HSC success brings cheer to sports arena

Bangladesh's sporting talents had reason to celebrate off the field on Saturday, with several national athletes passing the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations, led by hockey's twin sisters Himadri Barua and Niladri Barua.

Both are key members of the Bangladesh women's national hockey team and students of the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP). Himadri secured a GPA of 5.00, while Niladri narrowly missed the top grade with 4.83. Six of the seven national team players in their group at BKSP passed the examinations.

The sisters had to balance training and studies ahead of the examinations but were pleased with their results.

“I could not sit the examinations properly because I had to focus on training. I did not have high expectations, so I am happy with the result,” Niladri said.

Himadri, meanwhile, hopes to continue her studies at a good university in Dhaka.

“I am happy with the result. I want to get into a good university in Dhaka,” she said.

Table tennis star Khoy Khoy Sai Marma also passed, securing a GPA of 4.67 in the science group. She admitted that managing sport and studies had been difficult.

“It was really difficult to manage both at the same time. I could not take part in the selection process because of my examinations, which meant I missed two major competitions. Still, the result was better than I expected, and I am very happy,” she said. She hopes to study at Dhaka University.

Other table tennis players who passed include junior national team members Reshmi Tongchanga, Oishi Rahman, Nafis Iqbal and Abul Hashem Hasib.

National men's football team goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon passed under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board, earning a GPA of 4.71 including his optional subject and 4.46 without it. Under-20 goalkeeper Ismail Hossain Mahin passed in the humanities group with 4.25.

Women's cricket pace bowler Marufa Akter also passed after retaking an examination in which she had failed one subject last year, earning a GPA of 3.17.

BKSP recorded an overall pass rate of 83.03%, with four students achieving a GPA of 5.00. All its female cricket players passed.

Six national women's footballers also passed, with Swarna Rani Mandal leading the group with a GPA of 4.00. Nabiron, Oishi, Bonna and Swapna secured B grades.

The national average pass rate fell to 52.12% from 58.83% last year, a decline of 6.71 percentage points.