The 18-member Bangladesh contingent, including 13 shooters, three coaches and two officials, left Dhaka for Australia on Saturday  night to take part  Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Gold Coast from April 4.

This is the first of the Bangladesh contingents which reached Gold Coast.

Bangladesh will also be participating in swimming, boxing, weightlifting, athletics and wrestling disciplines in the XXI Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation’s Chief Executive Officer Mushtaq Wais told journalists that Bangladesh shooters will soon start their training at the official practice range, provided they get the required permission.

Both rifle shooting coach Klavs Christensen and pistol shooting coach Marko Sokic hoped more medal opportunities for their disciples.

Although last edition’s silver medalist in 10m air rifle, Abdullahel Baki, is part of the contingent, the center of attention will reportedly be Risalatul Islam, who outshone other senior shooters to win gold in the National Shooting Championship in October last year.

The six male shooters and seven female shooters will compete in five events each in men’s and women’s group — 10m air pistol, 50m air pistol, 10m air rifle, 50m rifle prone and 50m rifle three positions.

Bangladesh has competed at eight Commonwealth Games, with the first coming in 1978.

They did not compete again until 1990, but have competed in every Games since. Bangladesh has won six Commonwealth Games medals, all coming in shooting events.  Enditem