Jinnat Akter ended a 40-year drought for Bangladesh. At the 2026 Asian Games, the Wushu bronze medallist became the first Bangladeshi athlete in four decades to win an individual medal at the Games. She sat down with TIMES’ Mostafijour Rahman Pranto and Hasan Fahim on Sunday for an exclusive interview in which she spoke about her early life, her career journey, the moment of triumph, and her future plans.
Right after the bronze medal was confirmed, what was going through your mind? What emotions were you feeling?
Me and my coach, Wushu’s General Secretary, Dildar Hasan Dilu Sir, went onto the field. When we arrived, we saw a cross mark next to my Indonesian opponent’s name. Her weight was over the limit, which meant she couldn’t compete. They told us: Indonesia out, Bangladesh wins.
At that moment, my coach and I just looked at each other. Our eyes had turned red and were welling up, and our hands and feet were trembling completely. I had been prepared for anything — whatever was written in my fate would happen.
Then, when we heard that my opponent wouldn’t be competing and had been completely disqualified, me, my coach, Shikha Khatun, Sajib bhai, Biplob bhai (all wushu players), Shahidul Haq Bhuiya Sir (Team Manager) all of us hugged each other tightly and burst into tears. Seeing us cry, everyone around was staring, wondering what on earth had happened!
I will never be able to forget that moment. And whatever was going through my mind at that time — I simply cannot put into words the kind of feeling I experienced that day.
Your journey starts from Netrokona. Who was your biggest source of inspiration? How did your journey start?
My greatest sources of inspiration and my companions in the struggle were my grandmother, my mother, and my father.
I was a madrasa student. I used to go to the madrasa wearing a burqa. After the Bangamata Football Tournament started, I would skip madrasa and go to the field instead. I used to think, “Other girls are playing, so I will play too.” That kind of desire was working inside me. My journey in sports began with football. Then my family stopped me from playing.
People in the area were saying all sorts of negative things to my family like — “A girl studying in a madrasa is also playing sports? Will she wear shorts and play? Will you be able to get her married? You won’t be able to do anything with this girl. Your own respect will be gone, and the area’s respect will be gone too.”
Later, when they saw that I was doing well, everyone started encouraging me. After I became Man of the Match in my first match, they told me, “Since you’re going to play sports anyway, take sports seriously like a real sportsperson.” From that time a strong determination grew inside me. And especially my father stood by my side.
One of my relatives once told my father, “You are letting your daughter play? Let’s see what this girl can do by playing.” From that moment a strong resolve took hold in my mind — I will show them what a girl can achieve by playing. That is how my journey in sports really began.
There are so many sports — why did you choose Wushu?
In 2018 I was in the national football team. Towards the end of 2018 I was dropped from the football team because of passport issues. After that I joined Ansar. A football camp was organized while I was there.
At the camp, Mamlook Sir (Mamlook Hossain, Taekwondo coach of ITF and Ansar) and Dilu Sir said to me, “You’re tall, and since you play football you have good kicking power, so you can come to Wushu or try ITF (Taekwondo).”
First, I won a gold in ITF. After winning the gold, ITF players, Dilu Sir and Raihan Sir (ITF coach) told me to come to Wushu. In 2019 there was a national-level Wushu competition. They said to me, “We don’t have any player in the lower weight category. You’re tall and your weight is also low. You can do well.”
The first time I stepped onto the Wushu mat, I felt scared. I thought, “I won’t play a fighting sport. Football is better for me. In this fighting they will break my nose and all.” Later Dilu Sir convinced me and said, “You can do it. Just try — you’ll see something good will happen.”
What was your game plan against international opponents at the Asian Games?
In the quarter-final of my weight category, there were 15 players from 15 countries. I was the only lucky player among those 15 who got a walkover. With that, I directly advanced to the quarter-final.
There was a match between players of Indonesia and Palestine. I was supposed to face the winner of that match in the next round. On the day of their match, I told the coach and the team manager in the morning that I would go and watch their game. I went to see what level they were playing at and to note their weak points, and recorded videos of it.
In the evening we had a meeting. After going to the coach’s room, we worked on which punches she would throw, which kicks I should use, or which kicks she would use and which punches I should throw. In short, I was mentally prepared. There was also a kind of greed or excitement working in my mind, I think, because I had reached the quarter-finals.
If I won the quarter-final, a medal would be ensured. I had set my mind that I had to win somehow.
After winning an international medal, what kind of support do you want from the Wushu Federation?
We don’t have our own venue. I work in the Army, and the Army is by my side. I can practice regularly because the Army is giving me all the facilities. Whatever I ask for, I am getting it. But the Wushu players who are outside need their own venue.
For example, China is ranked number one in the world. They train the whole year, just like we study the whole year. In football there are year-round camps, with practice twice a day, morning and evening, throughout the year. In cricket also there is practice the whole year. If we had our own venue like that, we could prepare ourselves much better.
If the government gives us this opportunity, we will be able to gift the country even better results. And to fight against top-level players, there is no alternative to practice. The more I practice and the more I prepare myself, the more I will be able to deliver on the mat.
What would you like to say to the young girls who want to follow in your footsteps, and to their guardians?
Given the current situation in our country, the environment has become increasingly unsafe for girls. In many regions, they frequently fall victim to harassment and ‘eve-teasing.’ In my opinion, parents must take proactive steps by enrolling their daughters in martial arts training. Even if it is strictly for self-defence, learning these skills is essential.
My earnest appeal to everyone is this: alongside their academic education, please involve your daughters in martial arts so they are fully equipped to protect themselves.
