565 athletes set for Koko National Athletics meet

A 565-athlete field will compete in the Koko 18th National Summer Athletics Competition from Friday as Bangladesh launch a nationwide talent hunt targeting 10 medals, including two golds, at the upcoming South Asian (SA) Games.

Organised by the Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF) in memory of sports organiser Arafat Rahman Koko, the three-day meet will run from 23 to 25 October at Dhaka’s National Stadium.

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will inaugurate the competition on Friday, with State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque attending as a special guest.

The competition features 431 men and 134 women across 40 events, with participants representing 57 organisations. The athletes will be supported by 110 coaches and managers.

Seven throwing events will be held at the Bangladesh Army Stadium in Banani from 8:00am on Friday, ahead of the 4:00pm opening ceremony at the National Stadium. The marathon will start at 5:00am on Saturday along the Purbachal 300 Feet Expressway.

The federation has revived its electronic photo-finish system with technical support from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) engineers. Results will also be available online in real time.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, BAF president Mohammad Abdullah Jaber said 13 districts had been selected for the initial phase of a talent hunt, which would gradually expand nationwide. The federation is also considering land beside Paltan Handball Stadium for a permanent athletics venue.

General secretary Ali Imam Topon said promising athletes would be considered for long-term high-performance training after the meet.

Medal winners will receive Tk6000, Tk5000 and Tk3000 respectively, while a national record will earn an athlete a Tk20000 bonus. The best overall athlete will receive a 100cc electric motorbike sponsored by Expolite.