Prominent gymnast Khurshida Akter Khushi was laid to rest at Banani Graveyard on Tuesday after the national sports awardee died of cardiac arrest on Monday at the age of 69.

Although Khushi initially began her sporting journey in athletics, she switched to gymnastics in 1975, inspired by her husband Rabiuzzaman Robu, who had become champion in both the pommel horse and parallel bars at the 1973 National Gymnastics Championships.

Khushi was also a judoka and held a black belt. She received the National Sports Award in 2004.

Former gymnast Ahmedur Rahman Bablu recalled the courage and determination Khushi displayed during her career, highlighting how she was among the athletes who dared to perform in gymnastics attire, challenging the conservative mindset prevalent in Bangladesh at the time.

“She, along with other female gymnasts like Toli Apa and Anu Apa, were brave athletes of that era as they performed in gymnastics attire, which was later altered during the regime of President Hussain Muhammad Ershad,” said Bablu, a former general secretary of the Bangladesh Gymnastics Federation.

“We saw Robu bhai and Khushi inspire around 10 to 12 girls to take up gymnastics during that time. Losing a gymnast like Khushi is truly a shock for us,” Bablu added, noting that Khushi had also been suffering from various health complications, including eye problems.

After taking up gymnastics in 1975, Khushi featured on the cover of the popular magazine Krira Jagat in 1977. She later became a gymnastics coach at the National Sports Council after completing a coaching diploma in Patiala, India.

She is survived by her husband, a daughter, and numerous well-wishers.