Before calling time in 2002, celebrated sportsperson Zobera Rahman Linu emerged champion in the national women’s table tennis championship for a record 16 times. And later, apart from working as the general secretary of Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation for one term, she served as the vice president of Bangladesh Cycling Federation. Linu, who is now the chairman of the Athletes Commission of Bangladesh Olympic Association, expressed her views to The Daily Star’s Anisur Rahman about the state of the country’s sports while addressing the persistent organisational limitations.

The Daily Star (DS): What’s your view on Bangladesh’s sporting progress in the past 50 years?

Zobera Rahman Linu (ZRL): During this period, the progression in sports has not gone as much as we had expected even though some sectors of the country have improved. In sports, especially in women’s sports, I think cricket, football and archery have thrived a bit compared to other disciplines. 

DS: Why did the country’s sports lag behind compared to other sectors?

ZRL: I think the organisers have to bear some burden of failure to take the country’s sports ahead and simultaneously, the athletes haven’t been able to shine. Although I must admit, a few federations have started grooming the players from grassroots but most federations are out of such action. Another point, the athletes tend to come from insolvent families and prioritise on ensuring basic financial security first, so their focus gets divided producing neither good performances nor good earnings. If the athletes received handsome salaries, then they could have produced worthy performances with undiverted attention to the game.

DS: Could you compare the restrictions between your playing time with the current one?

ZRL: I came into sports without facing any type of hindrances because our family was sports-oriented with my father playing sports too. However, most athletes faced some restrictions at that time. Despite the limitations, there was no big financial barrier, which is now the big hurdle for the current crop of athletes. If they can’t get out of the financial trouble from playing sports, then big expectations from them are not justified.

DS: But do you imply that currently there are no restrictions from society and family to come into sports?

ZRL: Women are now playing football apart from athletics, swimming, handball etc. That means a positive mentality has been instilled in society but the uncertain future and financial inconsistency come in the way of women athletes.