UNB: Bangladesh Navy athletes Ismail Hossain and Shirin Akter emerged as the fasted man and woman of the country after winning their respective 100-metre sprint titles of the Walton 42nd National Athletics Championship that began on Thursday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here.
State Minister for Youth and Sports M Zahid Ahsan Russel inaugurated the three-day meet in the afternoon. Youth and Sports Secretary of ruling Awami League and veteran sports organiser M Harun-ur-Rashid, President of Bangladesh Athletics Federation ASM Ali Kabir and Senior Operative Director of Walton Group FM Iqbal Bin Anwar were also present on the occasion. In the day’s most attractive event, M Ismail Hossain of Bangladesh Navy emerged as the fastest man of the country by clinching the men’s 100-metre gold medal creating a new national record with a timing of 10.20 seconds beating last time champions Hasan Miah of BKSP.
Celebrated Navy athlete Shirin Akter maintained her fastest woman crown for the eighth time in a row by winning the women’s 100-metre sprint title clocking 11.80 seconds.
With the feat, Shirin created a history of clinching the 100-metre crown for record eight times to break the Lovely Akhter’s previous record of seven times.
Another Navy athlete M Ibrahim Hossain clinched the gold medal in the men’s shot put with a new national mark.
Five events were decided till 6:30 pm on Thursday.
A total of 410 athletes from 45 teams of different districts, divisions, universities, education boards, physical education colleges, BJMC, BKSP and other affiliated bodies are taking part in the three-day meet for the gold medals of 36 events of the meet – 22 for men and 14 for women.