Paddlers make history in Commonwealth Games

Bangladesh table tennis team created history on Saturday as they reached the quarter-finals in the Commonwealth Games for the first time.

Mohtasin Ahmed Hridoy and Ramhim Lian Bawm confirmed the last eight spot for Bangladesh in the Men's team competition.

There was fierce competition in the team event for Bangladesh as they beat Guyana by 3-2.

According to table tennis team play rules, a team has to beat the opposition both in singles and doubles to qualify for the next round.

Muhtasin Ahmed Hridoy and Ramhim Bom first defeated Guyana's Franklin and Van Lange in doubles.

Then in the singles, Md. Rifat Sabbir suffered a 3-1 loss against Briton. However, Hridoy beat Lange by the same margin in the third game to put Bangladesh ahead again.

In the fourth match, Ramhim lost 3-0 and the parity was restored. Sabbir then won a thriller against Franklin 3-2 to see Bangladesh advance to the last eight. They will face the hosts United Kingdom in the quarters. 

Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, who watched all the matches, promised each player taka 50,000 reward for their success.

 
Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) vice president Khondkar Hasan Munir highlighted the need for a good quality foreign coach to the President of the Olympic Association and talked about remuneration of three and a half thousand dollars per month for the coach. In view of that, the Chief of Army Staff assured allotment of necessary funds for coaches.

Besides,  State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel congratulated each player on the success of the Bangladesh team through video call and promised big cash prize for the team members.