegates including 3,250 athletes are going to take part in the 10-day regional meet that features twenty six sports disciplines. Nepal is fielding the highest number of athletes – 597 – and is the only nation to participate in all sports disciplines.

A 621-memebr strong Bangladesh contingent will represent in the regional meet which will be held in Kathmandu and Pokhara with Bangladesh will take part in twenty five disciplines out of twenty six in the South Asian regional biggest extravaganza.

The twenty five disciplines are archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, football, golf, fencing, Kho Kho, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, karate, shooting, squash, swimming, cricket, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.

BDST: 1657 HRS, DEC 02, 2019

SMS