After father and son, now two sisters in Olympiad

The press conference of the team going to the Olympiad is held in the sports room of the Bangladesh Chess Federation. Excitement on one side and emptiness on the other. Grandmaster Zia and his son Tahsin went to play in the Chennai Chess Olympiad two years ago. Zia left the world while playing chess. Tahsin is going to Budapest, Hungary with that emptiness. On the other hand, the five-member women's team consists of two sisters, Waliza and Wadifa.

Waliza Ahmed is a rising star in Bangladesh women's chess. He was in the Bangladesh team in the last two Olympiads. Still not played. This time she is going to the Olympics with her sister, so there is extra excitement, 'There was no Olympics in 2020 because of Corona. Couldn't play for exam in 2022. This time when the Olympiad was confirmed, there was still uncertainty. In this situation of the country, I will be able to play in the end. I am leaving tomorrow with my sister. It is a special pleasure.'

Bangladesh Open and Women are participating in the Chess Olympiad. The top five players in the National Chess Championship in both categories secured a place. The Olympiad was assured as younger sister Wadifa Ahmed finished third in women's chess. Waliza had to play off with Rani Hamid for fifth place. Wadifa was more than happy when Waliza won that playoff, 'I jumped for joy when Apu won. There is no greater joy than two sisters playing the Olympics together.

Wadifa is a class IX student and Walija is studying in higher secondary in Vikarunnisa. Their father Moinuddin Ahmed is a former national chess player. Waleza's interest in chess came mainly from his father. Wadifah learning moves on the chess board by watching her father and sister. Both gave their mother's contribution for reaching this position in chess, 'My father lives in Italy. He wants us to play chess but mother's interest and cooperation is more. Mother used to bring us to Federation. He used to inspire for chess.
In addition to the excitement of the two sisters, there is also an emptiness in the federation room. Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman has participated in the Chess Olympiad the most times. He used to play on the first board of Bangladesh in the Olympiad. He breathed his last in this chess room two months ago. Tahsin's voice, who went to play without her father, said, "I still can't accept my father's absence." Father wanted me to go. I am going right but there is no father.'

Zia's death, the situation of the country and the overall condition of the federation, the preparation of the Bangladesh team was not much. Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Rajeev made the women's team practice. He has done it in past Olympiads as well. General Secretary of Chess Federation Syed Shahabuddin Shamim thanked Rajeev and said, "Grandmaster does a session with the amount of honours. Rajiv has trained our women much less than this. Considering the ongoing situation and the overall context of the country, we still expect a satisfactory result.

The Chess Olympiad will begin on August 11 in Hungary. After the Chess Olympiad, Manon Reza Neer, Fahad Rahman, Tahsin Tajwar Zia, Wadifa and Waliza will play two more tournaments in Budapest. They have normal expectations in those tournaments. The first grandmaster of the subcontinent has already left for Europe. He will join the team tomorrow. Rani Hamid could not come to the official photo session today due to personal engagement. Zia's wife Tasmin Sultana Lavanya is also accompanying her son. The captain of the women's team is Mahmuda Haque Chaudhuri Molly and Masudur Rahman Mallik Dipu of the boys' team. Federation general secretary Shahabuddin Shamim is going as Congress delegate.