The New Nation - Internet Edition

China cruise closer to world crown

AFP, Guangzhou

A clinical China downed Hong Hong in the semi-final of the world team table tennis championships here Saturday, moving another step closer to retaining their crown.

China's supremacy was never in doubt, as the world's top three players quickly demolished Hong Kong 3-0 in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

Hong Kong's top ranked paddler Li Ching tried valiantly at 2-0 down to halt World Cup champion Ma Lin's charge in the opening tie.

Li, ranked 11 in the world, threw everything at Ma, but the world number two held his nerve and eventually clinched the third set 19-17.

World champion Wang Liqin downed his opponent, Hong Kong's rising star Tang Peng, before world number one Wang Hao swiftly wrapped up proceedings.

Despite the victory, Wang Liqin, the oldest member of his team at 29, said he was feeling the pressure at these worlds where he must perform as he campaigns to win over Chinese team officials for Olympic qualification.

"I'm concerned I won't play well enough and the coaches maybe won't choose me to play at the Beijing Olympics, so I have to concentrate hard on all of my games," the softly spoken Wang said after his straight-sets win.

In the finals, China will face either arch rivals South Korea or Japan who take to the tables later Saturday for their semi-final showdown.

China's equally formidable women, undefeated at these championships since 1993, take on Singapore in their final also later Saturday.

China, the giants of the sport, are using these worlds as the perfect warmup for the Beijing Games where they are aiming for total dominance.

13th Standard Chartered: Golf Tournament concludes

Sports Reporter

The 13th Standard Chartered Golf Tournament was held successfully at the lush green Bhatiary Golf and Country Club recently. The tournament was inaugurated jointly by Salman Ispahani, Vice President, Bhatiary Golf and Country Club Osman Morad, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank.

A total of 108 golfers from home and abroad including 7 ladies took part in the two-day meet which was sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank. Senior Vice President of Bhatiary Golf and Country Club Major General Md. Abdul Mubeen, ndc, psc, General Officer Commanding 24th Infantry Division & Area Commander Chittagong distributed prizes among the winners, Jong Oh Bae clinched the men's title while Obaida Sayeed won the women's crown in the 13th Standard Chartered Golf Tournament.

In his speech he congratulated everyone involved in making the 13th Standard Chartered Golf Tournament a success. Ahmed Ali Shah, Director & Head Client Relationships of Standard Chartered Bank was also present at the prize giving ceremony amongst other senior officials of the bank. Meah Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Chairman of the tournament committee, conducted the tournament.

Bangladesh 60 for three in reply to South Africa's 583

BSS, Chittagong

Bangladesh were 60 for three in reply to South Africa's 583 for seven wickets declared at close on the second day of the second test against Bangladesh at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium here on Saturday.

Scoreboard

Scoreboard at the close on the second day of the second and final test between South Africa and Bangladesh at Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong on Saturday.

South Africa first innings

N.McKenzie b Shahadat Hossain 226

G.Smith b Abdur Razzak 232

H.Amla lbw Shahadat Hossain 38

J.Kallis not out 39

A.Prince b Shahadat Hossain 2

AB de Villiers b Shakib Al Hasan 1

M.Boucher c Shakib Al Hasan b Mohammad Rafique 21

R.Peterson c Zunaed Siddique b Mohammad Rafique 4

Extras (b-10 w-1 lb-7 nb-2) 20

Total (seven wickets declared, 161.1 overs) 583

Fall of wickets: 1-415 2-514 3-515 4-519 5-524 6-579 7-583

Bowling: Mortaza 28-6-92-0, Hossain 25-1-107-3 (2nb),

Rafique 44.1-5-132-2 (1w), Razzak 31-1-129-1, Al Hasan 25-4-68-1, Ashraful 3-0-20-0, Ahmed 5-0-18-0

Did not bat: M.Morkel, M.Ntini, D.Steyn

Bangladesh first innings

T.Iqbal c de Villiers b Steyn 14

Z.Siddique c Boucher b Steyn 18

S.Nafees not out 7

M.Ashraful c Boucher b Steyn 0

A.Razzak not out 8

Extras (lb-6, nb-7) 13

Total (three wickets, 16 overs) 60

Fall of wicket: 1-39 2-49 3-49

Bowling: Steyn 8-2-24-3 (4nb), Ntini 3-0-13-0,

Morkel 3-0-16-0 (3nb), Peterson 2-1-1-0

Series: South Africa lead 1-0

Fire Service earns 31-9 victory over Dilkusha SC in Premier Kabaddi League

UNB, Dhaka

Fire Service earned a facile 31-9 victory over Dilkusha SC with four lonas in the 11th Pran Juice Metropolis Premier Division Kabaddi League at the outer stadium kabaddi court here Saturday.

The winners led the first half by 8-5 points.

In the day's other matches, Bangladesh Army beat Faruk Smriti Sangsad by 54-22 points with four creditable lonas after dominating the first session by 30-4 points while Sonali Bank SRC defeated Azad SC by 29-18 points with one lona after leading the first half by 11-8 points at the same venue.

Four matches will be held today (Sunday).

Youngmen's Club takes lead beating Wari Club 4-0

UNB, Dhaka

Youngmen's Club dominated the Metropolis First Division Football League beating Wari Club by 4-0 goals at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamlapur on Saturday.

They led the first half by 2-0 goals.

Raju opened the Youngmen's account in the 28th minutes, Komol doubled the winners margin in the 41st minutes, Ronny netted the third goal in the 68th minutes while Sabuj sealed the fate of the match scoring one more goal in the 69th minute.

With the day's feat, Youngmen's Club secured 27 points from 12 matches to top the point table.

In the day's another match, Agrani Bank beat Mohakhali Eleven by 1-0 goal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium with Pashbon scoring the match winner in 14th minute.

Today's matches: Wanderers Club vs Sunrise SC, 1:30pm, BNS, Dipali Jubo Sangha vs Purbachal Parishad, 3:30pm, BNS, City Club vs Jatrabari KC, 3:30pm, Kamlapur.

Premier Division Cricket League: Abahani, Mohammedan, City Club win

Sports Reporter

Abahani Limited, Mohammedan Sporting Club, City Club won their respective matches of the Premier Division Cricket League on Saturday.

At the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Abahani registered a six-wicket victory over Surjotorun Club in their opening match.

Earlier, former national cricketer Shakil Kashem formally inaugurated the cricket meet by releasing the balloons as the chief guest. Chairman of the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) Gazi Ashraf Hossain and Member Secretary of CCDM MA Kabir were present at the time.

Chasing Surjotorun's 178 off 49.2 overs, Abahai reached the winning target making 180 for the loss of four wickets in the 41.2 overs.

Skipper Tushar Imran of Abahani Limited hit a captain's knock of 66 (not out) using 89 deliveries.

His innings was studded with seven shots across the fence.

Opener Mahbubul Karim was the over successful batsman of Abahani who cracked a run-a-ball 41 amid five fours and a six.

Mohammad Younus of Surjotorun Club bagged a couple of wickets conceding 23 runs.

Earlier, Shakil Haidar, the opener of Surjotorun Club knocked a fine 60 facing 93 deliveries amid four fours and a six.

Arafat Sunny and Rejaul Karim of Abahani Limited bagged a pair of wickets each giving away 33 and 45 runs respectively.

At the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Mohammedan Sporting Club posted an easy 53-run victory over BKSP thanks to Number Seven batsman Faisal Hossain, who remained undefeated with a stormy 87. He played 78 balls in his brilliant innings, which was ornamented with three sixes and six fours.

Suhrawardy Shuvo, the other batsman, who shone with the willow for Mohammedan, scored 35 off 51 balls.

Sent into bat first, Mohammedan Sporting Club made 209 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs and then they restricted BKSP to 156 for the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs.

Moshiur Rahman of BKSP grabbed four wickets at the cost of 52 runs while Riaz Mahmud and Latiful Alam got two wickets each conceding 23 and 35 runs respectively.

Later, Salman Ahmed of BKSP knocked 47 off 108 balls including four fours.

Medium pacer Tapash Baisya of Mohammedan Sporting Club harpooned three wickets in exchange of 40 runs.

Meanwhile, a sparkle unbeaten 128 by Imran Ahmed guided City Club to earn a sensational two-run victory over Sonargaon Cricketers at the BKSP Ground Two.

Imran Ahmed used 155 deliveries in his entertaining innings, which was decorated with four sixes and nine fours.

Besides, Sumon Barua of City Club smashed a stormy 67 off 56 balls amid seven fours and two sixes.

Batting first, City Club piled up 244 for the loss of four wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then they restricted Sonargaon Cricketers to 242 for the loss of four wickets in 50 overs.

Mohammad Sharifullah of Sonargaon Cricketers picked up two wickets for 25 runs.

Later, opener Elias Sunny of Sonargaon Cricketers hit 64 off 79 balls with six fours.

Zahoor Elahi, Shafaq-Al-Zabir, Arafat Salahuddin, Rashedul Islam and Atiqur Rahman of City Club took one wicket apiece.

Jamal Mollah clinches gold cup in Cotton Group Golf

Sports Reporter

Cotton Group 23rd Bangladesh Amateur Golf Championship held from 27 February to 01 March at Kurmitola Golf Club. This is the only international golfing event in the country, where national golf teams of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka took part.

After four days of very exciting competition Bangladeshi Jamal Hossain Mollah confirmed his supremacy and clinched the god cup in the men's individual event. Jamal played superb and finished his play with five under par 283 in four rounds. He toppled Bo Bo Lay, playing with five under on third day and Sri Lanka on fourth day. On the final day Shohel Ahmed of Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka playing with two under and clinched runner's-up trophy.

In the Women's category, Malaysian team comprising Ainil Johari Abu Bakar and Sharon Lau May Yen clinched the Ladies Team Championship trophy. Myanmar ladies team tried their best but was out of reach and had to satisfy with the runners-up trophy. However, Bangladesh Ladies team had to satisfy with the fourth position after Sri Lanka. In the individual event, Sharon Lau May Yen of Malaysia continued her domination over her teammate Ainil Johani and clinched individual trophy.

BDR beat BSF by 2-1 sets in a friendly volleyball

UNB, Dinajpur

Bangladesh Rifles beat Boarder Security Force (BSF) of India by 2-1 sets in a friendly volleyball match at the Hilly football ground in the boarder area on Saturday.

Joypur 29 battalion represented BDR while Patiram camp of South Dinajpur represented BSF in the match.

Commander of 29 Rifles battalion Lt Coln ABM Azizul Islam witnessed the match and later distributed the prizes. Commander of Patiram 57 BSF Camp AK Arjo was also present.