Bangladesh’s Olympic Struggle Continues

Bangladesh returned from the Tokyo Olympics with a familiar and uncomfortable distinction intact. While countries as small as San Marino, with a population of just 34,000, and nations such as Burkina Faso and Turkmenistan have finally removed themselves from the list of medal-less Olympic participants, Bangladesh remains the most populous country never to have won an Olympic medal. With a population exceeding 163 million, the Tokyo Games marked Bangladesh’s tenth Olympic appearance—and yet another campaign without podium success.

Since making its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, Bangladesh has largely participated in the Olympics symbolically. Over the past 36 years, the country has accumulated experience rather than results, while neighbouring South Asian nations such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka secured their places on the Olympic medal table long ago. At Tokyo 2020, India alone collected seven medals, including a historic gold.

Bangladesh sent 44 athletes to Tokyo, competing across six disciplines—athletics, swimming, shooting, archery, gymnastics and golf. However, there were no standout performances. In many cases, athletes failed even to match their personal bests, underlining the gap between domestic preparation and elite international competition.

Bangladesh at Tokyo 2020: A Snapshot

Bangladesh’s rare Olympic highlights in recent years have come through individual merit. Golfer Siddiqur Rahman qualified directly for the 2016 Rio Olympics, while archer Ruman Sana earned his place at Tokyo 2020 on performance grounds. The remainder of the contingent participated through wild card invitations granted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), reflecting the Olympic commitment to inclusivity rather than competitive readiness.

Ironically, Tokyo 2020 was the most inclusive Olympics in history, with 93 nations winning at least one medal—more than ever before. Yet Bangladesh remained on the outside looking in. While world-class infrastructure often correlates with Olympic success, modern sports science and innovative coaching are no longer the exclusive domain of wealthy nations. Smaller countries have made strides by prioritising targeted investment, international collaboration, and gender inclusivity.

Bangladesh’s challenges lie deeper. A lack of long-term planning, substandard training facilities, limited access to elite coaching, and insufficient focus on athletes’ mental health and financial stability continue to hinder progress. Although increasing the number of qualified athletes improves medal prospects statistically, systemic weaknesses undermine sustained development.

Archery and shooting, however, offer genuine hope. These disciplines have shown promise at the regional level and require comparatively lower infrastructural investment than many others. South Korea’s archery programme provides a compelling model: its athletes train in facilities capable of simulating wind, rain and pressure conditions, allowing them to adapt seamlessly on the world stage.

At the grassroots level in Bangladesh, many young athletes are trained primarily to secure employment in service teams such as the Army, Navy or Air Force. While such pathways provide stability, they also foster a mindset where Olympic participation is considered the ultimate goal, rather than medal contention.

Coaching remains another critical bottleneck. Local coaches often take athletes to a certain level, beyond which international competitors surge ahead due to superior expertise and exposure. Although exceptional individuals occasionally overcome these limitations through sheer determination, systemic reform remains essential.

Without a comprehensive national sports policy, responsibility falls on the government and sporting federations to build a credible talent pipeline. Meaningful investment in elite facilities, international-standard coaching and athlete welfare could yet turn Bangladesh’s Olympic fortunes around. Paris 2024 remains a distant but not impossible dream. However, time is running out, and with each passing year, the gap between Bangladesh and the rest of the Olympic world continues to widen.