Ironman Imran set to further expand horizon

In a nation that lives and breathes cricket, it is ever so difficult for other sports to stand out and make its own position in the country's sporting culture. Another factor is the mindset of the sports industry as the focus given to the non-cricket genres of sports and its athletes is predominantly dependent on success.

Such a genre is the Ironman competition -- series of long-distance triathlon races organised by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), consisting of a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle ride and a marathon 42.20 km run, completed in that order.

However, with the achievements of Mohammad Shamsuzzaman Arafat, Mishu Biswas, and Abdullah Al Imran at the Ironman Championships, the endurance sports sector is making small yet assured strides in Bangladesh's sporting landscape.

In the Ironman Malaysia in November 2021, Arafat, who works at the Bangladesh Bank, exceeded expectations by leaps and bounds as he finished second in his age-group and 11th overall, while policeman Mishu was placed 11th in his age-group and 151st overall.

Photo: Collected

And Imran, who completed two Ironman races in 2018 and 2019, opted to test his passion for swimming in the Oceanman Asian Championships in Thailand last year. There, contestants had to swim 10 kilometres in open water. In his age-group, Imran stood 13th with an overall rank of 34th, a performance that saw him qualify for the 2023 Oceanman World Championships in Thailand.

For many in Bangladesh, the triathlon is a memory of a multi-faceted sport broadcasted on an American TV channel, but these three individuals are putting Bangladesh on the map with promising results. Moreover, they are inspiring the next generation to take up the global sport.

The Daily Star's Shabab Chowdhury caught up with Abdullah Al Imran to know how he pursue the challenges of competing in global sporting events while having a regular job.

DS: How did your journey to Ironman start?

AAI: I'm a graduate of Faujdarhat Cadet College and there we had a motto which was to become all-rounders in life. In my time there, naturally we had running, swimming and other activities. I had a passion for swimming and got good at it. You could say that the cadet in me made me get better at running and cycling.

I got to know about Ironman in 2015 through Facebook and saw even 50-year-olds competing the gruelling courses which inspired me to take the challenge. Since then, I started to prepare myself mentally for the Ironman challenge. I ran marathons, crossed the Bangla Channel and then finally participated in my first race which was the Ironman Malaysia in November 2018.

Photo: Collected

DS: For someone with an IT job since 2006, how did you manage training time for such a competitive sport?

AAI: It is difficult to manage time, to be honest. I wake up around 5:30 in the morning and then train till 8 am before being at the office by 10. During my preparations for a competition, I had to train in the afternoon as well.

Photo: Collected

DS: Your focus is naturally on the Oceanman World Championships but are you thinking about participating in another Ironman?

AAI: At this moment, I am preparing mentally for the Oceanman World Championships next year. I'm swimming regularly and yes, running and cycling have been side-lined for now. But I have to keep in mind about that as well because I want to compete in future Ironman events too.