Dhaka- When people in Bangladesh discuss sports often they miss out the sporting event of golf, but it comes under spotlight since trailblazing golfer Siddikur Rahman carried the national flag as a competitor in the Olympic in 2016.Many know the story of country’s two-time Asian Tour winner Siddikur, who lactated as a petite caddy-boy at Kurmitola Golf Club (KGC) is singly opened the door for the other golfers of the country.
Though a very small portion of the population knows about the golf itself, which symbolizes sophistication and is still non popular game in Bangladesh, Siddikur is proudly representing Bangladesh in the world event.
Siddikur is the only golfer getting all the spotlights, but people of the country are still unaware about the talents Bangladesh has in this sports.
Mentioning that the federation is working toward getting a stronger position for Bangladesh in golf, Lt Col Mohammad Abdul Bari (Retd) General Manager of Golf Operations of Kurmitola Golf Club (KGC) and coordinator of Bangladesh Golf Federation (BGF) told UNB, the federation selects player based on their score and make an Amateur National Golf Team of 10 players.
“In the last three and a half years, around 10 professional golfers have been explored who can participate in the upcoming Asian Tour games, he added.
“In terms of financial aspect, it’s a big challenge to make the game popular in the country,” said M A Bari adding that “people’s will is also very important in this regard.”
Many prefer to utilise their land for commercial purpose and not intend to understand that creating golf course can also be beneficial, M A Bari said urging more government cooperation for the development of country’s current status in the game.
Secretary General of Bangladesh Professional Golfers’ Association Brig Gen GM Quamrul Islam (Retd) told UNB,
According to Brig Gen GM Quamrul Islam (Retd), Secretary General of Bangladesh Professional Golfers’ Association, Bangladesh people always perform better individual event and in a game, which need sticks to play.
“We can do better in individual event than team game. We the Bangladeshi people always play better with sticks,” said Quamrul Islam when he was practicing at KGC.
“Golf fulfills both the requirements earning Asian Title twice but no other game emerged as such title till date. It proves that, Bangladesh’s performs better than any other sports, he said to UNB.
There are about 20 to 25 bright talents in this game in our country who are not getting sufficient facilities or support whether it is physical, mental or financial, said the secretary general.
“Almost every week Bangladeshi golfers are playing international games, and they are playing well. But they are not being exposed to the people”, he said adding that media can play a greater role to popularize the game through following the game and keep people updating about all the developments with sincerity.
He also alleged that golf courses are being destroyed in the country. “We have lost courses like Cox’s Bazar and Ramna, this should not let to be continued”, he concluded.
UNB team made a visit at the KGC before its hosting the AB Bank Bangladesh Open –a golf tournament of Asian Tour (AT) as the 4th time for Bangladesh hosting an event of the world’s 3rd major AT tournament.
Bangladesh Open will kick off on May 9 with the format of ‘Stroke Play Over Round’ and 71 pars at the green garden where so far 143 golfers from 25 countries, including 34 professional and six amateurs of Bangladesh, are taking part with wildcards free entry.UNB
