REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Nine contingents to the Asian Games 2018 will return to their countries empty handed. They failed to win a medal at the event.
The nine contingents are from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Maldives, Oman, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, and Yemen. During the pan Asian multi sport event held in Jakarta and Palembang from Aug 18 to Sept 2, a total of 117 Bangladeshi athletes competed in weightlifting, athletics,3x3 basketball, beach volleyball, bridge, rowing, golf, wrestling, hockey, kabaddi, shooting, archery, swimming and foot ball.
However, none of the Bangladesh athletes won a medal. Sri Lanka which sent a 172-strong contingent had the same plight as Bangladesh.
The Sri Lanka athletes competed in weightlifting, athletics, archery, 3x3 basektball, volleyball, beach voolleyball, baseball, badminton, rowing, golf, wrestling, hockey, judo, kabaddi, canoeing/kayak, karate, swimming, rugby, gymnastics, squash, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, boxing, triathlon, and wushu, among others.
Bhutan sent 24 athletes to compete in golf, archery, taekwondo, and boxing, while Brunei Darussalam sent 15 athletes to compete in weightlifting, athletics, equestrian, golf, karate, pencak silat, and wushu. Maldives which came up with a 106-strong contingent took part in archery, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, badminton, shooting, swimming, football, tennis, and table tennis.
The Omani contingent comprised 46 athletes who competed in weightlifting, athletics, beach volleyball, hockey, shooting, canoeing, swimming and tennis. With a 46-member contingent, Palestine took part in weightlifting, athletics, beach volleyball, wrestling, judo, jujitsu, karate, kurash, swimming, football, taekwondo, and triathlon.
Timor Leste fielded 67 athletes to compete in weightlifting, athletics, beach volleyball, karate, shooting, pencak silat, football, bmx cycling, downhill racing, swimming taekwondo, tennis, and boxing, The last is Yemen which sent 37 athletes to compete in athletics, wrestling, judo, jujitsu, karate, kurash, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis and wushu.
Director General Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Husain Al-Mussalam said Asian Games
was not only a matter of victory and competition among athletes. Asian Games also promote the development of sports for the benefit of international friendship.
"Not only Bangladesh, but also all media and people certainly expect their respective contingents to win. But, every country has a priority. Our responsibility is to work together with participating countries to develop sports," Al-Mussalam stated at a press conference at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Senayan, Jakarta, on Sunday.
Al-Mussalam said Bangladesh and other countries did not return home with empty hand even though they did not win any medal. "Bangladesh certainly prioritizes other matters such as handling flood disasters that occur in the country. Some of the participating countries in the Asian Games are developing countries that have their own problems in their country," he said.
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