Bangladesh Athletics Federation has confirmed that hurdler Nazmul Hossain Ronny will represent the country at the upcoming World Athletics Championships, to be held in Tokyo, Japan from 13 to 21 September.
The 400m hurdler earned selection following a standout year in which he broke a long-standing national record. In February, Ronny clocked 50.84 seconds in the 400m hurdles, surpassing a record that had stood for 31 years. He went on to maintain his form by dominating the same event at the recent Summer Athletics Championships.
The decision to send Ronny marks a slight departure from tradition, as the Federation has historically opted to send sprinters to international competitions. However, this time the choice was made between Ronny and sprinter Imranur Rahman.
“We intended to send only one athlete between Ronny and Imranur,” said Bangladesh Athletics Federation General Secretary Shah Alam. “Imranur informed the Federation via letter that he does not wish to participate in the World Athletics Championships. As a result, the decision was made to send Ronny. His timing is good enough to win gold at the South Asian Games, and he is also younger. Taking all this into consideration, he is being given the opportunity to compete on the world stage.”
The registration deadline for the championships passed last Saturday, and Ronny’s recent form helped him stand out among potential candidates. Although athletes such as Golam Sarwar in shot put and Rinky in long-distance events have set national records this year, they were not considered competitive enough at international level.
“In long-distance running and throwing events, we lag far behind the international standard,” said Shah Alam. “Compared to throws, we are slightly better in jumps, and even better in hurdles and sprints. We will be sending throwers and jumpers to South Asian and invitational competitions in the future. Otherwise, they will become discouraged.”
Due to strict qualifying standards in jumping and throwing events, as well as financial limitations, the Federation typically sends only one athlete to global meets. Earlier this year, sprinter Zahir represented Bangladesh at the World Indoor Championships.
Alongside Ronny’s participation, two officials will travel to Japan. The World Athletics Congress will take place on 11 and 12 September in Tokyo, ahead of the competition. Federation President Major General (Retd.) Naeem Ashfaq will attend as a delegate, while General Secretary Shah Alam will accompany him as delegate and team manager.