Against the tide: Seventeen-year-old surfer Fatema Akter rides a wave off Cox’s Bazar as she prepares to represent Bangladesh at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan. A Class 10 student who took up surfing six years ago despite criticism that the sport was “not for girls”, Fatema will compete in the women’s event as surfing makes its Asian Games debut. PHOTO: COURTESY