Jinnat honoured for historic Asian Games bronze

Wushu player Jinnat Akter was accorded a warm reception by the Ministry of Youth and Sports for her historic bronze medal at the Asian Games, with the government also presenting her with Tk 100,000 as a reward.

Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque was the chief guest at the reception held at the National Sports Council Tower in Dhaka on Sunday, where he handed Jinnat the award and prize money.

Jinnat won bronze in the women's 52kg sanda event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, becoming the first Bangladeshi athlete in four decades to win an individual medal at the continental multi-sport showpiece.

The achievement brought the curtain down on a long wait dating back to the 1986 Seoul Games, when boxer Mosharraf Hossain won Bangladesh's previous individual Asian Games medal, a bronze.

Jinnat's success is particularly significant for Wushu, a discipline that has traditionally operated outside the spotlight of Bangladesh's major sporting achievements. Her breakthrough has raised hopes that the sport can produce more athletes capable of making their mark on the international stage.

The Netrakona-born athlete has been a dominant figure on the domestic circuit since entering the national championship in 2019, winning seven gold medals without finishing runner-up.

Her Asian Games medal came on her international debut. Jinnat reached the semi-finals of the 52kg event, which guaranteed her a bronze before her campaign ended against China's Wu Di.

The reception also highlighted the government's emphasis on supporting athletes who deliver on the international stage, with officials expressing hopes that Jinnat can build on her breakthrough and achieve further success in future competitions.

For Jinnat, the bronze is more than a medal, it is a milestone that has reopened the door to individual glory for Bangladesh after 40 years.