Malda, May 12 -- Determination, sacrifice and years of relentless training have finally paid off for Mehebubul Ahmed, a young athlete from South Kadamtali in Jaluabathan area of Kaliachak, Malda, who has been selected to represent India in the 22nd Asian Under-20 Athletics Championship to be held in Hong Kong from May 28 to 31, 2026.
The prestigious championship, organised by the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), will take place at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in Hong Kong and will feature the best under-20 athletes from across Asia. Selection for the Indian team was based on performances at the 24th National Junior Athletics Federation competition held in Tumakuru, Karnataka, from April 24 to 26.
Mehebubul, son of farmer Kafiuddin Ahmed and Ruksana Bibi, achieved the feat after six years of intense struggle and practice. His father revealed that the family had taken loans of nearly Rs 80,000 to support his son's training and participation in various Athletics Federation of India events.
"I do not know how I will repay the loans, but we are proud that our son will now play for the country," said Kafiuddin Ahmed. Coach Asit Pal, who trained Mehebubul at Pal Sports Coaching Centre, said: "Despite financial hardship, Malda has produced four Asian-level athletes in the last six years. If proper government support is provided, many more international athletes can emerge from this district."
Currently, Mehebubul is training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Kolkata under coach Sanjoy Ghosh and will start for the Bangalore SAI shortly.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.