Bangladesh’s table tennis icon Zobera Rahman Linu has been nominated for the 2026 Independence Award, the country’s highest civilian honour. The Cabinet Division announced the recipients on Thursday (5 March), naming Linu among 20 distinguished individuals and organisations, including former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
Born in 1965 in Kaptai, Rangamati, Linu showed remarkable talent in table tennis from a young age. Encouraged by her father, she began playing at the Shahjibazar Officers Club in Sylhet at just eight years old. In 1977, aged 12, she became a national champion for the first time. Between 1979 and 2001, she won the national women’s singles title 16 times, establishing an unmatched record in Bangladesh table tennis.
In recognition of her extraordinary accomplishments, Linu was included in the Guinness World Records in 2002. She represented the Bangladesh Biman Sports Club for 18 years and received the National Sports Award in 1999 for her contributions to the sport.
Linu also achieved success internationally. She finished fifth at the 1980 Asian Table Tennis Championship and was runner-up in mixed doubles at the 1982 Pentangular Championship in Hyderabad, India. She represented Bangladesh at the World Table Tennis Championships organised by the International Table Tennis Federation in 1977 and 2000.
After retiring from competitive play, Linu took on leadership roles in sports administration. She served as vice-president of the Bangladesh Cycling Federation and chaired the Athlete Commission of the Bangladesh Olympic Association, continuing to contribute to the development of sports in the country.
