The New Nation - Internet Edition

Premier Division Hockey League: Mohammedans draw with Abahani

Sports Reporter

Mohammedan Sporting Club made a 3-3 draw with Abahani Limited in the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

Mohammedan led the first half 3-1.

Attacks and counter-attacks from both side made the match entertaining.

Zahid of Mohammedan Sporting Club put his team ahead by a field goal using a pass from his teammate Asif in the 13th minute of the first half.

After six minutes Zahid struck again capitalizing a penalty corner.

Shuvo of Abahani Limited reduced the margin by a field goal utilising a pass from his teammate Shamim in the 24th minute of the match.

Issa Miah of Mohammedan Sporting Club made it 3-1 using a penalty corner of Zahid in the 30th minute of the encounter.

After the breather Imran of Abahani Limited decreased the margin by a field goal in the 46th minute of the game.

Chayan sealed the fate of the match (3-3) capitalising a penalty corner of Shuvo just seven minutes before the long whistle.

In the day's other match, Sonali Bank SRC outplayed Wari Club after finishing the first session 2-1.

Krishna of Sonali Bank scored a hat-trick with four goals and his teammate Iqbal netted one.

On the other hand, Farid of Wari Club gave his team early lead in the second minute of the match.

After the match, Abahani Limited coach Mahbub Harun said," I'm happy with the result as we made a good comeback after trailing 1-3 in the first half. Our forward Jimmy was not up to the mark today and Mohammedan SC also appeared to us as a tougher opponent."

Mohammedan SC coach Zahirul Islam Mithun said, "Bad luck for us that we couldn't keep our lead. We were disorganized in the later part of the 2nd half and our opponents took the advantage. But I'm satisfied with the overall team performance."

Bangladesh to play in 3rd Men's AHF Cup in Singapore

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh will play in the 3rd Men's Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup slated for June 14-22 in Singapore.

Of the nine participating teams, Bangladesh have been placed in Pool A with four other teams -- Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, Brunei Darussalam and hosts Singapore.

Four teams -- Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Oman and Thailand - will compete in Pool B.

Bangladesh will play their first match against Brunei Darussalam on June 14 and their 2nd match against Chinese Taipei on June 15.

Then, after a two-day recess, Bangladesh will play the 3rd match against Singapore on June 18 and the 4th match against Uzbekistan on June 19.

The final match of the meet will be held on June 22.

Three Bangladesh grand masters share second slot

UNB, Dhaka

Three Bangladeshi Grand Masters -- Ziaur Rahman, Abdullah Al Rakib and Reefat Bin Sattar -- jointly share the second slot with three other players in the Mayor Cup First International Open Chess Tournament after the 9th round matches held in the Indian city of Mumbai on Saturday.

All the six players secured 7.5 points after the 9th round matches, while GM Michal Krasenkow of Poland top the table with eight points.

Earlier, in the 8th round matches, Zia agreed to a draw with compatriot Rakib after 10 moves, while Reefat beat his Indian rivals IM Deepsen Gupta in 65th move.

In the 10th round matches today (Sunday), Zia will play GM Anton Filipov of Uzbekistan, Rakib play meet leader GM Krasenkow of Poland while Reefat meet GM Uldachev Saidali of Uzbekistan.

Federer into fifth Hamburg final

BBC Online

Roger Federer reached his fifth Hamburg Masters final with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Italy's Andreas Seppi.

Seppi, the world number 43 contesting his first Masters Series semi-final, had his moments in the first set, but never threatened the title holder.

"It was quite a long first set, but I created a lot of opportunities which wore him down," said Federer.

"Maybe I didn't serve my best, but I was very solid and consistent from the baseline and played a very good match."

Federer's latest comfortable victory in Hamburg came on a day when the stadium roof was closed because of persistent rain.

Chasing his fourth Hamburg crown, he will face either clay-court king Rafael Nadal or Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final.

Federer beat Nadal in last year's final to end the Spaniard's 81-match winning streak on clay.

Sharapova pulls out of Rome International

AFP, Rome

World number one Maria Sharapova pulled out of the WTA Rome International on Saturday complaining of a strained calf muscle, organisers said.

Sharapova, 21, was to have faced fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in Saturday's semi-finals at Rome's Foro Italico.

The second seed survived a scare in a marathon night match against Switzerland's Patty Schnyder on Friday, winning 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-2.

Sharapova officially regains the world number one ranking next week following Justine Henin's retirement.

The tournament has been hit by several late-stage withdrawals.

World number six Serena Williams pulled out on Friday after hurting her back while training.

Biman take on Abahani today

Sports Reporter

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will take on Abahani Limited today in a crucial match of the Super League of the Premier Division Cricket League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines secured 25 points from 14 matches while Abahani Limited are breathing on Biman's neck with 23 points from as many outings. Mohammedan Sporting Club, the other title contender are now almost out of the title race with 20 points from 14 matches.

If Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier team beat Abahani Limited then Biman Bangladesh Airlines will be the champions of the Premier Division Cricket League remaining one match.

To mark the crucial Super League tie against jiant Abahani Limited, Sanwar Hossain, the captain of Biman Bangladesh Airlines team said, "We will try to show our natural performance. Biman is a big team. We have a key bowler like Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who is capable to make difference between two teams. All the players are now in-form so Biman will play against Abahani with a balance side. Abahani is a strong side and the wicket of Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium is difficult. Biman gained the title of the Premier Division Cricket League in 1998. After 10 years we are going to earn the title, though it is a difficult task. In the first league match, Biman defeated Abahani by 70 runs."

On the other hand, Tushar Imran, the skipper of Abahani Limited said, "We defeated Mohammedan Sporting Club in the last match, which will give us inspiration. Biman is now in a good form. We have a plan to tackle Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. The wicket of Mirpur is difficult which is a matter of concern."

Australian women shine in Santa Clara

AFP, California

Australia's Cate Campbell set a US Open record of 53.30 on Friday in winning the women's 100m freestyle at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix swimming meeting.

Natalie Coughlin was second, improving her own American record with a time of 53.39.

Campbell also led off an Australia squad that captured the women's 4x100m free relay with a time of 3:43.08.

There was a strong showing for Australia's women in the 400m free as well, with Bronte Barratt and Kylie Palmer finishing one-two. Barratt took home gold with a meet record of 4:04.57. Palmer was second in 4:05.98 ahead of American Kate Ziegler (4:07.11).

A total of four meet records fell during the first full day of competition.

Brendan Hansen won gold in the men's 100m breast with a meet-record time of 1:00.01. Slovenia's Damir Dugonjic was second in 1:01.67 and Japan's Ryo Tateishi was a close third in 1:01.68.

Swimming superstar Michael Phelps, preparing for a record-breaking bid at the Beijing Olympics in August, took home his first gold of the meet with a win in the men's 400m individual medley.

Phelps led throughout the race and finished with a time of 4:13.47. Robert Margalis was second in 4:15.05.

Japan's Izumi Kato won the women's 200m breaststroke in 2:27.69, ahead of former world record-holder and reigning Olympic champion Amanda Beard (2:28.15).

The men's 4x100m free relay saw a strong South African squad of Lyndon Ferns, Roland Schoeman, Gideon Louw and Ryk Neethling win in 3:15.58.

The meet continues Saturday with 10 events.

Applied Physics clinch Dhaka 'Varsity Inter-Department Basketball title

UNB, Dhaka

Applied Physics clinched the Dhaka University Inter-Department Basketball title beating Public Administration in the final at the University gymnasium on Saturday.

English Department finished third in the 16-team tourney.

Kazi Sabir Amanullah of English Department was adjudged best player, while Emdad Hossain of Pubic Administration named the highest scorer of the meet.