Rubel swims to gold

Rubel Rana clinched the first swimming gold for Bangladesh in the Ninth SAF Games when he won the 100m backstroke in Islamabad yesterday.

He finished with 1minute 2.78 seconds to ensure that the national anthem was played at the Sports Complex Swimming pool for the first time after a frustrating four days. It was the third gold for Bangladesh after Asif Hossain Khan and Sharmin Akhter clinched the 10m air-rile events on the second and third day of the biggest regional sports carnival.

Rubel, who turned 21 on Friday, could not think of a better way to celebrate his birthday.

He took a perfect dive and beat Indian Dipes in a close finish. Dipesh took the silver with a timing of 1minute 03.43 seconds while Faiz of Pakistan claimed the bronze clocking 1:04.82.

The exciting natant from Kushtia had earlier won silver in the 200m individual medley.

Rubel's success made up for the disappointment of Karar Samedul, who was tipped as a likely gold prospect for Bangladesh in the pool.