Women athletes in the country are equally active in the field despite lack of patronisation like their male counterparts.
It is their love for sports that drags them to participate initially at local level and then move beyond national level to conquer the international arena. They are equally visible like men in Kabaddi, shooting, swimming, weight-lifting, basketball, archery, golf and even in horse race.
Although successful both at home and abroad, the women athletes are unsure about the future course of action.
Foreign tours, some medals and some money are all they get. But as days pass, their dreams lose colour as there is no patronisation, no monthly allowance for continuing the sports and develop their skills unlike men in sports.
It is only their love, their interest that compels them to continue to play.
Four successful women athletes spoke to bdnews24.com about their struggle, aspiration and achievement on International Women’s Day. They also shed light their determination to take up sports as a profession, their urge for recognition and financial assistance.
TASMINA AKTER, HORSE RACE
Tasmina Akter, 13, is the sole female horse racer in the country. She began horse racing since she was 10 years old winning awards in parts of the country.
She hails from Choksubol village at Dhamoirhat Upazila in Naogaon district and studies in class seven in Shankarpur High School.
Tasmina learned horse riding at the age of five as her father Obaidur Rahman owned a horse.
Although poverty compelled them to sell off the horse, she won different local horse races over her male counterparts with other people’s horse. But the award used to be taken by the horse owner leaving Tasmina into obscurity.
However, Tasmina owns a horse now which enables her to compete in any horse race happening throughout the country.
“All I can do is horse-racing and I want to go abroad to play this sport if someone helps me,” said Tasmina.
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