Imranur Rahman and Shirin Akhter reasserted their dominance at the Bangladesh National Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Paltan on 17 May, with both sprinters reclaiming titles they had previously held and underlining their status as the country’s fastest man and woman respectively.
England-based Imranur Rahman faced no serious challenge in the men’s 100 metres, clocking 10.58 seconds to win comfortably and add yet another national title to his collection. It was his sixth combined title across the National and Summer Athletics Championships, and an improvement on his time of 10.64 seconds at last August’s Summer Athletics.
He could not, however, surpass his personal best. That mark of 10.29 seconds was set back in 2022 and remains the benchmark he is yet to approach again in competition.
Mohammad Ismail of the Bangladesh Navy finished second in 10.86 seconds, with Naeem Islam of the Bangladesh Air Force taking third in 10.91 seconds.
The women’s 100 metres carried extra intrigue heading into the day, with Shirin Akhter looking to reclaim the title she lost to Sumaiya Dewan at last summer’s Summer Athletics. The Bangladesh Navy athlete delivered, crossing the line in 12.10 seconds to win comfortably and take back the crown she had relinquished.
It was Shirin’s 17th combined title across the National and Summer Athletics Championships, a remarkable record of sustained excellence at domestic level. She too fell short of her personal best of 11.95 seconds, set in 2022, but the victory was convincing.
Sumaiya Dewan, the defending champion, had a difficult day and could manage only fourth place in 12.41 seconds, a significant drop from the form that had seen her dethrone Shirin last time out. Bangladesh Army athletes Sharifa Khatun and Rekha Akhter took second and third respectively, clocking 12.25 and 12.34 seconds.
