Shumita keeps crown

SHUMITA... 100m hurdles gold

Shumita Rani retained the women's 100m hurdles crown while some of the other events saw new winners on the second day of the Athletics events at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The Bangladesh Jail's veteran athlete Shumita, champion since 2003 barring 2009, proved her experience as she beat a younger competitor, Jesmin Akter of Ansar, by 0.07 second to the finish line.
Shumita finished the run in 15.26 seconds while Jesmin timed 15.33 seconds and Mukta Khatun finished a further 0.10 second behind for the third place.
However, the defending champion in the men's 110m hurdles Asadul Islam (14.88sec) of BGB was beaten to the second place by Masud Khan (14.76sec) of BJMC. With a timing of 15.15 seconds, Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh Army took the bronze.
Crowns shifted to newcomers in other events as well. Zakia Islam Subarna of BKSP, who surprised everyone on Monday by winning the women's 200m sprint, grabbed her second gold of the Games by winning the 400m in 59.26 seconds, beating her more experienced opponent Rawshan Ara Putul (1:01.88) while Shushmita Ghosh of BJMC took the bronze.
Josna Akter of BJMC lost her longstanding reign -- a staggering 23 national championship titles in 25 years -- in the women's discus throw event to Jafrin Akter of BKSP. BJMC's Shahin Azad, another veteran, finished third in the event. Bangladesh Army's Jamrul Islam won gold in the men's 10,000m run with a time of 35:59.3min while defending champion Amir Ali Sagar did not take part.
Maruf Hossain of Bangladesh Army won the gold in the men's 400m sprint in 48.65 seconds, beating Mahbubul Alam (49.39sec) of BKSP and Chanchal Ahmed (50.24) of BJMC to second and third positions respectively.
Six other track disciplines were also decided yesterday.
Meanwhile in a different development, Bangladesh Athletics Federation withdrew their record-keeper Mosharraf Hossain Milon on Monday night in relation to the fiasco over the timing provided in the women's 200m sprint.