Jinnat secures Bangladesh's first Asian Games medal in 40 years
The medal is Bangladesh's first individual Asian Games medal since boxer Mosharraf Hossain won bronze at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.
Female wushu athlete Jinnat Akhter today (22 September) secured Bangladesh's first medal at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, advancing to the women's 52kg semi-final and guaranteeing a bronze medal.
Representing the Bangladesh Army, Jinnat advanced after her Indonesian opponent Tharisa D. Florentina was disqualified in the quarter-final for failing to make the required weight.
With sixteen competitors in the 52kg category, all four semifinalists are guaranteed medals under the Games regulations.
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The medal is Bangladesh's first individual Asian Games medal since boxer Mosharraf Hossain won bronze at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.
Bangladesh Wushu Association general secretary Dildar Hossain Dilu confirmed Jinnat's medal and said she would face China's Di Wu in Wednesday's semifinal.
"If Jinnat wins the semifinal, she will fight for gold. Even if she loses, the bronze medal is assured," Dilu said.
Jinnat, a member of the Bangladesh Army, said she was delighted to win a medal for her country.
"I am very happy to have achieved something for my country. I ask everyone to pray for me so that I can take Bangladeshi wushu further," she said.
