Imranur, Priya named best athletes as Army dominate National Summer Athletics

Bangladesh Army dominated the Arafat Rahman Koko 18th National Summer Athletics Competition, winning 60 medals as nine national records were set during the three-day event that concluded at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.

Army topped the medal table with 21 gold, 20 silver and 19 bronze medals. Bangladesh Navy finished second with 18 gold, 17 silver and 10 bronze medals, while Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP) placed third with one gold and three bronze medals.

Bangladesh Navy sprinter Imranur Rahman was named the best male athlete and received a 100cc motorcycle. He won gold in the men's 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay events.

Navy's Priya Akter was named the best female athlete and received Tk 80,000 in prize money. She won gold in the women's 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m events, setting national records in the 1,500m and 3,000m.

Imranur won the men's 200m gold in 21.18 seconds on Sunday. Army's Shanto Karmakar took silver in 21.63 seconds, while Navy's Rakibul Hasan claimed bronze in 21.77 seconds.

In the women's 200m, Navy's Shirin Akter set a new national record of 24.34 seconds, improving her previous mark of 24.68 seconds, set in 2024. Army's Sharifa Khatun finished second in 25.11 seconds, followed by teammate Barsha Khatun in 25.33 seconds.

Army's Sohanur Rahman won the men's 10,000m gold in 33 minutes 12.40 seconds. In the men's 800m, Mosharaf Hossain claimed gold in 1 minute 53.53 seconds, ahead of teammate Rakibul Islam, who clocked 1 minute 54.95 seconds. BKSP's Md Sami Islam Sani took bronze in 1 minute 56.74 seconds.

Navy's Papia Akter won the women's 800m gold in 2 minutes 17.88 seconds. Army's Munni Karmakar secured silver in 2 minutes 19.35 seconds, while Navy's Mst Sumaiya Akter took bronze in 2 minutes 20.83 seconds.

Navy closed the competition with a national record in the women's 4x400m relay.

Navy coach Ansar Ali was named the best coach/organiser after five athletes under his guidance set national records at the competition.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir attended Sunday's closing ceremony as the chief guest and distributed prizes among the winners. The competition was organised by the Bangladesh Athletics Federation, with Dhaka South City Corporation as the title sponsor and Anwar Ispat as the powered-by sponsor.