Almost five years away from the game. She was busy with marriage-children-family-job. In the middle of the United Nation (UN) mission, she went to Sudan and saw another form of life. That experience taught Romana Akhter a lot in life. Inspired to return to the swimming pool.
Romana from Kishoreganj stole the limelight by returning to the pool. New national records were set in four of the 10 events on the first day of the Max Group 33rd National Swimming, which began at the Mirpur National Swimming Complex on Saturday.
Romana won the gold in the 100m breaststroke with a record. That too makes for the best timing of life. A return to the pool could not have been more memorable for her. She won nine golds in national swimming since 2012.
Romana Akhter and Faisal Ahmed, husband and wife together, won a total of four medals on the first day
Romana won bronze in the 200m breaststroke in swimming at the 2016 SA Games. At the last SA Games held in Nepal in December 2019, she finished fourth in all the three - 50, 100, 200m breaststroke. She stayed away from swimming after those games. Her husband Faisal Ahmed is also a swimmer. He holds the rank of corporal in the army. Faisal's main event is the 400m freestyle. He won bronze in 200m freestyle and silver in 200m butterfly. Romana got bronze in 200m butterfly. As a result, the husband and wife won a total of four medals on the first day.
In March 2021, this swimming couple welcomed a daughter, Falak Ahmed. Romana went to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan in March 2022, leaving her little daughter in the country. Return in September 2023. Missionary Romana is very excited about her first competitive swim today. Prothom Aloke said, 'I wanted to return to the game. But I was suffering from lack of confidence due to long breaks. It was also difficult to get a place in the army. The force brought me back to previous performances. Thanks to them. But to return to swimming with a record, it was out of the question.
Navy's Samiul Islam in 50m backstroke, Yuthi Akhter of the same team in 50m backstroke, Kajal Mia in 200m butterfly made the cord.
