Sagor chosen as Bangladesh’s flagbearer

Archer Sagor Islam will proudly carry the Bangladesh flag during the march past at the 33rd Olympic Games, set to be held in the French capital from July 26 to August 11.

A 13-member contingent from Bangladesh will participate in the world's largest sports event. Among the five athletes, only archer Sagor qualified for the Olympics directly, making him the third Bangladeshi to do so after golfer Siddiqur Rahman and archer Ruman Sana.
Naturally, the spotlight is on the 18-year-old archer, who will kick off his campaign with the ranking round on July 25.

"I want to thank the Bangladesh Olympic Association [BOA] for giving me the opportunity to carry the national flag, which is a great honor for me," said Sagor at the official press conference at the BOA today.

"I have been training at Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Stadium in Tongi, where the competition stage has been designed to replicate that of the Paris Olympics. The environment, complete with background noise, has been simulated to give me the feel of competing in Paris," Sagor added.

"I will be giving my best rather than focusing on advancing to the quarterfinals or winning medals. I believe that if I can control myself, I can achieve something better."

In addition to Sagor, sprinter Imranur Rahman, shooter Robiul Islam, and swimmers Samiul Islam Rafi and Sonia Khatun will be making their Olympic debut.

"It is a matter of great pride for us to participate in the Olympics with a direct entry from archery, and we hope Sagor Islam will perform well," said chef de mission Enthekhabul Hamid Apu.

"The shooter has also prepared well, but there is always a significant difference in preparation between athletes who qualify directly and those who enter with a wild card."

Since the 1986 edition, Bangladesh has participated in every Olympic event with a small contingent. However, their results have often failed to impress despite being the ninth most populated country, leading to negative reviews from the global media.

"Bangladesh needs a six-to-eight-year long-term plan if we want to achieve good results in the Olympics. The BOA cannot do it alone. We also need support from the Bangladesh Youth and Sports Ministry, and the sports minister is considering prioritizing disciplines with good prospects. We aim to set targets for the 2028 Olympic Games," Mamun stated.

BOA Secretary General Syed Shahed Reza was also present at the event.