'My only goal now is to deliver'

Promising swimmer Samiul Islam Rafi has once again been named the best male swimmer at the recently concluded National Swimming Championships -- his third consecutive title. The 21-year-old set six individual records – at on way to winning 11 gold and one silver medal. Since making his senior debut at the 2021 Bangladesh Games, the Rajbari-born swimmer has never looked back -- amassing more than 30 gold medals. The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman caught up with the Rajbari-born swimmer to talk about his journey, progress, and aspirations. Following are the excerpts:

The Daily Star (DS): It's nothing new for you to break or set records at the national swimming championships. What new things did you experience this time?

Samiul Islam Rafi (SIR): This time I tried a few new events and managed to succeed, even setting new records in some of them. Creating six individual records was beyond my expectations, although I had challenged myself to go further than before.

DS: Where do you think you stand in South Asia in terms of your timings?

SIR: The 50m events are my main focus. The timing I achieved in the 50m backstroke this time is comparable to South Asian standards and quite close to the Asian level. If I can continue according to plan, I believe I can achieve something special at the South Asian Games.

DS: Do you see noticeable improvement in your performance after training in Thailand for an extended period?

SIR: Of course. I've improved in various skills and techniques through training in Thailand. I feel I've developed a lot, though there are still areas where I can get better.

DS: How do you feel about competing under hand timing instead of electronic timing?

SIR: To be honest, I don't have much faith in hand timing -- it always leaves me a bit uncertain. Still, I can recognise my improvement even with hand timing. I previously clocked 26.90 seconds, and now it's 25.90 seconds, which is a huge improvement.

Many universities abroad offer swimming scholarships, but they don't accept hand-timed results. So, I think the federation should prioritise electronic timing to create more opportunities for swimmers to earn overseas scholarships.

DS: How satisfied are you with your swimming career so far, considering you came through the talent hunt programme?

SIR: Before joining the talent hunt programme, I was just an ordinary person. Now, I'm very satisfied with my swimming career because I'm not only surpassing my own limits but also helping to take Bangladesh forward.

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DS: What has been your biggest achievement so far, and what do you aim for in the future?

SIR: My biggest achievement so far is winning a gold medal at the Malaysian Open earlier this year, where top swimmers from Malaysia, Thailand, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other countries competed.

The timing I produced there was a qualifying mark for the World Swimming Championships, and I want to achieve such timings regularly to qualify for international events on merit — not through wild cards. I believe FINA will recognise Bangladesh more for our performances if we can keep improving like this.

DS: Where do you think Bangladesh swimming is facing stagnation?

SIR: There are a lot of limitations in Bangladesh, but I think the lack of long-term training programmes is the main issue holding us back. Even during the short training stint under Egyptian coach Saeed Magdy, we saw great improvement -- setting 20 new national records in one championship is rare! If long-term training continues, I believe we could surpass India within a year and a half.

DS: What are your expectations from the Bangladesh Swimming Federation?

SIR: Honestly, I don't have any expectations from the federation. They've already supported me by providing an overseas scholarship. Now it's my responsibility to fulfil their expectations. The Bangladesh Navy is also doing everything for me. I have nothing to ask for -- my only goal now is to deliver for them and for the nation.