A landmark moment has arrived for Bangladesh’s table-tennis scene. At the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, mixed-doubles paddlers Khoi Khoi Sai Marma and Md Javed Ahmed clinched a silver medal, marking the country’s first medal in table tennis at the Games and injecting fresh momentum into what has long been a peripheral sport in Bangladesh.
Strong road to the final
The pair began their medal run in the quarterfinals, where they defeated the Maldives 3-0. They carried that momentum into the semi-finals, where they faced Bahrain’s Rashed and Kenda Mohamed.
In a tense encounter, the Bangladesh duo opened with a tight 13-11 win, lost the second game 7-11, then edged the third 12-10 and dominated the fourth 11-3 to seal the 3-1 victory and guarantee at least a silver.
In the final, they met Turkey’s seasoned duo of Sibel Altinkaya and İbrahim Gündüz, who controlled the match to win 3-0 (5-11, 8-11, 6-11). Although the title proved elusive, the silver remains a breakthrough.
What the medal means
For Bangladesh, this silver arrives at a moment of sport-diversification ambition. Historically, table tennis has operated with limited resources: fewer high-performance centres, limited exposure to top-tier international tournaments, and minimal media attention compared to cricket or football. That makes this achievement even more significant.
By reaching their first medal in table tennis at the Islamic Solidarity Games, the pair place Bangladesh on a broader competitive map—with the potential to flatter funding, attract sponsors and inspire junior players. Federation officials view the result not just as the outcome of two athletes’ performance, but as proof of concept for the sport’s upward trajectory.
Athlete back-stories and context
Khoi Khoi Sai Marma hails from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a region known more for its natural beauty than its table-tennis pedigree. Her rise signals both regional talent spread and the value of tapping under-represented geographies. Javed Ahmed brings experience from Bangladesh’s national training camp environment; their partnership is built on complementary strengths and rising confidence.
Their success also points to the value of regional preparation: participation in South Asian tournaments, junior development leagues and structured training camps have been instrumental.
Bangladesh’s federation noted that reaching this final and silver would likely accelerate efforts to upgrade training infrastructure and expand international exposure.
Larger multi-sport and national implications
Bangladesh entered the Riyadh Games with expectations modest in scope. With a team of around 33 competitors across nine sports, the country was ranked 23rd by the time the table-tennis final concluded. Table tennis accounted for the only silver, supplementing three bronze medals from weightlifting.
In this context, the table-tennis medal carries outsized significance. It suggests that Bangladesh can succeed in non-traditional disciplines if given the right mix of preparation, support and opportunity.
Sports authorities in Bangladesh now face the challenge of sustaining momentum: turning a breakthrough into consistent podium potential. That means sustained investment, upgraded facilities, stronger coaching, more competitive opportunities abroad and a deeper talent pipeline.
Looking ahead
The Javed/Khoi Khoi duo return to Bangladesh with more than just a medal—they carry hope, expectation and a challenge. The next steps will include preparing for regional events like the South Asian Games, and longer-term goals such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Closing the gap to top-tier opponents will require incremental improvements: sharper execution in tight games (their semi-final third game 12-10 underscores this), mental resilience in finals, and more exposure to opponents ranked higher.
If Bangladesh can build on this silver, the sport may shift from novelty to rising contender within the region. At the very least, this moment stands as a turning point: proof that the paddle can be a medal instrument, not just a table accessory.
