Beyond the boundaries of cricket

Be it with the swing of a bat or the hiss of an arrow as it pierces the wind – sports demands undaunted dedication, strenuous physical fitness, and unparalleled solidarity.

Alongside cricket, the most popular sport in Bangladesh bar none, young sportspersons in other disciplines have made strides with their noticeable achievements and praiseworthy performances on both national and international platforms.

Celebrating their journeys, we talked to some of the most prominent athletes in the country about their unconventional choices, struggles, and how they carved their path to glory.

"Now, people only see my profession and not my gender" ~ Shaheda Akter Ripa, Footballer

When the Bangladesh women's football team defeated Sri Lanka in the final group match of the SAFF U-19 Women's Championship last year, Shaheda Akter Ripa was at the forefront. Her hat-tricks in the tournament compelled all spectators to take their hats off to her talent.

Starting her journey with football at a young age, Ripa was always supported by her loved ones. "Growing up, I never felt the urge to succumb to gender roles that are created by our society. I was treated as an individual who loved football, by my family and friends," she smiles.

Ripa believes in achievements but also tends to avoid the pride that comes with success. "Achievements are always empowering, but we often forget that one victory does not last for a lifetime," she asserts.

She believes in keeping up when it comes to performance, while also treasuring qualities like modesty, humility, and honesty. "While on our way up, we often forget the strenuous effort we had to put in to reach this stage. However, we should never forsake qualities that make us humane," she mentions.

Ripa also spoke about how stereotypical views on women's dress code for football are now altering with time. "My seniors were subjected to a lot of criticism for playing in shorts, as many seem to think it is culturally inappropriate for women to dress in such a manner. Nevertheless, with time, much awareness was raised in this regard and now, people only see my profession and not my gender," shares a content and confident Ripa. "We should be thanking our predecessors for bringing about this positive change."

"The more promising players we train, the more honour we bring to our country" ~ Fatima Mujib, Fencer

"I always wanted to pursue a career in sports and fencing, being an indoor game, very much appealed to me as I found it to be more suitable for my persona."

Fatema Mujib's family always motivated her, as she started to look towards practising fencing professionally. "After losing my mother at a tender age, followed by my sister's marriage, I grew up under the loving guidance of my father and brothers," she shares. "My brother inspired me and guided me, as I started fencing."

Growing up with the sword, Fatima started to fall in love with the sport. "Gradually, my training started to grow intense," mentions Fatima, who won the first-ever gold medal for Bangladesh at the 13th SA Games, which took place in Kathmandu. "The win at this event brought about more attention towards us fencers."

Alongside physical fitness, Fatima also believes that fencing helps improve one's thinking capacity, and makes them more prompt and alert.

Although practised as a fighting form, fencing is different from other forms of fighting or martial arts. "Fencing is a quiet sport, and it requires a lot of concentration. We have to share the practice grounds with players of other sports, which makes me a little uncomfortable," she attests. "Our current president of the Bangladesh Fencing Association is trying his level best to maximise our resources and minimise our struggles and I hope soon we will have better facilities."

Fatima sees a bright future for Bangladeshi fencers. She strongly encourages young individuals, especially the ones who look to pursue a career in defence, to join this game.

The young athlete, who is currently preparing for the Islamic Solidarity Games and Asian Games at the national camp, wishes for more structural support from sports institutions. "I hope that Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) opens its doors towards us fencers. The more promising players we train, the more honour we bring to our country."

"Volleyball is an amazing game that requires minimal resources" ~ Horoshit Biswas, Captain, Bangladesh National Volleyball Team

Bangladesh national volleyball team captain Horoshit Biswas decided to build himself as a sportsperson, when he was still in school in 2016.

While speaking about the merits of volleyball, Horoshit talks about how it can be practised with limited resources. "It is an amazing game which does not require much space and equipment," he says. "Only a ball and a net – and you're good to go!"

Horoshit also emphasises on the fact that volleyball takes less toil on the body, compared to many other sports.

"Now, we have higher remunerations and are gaining more ground internationally, which I find very inspiring as a player myself," he says.

"We find the rural areas of Bangladesh to be more appreciative of our efforts," mentions Horoshit, who is currently preparing for a friendly match, which will be held in the Maldives. "The stadiums are mostly full, and the crowd there is very inspiring. More exposure to the media would also expose our efforts among the city dwellers and this would attract more heads towards this sport – be it fans, players, the authorities, or sponsors."

"A little appreciation goes a long way for sportspersons. We are reaching a new level – slowly but surely. We have the talent, but now, we need your support."

"I tend to embrace constructive criticism, while avoiding negative energy" ~ Diya Siddique, Archer

Diya Siddique was scouted by her Physical Education teacher, Md Khairul Islam, in Nilphamari Government High School. With support from her father and her teacher, she made it to a national camp talent hunt, where she was finally spotted by the authorities to play at the national level.

"Archery, being a new sport to us at that time, attracted me deeply," she shares. "I wanted to pursue academics and archery simultaneously, and getting to BKSP was a dream come true for me."

Throughout her career, Diya has always been strongly supported by her coaches, family members, and peers. The best thing about being in archery, according to her, is how dedicated her academy and teachers are towards their students. "Any player, no matter how their performance is, is always treated equally and given equal attention and resources here," she attests. "They have never fallen prey to any gender bias either and that seems to be a positive change."

Criticism is inevitable when one seeks perfection and Diya has her own way of dealing with disapproval. "I tend to embrace constructive criticism, while avoiding negative energy. I can tell when someone is giving me advice for my own betterment," she shares. "However, an athlete should avoid negativity and envy at all costs."

Diya wishes to keep living her dream of pursuing higher education and being an archer. "I wanted to become a doctor, but as that's not possible anymore, I want to study English while I represent my country in archery," she says.

"Nothing compares to representing your country" ~ Mahadi Hasan Alve, Tennis Player

Young tennis player Mahadi Hasan Alve developed a keen interest in ground tennis through his visits to the Bangladesh Tennis Federation with his father, who is an employee at the organisation.

Young Alve, who is currently waiting for his SSC exams, managed to grab the attention of the selection committee for the national level, which transformed his life forever.

"I had the privilege of representing my country internationally six times, and I assure you that nothing compares to that," shares an excited Alve.

Alve also talks about how being a sportsperson helps him get through during days that he lacks self-esteem. "We all are aware how sports keep us fit, but I must say how tennis also helps me keep calm and rejuvenates my mental strength during bad days," he says. "It also helps me boost up my confidence to win against my failures, and strive for betterment with new energy."

Alve loves every aspect of tennis, and hopes to keep playing as long as his health permits. He is currently preparing for his match in Sri Lanka with the under-16 national team.

"I aspire to become as poised and resilient as Rafael Nadal," he says.

While sports offers a wide platform for each of these rising stars to display their talents, it also serves as an excellent opportunity for them to gain fame and reputation for our country. The brilliance that these young athletes are showing, despite their challenges and struggles, is unparalleled. Their achievements only echo one message, "Bangladesh exists in sports beyond the boundaries of cricket."

The author is Reporter, Arts & Entertainment, The Daily Star.

email: ashley@thedailystar.net