Boxer Salim Hussain came close to a medal in the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in September-October last year. After 37 years, a boxer from Bangladesh would have won a medal in the Asian Games if he won against the boxer from Japan in the quarter finals.
Despite not winning a medal in the end, Boxer Selim’s performance beyond expectations is Bangladesh’s best in individual events. The success of Salim Hussain’s Olympic Games.
From July 26 to August 11, the world’s largest sports event, the Olympic Games, will be held in Paris, the capital of France. Boxer Salim Hussain is one of the few athletes who have applied for a wild card for the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) in these Games. As luck would have it, Salim Hossain will be the first Bangladeshi boxer to participate in the Olympic Games.
This Bangladesh Army boxer was in the United Nations Peace Mission in Congo. He came home on a two-month leave from the mission with the possibility of a wild card and dreams of playing in the Olympics. 32-year-old boxer Salim Hossain gave an exclusive interview to Jago News about his dream and preparation for the Olympics.
Jago News: Went to Congo on a UN peacekeeping mission for a year. He returned within 6 months. When and why do you come to the country? Salim Hussain: I went to Congo on October 11. I came home with 2 months leave on April 4. The only reason to come home on leave is to train for the Olympic Games.
Jago News: You are still not sure that you will get a wild card. So that took leave for practice? Salim Hussain: My mind says I’ll get a chance. Playing the Olympic Games is the biggest dream of my life. If I get a chance, I have started preparing so that I can perform well to increase the honor of the country.
Jago News: Olympic Games are still 5 months away. You are on vacation for two months. What will you do if you get the chance? Salim Hussain: My masters said, if given the opportunity, they will increase the leave. Bangladesh army sirs are very sincere for boxing.
Jago News: He was on mission for these 6 months. What did you do to practice? Salim Hussain: I did I took boxing equipment from the country. In Congo, our senior officers provided on-the-job training. So to speak, I practiced regularly while on mission.
Jago News: Back home, where are you practicing? Salim Hussain: I am now at home in Rajshahi city. Practicing here at Mordan Boxing Club. National team coach Sofiul Azam Masood sir is the general secretary of this club and coaches here. I am practicing regularly with him.
Jago News: If you get a chance to play in the Olympic Games, will you be sent abroad for training? Salim Hussain: i heard The federation will take the initiative to send Thailand if it gets a wild card. Then coach Sofiul Azam Masood sir will also go with me. Very soon I will probably know whether to go to the Olympics or not.
Jago News: You didn’t live up to expectations at the Asian Games. But you were the best performer of Bangladesh in individual events. If only he had told the readers the words of that fight at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Salim Hussain: I beat a Sri Lankan boxer in the first round and made it to the second round. In the second round, I defeated the boxer from Tajikistan and entered the quarter finals. Through which I got closer to the medal. I was nineteen-twenty against a Japanese opponent in the quarter-finals. I had a great fight. Couldn’t make it to the semi-finals for a while. A bronze medal would have been guaranteed. In the fight we had, Jazz could have declared anyone the winner. Made the Japanese boxer.
Jago News: Bangladesh got a medal in individual event at Asian Games 37 years ago. A boxer brought that honor to Bangladesh. He is Mosharraf Hossain of Rajshahi. live in the same city. Have you ever met him? Salim Hussain: Saw him several times in the stadium. But never got a chance to talk. I know about him. He was a big boxer. He is the one who brought Bangladesh a medal in boxing from the Asian Games.
Jago News: Tell us about your family. If you could tell the readers how you became a boxer. Salim Hussain: Our house is in Shiruil Colony of Rajshahi city. Parents and 3 brothers and 2 sisters live together. I am second among brothers. My wife is a student of Rajshahi City College. Nadeem, the elder brother of the area used to box. Played in Bangladesh Army. I was inspired by him. Chances of getting a job in the army, chances of going to play abroad if you play boxing. With this in mind, I joined the City Boxing Club of the city.
Jago News: Participating in the Asian Games last year since joining the boxing club. How was your career at this time? Salim Hussain: I got job in Bangladesh Army in 2010. The organization started competitive sports by participating in Victory Day and Independence Day boxing in 2012 and 2013. I was invited to the SA Games camp in 2016 and 2019. In 2019, I narrowly missed out on the Kathmandu SA Games. In 2020, I won the gold medal at the 9th Bangladesh Games, defeating Robin Mia in Kathmandu. The following year I also won gold in the senior national championship. Russia did not participate in the World Military Boxing Championship held in Moscow that year. By winning gold at the 30th National Championships, he was called up to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games team. In those games, I had a close fight with an Indian boxer. Then there is no participation in the Asian Games.
Jago News: What is your goal with boxing? Salim Hussain: Now my meditation is Olympic Games. I am practicing regularly so that I can perform well when I get a chance to play. I am hoping for good news from the International Olympic Committee. I want to pray to the countrymen. If I get a chance to play in the Olympics, I hope that I can make everyone’s faces shine.
Jago News: Thank you. Salim Hussain: Thank you too.
