The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

District Football Associations (DFAs) were formed in six more districts on Monday, as per the FIFA guidelines, to hold the much talked about election of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).

Earlier, the BFF instructed the district football organisers to form the DFA committees by January 15.

The six new districts -- Narayanganj, Sirajganj, Chittagong, Joypurhat, Madaripur and Kurigram -- formed 11-member DFA committees with one president, two vice-president, one treasurer and seven members.

The committees will later select the general secretary and the joint secretary.

With the day's six, a total of 27 out of the 64 districts have formed DFA committees, BFF media manager Ahmed Syed Al-Fatah told UNB on Monday.

The FIFA asked BFF to complete its election formalities by April 30 this year as per their guidelines, else they threatened to cancel BFF's affiliation with the world soccer body.

The BFF also instructed the respective authorities to form the Divisional Football Associations by January 25. After the formation of district and divisional football associations, the BFF will take initiative to hold its election.

Earlier, DFA committees were formed in 21 districts. These are Manikganj, Netrakona, Jamalpur, Laxmipur, Habiganj, Thakurgaon, Gaibandha, Khulna, Satkhira, Kushtia, Magura, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Naogaon, Patuakhali, Bhola, Jessore, Gopalganj, Gazipur, Bagerhat and Moulvibazar.

Inter-Divisional Women Kabaddi Competition to begin today

UNB, Dhaka

A two-day Inter-Divisional Women Kabaddi Competition, organised by Bangladesh Women Sports Federation, will begin in the city today (Tuesday) at the Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex.

National Sports Council (NSC) director Mohammad Abdur Rahman will formally inaugurated the tournament as chief guest Tuesday morning.

IGP Noor Mohammad will be present at the concluding ceremony as chief guest Wednesday afternoon and will distribute prizes.

UNB, Dhaka

The six-day Volleyball Referees Training Course, organised by Bagerhat Physical Training College and sponsored by Bangladesh Volleyball Federation, concluded at the Physical Training College campus here on Sunday.

Thirty-seven trainees, including 12 female, took part in the course conducted by international volleyball referees Mohammad Monirul Haque and Mohammad Anisur Rahman. College teacher Abdul Maleq Talukder worked as the course coordinator.

Of the 37 participants, 14 were from Bagerhat, 7 from Khulna, 5 from Jhalakati, 3 each from Jhenidah and Pirojpur, 2 from Gopalganj, and one each from Magura, Patuakhali and Jessore.

UNB, Dhaka

Arambagh KS tasted the first victory in their third match of the Metropolis Senior Division Football League beating City Club by a solitary goal at the Bir Shresjtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur on Monday.

Mohammad Selim scored the all-important goal for the winners in the 44th minute.

The league matches resumed today after a four-day recess due to the staging of concert in the stadium for the Sidr-affected people.

Today's match: Purbachal Parisad vs Sunrise SC at 3 pm at the same venue

Bangladeshi players make good start in 6th Parsvnath International Open Chess

UNB, Dhaka

Four Bangladeshi players-- GM Ziaur Rahman, IM Enamul Hossain Razib, FM Taibur Rahman and Sohel Chowdhury--made good start in the 6th Parsvnath International Open Chess Tournament after winning their first round matches in New Delhi, on Sunday.

Zia beat A Sudarshan (Rating-1905) of India, Razib defeated DS Shashaank (1935) of India, Taibur beat DB Pulekar (1802) of India and Sohel beat Chaitanya Hari Singhania of India.

A total of 391 players, including 15 Grandmasters, 25 International Masters from different countries are taking part in the meet.

UNB, Dhaka

The 4th JFA Cup Under-15 Football tournament, organised by Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) with the financial assistance of Japan Football Association, will begin on February 1 at eight venues across the country.

District Sports Associations (DSAs), District Football Associations (DFAs), Education Boards and BKSP, who intend to participate in and host the first phase matches, have been asked to confirm their participation in writing and an acceptation letter for hosting a venue by January 22.

After the knockout basis first phase, eight zonal champion teams will qualify for the final round to be held in Dhaka.

Participating players must not be more then 15 years on January 1, 2008.

In the first JFA Cup in 2004, Narayanganj DSA emerged champions while Dhaka DSA clinched the titles in next two tournaments in 2005 and 1006-07.

UNB, Dhaka

Statistics department student Mahfuzur Rahman emerged champion in the individual event of the daylong Fazlul Haq Hall Annual Sports Competition at the DU Central playground here on Monday.

Iqbal Hossain of the Applied Chemistry department became runner-up.

Over 100 students took part in the 15-event meet.

After the competition, DU Vice Chancellor Prof. SMA Faiz distributed prizes among the winners as chief guest. FH Hall provost Dr. M Mozammel Haque and DU athletics committee president Mohammad Akhter Hossain Khan were present on the occasion.

Earlier, in the morning, pro VC of Dhaka University Prof. AFM Yusuf Haider inaugurated the competition.

AP, Wellington

New Zealand dismissed Bangladesh for 113 Monday to win the second cricket test by an innings and 137 runs, the two-test series 2-0 and to improve its record to 6-0 in tests against the tourists.

Seamers Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien and Jacob Oram each took two wickets as New Zealand took 25 overs- 110 minutes - to wrap up the innings on the third day and to post its fifth innings win over Bangladesh in six tests.

New Zealand's nine-wicket win in the first test in Dunedin marks the only occasion in which the margin of victory has been less than an innings.

Martin finished with match figures of seven for 99 and was man of the match as he stepped into the role of bowling spearhead, vacated by Shane Bond who will not play for New Zealand again after joining a rebel Indian cricket league.

Iain O'Brien also stepped comfortably into the role of third seamer, taking three for 34 in the first innings and two for 23 in the second, despite having to bowl into the teeth of a northerly gale.

UNB, Dhaka

Jatrabari KC emerged champions in the Exim Bank Women's Kabaddi League beating Matuail Milan Smriti Sangsad by 68-51 points with four creditable `lonas' in the final at the Kabaddi Stadium here on Monday.

Exim Bank entrepreneur M Nazrul Islam Swapan and managing director Kazi Moshiur Rahman witnessed the day's final and distributed the trophies. Kabaddi Federation general secretary M Nazrul Islam was present.

Earlier, on Sunday, Jatrabari KC booked a seat for the final eliminating Dhaka Wanderers Club by 66-35 points while Matuail Milan Smriti Sangsad reached the final beating Jurain Janata Club by 54-48 points in the semi-finals.

UNB, Dhaka

Four matches will be held on the opening day of the Women's Open Cricket Tournament scheduled to begin on January 17 in Dhaka and Khulna.

Abahani Limited will face Prantik KC at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS) while Ansar & VDP Academy will take on Jahangirnagar University at the Dhanmondi Cricket Ground (DCG).

In other two matches in Khulna, Ispahani Sporting Club will vie with Khulna Women's Cricket Academy at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium (BSSMRS) while Narail District Women's Club will play against Chuadanga District XI at the Khulna Divisional Sports Association Stadium (KDSAS).

Ten teams, split into three groups, will take part in the tourney, initially on league basis matches.