Bangladesh medal in individual event after 40 years

Zinnat Akter has ensured at least a bronze medal by securing a place in the semi-final in the 52 kg weight category of wushu, bringing an end to the wait of a long 40 years. A medal has again been ensured for Bangladesh in an individual event at the Asian Games.

Zinnat rose to the quarter-final of the women’s 52 kg fight event at the Nagoya Asian Games today. There her opponent was Florentina Tharisa of Indonesia. However, the Indonesian competitor was disqualified for being heavier than the stipulated weight. As a result Zinnat rose to the semi-final without playing any match.

There is also an explanation in the rules of wushu as to why a medal is ensured just by rising to the semi-final. There were 15 competitors in this event. If there are more than six competitors both the competitors defeated in the semi-final are given bronze medals. As a result at least a bronze medal for Zinnat was ensured along with confirming the semi-final.

Bangladesh’s first medal at the Asian Games came at the Seoul edition in 1986. Mosharraf Hossain won bronze in the light heavyweight (81 kg) division of boxing. After that Bangladesh received medals in team events in kabaddi and cricket but no medal came in individual events.

Zinnat ended that wait after a long four decades. Zinnat also has consistent success at the domestic level. This wushu player from Netrokona has won gold seven times in a row in the national championship since 2019. This time she ensured a medal on her debut at a big international event like the Asian Games.

However, Zinnat does not want to stop only at bronze. Tomorrow her opponent in the semi-final is a competitor from China. If she wins that fight there will be the opportunity to rise to the final and ensure silver. If she can win the final the colour of Bangladesh’s medal in an individual event after four decades will be golden.

There was hope for medals in multiple disciplines for Bangladesh at this Asian Games. The women’s team in cricket returned empty-handed after losing to Pakistan in the bronze medal match. The fight for medals is also ongoing in kabaddi. Amid this the news of a confirmed medal came from wushu.