The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

The three-day-long Third Dhaka Sports Carnival begins tomorrow. Dhaka Club floated an idea to hold the sports extravaganza. Kurmitola Golf Club, Cadet College Club, Gulshan Club, Uttara Club came forward to support the initiative of Dhaka Club. The clubs agreed to be the co-hosts along with Dhaka Club to stage the Third Dhaka Sports Carnival. Marking the ensuing gala sports extravaganza, Dhaka Club arranged a press conference at the Hamidur Rahman Sinha Lounge of Dhaka Club on Wednesday.

Secretary of Dhaka Club and Secretary of Dhaka Sports Carnival Organising Committee Group Captain (Retd) Mujahidul Islam disclosed all the matters related to the sports carnival. Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Third Dhaka Sports Carnival Rezaur Rahman, Deputy Managing Director of Prime Bank RQM Farkan, President of Cadet College Club Major (Retd) Tanim Hasan, President of Dhaka Club Salim Bhuiyan, Managing Director of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited Yasin Ali, President of Uttara Club Rezaul Haque Tapan, CEO of Kurmitola Golf Club Colonel (Retd) Syed Anwar Hossain, President of Gulshan Club Sultana Shaheda Islam were present at that time.

Mujahidul Islam said, "Dhaka Club, an icon among the clubs of Bangladesh, has very close bilateral relationship with many clubs of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and beyond. He told the newsmen that the different sporting events would be held at the different host clubs. He added that a number of 14 Bangladeshi clubs and a total of seven foreign clubs would take part in the three-day long sports carnival.

The foreign clubs are : International Club, Calcutta Club Limited, Calcutta Rowing Club, Calcutta Cricket and Football Club, The Saturday Club Limited, Singapore Cricket Club and Dalhousie Institute.

On the other hand, the local clubs are: Dhaka Club Limited, Gulshan Club Limited, Kurmitola Golf Club, Uttara Club Limited, Cadet College Club, Comilla Club, Gulshan Youth Club, Officers' Club, Raowa Club, Savar Golf Club, Mainamoti Golf Club, Khulna Club, Balisera Valley Club and Narayanganj Club Limited.

The events of the three-day long sports carnival are : Six-a-Side Cricket, Golf, Snooker, Squash, Swimming, Tennis and Bridge.

AFP, Manchester

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo hit a stoppage-time stunner that clinched a 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday and ensured his side will finish top of Champions League Group F.

United trailed after Tomasz Kuszczak misjudged Abel's long range strike but Carlos Tevez came off the bench to equalise and Ronaldo stole the points at Old Trafford with a superb free-kick. Sir Alex Ferguson's under-strength team rarely hit peak form against a determined Sporting team, but they can now afford to take it easy in their final match at Roma on December 12.

The United boss had made it clear he wanted to win the group so they would face one of the runners-up in the first knockout round and avoid the likes of AC Milan.

Barcelona and Real Madrid.

So it was mission accomplished for Ferguson, who is certain to leave several of his key players at home when United travel to the Italian capital to keep them fresh for the crunch domestic clash at Liverpool four days later.

Ronaldo's winner eliminated his former club from the race to qualify alongside United. He had scored the decisive goal in Lisbon earlier this season as well so they will be sick of the sight of the Portugal winger.

Ferguson welcomed back Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic after injury but, with United's place in the last 16 already secure, he opted to rest Tevez, Ryan Giggs, Owen Hargreaves and Edwin van der Sar.

But although United started brightly, with Ronaldo scything through the defence before his pass to Louis Saha was smothered, that promise quickly faded.

Saturday's bruising defeat against Bolton had clearly left the Premier League champions with mental and physical scars.

While United had their wounded pride to salve after the battering at Bolton there was more at stake for Paulo Bento's team, who knew they had to win.

Joao Moutinho set the tone when the midfielder dragged a long range shot narrowly off-target.

BSS, Dhaka

The 3rd Korea Cup Taekwondo Tournament begins at Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in Mirpur from tomorrow.

This competition is being organized by Bangladesh Taekwondo Federation (BTF) and sponsored by Korean Embassy in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Taekwondo Federation arranged a press conference yesterday at National Sports Council's auditorium to provide details of the meet.

BTF President Ehsan Ul Fattah and General Secretary Mahmudul Islam Rana spoke on the occasion.

Bangladesh taekwondo's national coach Lee Jusang, who hails from Korea, was also present as the representative of Korean Embassy.

Almost 700 taekwondo players, including 160 women, will be taking part in the two-day meet.

There will be competition in eight weight categories for male and female participants and four weight categories for boys and girls.

Twenty-eight teams from different parts of the country will take part in the tourney. The teams are Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars and VDP, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi DSA, Barisal DSA, Cox's Bazaar DSA, Rangamati DSA, Khagrachhari DSA, Bandarban DSA, Manikganj DSA, Comilla DSA, Narsingdi DSA, Dinajpur DSA, Kushtia DSA, Natore DSA, Rajshahi Taekwondo Dojang, Chattala Taekwondo Dojang, Teknaf Taekwondo Training Centre, Self-Defence Taekwondo Academy, KB Taekwondo Academy, Uttara Taekwondo Dojang, Gazipur Taekwondo Academy, Mirpur Taekwondo Dojang, Taekwondo Training Centre Mirpur and Mirpur Taekwondo Dojang.

The budget for the meet is Taka 3.20 lakh with sponsors providing Taka 1.95 lakh.

Korean Ambassador Suk Bum Park is expected to inaugurate the meet as the chief guest. Col (retd) Mohammad Wali Ullah will be present as the special guest.

UNB, Dhaka

Touring Bangladesh Under-19 team went down in the five-match one-day series 0-2 after a huge 79-run defeat against Pakistan Under-19 side in the 2nd one-day match at Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Earlier, in the first one-day match on Monday, Bangladesh youth team made a frustrating start with humiliating 144-run defeat against their Pakistani counterparts at the same venue.In the day's second one-dayer, hosts Pakistan Under-19 side batted first after winning the toss and scored 211 for 9 in stipulated 50 overs.Bangladesh skipper Suhrawardy Shuvo grabbed three wickets for 27 runs, Mahmudul claimed two wickets for 28 runs while Rony, Nasir and Rubel took one wicket apiece.In reply, visiting Bangladesh team again showed a dismal performance and were all out for 131 in 42 overs.

In the first one-day match, Bangladesh were bowled out for 113 runs in 29.5 overs.Brief score: Pakistan Under-19 team - 211 for 9 in 50 overs; Suhrawardi 3/27, Mahmudul 2/28, Rony 1/12, Nasir 1/22, Rubel 1/35 Bangladesh Under-19 team - 131 all out in 42 overs.

Bangladesh Under-19 side will play the 3rd one-day match against their Pakistani counterparts on Dec 2 at the DHA ground in Karachi, the 4th at the Quaid-e-Azam Park (Steel Mills Karachi) on Dec 5 and the 5th and last one-day match on Dec 7 at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) ground.