35th National Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo Championship begins

The 35th National Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo Championship 2026 organised by Bangladesh Swimming Federation and sponsored by the Max Group, kicked off on Wednesday at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur, Dhaka. 

The event saw the participation of approximately 800 individuals-comprising 470 male and 102 female swimmers, 108 team officials, and 120 meet officials-representing around 79 teams, including divisional and district sports associations, swimming clubs, BKSP, universities, the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy, the Bangladesh Air Force, and the Bangladesh Police. 

The competition features a total of 42 swimming events (20 for men, 20 for women, and 2 mixed relays). Additionally, three diving events for women-introduced at the national level in Bangladesh last year- are taking place, alongside three diving events for men and a water polo tournament, bringing the total number of events to 49. 

There is scheduled an exhibition swimming event for athletes with intellectual or physical disabilities. Winning swimmers will be awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals, as well as certificates. Trophies will be presented to the champion and runner-up teams, as well as to the best male and female swimmers and the best water polo player. Swimmers who set new national records will receive a cash prize of 5,000 (five thousand) Taka.

The opening ceremony took place in the morning with Aminul Haque, State Minister for Youth and Sports, presiding as the chief guest and officially inaugurating the competition. Special guests who delivered speeches included Admiral Khondaker Misbah-ul-Azim (NBP, NPP, NDU, AFWC, PSC, MPhil, PhD)-Chief of Naval Staff and President of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation-and Mr. Md. Rezaul Karim Badsha, Member of Parliament for Bogura-6 (Sadar) and Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. 

The event was chaired by Engineer Golam Mohammad Alamgir, Senior Vice-President of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation and Chairman of the Max Group. The welcome address was delivered by Syed Aminul Haque Dewan Sajal, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation.

On the first day of the competition, 10 swimming events and 2 diving events took place. New national records were set in 6 events-5 in swimming and 1 in diving. On this first day, the Bangladesh Navy secured nine gold, four silver, and five bronze medals; the Bangladesh Army won 3 gold, 7 silver, and 5 bronze medals; BKSP earned 1 silver and 1 bronze medal; and Nikli Swimming Club (Kishoreganj) claimed 1 bronze medal.