The New Nation - Internet Edition

BKSP emerge champions in National Age Group Swimming Competition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP) emerged champions in the Keya Cosmetics 24th National Age Group Swimming securing 45 gold, 35 silver and 14 bronze medals at the end of the three-day meet at the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Ansar became runners-up with 36 gold, 25 silver and 23 bronze medals, while Alamgir Swimming Club of Rajshahi finished a distant third collecting 6 gold, 5 silver and 14 bronze.

BKSP swimmer Anik Islam emerged as the best swimmer in the meet securing 11 individual gold medals with three new national marks, one on each day.

Nikli Swimming Club of Kishoregani named as the most disciplined team in the age-group competition.

Anik Islam, competing in 18-20 years age-group, made his third and the day's lone record clinching the gold in the hot event -- 50m freestyle-clocking 35.70 seconds to better the old mark of 26.18 sec.

He also clinched two more gold medals on the third and last day (Tuesday) in the 400m freestyle clocking 4:53.76 and 200m individual medley in 2:23.10.

Earlier, Anik won eight gold medals on the first two days creating two new national marks in 400m individual medley with a timing of 5:09.16 and in 100m butterfly clocking 01:00.41.

His other gold hauls were in 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 1500m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 100m freestyle.

Muslima Khatoon of Alamgir Swimming Club of Rajshahi set up a new national record on the last day in the 200m backstroke for 15-17 years age group clocking 3:02.93 to better the old mark of 3:06.32, apart from the other record of Anik on the day.

With the day's two new national records, a total of seven new national marks were created in the three-day meet that concluded today.

Deputy Chief of Bangladesh Navy Rear Admiral Mustafizur Rahman was the chief guest at the closing function and distributed the prizes.

Senior Executive Director of meet sponsors Keya Cosmetics Alhaj Akkas Ali Pathan and Director General of BKSP Brig Gen Shawkat Hossain were special guests on the occasion.

Swimming Federation Vice Presidents Alhaj M Solaiman and Dr AKM Sultanul Aziz, and general secretary Commodore (retd) MS Kabir were present.

South Africa win 2nd test against England by 10 wickets to take 1-0 series lead

AP, Leeds

South Africa won the second test by 10 wickets Monday, after bowling England out for 327 in their second innings and then hitting the nine runs required for victory on the fourth day. England resumed at 50-2 overnight and needed to bat for at least five more sessions to save the game, but managed less than three. South Africa, which dominated the test from the first session of day one, took a 1-0 lead in the series.

"We knew if we got things right we could put England under pressure and we have done that over the last few day," South Africa captain Graeme Smith said. "It was our job to outplay England and we did that." England started the final session 182-6, still 137 runs short of making South Africa bat again. Andrew Flintoff and wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose briefly threatened to extend the game into the fifth day until Ambrose was caught behind off Dale Steyn for 36. Flintoff was then caught by Jacques Kallis at slip off Morne Morkel for 38.

Monty Panesar made 10 before being bowled by Dale Steyn, before Stuart Broad livened up the Headingley crowd with a quick-fire 50 to make South Africa bat again. Broad put on 61 with Darren Pattinson for the last wicket but it was only delaying the inevitable as Pattinson was eventually bowled by Morkel to wrap up the innings. "The bowling performance was outstanding," Smith said. "We created pressure and England played a bit frantically in the first innings and offered our bowlers chances."

South Africa openers Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie took just 1.1 overs to knock off the nine runs required to seal victory. South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher took nine catches in the game, while Ashwell Prince was named man-of-the-match for his first innings hundred.

"The 203 was not a big enough score in the first innings. As a batting unit we did not bat well enough," England captain Michael Vaughan said. "We played like millionaires on Friday afternoon and that's why we didn't get the runs we needed." Earlier, England lost two wickets for 52 runs in the afternoon session to add to the two it lost in the morning. Resuming after lunch on 130-4, England lost Ian Bell for 4 when he was brilliantly caught by A.B. de Villiers at gully off the bowling of Morne Morkel with 10 runs added.

Alastair Cook spooned a catch to Hashim Amla off Jacques Kallis to depart for 60, as England slipped to 152-6 midway through the session. England lost night watchman James Anderson (34) and the vital wicket of Kevin Pietersen for the addition of 80 runs in the opening session.

Anderson and Cook extended their partnership to 59, before Anderson was out for his highest test score after being hit by successive deliveries from fast bowler Dale Steyn.

The second blow crashed into the side of his helmet and resulted in an 11-minute delay as Anderson received treatment from the England physiotherapist. He was out the following over, leg before wicket to Steyn to leave England on 109-3 and bringing Pietersen to the crease.

Pietersen proceeded to hit three boundaries in his first four balls before edging a rising delivery from Kallis to be caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for 13 off five balls. South Africa was all out for 522 late Sunday for a first-innings lead of 319.The opening match at Lord's last week finished in a draw.

Mama Mia-Torres takes on fifth Olympics at 41

AFP, Los Angeles

In a sport littered with precocious prodigies, 41-year-old swimming mum Dara Torres shatters the mould. Torres was a talented teen herself when she won her first Olympic swimming gold in Los Angeles in 1984.

Now she'll tackle her fifth Games campaign in Beijing alongside team-mates and rivals young enough to be her children. US superstar Michael Phelps, 23, calls Torres his "sort-of mom."

Torres, whose daughter Tessa was born in 2006, says she prefers to think of herself as a "big sister" or maybe "aunt" to her team-mates.

"It's nice to be able to be there for the kids if they have questions," Torres says. "They probably feel comfortable talking to me. I feel like I'm on their level on one hand, but I have all this experience on the other hand that I'm maybe not on their level. "I'll take that as a compliment that Phelps refers to me as the mom, but I don't know if the kids think that."

Torres owns nine Olympic medals, starting with that first relay gold in '84. Her five medals in 2000 capped a comeback from a seven-year retirement. When she launched her latest return, Torres was aiming for another relay berth, and she surprised herself with a victory in the 100m freestyle, ahead of American record- holder Natalie Coughlin, at the US trials. "I was shocked when I touched the wall. I couldn't see the scoreboard," Torres said. "With my age and everything, I said 'what does that say?' "Then I heard the announcer and I could kind of see it blurry. They need to make those numbers a little bigger up there for people my age."

After winning the 50m free at the trials, Torres has elected to forego the 100m free individual event in Beijing, preferring to focus her energy on the one-lap sprint and relays.

Torres was 16 when she set a 50m free world record in January of 1983. The following year she was part of the US 4x100m free relay in Los Angeles that delivered her first Olympic gold. Over the course of her "first" career, she went on to capture 4x100 free relay bronze at the Seoul Olympics, and 4x100 free gold as part of a world record-setting team in Barcelona.

Umpire challenge system, Tendulkar batting record draws focus in Sri Lanka-India test series

AP, Colombo

The test series between Sri Lanka and India could be pivotal for three reasons: the umpire challenge system going on trial, Sachin Tendulkar targeting a batting world record and spin bowling sensation Ajantha Mendis making his debut. The three-test series beginning Wednesday at Sinhalese Sport Club will for the first time allow players to challenge umpiring decisions and have them referred to TV replays.

The system takes the lead of tennis, which has used a similar challenge system to challenge decisions in Grand Slams since 2006. Captains of both teams spoke to reporters about the experiment while at practice on Tuesday.

"I am all for it," Sri Lanka's captain Mahela Jayawardene said. "I think it's a very good system, what we are trying to eradicate is the obvious mistakes that happen on the field. I think the umpires are in favor of this as well.

"I think it will benefit cricket overall."

India captain Anil Kumble said that the game must change with the times while preserving its traditions.

"In tennis, line decisions are accepted now it has become part and parcel of a tennis game," he said. "It's the same with cricket. We have already accepted third umpire decisions on run outs and stumpings, it's just moving forward."

Like tennis, each side will be allowed three challenges in each innings.

The number of challenges remains intact if a decision is overturned using the system and the International Cricket Council is hoping the limits will eliminate "frivolous challenges."

Mendis who became an instant star with his stunning bowling return of 6-13 in the Asia Cup final against India earlier this month is very likely to make his test debut Wednesday.

With its bowling attack weakened through injury to Lasith

Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof, Sri Lanka has named Mendis as a second specialist spinner alongside veteran Muttiah Muralitharan in a 14-member squad.

"It's good for him if he makes the debut. It's a great opportunity for the young guy who has come from a humble beginning," Jayawardene said.

Mendis' six wickets in a 100-run win over India helped Sri Lanka defend the Asia Cup limited-overs title in Pakistan earlier this month. He has so far played in eight limited-overs internationals and taken 20 wickets.

The Indians are confident of giving him a tougher initiation in the test arena.

Kumble said India's test batting order, featuring Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S.Laxman, has enough quality and experience to tackle all the Sri Lankan bowlers - particularly Mendis.

"This is his first test match and let's not forget that - pressure is on him," Kumble said. "As a youngster when you play your first test match you are obviously nervous.

"If you look at our batting strength most of them have played more than 100 test matches."

Kumble was expecting, as usual, the main threat from Sri Lanka to come from Muralitharan, the world's leading test wicket taker, and veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas.

Tendulkar, returning to the test side after a groin injury, is set to overtake former West Indies captain Brian Lara as test cricket's leading run scorer during the series. The 35-year-old has 11,782 test runs and needs 172 more to surpass Lara.

Kumble indicated Tendulkar would be among six specialist batsmen, backed up by Dinesh Karthik, an accomplished wicketkeeper batsman, and four bowlers. He said there was unlikely to be changes from the side that played a three-day warmup match last week.

China urges US athletes to focus on friendship

AFP, Beijing

China on Tuesday said US athletes should focus on building friendships at the Beijing Games, in a curt response to US President George Bush's call for them to be "ambassadors of liberty".

"We hope and believe that all athletes, including American athletes, attending the Beijing Olympics, will make efforts to promote friendship among the peoples of the world," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

He gave no other comment on the matter.

Liu had been asked by reporters to respond to Bush's comments Monday urging US athletes headed to the Games to represent American respect for freedom and human rights.

"In Beijing, you will convey our nation's most cherished values. As ambassadors of liberty, you will represent America's love for freedom and our regard for human rights and human dignity," Bush said.

"You'll represent that to other athletes, and to the people of China."

Bush will attend the August 8 opening ceremony of the Games, having rejected the appeals of activists to boycott the event in protest over China's human rights record.

China's rights record has come under renewed scrutiny this year, especially after it used the armed forces toput down an outburst of violence across the restive Tibet region in March.

The unrest triggered protests by pro-Tibetan activists overseas that threw the Beijing Olympic torch relay's international legs into chaos.

Some US Olympians have spoken out publicly against the Tibet crackdown and suggested there could be podium protests during the Games.

DRU Table Tennis Competition begins July 27

UNB, Dhaka

The annual Table Tennis Competition of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) will begins July 27 at the hall room adjacent to DRU canteen.

The competition is being organised in cooperation with Bangladesh Tennis Federation and patronized by The Blazer BD.

The participants have been requested to report in time on the day. Former sports secretary of DRU Mnowar Haque and Badrul Alam Khokon will conduct the matches.

Rampura KC beat Surjosena SC 3-2; Maghbazar KC draw goalless with Mugdapara SKKS

UNB, Dhaka

Rampura KC began their 2nd phase group C campaign of the Metropolis Pioneer Football League on winning note beating Surjosena SC by 3-2 goals at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur Tuesday.

Sourav Das struck twice, while Khaled scored one goal for the winners, which dominated the first half 2-1. Pavel Ahmed netted both the goals for the losers, one in either half.

In another match, Maghbazar KC played to a goalless draw with Mugdapara SKKS at the same venue in the afternoon.

Today’s matches: Tejgaon Nabataranga KSSS vs Mohammadpur Jubo SKS (3:00pm), Bangladesh SC vs BKSP (4:30 pm), both at the Kamalapur Stadium.

Amid gold fever, Phelps keeps his eye on the wall

AFP, Los Angeles

Four years on from Athens, Michael Phelps will arrive in Beijing poised to make Olympic history - and join the select few whose feats see them transcend their sports. Mark Spitz, who set the Olympic gold standard with seven swimming triumphs in Munich in 1972, predicted Phelps not only will break the record, but do it in spectacular style. "I would expect that a month from now you're going to see him win by margins and set times that have never been done before," Spitz said. "He'll be unbelievable."

The reason, Spitz said, is that Phelps is "as experienced, and, in some ways, more experienced than I was going into doing this."

"He won six gold medals (in 2004), and I only won two the Olympics before I won seven."

Already grouped with such swimming icons as Australian Ian Thorpe and Spitz, Phelps has lately been drawing comparisons to greats Tiger Woods - winner of 14 major golf championships - and Roger Federer, winner of 12 tennis Grand Slam titles.

Phelps will swim the same events in Beijing that he tackled in Athens: the 200m and 400m individual medleys, the 100m and 200m butterflies the 200m freestyle.

Derbyshire take overall 112 runs lead over Bangladesh A

UNB, Dhaka

A six-wicket hauled by KJ dean enabled hosts Derbyshire to take overall 112 runs lead over Bangladesh A team till the last report received on the 2nd day of the 4th three-day match at the County Ground, Derbyshire on Tuesday.

Earlier, Derbyshire declared their 1st innings scoring 298 runs for six wickets in 75 overs.

Resuming the 2nd day with overnight score of 46 runs for two wickets in 15 overs, Bangladesh A were all out for 190 in 59.5 overs in devastating bowling attacks by KJ dean, who claimed six wickets for 46 runs. National wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim top scored 50 runs off 84 balls with seven fours while night watch middle order batsman Sakib Al Hasan made 33 runs off 34 balls that featured five fours.

Other night watch batsmen Junaid Siddique added 24 off 63 balls hitting five boundaries, while Dollar Mahmud hammered 24 runs off 21 balls hitting a boundary and three over boundary. WA white and ND Doshi captured two wickets each for 33 and 62 runs respectively. In reply, Derbyshire started their 2nd innings and scored 4 for none in three overs with J Needham and PM Borrington were at the crease with one run each.

ICC orders English counties to release players for World Twenty20 qualifiers

AP, Dubai

English counties were ordered Tuesday to release players for international duty to ensure those matches remain the "lifeblood" of cricket.

The existing guidelines were stressed following talks between the International Cricket Council and the England and Wales Cricket Board about protecting the integrity of matches played by less prestigious nations. The ICC executive board said members "compromise or fail to protect this belief at their peril." Next month's qualifying event for the Twenty20 World Cup has six ICC associate countries - Ireland, Scotland, Bermuda, Canada, Kenya and Holland - competing for three places in the main event next June in England.

"The full commitment of the ECB to work with counties to support the ICC Board's mandatory release policy for Associate players is great news and very welcome," ICC President David Morgan said Tuesday. "It will help to ensure that when the top associates have ODIs (one-day-internationals) against full members or compete in next month's ICC World Twenty20 qualifier in Belfast they have their top players available." Morgan said it will also ensure the top players are at next year's tournament.

Cricketers are also increasingly enticed by lucrative Twenty20 club competitions, with some Sri Lanka players reportedly prepared to opt out of next year's tour of England to play in the Indian Premier League.

Coronation Institution emerge champions in Grameen Danone U-12 Inter-school Football

UNB, Bogra

Coronation Institution & College emerged unbeaten champion in the Grameen Danone Under-12 Inter-school Football Tournament beating Police Lines High School by a solitary goal here on Tuesday.

Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir attended the prize giving ceremony as chief guest at Coronation Institution & College ground and distributed prizes among the winners.

After the barren first half, Sabbir scored the match winning goal in the 5th minute of the 2nd half.

Sabbir of Coronation Institution was adjudged the best player of the tournament while Arif of the same team named as highest scorer.