Suria Begum: Building women athletes

Suria Begum, 51, has trained girls in football, cricket, hockey and kabaddi in Jhenaidah for over a decade. A sports teacher at Fajer Ali Girls School and College, she provides the training free of cost.

Her interest in sports began in childhood. She would visit the stadium after school and became one of the district’s best athletes in javelin, shot put and discus throw.

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After completing a BPEd degree from Rajshahi Government College, she began teaching in 2004. In 2008, the National Women’s Sports Association in Jhenaidah invited her to train girls.

She has since trained over 400 female athletes, many of whom have competed nationally. They include her daughter Juairiya Ferdous, a Bangladesh national women’s cricket team player, former national cricketer Tuktuki Akhter, and several players now studying at universities or competing in Dhaka leagues.

Named Khulna Division’s best sports teacher in 2020, Suria now dreams of establishing a sports academy for girls in Jhenaidah.