Pulled from the pool, back on top: Maisha's golden comeback

Two years after her frustrated father pulled her out of BKSP over alleged neglect, Fatiha Mahtab Maisha's promising swimming career appeared to be over. But a timely intervention from South Asian Games gold medallist Mahfuza Khatun Shila brought her back to the pool -- a decision that culminated in Maisha winning 10 gold medals and setting four national records in the girls' 13-14 age group at the National Age-Group Swimming Championships, which concluded on Tuesday.

Maisha was named the best female swimmer of the meet after claiming 10 gold medals and one silver while rewriting the national records in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke. Her exploits also powered Chandpur's Meghna Mohona Swimming Club to the junior runners-up trophy with 14 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze medals, behind champions BKSP, who finished with 66 gold, 58 silver and 55 bronze.

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Inspired by her maternal grandfather, Shamsul Islam Babul -- a Bangladesh Army swimmer who won national gold medals -- Maisha first learned swimming from him in rural Gajaria of Munshiganj before earning admission to BKSP in 2021. She represented BKSP in age-group competitions until her father withdrew her in late 2024, alleging that she had been overlooked for the national youth team despite setting two national records in junior competitions.

"She remained away from swimming for more than six months after I withdrew her from BKSP in October 2024 because the BKSP coaches did not send her to the national youth team camp despite her setting two national records," Mahtab Uddin told The Daily Star on the final day of the championships in Mirpur on Tuesday.

"However, Shila, the SA Games gold-winning swimmer of Bangladesh Navy, along with other Navy coaches, kept calling me and asking me to send Maisha to Bangladesh Navy. Later, Maisha also agreed to join the Navy as a contractual swimmer. She has been training there since the latter part of 2025, and that has resulted in four national records and 10 gold medals," said Mahtab.

He added that Maisha is now studying at a weekend vocational institute while training five days a week under Bangladesh Navy.

Bangladesh Navy's former national swimmer and official Jewel Ahmed believes Maisha has all the attributes to become one of the country's brightest prospects.

"It is rare to find a swimmer with her height. She is 5 feet 6 inches tall and has tremendous potential if she continues training. Bangladesh Navy signed her on a two-year contract," Jewel told The Daily Star before Maisha competed in the 100m freestyle final, where she bettered her own national record.

Bangladesh Swimming Federation general secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shahin also revealed that Maisha had already represented Bangladesh earlier this year at the Mini Olympics in Serbia, where school students from different countries took part.