Al-Hamad promises assistance

Asian Athletics Association (AAA) president Dahlan Al-Hamad has promised to work with Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF) closely by sending instructors and master coaches to educate local coaches, athletes, judges, referees and officials.

Al-Hamad announced his ideas during the inauguration of National Athletics Championships at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. He is scheduled to leave this morning.

“As the president of AAA and VP of IAAF, it is an honour for me to see one of our members really trying to stand up and fight against the odds,” Al-Hamad said at a brief press meet. “My ambition and objective is to see Bangladeshi athletes become champions in Asia and world competitions. This is not a difficult job because I know how dedicated Bangladeshi people are; I know that the new committee will deliver something.

“We know that build-up of an athlete takes a lot of effort locally and internationally. At world and Asian level, I commit myself that I will set up my people with the BAF to work out plans to develop athletics in Bangladesh. We know when everything is in right place, athletes will come out,” said Al-Hamad.

He also suggested the BAF to put on right plans to make the newly-formed Sheikh Kamal Athletics Academy functional. He also suggested exchanging programmes with other athletics federations and involving school students in athletics. The AAA president also hinted that he would try to allocate an athletics track in Bangladesh.