A total of 10 new national records were set on the opening day of the 31st Mir Akhter Hossain Ltd age-group swimming and diving competition that began at the Syed Nazrul Islam national swimming complex on Tuesday. BKSP clinched 23 gold medals while Bangladesh Ansar got the remaining 13 gold medals from the 36 events that were completed on the first day of the three-day long tournament.
Ariful Islam of BKSP stole the spotlight with five gold medals including three new records at 100-metre breast stroke, 200-metre freestyle and 200-metre butterfly event of 18-20 year boys’ group level.
Arif finished the 200-metre freestyle event clocking 2:04:32 and 200-metre butterfly by 02:22:49 to break his own age-group records and finished 100-metre breast stroke by record 01:08:62.
The teenager also claimed gold medals in 400-metre individual medley and 100-metre backstroke.
His team-mates Rumpa Khatun and Mithu Mia also broke two records each in 10-year girls’ and 13-14 year boys’ group level.
BKSP got 20 silver and 14 bronze medals aside from their gold medals while Ansar got nine silvers and four bronze medals.
A total of 608 swimmers of 72 teams including 25 district sports associations, two division sports association, 43 swimming clubs with BKSP and Ansar have been taking part in the competition.
-With New Age input
