Mabia, Mahfuza make it Bangladesh's day

Ahead of the South Asian Games, the focus of the swimming events rested on Shahjahan Ali Rony, Mahfizur Rahman Sagar and Mahfuza Khatun Shila. However, Mahfuza did not appear before media as the Chittagong University graduate was not satisfied with the attitude of the swimming federation. She was only waiting to payback the negligence.

“The federation thought I had lost it and can't do anything. They also did not send me to a few international competitions. I also accepted their attitude and kept it in my mind. I worked hard and followed the practice schedule strictly. I have finally proved that I am not lost yet,” said Mahfuza after receiving the gold medal.    

“The 100m and 50m are my main events and I have achieved my first target today [Sunday], and the second one is still left so please pray for me for tomorrow's [Monday] event,” requested Shila.

Mahfuza brought the second gold medal from the games for Bangladesh after Mabia Akter Shimanta had won the first from weightlifting earlier in the morning. The young weightlifter became the first female from Bangladesh to win a gold medal in the games and burst into tears as she received her medal.

“I couldn't hold myself after hearing the national anthem as well as seeing the national flag being hoisted. Besides, I am the first girl to make my country proud in this SA Games,” said Mabia in her reaction.

Mabia was brought into weightlifting by her maternal uncle in 2010 and since then the girl from Madaripur won herself many international medals including a bronze in the 2012 South Asian Weightlifting Championship, silver in the 2013 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship and  gold in the 2015 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship.

So far the games have been a tale of triumph for the Bangladesh women.

Mollah Sabira won silver for Bangladesh on Saturday and two more came through another pair of weightlifters yesterday.

Fullapati Chakma, won the first silver medal but with the regret that weightlifting officials and coaches did not introduce her to media like other medal-hopefuls were introduced back home. Nevertheless the 21-year-old weightlifter from Rangamati was very happy with her achievement.

“Before the games, there have been talks about the other girls but I was never present in the talks. Even the coaches had introduced those players to the journalists before the games and those things hurt me a lot and drove me to be stubborn enough to win at least one medal from the SA Games,” said Fullapati, adding that she was inspired from when Sabira won the bronze medal.