The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sarwar Hossain and Rafiqul Islam President & General Secretary of BSWA

Sports Reporter

Sarwar Hossain and Md Rafiqul Islam have been elected President and General Secretary respectively of the Bangladesh Sports Writers Association (BSWA) for a two years term (2008 and 2009).

The Annual General Meeting and the election of the executive committee of BSWA were held at the National Sports Council on last Friday.

The other newly elected members of the executive committee of BSWA are: Syed Mazharul Parvez (Senior Vice-President), Hasan Mahmud Babli (Vice-President), Arif Sohel (Joint-Secretary 1), Dr Anupam Hossain (Joint Secretary 2), Raqeebur Rahman (Treasurer), Morsalin Ahmed (Organising Secretary) (Unopposed), Aminul Islam Liton (Office Secretary) (unopposed), SB Chowdhury Shishir (Sports Secretary) (Unopposed), Md Hassan Sharif (Publication Secretary) (Unopposed), SG Akbar (Library Secretary), Md Anwarullah, GM Masud Dhali, Sanaul Haque Khan, Md Rafiqul Islam Miah, Salna Rafique, Masood Akhtar Mobaraki, Sahab Uddin Sahab, Dr Munim Khan Noman, Yahia Munna, Shafique Kalim and Khairul Islam Shaheen (Members).

Bangladesh U-19 play Nepal U-19 today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Under-19 team playing visiting Nepal Under-19 team in the 3rd and last one-day match at the BKSP in Savar today, aiming to clinch the one-day series.

The hosts already took an 1-0 lead in the three-match series outplaying the tourists by 111 runs in the first one-day match at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS) on Thursday. The 2nd one-day match between the two sides, also at the NOS, had to be abandoned due to rain on Saturday.

After the departure of the young Nepalese side, West Indies U-19 team will arrive here on Tuesday (January 29) to play four one-day matches against the junior tigers.

Of the matches, three will be held at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium (SCS) in Bogra while the other one is likely to be held at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium (NOS) at Fatullah.

BOA officials inspect reception venue at Benapole

UNB, Dhaka

Officials of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) Sunday inspected the reception venue at Benapole in Jessore, where the West Bengal sports team for the ensuing Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games will be received.

The BOA officials, led by its vice president and Games coordination committee chairman Mizanur Rahman Manu, also included BOA deputy secretary general and accommodation committee chairman Imtiaz Khan Babul and reception committee member secretary Rafiqul Islam Tipu.

During the visit, they exchanged views with the local BDR officials on how to make a success of the reception programme.

The West Bengal sports team will arrive here on February 20 to participate in the five-day Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games that will begin on February 22.

After the first reception at Benapole to be accorded by the BDR, the touring Indian contingent on their way to Dhaka by road will be given separate receptions at Jessore, Magura, Faridpur, Rajbari and Manikganj by the respective district administrations and DSAs.

Meanwhile, the logo of the 2nd version of the meet will be unveiled on Tuesday at 3:30 pm at the National Sports Council (NSC) conference room. BOA acting secretary general Kutubuddin Ahmed will formally unveil the logo.

Besides, the ceremonies committee of the Games will visit the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) on Wednesday, where the opening ceremony will be held. Ceremonies committee chairman and Bangladesh Rifles Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed will later preside over a committee meeting, also at the BNS.

The 2nd Indo-Bangla Games will have nine events-athletics, swimming, shooting, basketball, volleyball, kabaddi, kho kho, football and cricket. Of these, only cricket will feature in the meet for the first time.

Earlier, the first Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games was held in Kolkata in February 2007.

BFF refutes postponement of DFA formation procedure

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) yesterday denied the news published in a section of newspapers that the procedure for formation of District Football Associations (DFA) has been postponed or cancelled.

"The fact is that the BFF executive committee in its last meeting on January 24 decided to consider the DFA committees, which will be formed by January 31, for the ensuing BFF election," said a BFF press release.

So far, 45 DFA committees have been formed for the BFF election to be held next April.

The BFF meeting also took a decision extending the date for the formation of Divisional Football Associations by February 7.

The meeting asked the authorities concerned to form the committees for district and divisional football associations within the stipulated dates. Otherwise, they will not be eligible to take part in the BFF election, the press release added.

Women's Cricket final on Monday

UNB, Dhaka

Ispahani Sporting Club play Bangladesh Ansar & VDP in the final of the Parachute Women's Cricket Tournament at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS) today.

Earlier, the final match between the two sides could not be held on Friday due to inclement weather.

On way to the final, high flying Ansar & VDP beat Ispahani SC by 7 runs in the first final round match and defeated Abahani Limited by 21 runs in the 2nd match.

On the other hand, Ispahani SC conceded a 7-run defeat against Ansar & VDP in the first match, but upset Abahani Limited by 12 runs in the 2nd final round match to ensure the final berth.

Djokovic fends off Tsonga to win Australian Open title

AP, Melbourne

Novak Djokovic fended off unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the Australian Open final Sunday, earning his and first Grand Slam singles title.

No. 3-ranked Djokovic's win broke a sequence of 11 straight majors won by either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal since Marat Safin's triumph at the 2005 Australian championship. Djokovic had not lost a set in six matches leading into the final including his semifinal win over two-time defending champion Federer, who had beaten him in straight sets in the U.S. Open final last September.

But with Muhammad Ali lookalike Tsonga coming out swinging like he did in his straight-sets upset over No. 2 Nadal in the semifinals, that streak came to a sudden end.

The 20-year-old Djokovic rebounded in the second and third sets and after saving a crucial breakpoint in the fourth, clinched his first major at his 13th attempt.

He was the youngest player since 1985 to win the Australian title and the first Serbian man to win a Grand Slam singles title. As well as Tsonga, he had to overcome cramps.

Djokovic got treatment on the back of his left thigh while holding for a 3-2 lead in the fourth set, then fended off a break point while serving at 5-5.

Wanting to finish it off quickly, he raced through the tiebreaker

with some help from Tsonga, who double-faulted to make it 5-1 and then sent a running forehand long to give Djokovic four championship points.

He only needed one as Tsonga hit a forehand wide. Djokovic fell on his back, then got up to shake hands with Tsonga and put his arm around the Frenchman. He got on his knees and kissed the court, shook hands with his family, then tossed two rackets into the stands before burying his face in a towel.

"First, before I thank everybody in this world, I want to thank everybody in my box, who've supported me all the way through, not just these two weeks, all the way in my life," Djokovic said. "Thank you very much, I love you.

"Second of course Jo. Unbelievable tournament and you should be proud of yourself - if he won tonight it would be absolutely deserved, so well done for his success."

Djokovic, who has had a hot and cold relationship with the Melbourne Park crowd, won them back over again in his post-match speech.

"I know the crowd wanted him to win more," he said of Tsonga.

"That's OK, it's alright. I still love you guys, don't worry. "I'm very, very happy that I won my first Grand Slam here, so hopefully we'll see you here on this stage a lot more often in the future."

Tsonga, ranked 38th coming into his fifth major, will move up to No. 18 after advancing past the fourth round for the first time. He was aiming to be the first Frenchman in 80 years to win the Australian title and the first to win any of the four Grand Slams since Yannick Noah's win at Roland Garros in 1983.

Rod Laver Arena was packed and awash in red, white and blue, the national colors of both countries, but there was little doubt where the rowdy crowd's loyalties lay - with underdog Tsonga, who has delighted the Melbourne Park fans with his ebullient personality and go-for-broke style.

A portrait of Ali, a racket sketched in one hand, was taped to a wall, and Tsonga sprinted onto the court for warmups. Djokovic, who had complained after his semifinal victory over Federer that he had to fight two opponents because of the overwhelming support for the Swiss star, was at it again, frequently turning toward a pocket of chanting Serbian fans to get them fired up after he fired winners.

Both men looked tight at first, dropping their first service games before settling in.

Tsonga suddenly picked up his game when it appeared the first set was headed for a tiebreaker. He blasted three aces to take a 5-4 lead, then came up with two great shots to break Djokovic. Serving at 30-30, Djokovic had an easy overhead, but didn't do enough with it. Tsonga ripped a forehand crosscourt passing shot for a winner, then raised his racket and roared with the crowd. Another good forehand winner finished off the set, and Tsonga went down on one knee to pump his fist before dancing over to his chair to a standing ovation.

Djokovic refused to crumble. He never faced a break point in the second and third sets, yielding only 10 points in his nine service games.

Tsonga, who had been so aggressive in beating four top 14 players earlier in the tournament, including No. 2 Nadal in the semifinals, seemed more content to rally from the baseline, especially after getting passed several times.

Ponting, Clarke make centuries as Australia dent India hopes

AP, Adelaide

Ricky Ponting moved up a rung in cricket's batting elite with a century, matched by Michael Clarke, which pushed Australia close to India's first-innings total on the fourth day of the fourth cricket test Sunday.

Ponting made 140 and Clarke 118 in a 209-run fourth wicket partnership which helped Australia to 509-6 at tea, replying to India's first innings of 526.

With four sessions of the match remaining, India's chances of winning the match to square the four-test series have receded and Australia seems likely to hold on to its 2-1 series lead. Ponting's century was his 34th in 116 tests and brought him level with Sunil Gavaskar (125 tests) and Brian Lara (131 tests) on the all-time list of test century-makers.

Only Sachin Tendulkar, whose 153 in the first innings of this match was his 39th century in 146 tests, has scored more. Ponting came to the crease when Australia was 159-1 and was joined by Clarke at 241-3, following the dismissals of Michael Hussey and Matthew Hayden whose 103 was his 30th test century, placing him third on the Australian all-time list.

When Ponting and Clarke were finally separated, in the 149th over of the innings, Australia was 450-4 - only 76 behind India's total. Clarke posted his sixth test century, his second against India, in 256 minutes with six fours, as an equal partner in his stand with Ponting who suffered a back strain and batted the last portion of his innings with a runner.

Ponting's century was compiled in a minute less than five hours with eight fours, crowning a watchful innings which played Australia away from any threat of defeat. It was a welcome century for the Australian skipper, who had struggled for form previously in the series.

The afternoon session contained a cameo innings which may be the last in the 96-test career of Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.Gilchrist, who Saturday announced he will retire from test cricket at the end of this match and from one-day internationals in several months, came to the wicket on Clark's dismissal 38 minutes before tea.

He walked from the Australian dressing room to the middle accompanied by a loud standing ovation, greater than those that marked the centuries of Ponting and Clarke.

He had spent only 21 minutes at the crease and had scored only 14 runs when he slashed a ball from Irfan Pathan to Virender Sehwag at cover. He paused momentarily then left the crease, acknowledging his family and the crowd.

Andrew Symonds (19) and Brad Hogg (1) carried Australia to tea without further loss.

Woods builds an 8-shot lead with an ugly forecast looming

Internet

Break out the umbrellas for rain, and the white flags for Tiger Woods.

Winning the Buick Invitational became a matter of when -- not who -- after Woods put on a clinic Saturday by hitting 17 greens in regulation, building an eight-shot lead and hoping he doesn't have to wait until Monday to collect a fourth straight title at Torrey Pines.

"I'm in second place. I'm not really in contention," Stewart Cink conceded. "He's just hard to beat right now."

Woods finished off a 6-under 66 with a tap-in birdie on the par-5 18th, where his 3-iron landed on the bank guarding a pond but stopped short of going into the water. That put him at 18-under 198, tying the 54-hole tournament record set by Woody Blackburn in 1985.

Cink made a 35-foot eagle on the final hole to trim the lead to eight.

Woods shattered the Buick Invitational record for largest 54-hole lead (five shots), and it was the largest on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson led by eight shots at the BellSouth Classic in 2006.

This is a course Woods loves, but he has never dominated like this at Torrey Pines. Two years ago, he was in an eight-way tie for the lead with six holes to play. Last year, he had to rally from two shots behind in the final round.

"A lot more enjoyable," Woods said of his margin. "I'd like to have the biggest lead you can possibly have.

You've still got to go out there and play well and post a number. Whether that takes us tomorrow or into Monday, I still need to go out there and hit good shots. You don't ever want to give guys a chance by playing poorly."

Joe Durant was among the deflated, having posted a 67 on the tough South Course only to lose ground. He was at 9-under 207, and when someone asked if the tour should have a mercy rule, Durant could only laugh.

"If there was ever a week for it, this might be it," Durant said.

Mercy might come from Mother Nature. Sunshine gave way to clouds late in the day, and the forecast Sunday was for heavy rain that could wash out the final round. Players would have to return on Monday if the course conditions and forecast allow.

PGA Tour tournament director Mark Russell said Woods with an eight-shot lead would have no bearing on the decision.

"There's no mercy rule," he said. "We're not playing Little League baseball. We'll see what happens. We might get lucky."

Everyone else might need much more than luck.

Woods has never lost a tournament when leading by more than one shot, let alone eight. And it became clear as he kept piling up birdies, and stretching his streak to 38 holes without a bogey, that there were two tournaments being played at Torrey Pines.

"I'm going to try to win the tournament that Tiger's not playing," Justin Leonard said after a 65, the best round of the day that moved him up 44 spots into a tie for fourth.