The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

BKSP maintained their supremacy in the 22nd National Swimming Championship securing seven gold, four silver and two bronze medals after the 2nd day of the four-day meet, featuring four more new national records on the day.

Bangladesh Army closely follow the leaders with six gold, six silver and five bronzes while Bangladesh Navy went down to third position collecting four gold, four silver and three bronzes at the meet being held at the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur.

BJMC are in fourth place bagging three gold, one silver and three bronzes while Bangladesh Ansars are in fifth position with one gold, six silver and three bronzes.

On the completion of the day's ten swimming and three diving events, BKSP and BJMC swimmers created two new national marks each, three by female natants.

Country's celebrated swimmer Dolly Akhter of BJMC won the women's 200-meter individual medley gold creating new national mark with a timing of 02:48.34 minutes to better the previous 2:48.99 minutes.

Two swimmers of Bangladesh Ansars -- Lovely Khatun and Laboni Akhter Chameli -- won the event's silver and bronze medals respectively.

Another famed BJMC swimmer Sabura Khatun set up new national mark in the women's 200-meter freestyle clocking 2:25.56 minutes bettering the earlier record of 2:30.65 minutes.

The day's gold was the second for Sabura Khatun in the ongoing meet after clinching gold medal in the 50-meter backstroke, also with national record.

Nazma Khatun and Seema Sultana, both from BKSP, took the event's silver and bronze medals respectively.

BKSP swimmer Mahfuzur Rahman made new national record in the men's 200-meter freestyle clocking 2:02.09 minutes to better the old mark of 2:04.39 minutes. Navy swimmers Monirul Islam and Golam Mustafa took the event's silver and bronze medals.

In the women's 100-meter breaststroke, Mahfuza Khatun of BKSP created new national record with a timing of 1:20.27 minutes to improve upon the previous 1:21.31 minutes.

Dolly Akhter of BJMC won the event's silver while Momtaz Shirin of Bangladesh Ansars took the bronze.

BKSP swimmer Sonia Akhter dominated the medals list securing three individual gold medals in the 200-meter butterfly, 100 meter butterfly and 4x100 freestyle relay in first two days.

Standings after the 2nd day:

Teams gold, silver bronze

BKSP 7 4 2

BD Army 6 6 5

BD Navy 4 4 3

BJMC 3 1 3

BD Ansars 1 6 3

Jessore DSA 0 0 3

Rajshahi Div 0 0 1

UNB, Dhaka

World football body FIFA will give more donation to Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to build an artificial football turf for the development of youth football in the country.

AFC vice president Monilal Fernando, who arrived here Wednesday night on a short visit, disclosed this at a press conference at the BFF conference room Thursday afternoon.

Fernando said the work to lay the turf is likely to start next January on a vacant land in Arambagh beside the BFF Bhaban at a cost of US$ 400,000 under the FIFA's "Goal Project 2".

The AFC vice president met with National Sports Council (NSC) chairman General Moeen U Ahmed today to discuss the availability of the piece of land as well as development of football in the country.

Fernando said the NSC chairman assured to extend his helping hand wholeheartedly. "The NSC chairman assured me to hand over the vacant land, which is under NSC jurisdiction, to the BFF to build the artificial turf."

In addition, FIFA would give more donation to BFF under its "Goal Project 3" to build a Football Academy in Savar, the AFC vice president informed.

BFF president SA Sultan, who was present at the press conference, said: "We are fortunate to have more donations from FIFA. We'll try to find out khas land at Savar for the (football) academy."

Earlier, FIFA allocated US$ 250,000 under its "Goal Project 1" to the BFF to build a Football Academy in Cox's Bazar and a football training center in Barisal.

BFF already got eight acres of khas land in Barisal to build the football-training center, but is yet to get any suitable land in Cox's Bazar for the football academy. The construction work of football-training center in Barisal will start soon.

BFF senior vice president Monir Ahmed, vice president Abdur Rahim and acting general secretary Manjoor Hossain Malu were also present at the press conference.

After his short trip, the AFC vice president was due to leave here Thursday night.

AFP, Kingston

One of Jamaica's top cops said Wednesday that four members of the Pakistan cricket team have declined to testify at the inquest into the death of their former coach Bob Woolmer.

Mark Shields, Jamaica's deputy commissioner of police, told coroner Patrick Murphy that former Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq was among those that refused to give testimony.

Apart from Inzamam, who had recently retired from international cricket, along with medium-pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, assistant manager Asad Mustafa and former media manager Pervez Mir refused to travel to Jamaica for the inquest, which began on October 16.

Shields, who made the requests through the Pakistan Cricket Board, told coroner Murphy and the 11 jurors that both players said they were unable to make it.

"Mustafa said he has already given a statement to the police," Shields added. Woolmer died hours after he was found unconscious in his Jamaica hotel room on March 18, a day after Pakistan suffered a humiliated defeat to Ireland at the World Cup of cricket.

UNB, Dhaka

The Pubali Bank 32nd National Rowing (Boat Race) Competition, organised by Bangladesh Rowing Federation, will be held tomorrow (Saturday) on river Buriganga near China-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge in Postogola of the city.

Six events -- seven paddlers (men's & women's), 25 paddlers Kosha (international standard), 50 paddlers Kosha, above 50 paddlers Sarengi and above 50 paddlers Chheep.

Pubali Bank Ltd., which is sponsoring the meet, will provide Tk 500,000 of the total budget of Tk 595,000.

Rowing Federation general secretary Abdul Awal disclosed the details at a press conferee at the Federation office on Thursday.

Rowing Federation senior vice president Morshed Alam, vice president Mushtaque Ahmed and representative of meet sponsors Pubali Bank Bappi Dipta Chowdhury were present.

Sports Reporter

Viqarunnisa School and College drubbed Dhaka Imperial College by 17-1 goals in the 11th Delta Life Women's Handball Competition at the Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex on Thursday.

The victorious team led the first half 8-1. Banya of Viqarunnisa School and College top-scored with 14 goals.

In the day's other match, Scholastica outplayed Central Womens College by 12-0 goals after completing the first half 9-0 at the same venue.

Anusheh of Scholastica netted eight. In the day's last match, Ispahani Womens School and College defeated Siddheswari Girls College by 8-2 goals at the same venue.

The winners led the first half 3-2. Rumana scored five goals for the winners.

AP, Gwalior

Mohammad Yousuf's unbeaten 99 lifted Pakistan to a modest 255 for six in the fourth limited-overs international against India on Thursday.

Yousuf hit two runs on the final delivery of the innings, finishing one short of his 14th limited-overs international century from 251 matches, but gave his bowlers a chance to pull off a series-leveling win.

Pakistan must win this match to stay in the five-match series after India gained a 2-1 lead by winning the third match on Sunday.

Yousuf's 104-ball knock contained two sixes and seven boundaries, holding the innings together after the departure of Younis Khan, who made 68 off 89 deliveries.

Yousuf shared a brisk 94-run stand with Misbah-ul-Haq for the fifth wicket that spurred the scoring rate. Their partnership was broken in the 47th over when Misbah was adjudged lbw to paceman Irfan Pathan for 40.

Pakistan lost opener Salman Butt without scoring on the second delivery of the game from Rudra Pratap Singh, but skipper Shoaib Malik (31) put on 74 runs for the second wicket with Younis Khan, who hit five boundaries and one six.

Opening for the first time in this series, Malik was clean bowled by pacer Zaheer Khan, who emerged as the most successful bowler with figures of 2-40. He also removed Sohail Tanvir (6).

Younis Khan popped a return catch to part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi (1) was trapped lbw by Sourav Ganguly before Yousuf and Misbah put Pakistan back in the contest.

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Army and Sonali Bank SRC recorded wins in the Office Hockey League on Thursday.

In the day's first match, Bangladesh Army eased past Araf Apparels 3-0 at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium after finishing the pre-lemon session by a 1-0 goal lead.

Thuynu of Bangladesh Army put his team ahead using a penalty corner in the 11th minute of the first half.

Malek made it 2-0 by a field goal in the 37th minute of the play.

Didar sealed the fate of the match by a field goal just two minutes before the final whistle.

In the day's second match, Sonali Bank SRC defeated Feroza Land Properties by 3-1 goals at the same venue.

The first half was locked 0-0.

After a barren first half Musa Mia of Sonali Bank opened the account by a field goal in the 53rd minute of the clash. Prince doubled the margin for the banker's team by a field goal in the 53rd minute of the game. Habul of Feroza Land Properties decreased the difference by a field goal in the 65th minute of the encounter.

After two minutes Chandan made it 3-1 utilising a penalty corner.

AFP, Kingston

One of Jamaica's top cops said Wednesday that four members of the Pakistan cricket team have declined to testify at the inquest into the death of their former coach Bob Woolmer.

Mark Shields, Jamaica's deputy commissioner of police, told coroner Patrick Murphy that former Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq was among those that refused to give testimony.

Apart from Inzamam, who had recently retired from international cricket, along with medium-pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, assistant manager Asad Mustafa and former media manager Pervez Mir refused to travel to Jamaica for the inquest, which began on October 16.

Shields, who made the requests through the Pakistan Cricket Board, told coroner Murphy and the 11 jurors that both players said they were unable to make it.

"Mustafa said he has already given a statement to the police," Shields added.

Woolmer died hours after he was found unconscious in his Jamaica hotel room on March 18, a day after Pakistan suffered a humiliated defeat to Ireland at the World Cup of cricket.

Reuters, Sydney

Venus and Serena Williams are planning to join forces in the Australian Open women's doubles competition for the first time in five years.

The American sisters have proved to be an almost unstoppable force when they team up even though they only play doubles for fun and rarely practise.

The pair usually need wild cards to get into events because they do not play enough to have a ranking but they have still won six grand slam titles, two each in Melbourne and Wimbledon and one at the French and U.S. Open.

They also struck gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and are one of only five pairings who have won all four women's grand slam doubles titles.

"The Williams sisters in full flight on the same side of the net is one of the great sights in tennis," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said in a statement. "They are also one of the most skilled pairings on the world circuit with an incredibly successful record in doubles.

They won the Australian Open for the second time in 2003 but did not play doubles again until last year's Wimbledon where they reached the second round before pulling out when Serena strained her ankle in a singles match.

Venus went on to win the Wimbledon singles title for the fourth time. Serena won her third Australian Open singles crown earlier in the year.

"It is great news for Australian tennis fans that they are coming here to play singles and to try and recapture their doubles crown," Tiley said.

"We can't get enough of the Williams sisters, especially after Serena's amazing effort in 2007."

The Australian Open will be played at Melbourne Park from Jan. 14-27.