Ummay Hafsa Rumky won a gold medal in women's high jump, setting a national record of 1.71m in the Sheikh Kamal 45th National Athletics.

She is equally proficient in cricket, football, volleyball, and badminton. She started training professionally in high jump from 2015.

From 2017 to 2019, she practiced rigorously for the South Asian (SA) Games, and ended up winning a gold medal. However, the overload of training led to her feet suffering the blow. After four months of treatment, her injuries still persisted, so there were no other options but surgery.

"24 rods were inserted in my shin bones. Doctors said that even after the surgery, my feet won't be completely fixed. I had low expectations, but I still plucked up the courage to participate in the SA Games, because I didn't want anyone to think I am weak," she said.

Hailing from Sirajganj, Rumky is one of five daughters. Since  her childhood, people scorned her for wearing jerseys, and engaging in sports. "My parents tried to convince me to give up. However, I knew I had to keep playing, no matter what. When I started performing well, I earned praises, but some people continue to bad-mouth me and my family," shared Rumky.

According to her, high jump needs more exposure. "Only a handful of people on the field know I made a record because it was not nationally televised. The games need to be shown live and profiles of players should be publicised by the media," she said.

With the hope of participating in the Southeast Asian Games, Rumky continues to make Bangladesh proud.

The author is a student of BRAC University, and a freelance journalist. Email: shanzaychowdhury@gmail.com.