Jabbarer Boli Khela: English-medium student wins debut wrestling bout
Photo: Agamir Somoy
English-medium student Aranya Taufiq made a striking debut at the historic Jabbarer Boli Khela, securing a win in his very first appearance. The 16-year-old student of Dhaka Horizon International School defeated Mohammad Manik, a competitor 12 years older than him.
Taufiq arrived at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram from Dhaka on Saturday, accompanied by his coach Samir. He has been interested in wrestling since childhood and occasionally trains in Dhaka. This time, he joined the traditional Boli Khela out of personal interest for the first time.
The match between Taufiq and Manik from Halishahar lasted just over a minute. After stepping out of the ring, Taufiq immediately embraced his coach, Samir.
Taufiq said, “I competed against someone much bigger and stronger than me. I stepped into the ring with courage. I felt a bit nervous at first, but I did not lose confidence. In the end, I won, and I feel very happy.”
Taufiq lives in the Moghbazar area of Dhaka. His father, Taufiqul Alam, is a senior official at a private organization, and his mother, Roksana, is a physician. He is the eldest of two siblings.
Taufiq said his parents encourage him in sports. He regularly watches wrestling on television and dreams of becoming a professional wrestler in the future.
He was the youngest participant in this year’s Jabbarer Boli Khela. After his victory, he expressed excitement, saying, “I had heard a lot about this event before. Now I have seen it in person.”
The century-old Jabbarer Boli Khela marked its 117th edition this year. More than a hundred wrestlers took part in the competition.
