Legendary runner Milzar Hossain dominated the athletics track in 400m and 800m events from the middle of 1980s to early 90s. He won a dozen gold medals in national championships and also clinched silver and bronze at South Asian Games. His best timing came at Asian Games and Olympics, which happened to set national records as well. The record in 400m sprint survived for 32 years while the 800m feat is still unbroken. The 57-year old athletics great went down memory lane in an interview with Dhaka Tribune where he recalled his record feats, memories of his illustrious playing career and how he was introduced to athletics, among other topics. Here are the excerpts:
How did you become an athlete?
My home is in Dighaliya village in Khulna. It's a sports-loving locality. We have a football team that competes in Khulna's first division league. We had swimmers during the Pakistan period who brought results from national stage. We have cyclists who compete in top level. Our village and school create such an environment that helps develop players. We have a big field. It's beautiful. Boys and girls all practice there. We had senior brothers like Khan Jahurul Haque who was a footballer in the first division league in Dhaka. He was a reputed national athlete. I leaned towards sports because of people like him. As we had a football team, we trained in the morning and afternoon every day. I played football first from where the running began.
There were sports events in school and the club in village. From there, there were inter-school competitions, then the district and divisional phase. I also participated in the sports events organized by Khulna District Sports Association, and played at divisional and national level. Then, there was Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation to support us.
You also played for a local club named Dighaliya Young Men's Association. How did you get introduced to athletics before joining BJMC?
There were many athletes in our village. Even now, we have Nilufa who won in long jump, and Nasima who was first in 400m and 800m. Rowshan Ara Putul is the latest who became first in 800m, 1500m and 3000m events in the national competition. She is also from our locality.
During our time, BJMC used to host four regional athletics competitions, including one in Khulna. The best athletes got the chance to compete in the final event. During the regional competition, Jahurul Haque, who was working in BJMC Crescent Jute Mills, took me there to play for them.
When was that?
It was at the end of 1984, maybe in December. I called him uncle. I told him that I can't compete as I had no experience. I played football from where he saw me running and thought I could do well in athletics too. So he took me there. At that time, I played the long jump and triple jump. I finished third in triple jump. SA Games gold medalist Majibur Rahman Mallick claimed first place while South Asian bronze medalist Giyashuddin finished second. They jumped 50-51 feet and the difference with me was huge. I jumped 40/41 feet.
I was asked to participate in the 4*400m relay run. I had no experience in this event but they had an athlete missing from the group and they chose me as replacement. After the event, he (Jahurul) suggested me to quit jump for running events because of my stepping. After that, I started practicing running. In the next 1985 national competition held in Chittagong, I emerged first in 400m sprint. I also finished first in BJMC's central competition.
Milzar's wife Rehana Parvin was also a former athlete How was the feeling of winning gold on debut in national championships?
The feeling was different because I never hoped I would win even a medal. I was fresher and there were some reputed sprinters like Shahidullah of Bangladesh Army, Tofazzal, Mizan and Sabbir of BJMC.
How did you make it happen?
I don't know. I practiced a lot. There were many athletes in my village. I trained with them. I also practiced with BJMC's Khulna regional team.
You also won gold in your first South Asian Games the same year...
I had three-four months after the national championships to prepare for SA Games. We had a camp in Dhaka. There were athletes like Shah Alam (two-time fastest man in South Asia) and Shahjalal Mobin in the camp.
Did you or anybody envisage that you could bring gold from SA Games?
I didn't expect much. I had no target but I tried a lot in practice and gave full concentration which helped me.
Why did you miss the next SA Games in 1987?
I became ill. I hoped for better timing and results in 1987. I also practiced well with good timing. I took good preparation but suddenly just before the Games I caught jaundice. I couldn't carry the same performance after that.
But you won national competitions during that time…
Yes. I won medals. I also participated in 1986 Asian Junior Athletics Championships where I won silver in 400m and bronze in 800m. Nobody from Bangladesh managed to win a medal there before and after me. It was held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Was year 1986 the peak time of your career?
Yes. I was nominated for 1986 Asian Games after the Jakarta event. I reached the final of 800m at Asian Games. I finished fifth. I also participated in World Junior Athletics the same year in Greece. After that I bagged silver in 800m and bronze in 400m and 4*400m relay in 1989 Islamic Solidarity Games.
Did your parents inspire you to be an athlete?
The field was near our house so there was never any restriction from family. We are five brothers and two sisters. My elder brother used to play football in Khulna first division. After I started winning medals, not only my family, everyone from the village inspired me. Our village had a lot of sports-loving people.
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How was the financial condition?
I earned some money from BJMC. My family was solvent. It is very difficult to carry on playing if the financial condition is not good. We didn't have enough cash money but we had land and social status. We never had to buy any food since we cultivated and farmed our own. Everything was there. So I didn't have to worry about food which provided me with enough energy for practice.
Did you receive any cash prize upon bringing glory for the country?
No. It was not like what I see now. But I have no regret because it is because of sports I'm still doing a job. I joined BJMC after my retirement. I started in Khulna Crescent Mills before shifting to Chittagong in 2000. Now, I'm the manager of BJMC's production department.
How was the experience at Olympics and Asian Games?
I qualified for the 1986 semi-finals. Nobody except me played in the Asian Games semi-finals in 400m sprint. I placed fifth. It is the best-ever result of Bangladesh in any Games. My timing in 800m event at 1988 Olympics was 1:51.16. It was my best timing and still a national record.
Both at the same venue?
Yes, the same stadium in Seoul. You can say it became one of my favorite venues. They organized the 1986 Asian Games colorfully with the 1988 Olympics in mind. It was big and beautiful.
How was your performance in the Asian Track and Field Championships?
I ran in the finals at least twice, including one in Delhi in 1989.
Where did you practice in Bangladesh?
The synthetic track at Army Stadium in Banani was installed before the 1985 SA Games in Dhaka. We trained there during the camp before the competition. But we didn't have a gym.
When did you retire?
My last national competition was in 1994. I retired after that.
Bangladesh athletes tend not to replicate the performance from youth to senior level. Why?
I can reach a certain level with my effort and help of the coaches. If we have to improve further we have to advance in specific way. You need the right coach, the right facility and right food. You can't reach the goal if you don't get them all perfect.
I think the quality of coaches was better during our time. There is no doubt. We had coaches like Shah Alam, Mannan, Khalek, Sharif Hasan and Yousuf Chowdhury. We don't have coaches of such level now. We lack quality athletics coaches. It could be a local or foreign coach but we need quality to progress in international events. There is also lack of sponsorship. It's very important. In past, there were government organizations like BJMC, Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation, Customs, Railway, TNT and Post Office who participated in athletics. Now they don't take part and athletes don't get any facility. There is no sponsor.
What do you have to say on current fastest man Imranur Rahman?
What Imranur achieved for us is unbelievable. It was beyond our imagination to win a gold medal in Asia. I know how difficult it is. After long time we got a good result abroad. It sets a position for us in Asia. I hope it will help progress Bangladesh athletics further
