The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Cricket Board announced on Thursday the names of the 18 women cricketers who will take part in a 14-day long training programme. The training of the national women's cricket team begins tomorrow at the Ansar & VDP Academy at Shafipur in Tangail.

The cricketers, who have been chosen, are: Panna Ghosh, Khadiza Akhter, Maria Tanzim, Tazkia Akhter, Monjila Khatun, Champa Chakma, Ayesha Akhter, Mina Khatun Mona, Tithi Rani Sarker, Salma Akhter, Sathira Zakir, Shamima Akhter, Salma Khatun, Papiya Haq, Shuktara, Irin Sultana, Chameli Khatun and Reshma Akhter.

The selected 18 cricketers have been requested to report to Coach Zafrul Ehsan, Assistant Caoch Parvin Nasima Nahar Putul and Manager Najma Shamim today at 4.00 PM at the Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex.

The training programme will come to an end on September 21.

UNB, Dhaka

The month-long residential training camp for the Under-23 booters will begins in Cox's Bazar tomorrow (Saturday) ahead of the two international soccer meets.

Local coach Hasanuzzaman Bablu and assistant coach Syed Jilani will impart training to the booters in the absence of national football coach Syed Nayeemuddim, whose return from India is being delayed due to visa problem.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) acting general secretary Manjoor Hossain Malu informed that Nayeemuddin would join the camp soon after his return.

Earlier, on Wednesday, BFF picked up 33 booters for the two upcoming international football tournaments leaving out veteran national striker Alfaz Ahmed.

The selected players have been asked to report to team coordinator Amirul Islam Babu tomorrow (Friday) at 7:00 am at the BFF Bhaban. The team will leave for Cox's Bazar on the same day at 8:00 am.

Bangladesh will take part in the 3rd Grand Royal Challenge Cup tournament in Myanmar to be held on November 1-7 and the SAFF Championship in December.

Sports Reporter

Shiblu of Gaibandha, Ridoy of Lalbagh, Palash of Lalbagh, Antu of Palolick won their respective Group A matches of the boys' singles at the Sam Open Table Tennis Tournament at the Dhaka Wooden Floor Gymnasium on Thursday.

Babu of Gaibandha, Sabbir of Palolick and Himel of Palolick recorded wins in their Group B matches of the boys' singles at the same venue on the same day.

In the women's singles of the Group A matches, Tamanna of Lalbagh, Binti of Lalbagh and Rumi of Abahani registered wins at the same venue on the same day.

Meanwhile, Shima of Palolick and Joyoty of Abahani got wins in their respective women's singles match of the Group B at the same venue on the same day.

Sports Reporter

Rajshahi District team and Jessore District team moved into the final of the Fresh IGP Cup National Youth Kabaddi Competition on Thursday.

In the day's first semifinal, Rajshahi District team beat Tangail District team by 24-22 points amid one lona at the Mirpur Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium.

In the day's second semifinal, Jessore District team defeated Dhaka District team by 45-36 points including two lonas at the same venue.

Today Rajshahi District team will face Jessore District team in the final at 4.00 PM at the same venue.

After the final match Inspector General of Police and President of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation Noor Mohammad will distribute the prizes among the winners as the chief guest while Managing Director of Meghna Group of Industries Mostafa Kamal will be present with him as the special guest

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh completed their Pool B engagements with a humiliating 0-8 goals defeat against Korea in the 7th Men's Asia Cup Hockey Championship in Chennai, India on Thursday.

Bangladesh trailed by 0-5 goals in the first half.

The day's defeat was the biggest for Bangladesh in the ongoing Asian Cup Hockey after 0-6 losses against China and India.

In their other group matches, Bangladesh beat Thailand 13-0 and Sri Lanka 3-2.

After the day's match, Bangladesh finished 4th in the six-team Pool B securing six points while Korea booked a seat for semi-final with nine points, playing all the five group matches.

Bangladesh will play the classification match on Saturday against former World and Olympic champions Pakistan, which was placed third in Pool A to be eliminated from the race.

In the semi-finals on Saturday, Pool A champions Malaysia will play Pool B runners-up Korea while Pool B champions India will face Pool A runners-up Japan.

Bangladesh: Zahid Hossain, Issa Miah, Mohammad Mamun, AKM Shamsuddin, Mohammad Shahidullah, Yamin Hossain, Mosarruf Hossain Kuti, Zahidul Islam, Russell Mahmud Jimmy, Zahid Bin Talib, Iqbal Nadir, Rahul Kanti Roy, Tabib-e-Noor, Mohammad Mustafiz.

In the day's other matches, Japan beat Singapore by 8-0 goals while China defeated Sri Lanka by 10-2 goals.

UNB, Dhaka

The month-long residential training camp for the ensuing 2nd Indo-Bangla Games will begin on September 10 (Monday) starting with some selected participants from eight disciplines.

The disciplines are football, kabaddi, volleyball, swimming, athletics, shooting, basketball and kho kho.

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) will bear the entire cost of the training camp.

Football, swimming and athletics camps will be held at the BKSP in Savar while the camps for other disciplines will be held in Dhaka.

Earlier, in the First Indo-Bangla Games in Kolkata last year, the competition was held in the same eight disciplines.

UNB, Dhaka

Riding on a hatrick by Mohammad Shafiullah, Gulistan SC registered a 3-2 victory over Rainbow SC in a match of the Metropolis 3rd Division Football League at the Outer Stadium here on Thursday.

Shafiullah scored three goals for his hatrick -- in the 11th, 35th and 57th minutes. Mohammad Raju Mia and Mohammad Sohel neted one goal each for Rainbow SC in the 25th and 75th minutes respectively.

At the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur, Dhaka Junior SC beat Tongi KC by 3-0 goals. Saidur struck twice -- in the 27th and 72nd minutes -- while Kamal scored the other goal in the 60th minute.

In another match at the same venue, Spandan KC beat Jirabo SC by 1-0 goal scored by Sheikh Sadi in the 11th minute.

UNB, Dhaka

The visiting GP-BCB Academy team takes on Northern Territory (NT) Strike in a one-day match of the Crocodile Cup at the Marrara Cricket Ground today (Friday).

They will then conclude their Australia tour with a four-day match against the same opponents beginning on September 10 at the University Ground.

Earlier, the BCB Academy side finished 3rd in the Institute Challenge Cup winning two out of their four one-day matches.

They won the first one-day match by 10 runs against Western Australia while conceded an 83-run defeat against New South Wales in the 2nd one-day match.

After suffering another eight-wicket defeat in the 3rd one-day match against Queensland Sports Academy, the young Academy side bounced back in the 4th one-day match to beat Australia Capital Territory (ACT) by 77 runs.

Later, in the Crocodile Cup, they crushed Tasmania by 132 runs in a three-day match.

UNB, Dhaka

Shaheed Nabi High School made a flying start in the Dhaka School Football League (Under-11) crushing Nidhu Smriti Primary School by 7-0 goals at the Motijheel Boys' High School ground here on Thursday.

Sakibul Hasan made a hatrick scoring four goals, Rabbi neted two and Faisal one for the winners.

In the day's other matches, Haider Ali High School beat Segun Bagicha High School by 2-1 goals at Segun Bagicha High School ground while Jatrabari Ideal High School played to a one-all draw with Khilgaon High School at the Khilgaon Model (Jor Pukur) ground.

In the Under-13 Football league, Ideal School & College outplayed Sena Palli High School by 5-0 goals at the Motijheel Govt Boys High School ground while Dharmarajik High School beat Ali Ahmed High School 3-0 at the Basabo Club ground on Thursday.

Six matches, three each of Under-13 and Under-11 football leagues, will be held today (Friday).

AFP, London

India captain Rahul Dravid is targeting a series victory after his side levelled the seven- match NatWest series 3-3 at The Oval on Wednesday.

A week ago, India were 3-1 down, but Dravid insists his side were never downhearted. "We still felt we could win," he said.

"At 1-3, we knew we'd lost a couple of close games that could have gone the other way."

The sixth match was the most enthralling of a compelling series - which ends at Lord's on Saturday - with England batling back from a poor start to post 316-6.

India then seemed to be cruising as Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly put on 150 for the first wicket, only for the momentum to tip back England's way after a series of wickets.

Robin Uthappa, though, kept his nerve amid the chaos, scoring an unbeaten 47 to win the game with two balls to spare.

"We got a bit of the rub of the green, but we have shown a lot of resilience after a long tour," Dravid went on. "It should be a cracker of a game at Lord's."

He had particular words of praise for his much-decorated opening duo.

"When you're chasing 320 you need to get off to a good start," Dravid said. "They got 150 which makes a big difference - especially on a slow wicket when you know it'll get harder to play shots.

"Definitely we were worried when we lost a few wickets in the middle.

"But that happens. Even after a good start you're still chasing 6.5 runs an over.

"It's not easy for a new batsman on a slow wicket so you have to get runs when the ball is hard."

Paul Collingwood habitually speaks of "taking the positives", but on this occasion they were clearly there to be taken.

To reach 316 having been 137-5 was a remarkable effort, and the England captain paid tribute to the contributions of Owais Shah, who hit a maiden one-day international centrury, debutant Luke Wright, who scored 50, and Dimitri Mascarenhas, who blasted five sixes off the final over.

"We were put under a lot of pressure, but I was delighted by the way we fought back," he said.

"Owais put in a swashbuckling effort to change the momentum of the game."

The pendulum shifted straight back with India's opening partnership, but England again dug deep.

"We were pegged back by the start they had," Collingwood said. "I can't fault any of the lads for the effort they put in.

"When games are that tight, you've got to look at misfields and ask if we were bowling in the right areas.

"When you see a team fighting like that it's a great thing for a captain."

He insisted that his side will be able to pick themselves up for Saturday's decider.

"We have to get our heads held high because we know we've done good things today," he said.

"We've got to prove we're still playing good cricket, which we are doing."