The athletics discipline of the eighth Bangladesh Games witnessed a new national record by BKSP sprinter Zakia Sultana Subarna as she claimed the women’s 200m event in 25.00 seconds at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Monday.
Another BSKP faithful, Abu Rayhan clinched the 200m gold medal by virtue of beating national champion Azharul Islam of Bangladesh Army.
HSC examinee Subarna announced her arrival as a future star after she bettered Nazmunnahar Beauty’s previous record of 25.57 seconds.
Another BKSP student Sirin Akhter attained the silver medal in 25.10 seconds as she also broke Beauty’s record. Beauty finished third to get the bronze medal in 25.50 seconds.
The former fastest woman sprinter of the nation, Shamsunnahar Chumky finished seventh out of eight participants.
For more than a decade the 200m sprint was a battle between the two veteran sprinters, Nazmunnahar Beauty and Shamsunnahar Chumky. Especially in the last eight years, Beauty made the event her own.
In the last national meet Subarna proclaimed herself as a worthy opponent of Beauty but failed to grab the gold medal which was decided by a photo-finish.
After confirming her first gold medal in any national meet, Subarna is now targeting the international arena.
`Since my second-placed finish in last year’s national meet, I was more determined that I would win this title. There was a lot of pressure. I was nervous in the morning but I ran according to my practice-sessions and managed to win it comfortably in the end,’ said an elated Shuborna.
It was difficult for Subarna to manage her practice sessions as the Higher Secondary Certificate exams are going on.
‘It was not easy for us, you know, having to practice and attend the exams at the same time. It was not straightforward for me in the beginning, as my father did not want me to mingle with sports while my mother backed me,’ said Subarna, the eldest of three siblings in the family.
Beauty congratulated the new champion whilst vowing to get her crown back as she claimed that she had a lack of practice and some other technical reasons for not doing well.
‘This is a good thing that someone new has come to the scene, but I will be back again,’ said a dejected Beauty.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army’s Azhar was under the spotlight as a national champion before the 200m sprint got underway but Rayhan of BKSP surprisingly crossed the finishing line ahead of Azhar in 21.50 seconds. Azhar completed the run in 21.60 seconds while Maruf Hossain bagged the bronze medal in 21.80 seconds.
Rayhan, who is also sitting for his HSC exams, asserted that the outcome did not astonish him because he concluded the junior national meet last year in 21.25 seconds.
‘Last year I finished the run in 21.25 seconds in the junior national meet and I am not satisfied with my own performance as I could not break my own record,’ said Rayhan.
‘Although I am elated as I fulfilled the dream of my father by winning the gold medal in the Bangladesh Games, I am also vying for the highest achievements available,’ said a joyous Rayhan.
MEDALS TABLE
Teams Gold Silver Bronze Total
Ansar 14 10 15 39
Navy 10 10 5 25
Army 12 7 5 24
BJMC 8 12 5 25
BKSP 6 3 7 16
-With New Age input
