After months away from competition, Imranur Rahman has returned to reclaim his title as Bangladesh’s fastest man. The 32-year-old sprinter, born and raised in Sheffield, England, clocked 10.64 seconds in the men’s 100m final at the 17th national summer athletics meet on 22 August, comfortably taking gold for the Bangladesh Navy.
Imranur had missed the 48th national athletics championships in February due to injury, allowing Mohammad Ismail to claim the crown. Determined to make a comeback, Imranur even trained in China to regain form. His efforts paid off on Friday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, where he was the star attraction and delivered on expectations.
Army sprinter Abdul Motaleb finished second with 10.86 seconds, while former title-holder Ismail settled for third in 10.88. While Imranur’s 10.64 is not competitive by international standards, it marks a significant return to form after injury setbacks and time away from the track.
Over the last three years, the UK-based athlete has established himself as Bangladesh’s leading track star. In 2022, he made his debut at the national championships, winning gold in the 100m with a record-breaking performance. In 2023, he won gold in the 60m at the Asian Indoor Championships, becoming joint top in the Asian rankings. He also ran 10.11 seconds in London that year – a time still recognised as Bangladesh’s national 100m record and the fastest by any Bangladeshi.
Imranur’s comeback is a boost for Bangladeshi athletics ahead of the upcoming South Asian Games. Reflecting on his performance, he said: “It’s okay for now because I was out of training for two to three months. I want to perform better at the SA Games.”