Former athlete Firoza recalls old days

Firoza Khatun is not a person who likes to look behind. But, whenever she sees someone racing on the track, the former athlete wishes to go back to her golden days.

Once the fastest woman of Bangladesh, Firoza Khatun, won the national title 10 times from 1986 to 1996.

For her outstanding contributions to sports, Firoza has been nominated for National Sports Awards 2016.

“I just can’t think I used to race on the track. I feel like racing on the track again whenever I see someone running on the turf,” said Firoza during a conversation with Prothom Alo on 1 August.

Firoza now lives in Mymensingh with her five-year old daughter Afnan Rozana and runs a small shop in her house.

However, she is not interested to talk about her personal life.

Reminiscing her old days, Firoza said athletics is not an easy job. “Games like football or cricket rely on teamwork but track and field is totally a game for an individual.”

Firoza's sporting life began in Ghorashal. There she took part in a game for Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC).

From then on, Firoza became a sportsperson. She did not win in any medal in her first game. But from that time she entered the sporting world, and could not find much time for study.

Firoza said it has now become easier for girls to take part in sports and hoped girls would keep bringing glories for Bangladesh.