The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The 4th KFC-Pizza Hut Mini Handball Tournament (girls under-11), organised by Bangladesh Handball Federation, begins today (Thursday) at the Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex.

Bangladesh Olympic Association deputy secretary general and former national footballer Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu will formally inaugurate the meet as chief guest through a match between Sunnydale and Siddiqui's International School at 11:00 am.

Twelve teams, split into four groups, are taking part in the three-day meet, sponsored by Transcom Foods Limited.

Transcom Foods will provide Tk 100,000 of the total budget of Tk 143,000 to run the tournament.

Handball Federation general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor disclosed the details at a press conference at the Federation office on Wednesday afternoon.

Saiqa Sultana Rahim, manager of Transcom Foods, tournament committee chairman BM Shaheed and secretary Salahuddin Ahmed were present.

India, Britain secure third successive hockey wins

Reuters, New Delhi

Former Olympic champions India and Britain both claimed their third consecutive wins to stay on course to meet in the final of the men's qualifying tournament for the Beijing Games.

Eight-time champions India thumped Mexico 18-1 and Britain defeated hosts Chile 4- 1 after being held goalless until halftime in their third round league matches in Santiago on Tuesday.

Austria had a 5-4 victory over Russia, who lost their third match in a row after being drafted-in as a late replacement for Bangladesh in the second of three qualifying tournaments.

India and Britain, who face each other on Thursday, are expected to top the standings and meet in the final. The winners qualify for the 12-team competition in Beijing.

India have played in every Olympic hockey competition since 1928.

New Zealand beat Argentina in the final of the first qualifying tournament last month. The third is in Japan in April.

China, Netherlands, South Korea, Canada, South Africa, Spain, Belarus, Pakistan and Australia have also qualified.

4-member BFF delegation leaves for Malaysia today

UNB, Dhaka

A four-member BFF delegation leaves here for Kuala Lumpur at 1:20 am Thursday to attend a meeting Friday at the AFC headquarters in Malaysia to resolve the crisis about formation of District Football Associations ahead of BFF election.

BFF President SA Sultan will lead the BFF delegation, which also includes BOA director and CEO Col. (retd) Wali Ullah, Badminton Federation general secretary Kazi Mohiuddin Bulbul and former national footballer Badal Roy.

The delegation is expected to return home on Saturday.