The venue, used for martial arts events ushu and taekwondo, would be envy for any educational institution as it has all probable facilities for sports. In addition to three full size grounds for cricket, rugby and football, the college in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital has a modern indoor sports complex where the Bangladeshi competitors had failed to get beyond the elimination round in the discipline's first two days.

However, the final day proved to be fruitful as the 24-year-old Mizanur produced the third gold medal for his country at the Games, which close today.

Swimmer Shahjahan Ali Rony, who will carry the national flag in today's closing ceremony at the Sugathadasa Stadium, and hurdler Mahfuzur Rahman Mithu are the other two gold medalists for Bangladesh, emulating the country's haul of three gold medals won in Islamabad two years ago.

Mizanur, who beat Sri Lankan opponent Gayan in the first round by 7-5 points, ousted Sandeep Kundu of India 6-3 in the semifinal in the morning.

In the afternoon's final, the Bangladesh Army soldier from Barisal outplayed Bhutan's Sonam Penjor 11-7 in three rounds. After a brief celebration, he was taken to a local hospital to nurse a right-leg injury but the doctors released him after preliminary checkup.

"I am fine now. There is no major problem or pain," Mizanur told after winning Bangladesh's first ever medal in the discipline, which was introduced in the seventh SAF Games in Kathmandu 1999.

The eldest of four brothers, Mizanur said that his farmer father has been suffering from paralysis.

"I am grateful to my family and also Lt Col Shaheed, who had advised me to join taekwondo."

The 5'10'' tall athlete was a basketball player but seeing no chance of him making a permanent place in a strong Army side, his coach Lt Col Shaheed, now at Bangladesh Rifles, told him to switch to martial arts three years ago, he informed.

"I won a bronze in the Islamabad Games and I was confident to do well here. I am happy that I have won a gold medal for my country in the end," he added.

Bangladesh also won two medals in judo, silver for Habibur Rahman in men's 66kg and bronze for Milton Majumder in 60kg, to take their tally to three gold, 15 silver and 32 bronze medals.

India remained distinctly ahead, establishing their supremacy with 118 gold, 68 silver and 46 bronze, followed by Pakistan (41-43-71), Sri Lanka (36-63-77), Nepal (9-14-29), Afghanistan (6-7-16), Bangladesh (3-15-32) and Bhutan (0-3-10).