Dhaka: State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque emphasized that Bangladeshi athletes need to shift their focus from mere participation to aiming for medals on international platforms. Addressing the audience at the inauguration of the four-day Open Prize Money Table Tennis Ranking Tournament 2024 at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed indoor stadium, he insisted on cultivating a competitive mindset among athletes.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Aminul Haque stated, "We do not want to go anywhere merely to participate; we will fight for medals, we must cultivate that mindset." He emphasized the importance of training athletes to be competent contenders, whether at the South Asian Games, the Asian Games, or even the Olympics.
The State Minister revealed that the ministry is actively reviewing the progress of athletes receiving state allowances every four months. He noted that 31 athletes are currently identified for replacement due to a lack of sporting activities or participation, with the verification process ongoing. He also mentioned that athletes must compete in at least four national and three international tournaments to maintain their stipends.
Aminul Haque announced that table tennis would be officially included in the second edition of the nationwide 'Notun Kuri Sports' program, aiming to discover talent from various regions across the country. Initiatives have been taken to equip every Upazila Sports Association with a table tennis board to nurture local talent.
Furthermore, the State Minister assured athletes that a project is underway to renovate the indoor stadium's facilities, including the installation of air conditioning. The Open Prize Money Ranking Tournament, featuring singles events exclusively for Under-19 boys, Under-19 girls, men, and women, will continue until September 13. This competition will update the national ranking list using the 2024 ranking points.