The New Nation - Internet Edition

Junior Asia Cup Hockey:Youth hockey team in Kolkata on way to Hyderabad

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh youth hockey team reached Kolkata Monday evening en route to Hyderabad to take part in the 6th Men's Junior (under-21) Asia Cup Hockey with their eyes on the 5th place.

The eight-team Asian Junior Hockey tournament will be held in the Indian city of Hyderabad on July 11-18.

Abahani forward Russell Mahmud Jimmy has been made the captain while Moshiur Rahman Biplob of Sonali Bank named vice-captain for the India-bound Bangladesh Under-21 team at the last moment on Sunday night.

Bangladesh youth team made a courtesy call on Hockey Federation President and Chief of Bangladesh Air Force Air Marshall SM Ziaur Rahman at the Hockey Federation office Sunday night.

The Bangladesh team, placed 6th in the last Junior Asia Cup in Pakistan in 2004, had only five days' preparations at the BKSP under local coach M Nurul Islam ahead of the India tour.

"We hope to perform better this time… our target is to win the 5th place in the eight-team meet," Hockey Federation General Secretary Sajed AA Adel told UNB Monday evening.

"We got visa from the Indian High Commission on Sunday evening and the team left for Kolkata Monday morning by road. The team leaves for Hyderabad by train later in the night," he said.

Eight teams, split into two groups, will take part in the eight-day Asian Junior meet.

Group A comprise hosts India, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, while the Group B consists of Pakistan, Oman, South Korea and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh will play their first match against giant South Korea on July 11, the 2nd against Oman on July 13 and the 3rd against strong Pakistan on July 14.

The Bangladesh team has 16 players and five officials.

Team: Players - Mehrab Hossain Kiran, Manwar Hossain, Shamsul Alam Sujon, Moshiur Rahman, Irfanul Haque, Rimon Kumar Ghosh, Abdus Sajjad John, Moshiur Rahman Biplob, Labu Nahid, Asaduzzaman Chandan, Sheikh Mohammad Nannu, Hasan Jubair, Iqbal Nadir, Krisna Kumar, Russell Mahmud Jimmy and Tapash Barman.

Officials: Manager - Kazi Mainuzzaman Pila, Assistant Manager - Yousuf Ali, Coach - Mohammad Nurul Islam, Judge - Ehtesham Sultan and Umpire - Mahbubul Haque Mitu.

Bangladesh keen to host Asia Cup finals

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh is keen to host the eight-team Asia Cup Hockey finals next year to make the game more popular in the country and continue its success achieved in Singapore by clinching the AHF Cup title with unbeaten run.

Bangladesh hosted the 2nd Asia Cup Hockey in Dhaka in 1985 in a befitting manner with huge enthusiasm among the hockey fans in the country.

The venue of the next Asia Cup Hockey finals will be decided in an executive committee meeting of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to be held during the upcoming Asian Junior meet in Hyderabad.

Malaysia, India, Brunei Darussalam and Macau are also reportedly interested to host the prestigious Asia Cup, Hockey Federation General Secretary Sajed AA Adel told UNB on Monday.

But there would be no representation of Bangladesh in the AHF meeting as the EC member and former general secretary of Hockey Federation Shamsul Bari had declined to attend the meeting on health ground, Sajed said.

Moreover, the interested country has to fulfil three pre-conditions to host the prestigious meet.

The host country will have to pay US$20,000 to the AHF as fee, apart from ensuring floodlight facilities and electronics scoreboard at the stadium.

"We are still hopeful to compete in the bid to host the Asia Cup finals, as we are maintaining close touch with the AHF members," Adel added.

Bhola Lal retains solo lead in Delta Life Open Squash

UNB, Dhaka

Bhola Lal of Sonargaon Hotel retained his solo lead in the Premier Division of Delta Life Open Squash Tournament securing 18 points after the 6th round as he crushed Swapan Parvez of Bashundhara Group in straight 3-0 sets at the Dhaka Club on Monday.

Despite the day's defeat, Swapan lies in the 2nd slot with 13 points, followed by Bishunath and Masud Rana in the joint 3rd position with 12 points.

In the day's other Premier Division matches, Raju Ram of Navy Club beat Zein Omar of Dhaka Club by 3-0 sets, while Masud Rana (Army Club) defeated Bishunath (Gulshan Club) by 2-1 sets.

In the C Division, Sadaf of Gulshan Club and Swapan of British Club moved advanced to the final winning their respective semi-final matches. Sadaf beat Dr. Zebun Nasrin of BUET Club by 2-1 sets, while Swapan defeated Talha of Army Club by 2-0 sets.

In the Under-18 Division, Shahin (Dhaka Club) and Tamim (Gulshan Club) won their respective matches.

BCB picks up 24 U-16 players for training

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has picked up 24 under-16 players for training shortly.

The selected players have been advised to report to Age Group Programmer Officer (Game Development) Taslim Uddin Tuhin on July 10 at 5pm at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP).

The training Program will continue till July 17.

Selected players: Ashik ul Alam, Soumya Sarker, Anamul Haque, Zakaria Masud, Asif Hassan, Dewan Sabbir Ahmed,

Mohammad Sentu, Mohammad Habibullah, Mohammad Shakil, Sumit Chowdhury, Imamul Hossain (Dhaka Metro), Jayanta Das, Kazi Nurul Hassan (Khulna), SM Ahmadul Kabir, Arif Reza (Rajshahi North), Mohammad Mamun Hossain (Rajshahi South), Sayem Alam Rizvi, Shahnaj Ahmed, Abu Jayed, AM Rupu (Sylhet), Nuruzzaman (Barisal), Faizan Khan, Mohammad Rokon (Chittagong), Didar Hossain (U-15 national player).

Stand by - Mehdi Hassan (Chittagong), Rakin Ahmed and Iktedar Nazeef Ahmed (U-15 national player).

Lionheart Nadal dethrones Federer in Wimbledon epic

AFP, London

Rafael Nadal dethroned five-time champion Roger Federer as king of Wimbledon on Sunday with an epic 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7 win in one of the greatest Grand Slam finals of all time.

The Spaniard, who had squandered two match points in a nerve-shredding fourth set tie-breaker and a third in the decider of the longest final in Wimbledon history, added a first All England Club title to his four French Opens.

He also shattered Federer's dreams of an historic sixth successive Wimbledon trophy.

"It's impossible to explain what I felt when I won. I'm just very happy to win this title. I never thought I could win but to do so is a dream," said Nadal who had lost the last two finals to Federer.

"I had match points but Roger is very tough. I want to congratulate Roger because he is great for tennis, win or lose.

"He's still the number one, he's still the best. He is a five-time champion and I have just the one title here."

Federer admitted he had been beaten by the better man on the day.

"I tried everything," he said. "Rafa is a deserving champion

he just played fantastic.

"It is a pity I didn't win but I will be back next year."

Federer had his opportunities but could only convert one of 13 break points while sending down 52 unforced errors to the world number two's 27.

Victory made the 22-year-old Nadal only the third man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season, and the first since Bjorn Borg in 1980, while giving Spain its first men's champion here since Manolo Santana in 1966.

The win also ended Federer's six-year, 65-match winning streak on grass.

At four hours and 48 minutes, it was the longest final in Wimbledon history beating the 4:16 it took Jimmy Connors to beat John McEnroe in 1982 and ended in murky Centre Court darkness at 2116 local time (2016GMT).

Nadal shrugged off a rain-enforced 35-minute delay to the start to break first to lead 2-1 with Federer desperately chasing the Spaniard's power-packed forehands.

The 22-year-old then fought off a break point in the next game to back up his advantage which stretched to 4-2 as the Spaniard edged the world number one in some brutal exchanges in tricky, gusty conditions on Centre Court.

Nadal unleashed a 96mph forehand to claim the opening set, the first set Federer had dropped in the 2008 tournament.

The 26-year-old Swiss star shook off his inhibitions to sneak to a 3-0 lead in the second set before Nadal battled back from 1-4 down to open up a two-set lead when Federer netted a simple-looking backhand.

Nadal saved a break point in the fourth game of the third set and four more in the sixth as the London skies and Federer's mood darkened.

The top seed saved three break points to lead 4-3 and was 5-4 ahead when heavy rain sent the players off court for 80 minutes.

On the resumption, a reborn Federer grabbed the third set with an ace in a tense tiebreak before serve dominated the fourth set leading to another tiebreak.

Nadal went to 5/2 in the breaker but the champion stormed back to lead 6/5 and claim a set point which Nadal saved.

Incredibly, Federer then saved two match points and grabbed another set point at 9/8 before levelling the final when Nadal, stunned by his failing nerve, went long with a forehand.

At 2-2 in the final set, more rain caused a 30-minute suspension.

On their return, Nadal saved a break point in the eighth game while Federer fought off two in the 11th and three more in the 15th but cracked to give the Spaniard an 8-7 lead.

Nadal went to a third match point which was saved with a inch-perfect backhand.

An unreturned serve gave him a fourth match point which he converted to victory when Federer netted a backhand.

ICC ready to shift Champions Trophy

AFP, Karachi

World cricket chief Haroon Logart on Monday promised to pull the Champions Trophy out of Pakistan if there was any threat of violence, after a deadly suicide blast on the night of the Asia Cup final.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive vowed no compromise on safety after 19 were killed in the capital Islamabad.

"The ICC will not compromise the safety and security of any individual at one of its tournaments and if it is not appropriate to play in any country then we will not do so," Logart said in a statement.

Players from Australia, New Zealand and England have expressed concern over playing in Pakistan, which is due to hold the prestigious Champions Trophy from September 11-28.

Rawalpindi, one of three venues for the tournament, adjoins Islamabad where 14 policemen and five civilians were killed and scores injured in Sunday's attack.

Sri Lanka is the designated alternative venue but is also facing renewed violence between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops, with South Africa mentioned as a possible replacement.

Lorgat said security was monitored during the Asia Cup while an ICC executive board meeting last week discussed an independent assessment. A security process had also been agreed ahead of the tournament, he said.

"Our consultants on security have been working with the Pakistan authorities during the Asia Cup and will report back to us as soon as possible with their views," he said.

A private security expert, hired by Australia, New Zealand and England has said there was work to be done ahead of the Champions Trophy. "Some fine-tuning needs to be done and everyone acknowledges that," Reg Dickason said last week.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf, who attended the ICC meeting, said he was confident the biennial 'mini-World Cup' will be held in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup final in Karachi, beating India by 100 runs.

Farashganj SC eyes to hold 4th position in 2nd B League

UNB, Dhaka

Farashganj SC eyes for holding the 4th position in the upcoming 2nd B. League beginning end-August.

Talking to reporters, Farashganj SC general secretary MA Adil Badal said that they were pleased with the 8th position in the B. League last year as they could not recruit good players due to financial constraints.

But this session they formed the team with some star booters, recruiting from some big clubs like Mohammedan SC and Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, he said.

Badal said besides the star players, "we have some young talented players, from whom we expect a lot."

"We have also initial discussion with the Nigerian booters. They will be flown in Dhaka in a week after a final discussion in two or three days," he added.

Players of the team already began practice Sunday under coach Kamal Babu at the Jagannath College ground.

21 teams to vie in Federation Cup Football

UNB, Dhaka

As many as 21 teams are ready to compete in the Federation Cup Football beginning on July 31 at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Eleven participating clubs of B. League along with six senior divisions clubs and four services clubs have placed their names with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) for the meet.

A BFF official told UNB that they got confirmation from the teams till Monday, the deadline for the submission.

Teams: Mohammedan SC, Abahani Limited, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Brothers Union Club, Sheikh Russell KC, Farashganj SC, Rahamatgang MFS, Arambagh KS, Chittagong Abahani, Chittagong Mohammedan, Khulna Abahani, Sunrise SC, Victoria SC, Jatrabari KC, BKSP, Rajshahi Diganto Prosari, Dhaka Wanderers Club, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Police.