Surfer Mannan finishes second in heat, joins Fatema in Round 2 of Asian Games

Bangladesh surfer Mohammad Mannan finished second in his opening heat of the men’s shortboard event at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Friday to advance to Round 2 alongside compatriot Fatema Akter.

Competing in Heat 5 of Round 1 at Long Beach, Tahara, Mannan scored 5.74 points from his best two waves, earning 3.17 points from his first wave and 2.57 from his second.

Mannan will compete in Round 2 on Saturday against Thailand’s Tinn Johnson, who scored 6.63 points to finish second in Heat 1 of the men’s opening round.

Earlier in the day, Fatema also progressed to Round 2 after finishing third in her three-member Heat 2 of the women’s shortboard event.

The Cox’s Bazar surfer scored 2.92 points from her best two waves, with 2.50 coming from her stronger wave. Her second scoring wave was originally awarded 0.83 points but was reduced to 0.42 following an interference penalty.

China’s Jin Shuhan won Fatema’s heat with 7.73 points, while Indonesia’s Hair Kia Jo finished second on 5.03.

Fatema will face South Korea’s Sujung Im in Round 2 on Saturday. Im scored 5.00 points from waves worth 3.00 and 2.00 to finish second in Heat 6.

The Round 2 eliminator gives surfers who do not advance directly from the opening round another route towards the quarterfinals, semifinals and medal rounds.