Daily Sun

Monday the 7th February 2012

No matter how poorly the countrymen mark Bangladesh?s sports, it has an admirer in Emily Dimozantos, an Australian freelance sports photographer who is in Dhaka now thanks to an exchange programme.
Although the Edith Cowan University, Perth student feels that poor infrastructure hardly helps the athletes to excel in the international level, she has fallen in love with the hosts? sports, athletics being her most favourite one.
The smiling Aussie was speaking to this correspondent at the Bangabandhu National Stadium after the match between Dhaka Abahani and Rahmtaganj. She was also sharing her experience with the athletes who are undergoing a training programme for the upcoming Saff Games.
?My university and the Pathshala, a photography school, have an exchange programme. I have immense passion for sports photography and is enjoying my stay in Bangladesh. One of my pictures of hurdler Sumita Rani has been selected as a display banner of an exhibition hosted by the Drik Gallery,? said Emily.
Being a woman, it?s natural she keenly observes women?s participation in the sports of Bangladesh.
?Yes, I have seen the women?s football tournament. I understood that it has just started. However, I have spent a lot of time with the women athletes and found that they are very talented. At the same time I found that the infrastructure is very poor and there is lack of sufficient funds. In a country like Australia the training facilities are far far better,? said the Australian.
Emily is yet to go Mirpur, the hub of cricket. ?I don?t have much passion for cricket. However, I will go there,? she said.
The dense population of Bangladesh has caught the eyes of the photographer. ?People here always seem busy and the roads are always full of traffic. I don?t have many words to describe it,? said Emily.
Emily was amazed to see the Guinness World Records certificate of Abdul Halim who also entered the big bowl after the match.
?It is awesome and amazing. I am happy to see the venue and meet Halim. It is amazing to see the man who carried the ball for 15.2 kilometres and completed 38 laps. It?s a big honour for Bangladesh,? the Australian observed.