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Samiul Islam Rafi created three new individual records as his team Bangladesh Navy emerged champions in the 33rd National Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo Competition that ended at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Tuesday. 

Rafi set a record in the men’s 50m backstroke on Saturday by clocking 00.26.79 seconds to break his own record of 00.26.90 seconds made in 2023.

He also won gold in the men’s 200m individual medley and men’s 200m backstroke events on Sunday.

In the 200m individual medley, Rafi took 02.09.99 seconds, while 02.10.87 seconds in the 200m backstroke to touch the finish line. In the men’s 200m backstroke Rafi broke his own record of 02.11.86 seconds that he made in 2023.

Aside from the individual performance, the Navy swimmer set a new record in the men’s 200m freestyle relay with Kajol Mia, Asif Reza, and Mahmudunnobi, clocking 08.00.51 seconds and surpassing the previous record of 08.06.01 seconds set by Navy in 2023. 

Rafi bagged a total of five gold medals and one bronze in the four-day meet that saw 10 new national records, including two on the final day. 

Navy’s Juthi Akter, who set a record on the opening day in the women’s 50m backstroke clocking 00.32.74 seconds, set another record on the final day. 

Juthi finished the women’s 100m backstroke in 01.11.83 seconds, breaking the previous record of 01.12.37 seconds set by Navy’s Sumyia Akter in 2022.

Kajol, who set a record in the men’s 200m butterfly event on the opening day, set up another record in the men’s 400m freestyle on the final day, clocking 04.14.25 seconds.

Romana Akter of the Bangladesh Army created two records on Sunday, clocking 02.51.35 seconds in the women’s 200m breaststroke. Earlier on day one, she set a record in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

Bangladesh Navy finished on top with 70 medals—32 gold, 26 silver, and 12 bronze—followed by Army with 48 medals—10 gold, 15 silver, and 23 bronze. 

Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (one silver and seven bronze) and Air Force (one bronze) are the other teams to grab medals in the 52-team competition.