The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh eves' handball team leaves for Lucknow tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Women's Handball team will leave here for India Tuesday morning by road to participate in the 3rd South Asian Handball Championship keeping their eyes on runners-up position.

Five South Asian countries -- holders India, runners-up Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan -- will compete in the third version of the meet to be held May 23-25 in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh.

Bangladesh, which finished runners-up in the 2nd version of the meet in Dhaka in 2000, will play their first match against Nepal on May 23.

Meanwhile, the India-bound Bangladesh eves team Sunday made a courtesy call on Bangladesh Handball Federation president and Industries Secretary Dr M Nurul Amin at the conference room of the Industries Ministry at Shilpa Bhaban in Motijheel.

Federation president Dr Nurul Amin wished the eves team success in the South Asian meet and asked them to work hard for a good result.

Handball Federation generaly Asaduzzaman Kohinoor and Team Leader Principal Hamida Ali also spoke on the occasion.

Asaduzzaman Kohinoor informed that the eves' team had a 25-day preparation for the meet at the Mirpur Krira Palli in Dhaka.

During the meeting, Bangladesh captain Dalia Akhter sought blessings from the countrymen for a good result in the South Asian meet.

"We'll try our best with heart and soul to do a better result… at least to retain the runners-up position," the Bangladesh skipper said.

Team Leader Hamida Ali said she hoped that the team would do well in the meet although "our preparations were not enough."

The 25-member Bangladesh team comprises 14 players, five officials, two congress delegates, two referees and two observers.

Bangladesh team: Players - Dalia Akhter (captain), Rozina Khatun (Vice-captain), Sheela Roy, Ismat Ara Nishi, Sharmin Farzana Rumi, Shahnaz Parvin Maleka, Rita Khatun, Happy Begum, Akhirun Nessa, Maina Begum, Nazira Akhter, Kamrun Nahar Sheela, Lipi Begum and Sheuli Parvin.

Officials - Principal Hamida Ali (team leader), M Haiul Quaium (deputy team leader), Salim Miah Babu (manager), Aysha Zaman (assistant manager), Nasirullah Lablu (coach).

Delegates - Asaduzzaman Kohinoor and M Nurul Islam, Referees - Mokbul Hossain, Khalequzzaman Sikder, Observers - M Ayub Ali and Dr Anupom Hossain.

GM Ziaur Rahman shares 2nd slot in Mayor Open Chess

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladeshi Grand Master Ziaur Rahman shared the 2nd slot with seven other players in the Mayors Cup First International Open

Chess Tournament securing 8 points at the end of the 10th round matches in Mumbai, India on Sunday.

Another two Bangladeshi GM --Abdullah Al Rakib and Reefat Bin Sattar, earned

7.5 points each to share the 3rd position with 12 other players.

In the day's 10th round, Zia accepted draw with GM Anton Filipov of Uzbekistan in 34th move. Rakib lost to GM Krasenkow of Poland in 31st move while Reefat lost against Uldachev Saidali of Uzbekistan also in 31st move.

GM Michal Krasenkow of Poland dominating the meet with 9 points.

The 11th and last round matches will be held today (Monday).

In the 11th round, Zia will play Ram S Krishnan of India, Rakib will meet with IM Konguvel Ponnuswamy of India and Reefat will face with Somak Palit of India

Eskaton SS beat Sinha Textile by 4 wickets

UNB, Dhaka

Eskaton Sabuj Sangha beat Sinha Textile by four wickets in a super league match of the 2nd Division Cricket League at the City Club ground on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, Sinha Textile scored 168 for all in 46.1 overs with Jahangir making 58 and Samarjeet 25 runs.

Imran claimed three wickets for 21 runs, while Shrfaraz took two for 22.

In reply, Eskaton Sabuj Sangha easily reached their target scoring 170 runs in 38.1 overs for the loss of six wickets with Raihan contributing 43 runs and Aslam making 33.

Rubel and Morshed took two wickets each for 10 and 40 runs respectively.

In the day's other matches, Nabin Sangha (205/10) beat Mirpur Cricket Club (176/10) by 29 runs at the Dhaka University ground, while East End Club (218/8) defeated Dhanmondi Cricket Academy (196/10) by 22 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

East End Jrs blank Adamjee KC 3-0

UNB, Dhaka

East End Juniors beat Adamjee KC by 3-0 goals in a match of the Metropolis Pioneer Football League at the Jagannath University ground at Dhupkhola in the city on Sunday.

Ashik, Rocky and Sentu scored one goal each for the winners -- in the 23rd, 43rd and 69th minutes respectively.

In another match, Mansoor SC edged past Commissioner Shafiuddin Smriti Sangsad by a solitary goal at the same venue.

Uzzal scored the all-important goal for the winners in the 43rd minute.

In the day's other match at the Mohammadpur Idgah ground, Baden Powel SC beat Dragon KC by a lone goal scored by Nazrul in the 35th minute.

Abahani beat Biman

Sports Reporter

Abahani Limited registered a seven-wicket victory over the title aspirants Biman Bangladesh Airlines in their Super League match of the Ispahani Mirzapur Tea Premier Division Cricket League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.

After yesterday's outcome, Abahani Limited and Biman Bangladesh Airlines gained 25 points each from their respective 15 matches.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will face Mohammedan Sporting Club on May 21 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in their last Super League match while Abahani Limited will face Surjo Tarun Club at the BKSP Ground also in their last match on the same day. If Biman and Abahani win their respective ensuing matches then, the championship will be decided in their head-to-head result. As Biman defeated Abahani by 70 runs in their first league match and Abahani beat Biman in their Super League tie thus, the fate of the championship will be decided by virtue of better run rate.

Sent into bat first, Biman Bangladesh were bundled out for just 125 runs off 36.3 overs.

In reply, Abahani reached the winning target in 22.4 overs making 129 for the loss of three wickets.

Alok Kapali of Biman was the only notable run getter. He knocked a polished 33 off 51 balls amid five fours.

Medium pacer Nazmul Hossain was the key bowler in wrecking Biman innings. He harpooned four wickets at the cost of 14 runs with a good support of Mohammad Rafique, Arafat Sunny, Talha Jubaer, who scalped two each for 15, 19 and 29 runs respectively.

Later, Abahani's Sri Lanka recruit Twilina Kandanbi remained undefeated with 48 using 47 deliveries. He sent the ball six times through the ropes and two times over the fence.

One-down Shahriar Nafees was the other notable scorer for Abahani. He hit 36 playing 30 balls including six strokes beyond the ropes.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahman, Mahbubul Alam of Biman took one wicket apiece.

Premier Hockey: Usha defeat Mariners

Sports Reporter

Usha KC defeated Dhaka Mariners Youngs Club by 2-0 goals in the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

All the two goals were scored in the first session.

Rajon and Tariq of Usha KC struck one time each on the board.

Meanwhile, Ajax SC outplayed Azad SC by 4-1 goals at the same venue.

Rahat of Ajax scored two goals and his teammates Rubel and Rony netted one each while Jubaer struck the consolation for the losers.

Bangladesh Jail team champs of Div II Kabaddi

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Jail team emerged as the champions of the Second Division Kabaddi League when they beat runners-up Sharnali Sangsad by 38-31 points with one lona in the final at the Kabaddi Stadium on Sunday.

After the hard-fought final match Secretary of National Sports Council Muhammad Akbar Hussain distributed the prizes among the winners as the chief guest while renowned signer Abdul Jabbar and Managing Director of Orient Food Company Limited Mahbubuzzaman were present as special guests.

BOA accord reception to participants of 1st Indo-Bangla Judo Competition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) Sunday accorded a reception to the 17-member national judo team, which won 7 golds and 10 silvers in the 1st Indo-Bangla Judo Competition held in Kolkata in March.

At a simple ceremony at the BOA conference room in the afternoon, BOA secretary general Kutubuddin Ahmed distributed Tk 2,000 to each of the 17-member team from his personal account.

BOA COO and director Col. (retd) M Wali Ullah and other BOA and Bangladesh Judo Federation officials were present.