International boxer Sura Krishna Chakma has expressed disappointment after being left out of the government’s sports card scheme, despite a career featuring international success and multiple national achievements.
The sports card initiative, introduced by the sports ministry, aims to provide financial support and monthly allowances of Tk 1 lakh to selected athletes. While many sportspersons have welcomed the scheme, several others who were not included have raised concerns, including Chakma.
On Monday (20 April), Chakma posted a detailed statement on Facebook outlining his career journey and questioning his exclusion.
He said his career began after winning gold at the Bangladesh Games in 2013 and the national championship in 2014, which led to his selection for the national team and participation in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Chakma also said he was selected for a Rio Olympic scholarship programme in 2015 but has yet to receive the financial support linked to it.
He recalled training in London under British-Bangladeshi coach Ali Zeko, where he spent five months before returning to Bangladesh. He claimed that after his return, he was informed by the federation that he had been banned.
He later moved to India to pursue professional boxing, training in Haryana in 2018, where he won both of his professional fights.
After returning to the national setup, he earned selection for the 2019 South Asian Games, winning a bronze medal in Kathmandu. He also secured national titles in 2020 and 2021, which led to his participation in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Since 2022, Chakma has focused fully on professional boxing. He became Bangladesh’s first professional boxer to win an international belt in 2023 and has won eight of his ten professional bouts.
Despite his achievements, he expressed frustration at not being included in the sports card list.
“I have gone through many ups and downs to reach where I am today, but I still have not seen my name in the government sports card list. This card is especially important for athletes from less supported sports,” he wrote.
He also highlighted that several national athletes from different disciplines are yet to receive the card.
“Money is important, but recognition is even more valuable,” he added.
