The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

BKSP emerged champions of the 22nd National Swimming Championship securing 15 gold, 9 silver and 8 bronze after the 4th and final day with four more new national marks set on the concluding day.

Bangladesh Army followed the champions with 10 gold, 9 silver and 8 bronze medals while Bangladesh Navy finished in the 3rd place with 8 gold, 9 silver and 7 bronzes.

BJMC took the 4th position grabbing 8 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronzes and Bangladesh Ansars finished 5th with 1 gold, 10 silver and 4 bronze medals.

With the day's four new national marks, a total of 14 national records were set in 38 events of the four-day meet.

Mohammad Rubel Rana of Bangladesh Navy, who secured 4 gold and 1 silver, was named the best male swimmer. Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman of BKSP with 3 gold and 2 silver that included two new records finished as the second best male swimmer.

Sabura Khatun of BJMC was named the best female swimmer securing highest 7 gold that featured four new national records. Sonia Akhter of BKSP followed with 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze that included 1 new national mark.

In the water polo competition, Bangladesh Army emerged as champions, Bangladesh Navy became runners-up and Bangladesh Air Force finished in 3rd position.

Bangladesh Swimming Federation president and Naval Chief Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam witnessed the concluding day's events and distributed the trophies.

Mahfuza Khatun of BKSP made the first record on the final day in women's 200-meter breaststroke clocking 03:00.22 bettering the previous mark of 03:01.39.

Mahfuzur Rahman of BKSP created the day's 2nd national record in men's 100-meter freestyle with a time of 00:54.48 improving upon the previous mark of 00:55.73.

Sabura Khatun of BJMC notched the day's 3rd national record in women's 100-meter freestyle taking 01:06.50 to overhaul the previous 01:08.14.

The day's 4th and last record came in women's 4x100m relay as Seema Sultana, Sonia Akhter, Nasima Khatun and Afsana Talukder of BKSP clinched the gold in 05:18.97 eclipsing the previous best 05:21.94.

Ten events were decided on the final day.

Some 298 participants representing 30 teams took part in three categories of the competition.

Standings after the 4th and final day:

Teams Gold Silver Bronze

BKSP 15 9 8 BD

Army 10 9 8

BD Navy 8 9 7

BJMC 8 4 7

BD Ansars 1 10 4

Individual medal list (men) after the 4th day:

Name Gold Silver Bronze

Rubel Rana (Navy) 4 1

Mahfizur Rahman (BKSP) 3 2 (2 records)

Mohammad Nazmul (BKSP) 2 2

Individual medal list (women) after the 4th day:

Name Gold Silver Bronze

Sabura Khatun (BJMC) 7 - - (4 records)

Sonia Akhter (BKSP) 3 1 1 (1 record)

Mahfuza Khatun (BKSP) 3 - - (3 records)

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Olympic Association arranged the Olympic Day-Run Programme yesterday in a befitting manner.

Adviser to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Major General (Retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman inaugurated the Olympic Day-Run meet in front of Bangladesh Tennis Federation at 7.30 AM. Secretary General of Bangladesh Olympic Association Qutubuddin Ahmed, Convener of the meet Mizanur Rahman Manu and the other officials of Bangladesh Olympic Association were present at that time.

Besides, Sponsor of the meet, Managing Director of Exim Bank Limited Kazi Moshiur Rahman, Managing Director of Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust Masud Ahmed, Senior Vice-President (Programme) of ATN Bangla Nowajesh Ali Khan and member of Bangladesh Athletics Federation Abul Kalam Azad were also present on the occasion.

In his inaugurating speech, the Managing Director of Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust Masud Ahmed expressed his happiness on behalf of Coca-Cola, Exim Bank Limited, Samsung, Akij Food and Beverages Limited, Subastu, UWS, for being able to support the Bangladesh Olympic Association in creating public awareness on environment.

The Day-Run meet came to an end of the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Reuters, Shanghai

Spain's David Ferrer swept past a struggling Andy Roddick 6-1 6-3 to reach the final of the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup on Saturday.

Ferrer will face either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final of the showcase eight-man event in Shanghai. The world's top two were playing in Saturday's later semi-final.

Ferrer has been a revelation in his first Masters Cup appearance, sweeping to a 3-0 round-robin record to finish top of the Gold Group.

Cheered on by a raucous section of trumpet-blowing fans draped in Spanish flags, he was already leading 3-1 when Roddick appeared to jar his back stretching for a high volley.

The American, not helped by such a quick turnaround following his 6-4 6-2 thrashing by Federer the previous evening, called for the trainer at the change of ends.

A rubdown made no difference, however, as Ferrer quickly closed out the first set in just 28 minutes and he continued to pile on the agony for Roddick in the second.

Ferrer, the only man still unbeaten in Shanghai, was merciless, picking Roddick off from the baseline and making him chase drop shots, putting more strain on his back.

The Spaniard broke for 4-2 in the second with an incredible backhand pass that whistled past a dazed Roddick, who blew three break points in the next game in his final throw of the dice.

Ferrer squandered two match points-the second a double- fault-but sealed his place in the final when Roddick dumped a backhand in the net after just 72 minutes.

Sports Reporter

After three-day recess the fifth round matches of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea National Cricket League (NCL) begins today at the different venues across the country.

Rajshahi Division will take on Dhaka Division in a four-dayer match at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium while Chittagong Division will face Sylhet Division in a four-dayer clash at the Chittagong Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium and Barisal Division will meet Khulna Division at the Bogra Shaheed Chandu Stadium.

Khulna Division led the points table securing 46 points from four matches while Rajshahi Division, Barisal Division, Dhaka Division are breathing on Rajshahi's neck with 42 points each from as many matches.

Chittagong Division and Sylhet Division are now on the bottom of the points table with 22 and 21 points respectively from their four matches.

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh under-19 team leaves here today for Karachi for a 21-day tour of Pakistan, a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) press release said yesterday.

The team will play five one-dayers and one four-day match against Pakistan U-19 team during the tour.

The Bangladesh team is expected to return home on December 9.

Date Schedule

Nov 18 (Sunday) Bangladesh Team arrive in Karachi

Nov 19 (Mon) Nets at NSK ( National Stadium

Karachi) Academy Ground

Nov 20 (Tue) 4-day Game at NSK

Nov 21 (Wed) "

Nov 22 (Thu) "

Nov 23 (Fri) "

Nov 24 (Sat) Travel to Hyderabad by road,

3-hrs drive Nets at Niaz Stadium Hyderabad

Nov 25 (Sun) Nets at Niaz Stadium

Nov 26 (Mon) 1st One Day Game at Niaz

Stadium Hyderabad

Nov 27 (Tue) Nets at Niaz Stadium

Nov 28 (Wed) 2nd One Day Game at Niaz

Stadium Hyderabad

Nov 29 (Thu) Nets at Niaz Stadium

Nov 30 (Fri) Travel back to Karachi by

road, 3-hrs drive

Dec 1 (Sat) Nets at NBP (National Bank of

Pakistan) Ground Karachi

Dec 2 (Sun) 3rd One Day at DHA

Ground Karachi

Dec 3 (Mon) Nets at NSK Academy

Dec 4 (Tue) Nets at NSK Academy

Dec 5 (Wed) 4th One Day at Quaid-e-Azam

Park (Steel Mills Karachi)

Dec 6 (Thu) Nets at DHA (Defence Housing

Authority) Ground

Dec 7 (Fri) 5th One Day at NBP

Ground Karachi

Dec 8 (Sat) Bangladesh U-19 team

departs Karachi for Dhaka

Pakistan seek confidence boost before India test series

Reuters, India

A downcast Pakistan are pinning their hopes on defeating a reshuffled India in Sunday's inconsequential final one-dayer to gather momentum before the test series starting next week.

"If their regular combination doesn't play we will definitely get some psychological advantage," Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul Haq told reporters on Saturday.

"We hope we can win this match before the test series and take some confidence into it."

India have already clinched the series, having taken an unassailable 3-1 lead after winning the fourth game at Gwalior on Thursday by six wickets.

India team manager Lalchand Rajput said frontline pacemen Zaheer Khan and Rudra Pratap Singh and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh would sit out the day-nighter (0900 GMT start).

The hosts could also leave out one of their leading batsmen to give youngster Rohit Sharma his first match in the series.

Pakistan have continued to struggle since arriving in India after losing the test and one-day series against South Africa. They lost the Twenty20 World Cup final to India in September. "When you lose two-three series it does affect the players and the pressure builds on the team," Misbah said. "We're trying to win and that is the only way we can change things."

Misbah, 33, himself has failed to convert starts and finish games despite being handed a regular place in the XI since the retirement of batsman Inzamam-ul Haq.

His best so far in the series has been 49. He is in the squad for the three-test series starting in New Delhi on Thursday.

AFP, South Africa

Jacques Kallis hit his fifth Test century in seven innings as South Africa moved into a commanding position on the second day of the second and final Test against New Zealand at Centurion Park Saturday.

Kallis made 131 not out as South Africa reached 251 for two at tea in reply to New Zealand's first innings of 188.

Kallis and Hashim Amla, who had a partnership of 330 during South Africa's 358-run win in the first Test in Johannesburg, shared another big stand, putting on an unbeaten 220 for the third wicket. Amla was on 77 not out.

It was a dominant performance by Kallis after a shaky start on a pitch with some uneven bounce.

After taking 94 balls to reach 50 he needed only another 49 to post his 29th Test hundred and his fifth against New Zealand. His century included 13 fours and two sixes. He scored 95 runs off 90 balls between lunch and tea.

When he was on six Kallis, playing in his eighth Test of the year, became the first batsman to make 1000 runs in 2007.

Kallis and Amla, who was content to play a supporting role, came together after opening bowler Chris Martin dismissed opening batsmen Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs.

South Africa needed only four balls at the start of the day to wrap up New Zealand's first innings, with Makhaya Ntini having Martin caught at second slip by Kallis after captain Daniel Vettori had added a single run to New Zealand's 187 for eight overnight.

Opening batman Craig Cumming, who retired hurt on 48 after being struck by a Dale Steyn bouncer Friday, did not bat and was ruled out of the rest of the match after surgery Friday night to repair a fractured right cheekbone and jaw.

Martin's first ball of the innings lifted sharply and looped off the shoulder of Smith's bat over gully for two runs but the South African captain was out to the last ball of the over when he played an indecisive defensive shot and was bowled off an inside edge.

Gibbs started his innings with a runner after injuring a knee while fielding Friday. He batted aggressively to make 25 off 27 balls before he was bowled by a ball from Martin which cut back sharply, with Gibbs stuck on his crease and not using his feet.