Romana Akter of BKSP ignited the pool with two new national records to arrive as the new sensation of the swimming arena in the opening day of the 8th Bangladesh Games at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex on Sunday.
The class nine student of BKSP who hails from Nikli of Kishoreganj clocked 2:44.14 minutes to set a new national mark in the 200 metre Butterfly wiping out the previous record of 2:46.98. In the fourth event of the day Romana set her second national record of the day. It was the tough event of 400 metre Individual Medley and the rising star clocked 05:55.02 minutes to put her name in the record book. The previous national record was 05:56.02 minutes.
With these feats, she is has turned out to be a glimmering example of how Bangladesh Games produces the stars of the future. The 7th edition of the Games was held back in 2002 and since then a vacuum has prevailed in the sport arena of the country. In the very first day after the resumption of the games after 11 long years Romana has proved herself as the new queen of the pool.
The seventh of the six brother and four sister family Romana caught the eyes of the swimming officials when she grabbed two golds in the national junior meet of 2008. The BKSP officials persuaded her to get admitted into BKSP and now she hopes to continue her studies and new found passion together. “I want to study at the university and also at the same time try to excel in swimming, I want to contribute to my family” said Romana.
She said she was inspired my some national swimmers especially by former national champion Karar Samedul Islam in her early childhood. “I did not think that I could be a swimmer, but it was my passion and now I look forward to continue my career as a swimmer” said Romana.
The little star will compete in 12 events and hopes to win at last five gold medals.
Karar Samedul Islam was near the pool to acknowledge the feat of his neighbour. “Her house is a few hundred yards away from mine and I saw her talents, though she is small in stature she has very strong muscles that makes all the difference with others, she is the new queen of the pool” announced Samedul.
