Blue [Sultana Kamal Khuki (Athlete)] 10 December 1951 – 15 August 1975.
In 1970, Sultana became the first woman Blue of Dhaka University in its history. Dhaka University was established in 1921.
80m Hurdles.
100-metre Hurdles
100-metre Sprint
Long Jump
High Jump
A torchbearer Golden Girl. She set foot in athletics in the 60s of the last century. She was then full of life; she always was.
Long Jump and High Jump were Sultana’s favourite events. Besides, she created a new record in 100m Sprint and Hurdles taking part in national meet. Bangladesh Krira Lekhok Samity (now Bangladesh Sports Press Association) honoured Sultana Ahmed by awarding the Best Athlete of the Year award in 1973.
While studying at Muslim Girls’ School, she first took part in the National Athletics Meet held in Lahore, Pakistan in 1965.
In independent Bangladesh, Sultana got an opportunity to take part in merely three national athletics meets (1973, 1974 and 1975). In the 1st National Athletics Meet, she won Gold in 100-metre Hurdles, Silver in 100-metre Sprint, Gold in both Long Jump and High Jump events. That means she won three Gold medals and one Silver medal in favour of Dhaka University. Later, in 1974, in the 2nd National Athletics Meet held in Dhaka, she won Gold in Long Jump and Silver in 100-metre Hurdles and High Jump. In the 3rd National Athletics Meet held in Chittagong (now Chattogram), she won Gold creating a new record in 100-metre Hurdles and Gold in Broad Jump. This was her last participation in national athletics meet. That means, Sultana won six Gold and three Silver medals from three national athletics meet. In recognition to her extra-ordinary achievement in 1973 National Athletics, he was dubbed as the ‘Golden Girl’ in sports arena. In the history of the independent country, Sultana Ahmed showed her mettle in the 1st National Athletics Meet where no male athlete was able to show such solo performance. Her extra-ordinary performance has glorified Dhaka University.
Sultana Kamal did her Masters from Dhaka University with honours in Social Science. In 1974, she took part in Berlin Jubo Utsab (Youth Sports Festival) as a selected sports person. In 1997, she posthumously won the National Sports Award. Bangladesh Mohila Krira Sangstha (Bangladesh Women’s Sports Federation) named Dhaka’s Dhanmondi Mohila Sports Complex (Dhanmondi Women’s Sports Complex) as Sultana Kamal Krira Complex (Sultana Kamal Sports Complex).
On July 14, 1975, Sultana Ahmed tied her knot with sports personality Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She became Sultana Kamal. She was born in Dhaka’s Bakshibazar on December 10, 1951. Sultana was the seventh of her five brothers and three sisters. Elderly family members always encouraged her in her pursuit.
Sultana Kamal (née Ahmed; 10 December 1951 – 15 August 1975), nicknamed Khuki, was a Bangladeshi athlete. She was married to Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Bangladesh President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She was killed during the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman family.
Editorial
Sources: Newspaper and Online portal
Cover photo: Utpal Das