Siddikur
It was in 1999 when former ball boy Siddikur walked the path towards the dawning of a new era for golf in Bangladesh.
The son of an odd-job worker, Siddikur traded a life as a ball boy to represent the newly revamped Bangladesh National Amateur Team and it marked a transformation for the ambitious teenager, which many believe will greatly impact the landscape of the game in this emerging nation.
Prior to his inclusion, the national squad comprised of elderly club members who represented the country in international tournaments with very little success.
But through the efforts of the late General Mustafizur Rahman, who was then the President of the Kurmitola Golf Club in Dhaka, a new national team was formed with the goal of roping in talented ball boys and caddies and nurturing them into champions.
Siddikur’s introduction into the world of golf kicked off instantly as he dominated the amateur circuits, winning regularly in championships held in South Asia. With his trophies pilling up, the Bangladesh Golf Federation sent him to a three-month stint at a golf academy in Australia.
Upon his return, Siddikur decided to turn professional.
He enjoyed a rather successful stint on the Indian circuit but it was in 2009 that he made headlines by emerging as the first Bangladeshi to earn his Asian Tour card through the rigorous Qualifying School.
After an initial struggle early on, he broke through in a big way at the 2010 Brunei Open with a life-changing triumph to become the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour.
Victory put the focus firmly on Bangladeshi golf and Siddikur, who went on to finish an impressive seventh on the 2010 Order of Merit.
“His success on the Asian Tour was so rapid and big for the people in our country. He got the media interested in golf because of his huge success and that was a big breakthrough for golf in the country,” said Brigadier General Salim Akhtar (Rtd), a member of the Bangladesh Golf Federation
His triumph also inspired more Bangladeshi golfers to shoot for the stars as Siddikur, who was not from the ‘elite’ class, had to overcome various challenges. The amateur scene in Bangladesh also flourished with the support of the R&A, who was contacted by General Salim for funds in 2008 to help develop golf in the country.
The R&A pledged £18,000 a year over three years and the financial support is now used to pay for the education and expenses of the amateur golfers, including the buying of equipment. The golf guardians also sent a coach to train the Bangladesh team while invitations have been extended to a boy and girl of the Bangladeshi team to participate in the British Junior Open, following which they will be able to watch the action at the British Open.
Last week, Bangladesh celebrated another milestone when it hosted the inaugural Grameenphone Bangladesh Masters on the Asian Development Tour, a secondary circuit aimed at nurturing rising stars.
Throng of fans gathered to watch Siddikur, who they aptly nicknamed the “Tiger Woods of Bangladesh”. Such was the overwhelming presence of their star golfer that fans even rushed to ask for his autograph while he was playing in the US$75,000 tournament at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
But as order was restored, Siddikur romped to an emphatic 12-stroke victory with a four-day total of 19-under-par 269 to defeat compatriot and close friend Milon Ahmed.
It was not only Siddikur’s first home victory but it also served as an inspiration to compatriots like Milon, Zamal Hossain Mollah, Liton Howlader and Shakhawat Sohel, who like Siddikur, started golfing by practising with tree branches or borrowed clubs.
Milon, who started his golfing journey with Siddikur in the national team, hopes to follow in the footsteps of his friend. “There are bigger things ahead for golf in Bangladesh and we are all inspired to follow the path of Siddikur,” said Milon, who partnered Siddikur in the 2009 World Cup Asian Qualifier in Malaysia.
Md. A. Motin, 39, started playing golf by practising with a tree branch and was delighted with the rapid change in golf. “Siddikur is the best golfer in the country and it is because of him that golf in Bangladesh has changed 100%.”
Zamal, who won the 2009 Bangladesh Open as an amateur, hopes more tournaments will follow suit after the staging of the Grameenphone Bangladesh Masters. “When Siddikur won on the Asian Tour, it sparked further development in the sport in Bangladesh. Suddenly, sponsors were more interested in the sport and now we have the first ever Asian Development Tour event. Things have really turned around for the better and I hope to reap the benefits from it,” he said.
Manzoor Ahmed, a former captain of Kurmitola Golf Club and secretary of the Bangladesh Golf Federation, believes their struggles will eventually bear fruits. “Ultimately, we are looking to hosting professional tournaments. In order for us to promote professionalism in golf, we have to host more professional tournaments in Bangladesh. It is great that the Asian Development Tour has come into Bangladesh and now sponsors are very keen in golf. I’m quite positive that we will soon have professional tournaments at a bigger scale in Bangladesh,” said Manzoor.
Siddikur said: “There are a lot of changes now since I started playing. It is different with more support and interest. I feel proud that golf in Bangladesh is taking flight and I would like to see more Bangladeshi golfers playing all over the world and flying the country’s flag,” said Siddikur.
