In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, a group of aspiring surfers are channeling their passion into a quest for international recognition at the upcoming Asian Games. Operating from a modest, weather-beaten shack that serves as the headquarters for the Bangladesh Surf Girls and Boys Club, these athletes harbor ambitions as vast as the seemingly endless beach they call home. For 25-year-old Mohammad Mannan and 16-year-old Fatima Akhter, their sights are firmly set on the surfing competition, a new addition to the prestigious Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4.

Chasing Waves on the World’s Longest Beach

The surfers hail from Cox’s Bazar, a coastal town renowned for one of the world’s longest natural sandy beaches, stretching an impressive 120 kilometers (75 miles) along the Bay of Bengal. Their participation in the Asian Games represents a significant opportunity to carve out a niche for surfing in a nation overwhelmingly dominated by cricket and football. The sport faces considerable challenges, including a lack of resources and societal pressures, but the dedication of these young athletes remains unwavering.

Fatima Akhter, a 16-year-old who has navigated significant societal stigma as a teenage girl pursuing surfing in the Muslim-majority nation, shared her profound connection to the sport. “The moment I step onto the board, I forget everything else,” Akhter explained. “When I successfully ride a wave, I feel happy and fulfilled. The feeling is impossible to describe.” Her journey, like many others, began on the shores of Cox’s Bazar, where the pursuit of surfing often intertwines with economic hardship.

From Seashells to Skateboards: Mannan’s Path

Mohammad Mannan’s path to the Asian Games also originated on these same beaches. He previously supported his family by selling seashell jewelry. His early athletic endeavors included skateboarding, a passion he later transitioned from in favor of the ocean’s allure. “Skateboarding was a much smaller sport than surfing,” Mannan noted. “I was mesmerized by surfing, because it was connected to water.” Despite his parents’ initial reservations, who urged him to prioritize his studies and expressed concerns about the sport’s viability, Mannan held firm to his belief in surfing’s potential.

“I believed surfing would eventually grow,” Mannan stated. “Surfing isn’t a lucrative sport in Bangladesh now, but nobody can say it never will be.” His conviction is fueled by a deep love for the sport and a vision for its future in his country. While opportunities for international competition are scarce, Mannan has competed in events in India and the Maldives. He diligently studies the techniques of world-class surfers, such as two-time world champion John John Florence, through online videos to hone his skills. He acknowledges the disparities faced by Bangladeshi surfers, noting, “Surfers from other countries are different, because they have better boards, bigger waves, and travel frequently to different countries.” Mannan’s first experience with larger waves in the Maldives, where he encountered 15-foot breaks compared to the typical five-foot waves in Bangladesh, underscored the significant gap in resources and training.

Pioneering Spirit and Improvised Equipment

Rashed Alam, the founder of the Bangladesh Surf Girls and Boys Club, is acutely aware of the formidable challenges ahead. “You can’t improve without proper training, and we don’t have any sponsors to send our surfers abroad,” Alam stated. However, for Alam, who is considered one of the pioneers of surfing in Bangladesh, such struggles are a familiar part of the sport’s history in the nation. Surfing’s introduction to Cox’s Bazar in 2004 was largely serendipitous, attributed to the arrival of four American tourists who brought their surfboards and passion for riding the waves. These early visitors, along with subsequent foreign surfers, often left behind their equipment, which became the foundation for local enthusiasts like Alam.

“That’s how I fell in love with surfing,” Alam recounted. His dedication led him to California, where he worked as a surf instructor and lifeguard. Upon his return to Bangladesh in 2013, he established the country’s first surfing club, driven by a vision of inclusivity. “I thought, if men can surf, girls can surf too,” he said. “It was exceptionally challenging to teach girls in Bangladesh because of community and family pressure.” Alam now coaches a diverse group of young surfers, including many from underprivileged backgrounds, guiding them in their shared pursuit of mastering the waves. The club operates with a reliance on donated equipment, highlighting the resourcefulness required to sustain the sport.

A Future on the Waves

Mohammad Mannan views his Asian Games debut as a crucial step in demonstrating surfing’s potential as a viable career path in Bangladesh. “I want to build a career in surfing,” he expressed. For Fatima Akhter, the journey to the Games has been particularly arduous. Facing pressure from her mother to marry, a common expectation in a region grappling with poverty, child labor, and child marriage, Akhter draws strength from her friends who were victims of early marriages. “The biggest problem is poverty. Girls… are expected to contribute to their families’ income,” she explained. “The friends who taught me to surf were victims of child marriage. They still miss their days at the beach and always tell me: ‘Don’t get married. Hold on to surfing’.”

The waves, however, offer a powerful sense of freedom and hope. Even the youngest members, like 10-year-old Mehedi Hasan, find solace and exhilaration in surfing. Hasan, who survives on the streets by singing and offering massages to tourists, finds his escape on the water. “I am on my own; I sing for tourists and often give them massages,” Hasan shared. Despite his small stature and the occasional challenge of waves towering over him, he finds immense joy in overcoming them. “I am small, and sometimes the waves go over my head. But it feels fantastic when I overcome them.” The collective dream of these Bangladeshi surfers is to make their mark on the international stage, proving that dedication and passion can overcome significant obstacles.