DHAKA, June 13, 2023 (BSS) - Bangladesh junior gymnastics team returned home today (Tuesday) after participating in the just concluded Asian Artistic Gymnastics Competition (Junior U-17) in Singapore.

Bangladesh Gymnastics Federation president Sheikh Bashir Ahmed received the gymnasts at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the afternoon.

The 17-year-old Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Prothistan (BKSP) Rafil Ahmed finished fourth in the competition in vaulting table event under tiebreaking rules his Kazakhstan rival talking to BSS said: "It's would have been good if a I could perform more better, but I am happy with the result."

He also sought cooperation to all to achieve more good result in the future events.

"I had an expectation to give my maximum effort in the tournament, but I could not do that as accordingly .... I'll try to achieve more good result in the future event," said Rafil.

The boy hailed form Mymensingh however did not forget to give credit to BGF's president Sheikh Bashir Ahmed behind his success in the competition.

"Sir (BGF president) always inspire us and support us mentally in all aspects ... without his inspiration it would not possible for us to reach in this stage so all credit goes to him," he added.

Replying to a question Rafi said he is prepared to take pressure when he will represent in the senior team in the near future.
 
Rafil also praised his team's coach role behind their success by saying that: "The coach works hard and gives his maximum effort to us so that we can do something good a I hope he will take us a better place."

The young gymnast said he happy over his own performance in the competition because he had an opportunity to win gold but due to basic mistake he narrowly missed the medal.

Rafil, who are two brothers in his family, said he lost his father three years ago but gets tremendous support from his grandmother to continue gymnasts.
 
Rafil earlier, Bangladesh qualified for the final from the top eight by playing the qualifying round. In the final of the vaulting table event, Bangladesh's Rafil and his Kazakhstan rival scored equal 13.65 points.
 But, due to tiebreaking rules, the third place medal went to his Kazakhstan rival while Rafil unfortunately finished fourth in the competition.

Forty two gymnasts from 16 countries took part in the Junior Asian Artistic Gymnastics competition.

Earlier, on June 10 last, Rafil placed in the top eight with the highest points in the finals of the qualification round of the vaulting table event and finally he confirmed the third highest point in that fight.