BOA to send 202 athletes to Asian Games, resumes full training role

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) will send 202 athletes across 26 disciplines to the Asian Games in Japan this September–October, and has decided to take full responsibility for training, participation and organisation for all multi-sports international and domestic Games.

The decision was made at the BOA executive committee meeting held in Trishal, Mymensingh on Sunday, following the foundation stone ceremony of the proposed Bangladesh Olympic Complex.

“From now, Bangladesh Olympic Association will conduct everything of training, participation and organisation in all multi-sports Games of Olympics, Asian, Commonwealth, Islamic Solidarity, South Asia and Bangladesh Games and Youth Games,” stated a BOA press release.

The meeting also resolved to maintain a separate account for all Games-related activities using BOA’s own funds, which will later be adjusted with government allocations.

Previously, the National Sports Council (NSC) had handled training for last year’s Islamic Solidarity Games and the proposed South Asian Games. However, there were reports of disruptions in the camps due to delays in fund allocation from the NSC, a government sports wing.

Bangladesh will also participate in five disciplines at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in July–August. The Asian Games disciplines include athletics, archery, swimming, badminton, basketball, boxing, cricket, cycling, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, beach handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, karate, rugby, shooting, surfing, table tennis, taekwondo, beach volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.

For the Commonwealth Games, Bangladesh will compete in athletics, boxing, gymnastics, swimming, and weightlifting.