33-member contingent to represent Bangladesh in Asian Games
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-20 14:11

A 33-member contingent will represent Bangladesh in the 15th Asian Games to be held in Doha on Dec.1-15 with Bangladeshi chess team making their first appearance in the biggest continental sports carnival.

Bangladeshi contingent comprise 26 sportsmen, which includes four women and seven officials, will compete in seven disciplines -- athletics, swimming, shooting, kabaddi, taekwondo, chess and golf, local news agency UNB reported Tuesday.

This time Bangladesh decided not to compete in two popular games -- football and hockey -- due to poor show in the just concluded South Asian Games in Colombo while national game Kabaddi has been included as the country won three silver and one bronze medals in the Colombo Games.

Three gold winning Bangladeshi sportsmen of the last South Asian Games -- Shahjahan Ali Ronny (swimming), Mahfuzur Rahman Mithu (athletics) and Mizanur Rahman (taekwondo) have been given the first priority for inclusion in the Doha-bound squad.

Besides, three silver medal-winning swimmers of the last South Asian Games (two men and one woman), four shooters (two men and two women), 12-member Kabaddi team, three member chess team (two men and one woman) and SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) golf champion Siddiqur Rahman have also been included in the Asian Games contingent.

Five coaches -- one each in athletics, swimming, shooting, kabaddi and taekwondo -- will also be included in the squad along with Chef de Mission and a doctor, according to a press release issued by Bangladesh Olympic Association Tuesday.