Sheikh Russel 18th National Long-distance Swimming Competition-2021 was held on Sunday in the Chitra River of Narail district on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independence.

Chief of Naval Staff and Bangladesh Swimming Federation President Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal was present as chief guest in the closing ceremony of the swimming competition.

The competition of men swimmers was held from Nayeb Bari Ghat to Rupganj Badhaghat near about 10-kilometer (km) while the women swimmers start from Rotdanga Ghat to Rupganj Badhaghat near about eight-km.

Faisal covered a distance of 10-km from Nayeb Bari Ghat to Rupganj Badhaghat in 1 hour 3 minute 17 seconds. Navy’s participant Palash Chowdhury finished second covering the same distance in 1 hour 4 minutes while Navy’s Kajol Mia ended third covering the distance in 1 hour 5 minutes.

In the women’s category, Sonia Akter became champions covering a distance of 8-km from Rotdanga to Rupganj Badhaghat. Sonia took 58 minutes 50 seconds to cover the distance. Army’s Mukti Khatun finished second covering the same distance in 1 hour 43 seconds while Navy’s other participant Suriya Akter ended third covering it 1 hour 2 minutes 50 seconds.

In his speech, the chief guest said that there is a lot of talent hidden in the country at the marginal level. In this riverine Bangladesh, people have been swimming since childhood. This initiative has been taken to find latent talents. He hopes that through such initiatives it will be possible to find new swimmers.

Later, the chief guest distributed the prizes among the winners.

Tarafder Md Ruhul Amin, Managing Director of Saif Powertec Ltd, Prabir Kumar Roy, Superintendent of Police Narail and officials of National Swimming Federation including Narail, officers of Bangladesh Navy, a large number of swimmers and general spectators were present on the occasion.

A total of 14 participants, 7 in the men’s category and 7 in the women’s categories, took part in the competition organised by Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) and assisted by Bangladesh Navy.

On October 27, six men and an equal number of women swimmers were selected through an open trial at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on the occasion of this competition.

Besides, one man and one woman participated from Narail district in the swimming competition as the host district.