Shirin Akhter, Bangladesh鈥檚 16-time national sprint champion and Olympian at the Rio 2016 Games, began her journey in a small village in Satkhira, ultimately becoming the fastest woman in the country. Between 2007 and 2012, Shirin was recognised as both the fastest girl and the fastest junior athlete. In 2014, she won the gold medal in the 100-metre race at the National Athletics Championship, earning the title of the fastest woman in the country. In an interview with 抖阴精品鈥檚 Tarif Akhlaq, the Bangladesh Navy athlete shared her hardship, challenges and social barriers to building a career that inspired a generation of young athletes to chase their dreams on and off the track. Here are the excerpts:
抖阴精品: You are a 16-time national champion. Can you tell us about your journey?
Shirin Akhter: My journey started at the BKSP [Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan]. Becoming an athlete wasn鈥檛 something my family supported much. I鈥檓 from a small village in Satkhira, and for girls, the challenges were even greater. I studied in the village school up to class four, where I always came first in annual sports competitions. That鈥檚 where my interest began. From there, I went to secondary school and later got the chance to join BKSP. At that time, no girl from my family or even my district had gone there for athletics. Initially, my family and the community didn鈥檛 support the idea of a girl moving to Dhaka for sports.
NA: So there was no support from your family?
Shirin: Not really. But I was determined. Coming from a farming family, we couldn鈥檛 afford proper food, clothes, or training facilities. During the BKSP trials, I fell in love with the place, the food, the accommodation, and the facilities. I knew I had to get in. My father had to take a loan, which took a week to arrange. That鈥檚 the kind of background I have come from.
NA: Now after you鈥檝e achieved so much, what do they say now?
Shirin: Actually, they are very supportive now. It has reached a point where, when someone is expecting a child or has a young baby, just a few days or a year old, parents express the hope that their child will aspire to be like me. Not just in sports but also in studies. I continued my education alongside athletics, which I think inspires them.
NA: How do you balance sports and education?
Shirin: I鈥檓 doing my master鈥檚 degree in sports science at Rajshahi University, and with the support of friends, teachers, and coaches, I鈥檓 able to manage both.
NA: You represented Bangladesh at the 2016 Rio Olympics. What was the experience like?
Shirin: The Olympics is every athlete鈥檚 dream; it is the biggest stage in sports. Making it to Rio was a dream come true. The Olympic Village was magical 鈥� like a festival of stars. You could see legends like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and world-class athletes from every sport. Being there for 20鈥�25 days felt surreal. It was undoubtedly the best moment of my life.
NA: What鈥檚 your goal for the next year鈥檚 South Asian Games?
Shirin: Inshallah, if I stay healthy, I plan to participate in all upcoming national and international competitions and give my very best for my country.
NA: You鈥檝e said you want to be a role model for female athletes. What鈥檚 your message for them?
Shirin: For youngsters, whatever they choose to pursue, it is not solely about sports. They should dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to whatever they do and aim to excel in it. In any field they select, they ought to strive for excellence. They should be able to do that. That is what they should try for. That鈥檚 my message.
NA: What about your future plans after retiring from athletics?
Shirin: I don鈥檛 think too far ahead. I prefer to focus on the present. But I do want to stay connected to sports in some way.
NA: You grew up with footballer Sabina Khatun. How is your friendship now?
Shirin: We鈥檝e known each other since my days in Satkhira, and our relationship is still good. Whenever I visit, we meet up along with other athletes. Usually during Eid, many of us gather, from the district administration to the local sports community. We have a strong bond.
NA: If you hadn鈥檛 become a sprinter, what would you have done?
Shirin: I wouldn鈥檛 have entered a profession then. Because, as I said, the family I come from... my elder sister was married off in class nine or ten. I would have likely had a similar fate.
NA: Women in sports still face challenges in Bangladesh, like tournaments and less prize money. Do you think things are improving?
Shirin: Alhamdulillah, things are better than before. We鈥檙e seeing more tournaments and better results, especially from female athletes. That鈥檚 a positive sign for the future.
