30th National Swimming Championships get underway

Bangabandhu 30th National Swimming Championships in set to get underway tomorrow at the Syed Nazrul Islam Swimming Complex in Mirpur with expectations low for setting a new national record following no activities of the swimmers in the recent past due to the pandemic.

Some 390 swimmers are expected to participate in 38 events -- 19 each for men and women -- during a three-day tournament.

"We have taken all preparations to make it a success," said Bangladesh Swimming Federation general secretary MB Saif. "I think the championships will see less records than the past because the swimmers including the service teams have not been in practice for a long time due to the pandemic."

Replying to a query, Saif said, "We are going to hold the championship with hand timers because the National Sports Council hasn't handed over the electronic timers to us yet.

"After filing a complaint to the parliamentary committee of Youth and Sports, a probe committee has been formed to investigate the non-functional new electronic devices but the committee has not submitted the report yet," added Saif.