Koko National Summer Athletics meet aims for South Asian Games gold

 
Bangladesh athletics will step into the spotlight this week as the country's premier track and field showpiece, the Koko 18th National Summer Athletics Competition 2026, gets under way at the National Stadium from 23 to 25 October.

The Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF) announced the details at a press conference at the National Sports Council conference room on Wednesday, with the three-day meet named after the late sports organiser Arafat Rahman Koko. 

The event is being staged with an eye firmly fixed on the future, as BAF general secretary Adv. Ali Imam Tapan said the principal target of the elaborate preparations was to win two gold medals at the next South Asian Games.

As many as 565 athletes, 431 men and 134 women, from 57 organisations are expected to compete, accompanied by 110 managers and coaches. Around 200 former national and international-level athletes, sports organisers and technical officials will also be involved in conducting the meet.

President of the country Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is scheduled to inaugurate the competition at 4:00pm on Friday, with Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque attending as special guest. BAF president Mohammad Abdullah Jaber will chair the ceremony. The inauguration would mark the first time a sitting head of state opens the national athletics championship.

The competition will feature 40 events, 22 for men and 18 for women. Electronic photo-finish equipment will be used for accurate timing in running events. Seven throwing events will be held at the Army Stadium on 23 October, while the marathon will take place at the 300-feet road in Purbachal at 5:00am on 24 October.

The federation will award Tk6,000, Tk5,000 and Tk3,000 to the gold, silver and bronze medallists respectively, while record-breaking athletes will receive Tk20,000. The best athlete will also receive a motorcycle from Exploit.

With the starting gun just days away, Bangladesh athletics will hope the meet proves more than a ceremonial lap, but a springboard towards a brighter South Asian Games 
campaign.