Azim claims fifth record in age-group swimming

Mohammad Abdul Azim continued his record-breaking run in the 38th National Age-Group Swimming Championships as the BKSP student broke a 14-year-old mark in the 200m freestyle of the U-15-17 group on the third day of the competition at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Monday.

The grade-eight student clocked 02:08.04 seconds to eclipse the previous record of 02:08.86 seconds, set by former BKSP student Ariful Islam in 2012. Niloy Sutradhar of Niklee Swimming Club finished second in 02:12.63 seconds, while Sakibul Hasan of Sagorkhali Swimming Club took bronze with a timing of 02:13.47 seconds.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

It was Azim’s fifth record of the ongoing championships, having already set new marks in the 100m and 400m freestyle events as well as the 200m and 400m individual medley. Azim, who hails from Kushtia, has so far won eight gold and two silver medals from 10 events.

The third day saw four new records, including Azim’s, taking the overall tally to 15 after 11 records were set over the first two days.

BKSP continued to dominate the medal table with 50 gold, 49 silver and 29 bronze medals. Niklee Swimming Club of Kishoreganj were second with 10 gold, eight silver and six bronze medals, while Meghna Mohona Swimming Club of Chandpur stood third with eight gold, three silver and 11 bronze medals.

Apart from Azim, Shamimul Haque of Niklee Swimming Club set his second record of the championships in the boys’ 400m freestyle U-13-14 group. He clocked 04:45.30 seconds to break the previous mark of 04:45.50 seconds, set by Mohammad Noyon Ali in 2014. BKSP’s M Toufiq and Bappy Rahman Rafi finished second and third with timings of 04:48.47 and 05:20.12 seconds respectively.

In the girls’ 200m backstroke U-13-14 group, Fatiha Mahtab Maisha of Meghna Swimming Club bettered her own timing, clocking 02:45.44 seconds. Her previous best was 02:51.64 seconds. BKSP’s Nijhum Akter and Ramisha Akter finished second and third in 03:06.46 and 03:10.61 seconds respectively.

In the girls’ 50m butterfly U-10 group, Ayesha Tabassum Saba of BKSP broke an 11-year-old record, finishing in 00:38.25 seconds to erase the previous mark of 00:39.02 seconds set by BKSP’s Rupa Khatun in 2015. Sayeba Jafrin Sara of BKSP and Tahmina Khatun of Chapainawabganj won silver and bronze with timings of 00:46.92 and 00:54.56 seconds respectively.