Imranur sprints into history

Bangladeshi sprinter Imranur Rahman created a piece of history for the country on Saturday by storming into the semifinals of the 60m sprint in World Athletics Indoor Championship in Belgrade on Saturday.

England-based sprinter Imranur, who recently became the fastest man in Bangladesh after winning the 100m sprint in the national athletics in his maiden appearance, clocked 6.64 seconds in his favourite event – the 60m sprint – to move into the semifinals in Belgrade.

The best sprinters of the world are competing for the titles in the World Athletics Indoor Championship. Imranur finished third in his heat, with the first place going to Tokyo Olympics 100m sprint winner Marcel Jacobs of Italy (6.53 seconds).

This is the first time a Bangladeshi athlete is participating in the World Athletics Indoor Championship. No other sprinter from the South Asian region managed to move into the semifinals of this edition.

Pakistan's Umar Khaiyam Hameed was disqualified in his heat while South Asia's fastest man, Hassan Saaid of the Maldives, failed to qualify after clocking 6.87 seconds.

Imranur qualified as the 18th fastest, with 20 athletes qualifying for the semifinals, which will be held later on Saturday night.