Imamur raises nat’l flag at Great Wall race in China
Bangladesh’s flag was proudly raised on the rugged and rocky trails of the Great Wall of China as UTMB-certified ultra-trail runner Imamur Rahman successfully completed the prestigious Ultra-Trail Great Wall by UTMB race.
The world-renowned trail-running event was held at the historic Dajingmen area of Beijing on September 12, bringing together more than 5,000 athletes from around the world.
The event featured four race categories – 100 km, 70 km, 50 km and 20 km. Imamur Rahman competed in the most challenging and prestigious 100-kilometre flagship category, alongside 863 international runners.
The race presented an extraordinary physical and mental challenge. Participants had to tackle highly mountainous and technical terrain with a total elevation gain of approximately 4,400 metres over the 100-kilometre course.
Extreme temperature fluctuations added to the difficulty. Temperatures in Beijing reached around 32°C during the day before dropping to approximately 5-6°C at night.
Managing such a dramatic temperature difference while navigating demanding mountain trails made completing the race a formidable test of endurance.
Despite the challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions, Imamur Rahman successfully completed the race, representing Bangladesh on one of the world’s most iconic historical landmarks.
Earlier this year, Imamur Rahman achieved another remarkable endurance milestone. Between March and April, he completed three demanding trail races within just 24 days.
On March 15, he completed a 97-kilometre Ultra-Trail Xiamen race in China. He then completed a 30-kilometre trail race in Conghua on March 29, followed by the 82-kilometre Ultra-Trail Moganshan on April 10.
By completing these back-to-back UTMB World Series races, Imamur Rahman demonstrated exceptional endurance and pushed the limits of his long-distance trail-running capabilities.
Imamur Rahman is regarded as one of Bangladesh’s pioneering ultra-trail runners.
Through his own initiative, he has been regularly representing Bangladesh on the international trail-running stage.
He is now preparing to participate in various international hybrid sports events, with the goal of further showcasing Bangladesh’s sporting talent and bringing pride to the country.
