Agony for Ismail in long jump

It was agony for Mohammad Ismail in the long jump event of the National Athletics Championship as the Bangladesh Navy athlete missed out on the gold medal to compatriot Al Amin.

Ismail considers the long jump as his favourite event, followed closely by the 100m sprint, and it is in the latter that he clinched gold on the opening day of the championship Thursday at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

But the fastest sprinter of Bangladesh was disappointed after registering a jump of 7.35m, behind Al Amin’s 7.36m, to finish second Friday.

Unable to hide his dejection, Ismail said, “I couldn’t win due to my own mistakes. I couldn’t finish first owing to my error. I won gold in the Summer Athletics’ long jump, but couldn’t replicate it here. After winning the 100m, I really hoped I could win the long jump.”

In contrast, the 31-year old Al Amin was ecstatic to have sealed the gold.

BKSP’s Jahir Raihan was the star of the National Athletics Championship on the second day at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka Friday as he broke a 32-year national record in the 400m.https://t.co/nzJFzmGErI#BKSP #JAHIRRAIHAN #JAHIR #RAIHAN #ATHLETICS #BANGLADESH #BAF #NAC

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 25, 2019

He said, “Many says I am old, and that I won’t be able to do it. But I trained hard, and got my results. Feeling extremely delighted.”

In the women’s 100m hurdles, it was Sumita Rani who claimed gold.

The 2010 South Asian Games silver medalist has now won a total of 15 golds in the local meets, but wasn’t all that happy.

She said, “I am still the best in 100m hurdles. No other girl is emerging in this event. Obviously it feels well to have finished first. But I would’ve been happy if there was more competition.”

In the other events, Sumi Akter won gold in the women’s 400m, Sraboni Mallick bagged gold in shotput, Rinki Khatun claimed gold in long jump, Papia Akter clinched gold in the discus, Mahfuzur Rahman sealed gold in high jump, Mohammad Moniruzzaman finished first in discus, Mahfuz Rahman clinched gold in hammer throw while Mirza Hasan notched gold in the 110m hurdles.