Bangladesh Navy maintained their dominance in the Bangladesh Games swimming as they extended their medals tally with two new national records set by their swimmers on the second day at the National Swimming Complex on Monday.
Navy’s Sonia Akter Tumpa clocked 01:12:08 to set a new national record in the 100-metre butterfly while Mahfizur Rahman took 2:52:00 to complete the 200-metre freestyle that enabled him to be the new record holder in the event.
Navy swimmers claimed seven gold medals from the 10 events held on the day to take them clearly ahead in the medal list with 10 golds, nine silvers and four bronzes as their nearest competitor BKSP are lagging far behind with four gold, one silver and seven bronze medals.
The Army team are in the third place with four golds, three silvers and three bronzes.
‘We introduced women wings for the first time in Navy to be at the top in every swimming meet in the country,’ Sheikh Selim Ahmed, master chief petty officer of Bangladesh Navy, told reporters.
Recently Navy recruited four women swimmers from Ansar as part of their new plan. They are Sonia Akhter, Mahfuza Khatun, Nazma Khatun and Lima Akhter.
Sonia told reporters that she was determined to secure gold on Sunday but could not do so as she was not well and was uncertain about playing in the competition.
‘I wanted to win gold but due to my ill health I could not do so,’ Sonia told reporters, who holds the record in 100-metre butterfly since 2010.
‘We want to repay the Navy as they had taken us,’ she added.
Mahfizur, national record holder in 200-metre freestyle since 2007, said he always tries hard to remain at the top.
‘Though there are not too many participants as few meets take place every year but it does not make me any less determined,’ said Mahfizur.
Mahfizur and Bangladesh Army swimmer Jewel Ahmed are leading the individual medal list after picking up three golds each while Sonia grabbed three golds to lead in the women’s category.
Mahmudun Nabi of BKSP won gold in 100m butterfly clocking 00:58:04, while Nazma Khatun of Navy clocked 2:29:12 to pick up gold in 200m freestyle.
Shahjahan Ali of Bangladesh Army won gold in the 100m breaststroke clocking 01:08: 85 and Mahfuza Khatun of Navy clocked 01:22:42 to win gold in 100m breaststroke.
Jewel Ahmed of Army lifted the gold meal in 200m individual medley with a timing of 2:14:12 while Sonia Akhter of Navy clocked 2:47:35 to win gold in 200m individual medley.
Navy won both the men’s and women’s 4x100m freestyle relay events clocking 3:43:23 and 4:38:39 respectively.
-With New Age input
