Four more national records for swimmer Rafi

Promising swimmer Samiul Islam Rafi continued his record-breaking spree at the Max Group 34th National Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Championships, shattering four more national records on the second day at the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Rafi, who had already set a new record in the 50m backstroke on the opening day, added four more to his name in the 200m individual medley, 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, and 200m backstroke events.

Apart from Rafi's heroics, Romana Akter and Juthi Akter also etched their names in the record books. Romana created two new records in the women's 200m individual medley and 200m breaststroke, while Juthi set a new mark in the 200m backstroke. In total, 12 new records were set over the first two days of the championships.

Of his four new records, Rafi bettered his own marks in the 200m individual medley and 200m backstroke, clocking 2:08.92 and 2:10.46 seconds respectively, improving on his previous bests of 2:09.99 and 2:10.87 seconds.

The 20-year-old also shattered Mahmudul Islam's three-year-old record of 25.69 seconds in the 50m butterfly, clocking 25.15 seconds, and broke a 12-year-old mark set by Mahfizur Rahman in the 100m freestyle, finishing in 52.42 seconds to eclipse the previous best of 52.88 seconds.

In the women's events, Romana first broke Junayna Akter's 2019 record in the 200m individual medley, touching the wall at 2:26.02 seconds, well ahead of Junayna's 2:39.01 seconds. She then improved her own best in the 200m breaststroke, timing 2:49.75 seconds to surpass her previous 2:51.35 seconds.

Juthi capped off the day by bettering her own record in the 200m backstroke, clocking 2:40.41 seconds, improving from her earlier 2:40.51 seconds.

After two days of competition, Bangladesh Navy topped the medal tally with 20 gold, 13 silver, and seven bronze medals, followed by Bangladesh Army with five gold, 11 silver, and 17 bronze. BKSP occupied third place with two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.