Double-up Dulal

February 7, 2010

When Bangladesh won the team event golf gold of the 11th South Asian Games three days back, it was in the air that one of our golfers was heading to create a small piece of history by also lifting the individual gold.

The question was who would it be? Jamal Hossain Mollah or Dulal Hossain?

And after an absorbing battle of Hossains at the Kurmitola Golf Course yesterday, it was Dulal who pipped Jamal to claim the ultimate glory.

Dulal scored eleven under par 277 to win the gold in the 72-hole competition while Jamal claimed the silver scoring eight under par 280 and Zakiruzzaman took the bronze with five under par 283.

The success of the trio in golf, introduced for the first time in the regional sporting extravaganza, not only completed a sweeping success for Bangladesh but also meant that they grabbed all three medals — gold, silver and bronze — in an event for the first time.

Dulal, who came to Kurmitola Golf Club at the tender age of 12 and worked there for two years as a ball boy before becoming a caddie of an Italian golfer, started the day with three under par against Jamal’s impressive eight under par.

But the 19-year-old from Comilla did an excellent job to take six under par 66 to finish the fourth and final round ending Jamal’s dream of a double. It was Dulal’s first international title. He had earlier won two domestic events.

Jamal, who was a clear favourite for the gold after three rounds, finished the final day at par 72 to be content with silver.

“I knew it very well that I will have to prove myself on the field if I’m to do something special. I did it putting in the best ever performance of my life. I am really happy to make the nation proud,” said Dulal in his immediate reaction.

Dulal is now looking forward to playing in the next Asian Games and sought cooperation from the government.

“I want to represent my country for another three to four years before entering the professional circuit. But for that I need assistance from the government,” said Dulal, adding that the sport that is bringing so much glory to the country should be taken more care of.

World’s best golfer Tiger Woods and Bangladesh’s best Siddiqur Rahman are the favourite golfers of Dulal who dreams of playing in the US PGA tour one day.

The employees of the Golf Course at the Dhaka Cantonment were given a sudden break till 3:00pm to watch the event and they backed the local golfers throughout the game.

Dulal’s parents were also present on the final day and they expressed their delight at their son’s heroics.

Jamal, who led Bangladesh to the team gold with seven under par 137 in the 36-hole competition, was understandably upset after going down to Dulal and blamed himself for not playing well on the final day.

“I am feeling sad after losing it because I was on the verge of triumph. It is disappointing to lose the match despite having led till the third round,” said a frustrated Jamal.

“I was fully focussed on the game today [Saturday], but I faced problem in swing and putting that let me down. The problem started at the 14th hole and it took me two strokes more than the four and that’s why I got behind,” said Jamal, who scored 69, 68, 71 and 72 in his respective four rounds.

Jamal, however, was happy to see that he lost to his compatriot Dulal and the gold stayed in the country.

Double-up Dulal

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