Riding the waves towards history: Bangladesh’s surfers set to make Asian Games debut

As dawn breaks over Cox’s Bazar, the beach is still bathed in a pale blue glow. Waves crash rhythmically onto the shore, where two young surfers begin another day of training. Every morning, Mohammad Mannan and Fatema Akter take on the sea with one goal in mind: representing Bangladesh on the international surfing stage.

While the country remains gripped by World Cup football fever, a quieter sporting milestone is taking shape. For the first time, Bangladesh will be represented in surfing at the Asian Games, with Mannan and Fatema set to compete in Japan this September.

The waves of Cox’s Bazar have been their first coach and constant training ground. Every day begins before sunrise as they work on balance, speed and technique, using the limited surf conditions available along Bangladesh’s coastline.

“We’ve already begun intensive training,” Fatema told The Business Standard. “Our coach spends a lot of time preparing us every day. We want to perform well in Japan and make our country proud.”

She acknowledged, however, that the challenge ahead is significant.

“The waves there are much bigger than what we have here. We can only train in relatively small waves in Bangladesh. If we get the opportunity to train in a country with larger waves before the Games, it would make a huge difference,” she said.

Despite their determination, Bangladesh’s surfing infrastructure remains underdeveloped. The country lacks international-standard facilities and regular access to larger waves that are essential for elite-level preparation.

Mannan said the team is doing everything possible within its means.

“We’re training consistently, but we still haven’t received the specialised preparation needed for a competition of this level. If we can spend some time adapting to the conditions before the event, we’ll have a much better chance of performing well,” he said.

According to Mannan, Japan’s surfing conditions differ considerably from those in Bangladesh, making advance training at a similar venue crucial.

Their coach, Rashed Alam, believes the pair have the potential to compete at the highest level if given the right support and international exposure.

“If we can organise a 10- to 14-day training camp in Indonesia before the Asian Games, they’ll be much better prepared,” he said.

Alam is optimistic that Bangladesh’s surfers could one day even qualify for the Olympics.

The biggest obstacle, however, is funding.

According to the Bangladesh Surfing Association, plans for overseas training remain uncertain because the federation has yet to secure sponsorship.

Association treasurer Md Saifullah Sifat said applications have been sent to several organisations seeking financial support, but no commitments have been received so far.

“We’re also waiting for guidance from the Bangladesh Olympic Association. Time is running short, but we’re hopeful that if everything falls into place, the athletes will get the preparation they need,” he said.

Overshadowed by football and cricket, surfing remains largely unfamiliar to most Bangladeshis. Yet every morning in Cox’s Bazar, Mannan and Fatema continue to train against the waves, carrying not only their personal ambitions but also the hopes of introducing a new sporting frontier for the country.

Their journey is about more than competing at the Asian Games. It is about proving that with the right opportunities, Bangladesh can make its mark in yet another global sport and perhaps one day see its flag flying in Olympic surfing as well.