The New Nation - Internet Edition

Wanderers Club, Victoria SC, Sunrise SC reach final round

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Wanderers Club, Victoria SC and Sunrise SC reached the final round of the Citycell Federation Cup Football Tournament eliminating their rivals at different venues in the city and adjoining areas on Saturday.

The three teams will join Jatrabari KC and BKSP to play the 16-team final round of the season curtain raiser meet, the Federation Cup Football Tournament, beginning here on August 6.

The other eleven teams from the maiden B League to play the final round directly are : holders Abahani Limited (Dhaka), Mohammedan SC (Dhaka), Muktijoddha Sangsad KC (Dhaka), Sheikh Russell KC (Dhaka), Brothers Union (Dhaka), Arambagh KS (Dhaka), Chittagong Mohammedan SC, Farashganj SC (Dhaka), Khulna Abahani KC, Chittagong Abahani Limited and Rahmatganj MFS (Dhaka).

The ceremonial draw for the final round of the meet will be held tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon at a local hotel.

At the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka Wanderers Club smartly moved into the final round as Group B champions beating all-losers, Bangladesh Air Force, by 2-0 goals Saturday afternoon.

With the day's feat, Wanderers Club emerged Group B champions to reach the final round with unbeaten run securing seven points from three matches.

Pintu Kumar Das put the Wanderers Club ahead in the second minute by a good header (1-0). Iqbal Hossain confirmed the Wanderers victory adding one more goal in the 75th minute by a cool placing shot, finding opponent custodian alone (2-0).

In the day's another match at Army Stadium in Banani, Victoria SC finished Group B runners-up to reach the final round beating another services team, Bangladesh Navy, by 2-1 goals in the afternoon.

Mamun and Hasan scored for the winners, one in each half while Monir netted lone goal for the losers in the first half.

Victoria SC have so far earned six points from three group outings to reach final round while Bangladesh Navy bagged four points and got eliminated from the meet.

In the day's other match, Sunrise SC booked a seat for the final round from Group C with all-win run beating Bangladesh Customs Krira Parishad by a solitary goal at the Gazipur Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Jewel scored the match winning goal for Sunrise SC in the 74th minute.

Verbruggen credits IOC with helping ease internet curbs

AFP, Paris

Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the International Olympic Committee's Coordination Commission at the Beijing Games, on Saturday credited the IOC with negotiating the partial reopening of internet access by Chinese authorities.

And Verbruggen said that the Chinese had gone further than their commitment to the IOC.

"The agreement reached with the Chinese organisers gives journalists the possibility to report freely on the Games," Verbruggen told French daily Le Monde on Saturday.

"The Chinese even went further by authorising them to do reports on general subjects.

Zia, Himanshu take joint lead in chess tournament

UNB, Dhaka

GM Ziaur Rahman of Biman and IM Himanshu Sharma of India took joint lead in the 8th United Insurance & United Leasing International Masters Chess Tournament securing 4 points after the 5th round at the Chess Federation hall-room here Saturday.

Six players are in the 2nd slot with 3.5 points each. They are: FM Abu Sufian Shakil, FM Mehdi Hasan Parag, FM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar, Md. Imran Ali Elin, IM Mahmood Lodhi of Pakistan and IM Dinesh Kumar Sharma of India.

In the day's 5th round matches, Zia beat Joydeep Dutta, Himanshu defeated FM Taibur Rahman, Sagar drew with Shakil, Lodhi drew with Dinesh, Elin beat Bitan Banerjee, Parag defeated Debraj Chatterjee, Saif Uddin Lavlu outplayed FM Rezaul Haque, IM Shahzad Mirza beat Anisuzzaman Jewel, Keshav Shrestha of Nepal drew with his compatriot Shresta Bilam Lal, Delwar Hossain beat Md. Hasan Emam, DM Sk. Nasir Ahmed defeated DM Mohammed Abdul Malek, FM Mohammad Javed beat Monir Hissain, Mohammad Ali drew with Abdullah Al Saif, Sohel Chowdhury drew with Arman Monir and Badri Nepali beat Mahtabuddin Ahmed Robin.

The 6th round matches start Sunday from 3:30 PM also at the same venue.

14 players advance to men's singles 2nd round

UNB, Dhaka

Fourteen players advanced to the 2nd round in the men's singles event of the Dhaka Open Tennis Competition winning their respective matches in the 1st round at the Ramna National Tennis Complex (NTC) here Saturday.

They are Amal Roy (NTC), Zakir Hossain (Uttara Club), Laxman Lal (American Club), Shahnewaz Ahmed (Hotel Sarina), Milon Hossain (NTC), Henry Prithul Mandal (ZITC), Delwar Hossain (NTC), Mazharul Islam (NTC), Murad Hossain (Hotel Sarina), Dipu Lal (Nordick Club), Anwar Hossain (British Club), Mofazzal Hossain (NTC), Kanchan Ram (Nordick Club) and Ranjan Ram (NTC).

In the Boy's Under-14 event, Biplob Ram, Tanvir Hasan, Aqiv Munir and Sajib Passi moved to the quarterfinals after eliminating their respective opponents in the pre-quarter finals.

BCB engages Bulbul, Pilot and Rafique as consultants

UNB, Dhaka

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has planned to engage two former national skippers Aminul Islam Bulbul and Khaled Mashud Pilot, and veteran Mohammad Rafique as consultants for batting, wicket keeping and bowling.

The board took the decision to use local expertise for the struggling cricket of the country.

"This is an effort on our part to make optimum use of local expertise in developing our future cricketers," said BCB game development chairman Shakil Kasem.

"Aminul, Mashud and Rafique have vast experience of playing cricket at the highest level and can pass on their knowledge to the next generation," he said.

The three stalwarts of Bangladesh cricket will work with the cricketers of the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy, Bangladesh Under-19 team and other age group selections.

Meanwhile, the BCB offices have moved to Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) from Navana Tower in Gulshan.

Pioneer Footaball: Rampura defeat Mansoor SC

Sports Reporter

Rampura KC defeated Mansoor Sporting Club (SC) by three goals to one in the Dhaka City Corporation Pioneer Football League at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium on Saturday.

Arafat, Sourov, Juka of Rampura scored one goal each while Sourav of Mansoor Sporting struck the consolation.

Meanwhile, Moghbazar KC got walkover from Surjoshena SC in the day's other match at the same venue.

Today Lalbagh Tarun Sangha will face Jatrabari Jhatika Sangsad while Tejgaon Nabataranga Krira Sangsad will meet Nababpur KC at the same venue.

Table tennis training camp gets underway

Sports Reporter

The table tennis training camp for under-22 boys and girls began yesterday at the Dhaka Wooden Floor Gymnasium. AB Bank Limited is sponsoring the coaching camp. Coach of International Table Tennis Federation Arif Khan supervises the training camp.

President and Managing Director of AB Bank Limited Kaizar A Chowdhury inaugurated the training camp. President of Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation Md Abu Solaiman Chowdhury and the General Secretary of the Federation ATM Shamsul Alam were present at the time.

A total of 35 participants are taking part in the training camp.

BDR Inter-Sector Wrestling Competition begins in Chittagong today

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Rifles Inter Sector Wrestling Competition, organised by 28 Riffle Battalion and supervised by BDR Chittagong Sector, will begin in the port city today (Sunday).

Some 12 sector-level teams will take part in the five-day meet. The teams are Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Dhaka, Comilla, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Kushtia, Chittagong, Rangamati and Khagrachhari.

The competition will also be held in eight weight categories. These are 45-52 kg, 55 kg, 60 kg, 66kg, 74 kg, 84 kg (open), 96 kg (open) and 96-120 kg (open).

BDR sector commander of Chittagong will formally inaugurate the meet.

Scolari's sunshine summit gives Chelsea winning feeling

AFP, London

As Luiz Felipe Scolari stepped ashore from Roman Abramovich's Pelorus yacht the Brazilian was already convinced he had made the right decision to join Chelsea.

Scolari had just met Blues owner Abramovich to talk about taking charge at Stamford Bridge and by the time he was back in the blazing Monte Carlo sunshine a deal was all but sealed.

It could prove to the moment the destiny of the Premier League title was decided. With the new campaign just two weeks away, Scolari looks an astute appointment.

Liverpool and Arsenal are capable of mounting a challenge for Manchester United's title. But it is Scolari's Chelsea who are the biggest threat to Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Abramovich has every right to feel satisfied with his choice, especially since it was the Russian's practical approach to the job of producing a successful team that reassured Scolari he would be able to run Chelsea his way.

When Jose Mourinho was forced out of the Bridge after a series of increasingly bitter disagreements with Abramovich and his advisors it seemed that any manager worth his salt would baulk at the prospect of walking into the west London's political minefield.

But Scolari has never been one to follow received opinion, so when Chelsea called to ask if he would consider leaving Portugal to replace Avram Grant his interest was piqued.

Since Abramovich watched Manchester United's 4-3 win over Real Madrid five years ago, he has had a reputation as a footballing romantic who is only satisfied if his team win by playing the beautiful game.

But, while Scolari loves his teams to entertain, he is a pragmatist first and would have resisted Chelsea's offer if Abramovich had insisted on a specific playing style.

He need not have worried. The pair quickly bonded over their shared belief that victory is more important than the manner it is achieved.

"I am not here to play pretty but to win titles. If we do both, that's great," Scolari said. "There has never been a situation when Roman said 'We have to play beautiful'.

"I met him twice and we talked like two ordinary people, not as owner and coach. He said 'Do better for Chelsea'. That's it. Nothing more."

If Scolari does help Chelsea go one step further than last season, when they were pipped to the Premier League and Champions League by United as well as losing the League Cup final to Tottenham, he will do it with a squad almost identical to the one employed by Grant.

Scolari is far too canny to completely overhaul one of the strongest teams in Europe. Aside from signing Deco, well known to Scolari after his time with Portugal, he has been quiet in the transfer market.

A move for Real Madrid winger Robinho is on the agenda but Scolari's hopes of instant success will rest more with his ability to get the best out of unsettled stars Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba than any new arrivals.

Lampard appears ready to see out the last year of his contract after flirting with a move to Inter Milan but has reportedly been unhappy with the club's offer of a new deal.

Meanwhile Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon insists Drogba won't be sold despite suggestion that the Ivory Coast forward wants to leave.

It could all add up to a major headache for Scolari, but he prizes a strong team-spirit above all else and he has already spoken to both players to underline their importance to his plans.

Winning those battles will go a long way to ensuring Chelsea erase the painful memories of last season's near-misses.

Sri Lanka bounce back with late strikes

AFP, Galle

Sri Lanka grabbed three big wickets in the closing session to throw the second Test against India wide open on the third day here on Saturday.

India were strongly placed at 144-1 before slipping to 200-4 in their second innings at stumps, with Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Chaminda Vaas sharing wickets.

The tourists are now only 237 ahead with six wickets in hand.

Sourav Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman had yet to open their accounts when bad light stopped play.

India appeared to have seized the initiative after attacking knocks from Gautam Gambhir (74), Virender Sehwag (50), Rahul Dravid (44) and Sachin Tendulkar (31) before losing their way.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 292 in their first innings on the stroke of lunch in reply to India's 329, with skipper Mahela Jayawardene top-scoring with a stylish 86.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh played a big role in India gaining the lead as he grabbed 6-102 for his 22nd haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings. He was brilliantly supported by leg-spinner Anil Kumble (3-81).

Left-handed Gambhir and Sehwag then gave India a flying start for a second successive time in the match, adding 90 for the opening wicket. They had put on 167 in the first innings.

Sehwag again showed the way as he followed his first- innings 201 not out with a blazing fifty, blunting the Sri Lankan spin attack with his aggressive approach.

He reached his fifty off 49 balls before he fell playing an uppish drive off paceman Vaas, with Tillakaratne Dilshan timing his jump to perfection to take a superb catch in the covers.

Gambhir, who made 56 in the first innings, also used his feet remarkably well against spinners Mendis and Muralitharan to complete a second successive half-century.

He had been batting fluently before being bowled by Mendis, attempting to pad away a delivery that turned in sharply to hit the off-stump.

Sri Lanka bounced back into the match when they dismissed Tendulkar and Dravid in the space of eight deliveries.

Tendulkar was caught in the slips driving an away-going delivery from Vaas, while Dravid was adjudged leg-before off Muralitharan.

Dravid was initially given not out by umpire Billy Doctrove of the West Indies, but the Sri Lankan captain requested the official to review the decision under a new experimental rule which is on trial in the series.

Doctrove changed his decision after consulting TV umpire Gamini Silva of Sri Lanka.

The Indian spinners earlier shattered Sri Lanka's hopes of gaining the lead by sharing five wickets, with Kumble taking three and Harbhajan two. The hosts could add only 77 to their overnight total of 215-5.

Jayawardene, averaging 99.21 before this match at the Galle International Stadium here, was the lone batsman to thwart the Indian spinners. He looked set to complete his 24th Test hundred before being caught behind off Kumble.

The teams observed a two-minute silence before the match in memory of former India batsman Ashok Mankad, who died in Mumbai on Friday.

Sri Lanka lead 1-0 in the three-match series following their win by an innings and 239 runs in the opening Test in Colombo.

South Africa set 281 to win

AFP, Birmingham

South Africa were set to make 281 to win on the fourth day of the third Test after Paul Collingwood and Ryan Sidebottom added a crucial 65 runs for England's eighth wicket on Saturday.

South Africa were 11 for no wicket at lunch.

Collingwood took his overnight score of 101 to 135 before he was last man out, caught behind off Morne Morkel, who took three of the England wickets to fall to finish with four for 97.

Starting the day with the second new ball, South Africa struck with the second delivery when Morkel bowled Tim Ambrose without addition to the overnight total of 297 for six.

Collingwood had only added two runs when he was lucky to survive a confident appeal for leg before wicket by Morkel, but he and Sidebottom settled in to a productive partnership.

Sidebottom got the benefit of the doubt when he edged Jacques Kallis to AB de Villiers at second slip when he had 14.

Television umpire Ian Gould decided there was a possibility the ball had touched the ground as it was grasped by De Villiers.

Sidebottom made 22 before he was caught at short leg off his glove when he got into a tangle against a short ball from Morkel, who in between taking wickets bowled an assortment of wides and loose deliveries.

The end came quickly with James Anderson bowled off an inside edge by Kallis and Collingwood edging an attempted cut against Morkel to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie started the final innings, with their team seeking to clinch the four-match series, which South Africa lead 1-0.

They needed to achieve the highest successful fourth innings run chase in any Test at Edgbaston and the fourth highest by South Africa.