Bangladesh athletes ended their campaign of the Paris 2024 Olympics on a dismal note following sprinter Imranur Rahman and swimmer Sonia Khatun early exits from their respective events on Saturday.
It was nothing new for Bangladesh to finish their campaign empty-handed in the world鈥檚 biggest sporting extravaganza, as they have never won a medal in the Games since their first appearance in 1984 in Los Angeles.
A total of 54 athletes have so far represented Bangladesh in the Olympics, and among them only three鈥攇olfer Siddikur Rahman and archers Ruman Shana and Sagor Islam鈥攅arned direct entries in the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 Games, respectively.
On Saturday, the country鈥檚 four-time fastest man, Imranur, clocked 10.73 seconds to finish sixth among eight participants in heat-6 of the preliminary round of the men鈥檚 100-metre at the Stade de France.
Deliser Espinosa Arturo Harmodio of Panama clocked 10.34 seconds to finish first, while Sicobo Dylan of the Seychelles came in second, clocking 10.51 seconds to qualify for the first round from heat six of the preliminary round.
The top two from each heat and the next four fastest contenders advanced to the first round after 45 sprinters competed in six separate heats of the preliminary round of the track and field event, with Haiti鈥檚 Borzor Christopher finishing on top, clocking 10.26 seconds.
Imranur, who finished overall 25th among 45 sprinters in Paris, could not even match his personal best timing of 10.11 seconds that he made in London on September 3, 2023.
On the other hand, swimmer Sonia crossed the 50-metre distance in 30.52 seconds in heat-3 of the women鈥檚 freestyle event at the Paris La Defense Arena.
Sonia took 0.41 seconds more in Paris than her best timing of 30.11 seconds that she made in this event in the Asian Games in China in September-October 2023.
Sonia finished sixth among the eight contestants in her heat and placed overall joint 64th among 79 swimmers, who competed in 10 heats. Sjoestroem Sarah of Sweden came on top in the overall heats by clocking 23.85 seconds.
The other three Bangladeshi athletes鈥攁rcher Sagor Islam, shooter Robiul Islam, and swimmer Samiul Islam Rafi鈥攁lso ended their campaign, making early exits from their respective events.
Sagor ended his journey with a straight 0-6 set points defeat to Italy鈥檚 Mauro Nespoli in the elimination round of the men鈥檚 recurve individual event at the Esplanade des Invalides on July 31.
Robiul exited from the qualification round of the men鈥檚 10-metre air rifle event, finishing 43rd among 49 shooters and scoring 624.2 points on July 28, while Rafi clocked his best timing of 53.10 seconds in the heat-2 of the men鈥檚 100-metre freestyle event two days later.
