The New Nation - Internet Edition

Paralympic Games begin in Beijing

AP, Beijing

The Paralympic Games opened in Beijing on Saturday with a burst of fireworks as China welcomed another chance to cement its role as a global player to an international audience.

Thousands of cheerleaders and dancers in puffy, rainbow-colored suits performed a dance routine in the center of the field at the National Stadium before athletes from 148 countries were introduced.

The crowd cheered and waved flags as China's Communist Party leaders and foreign dignitaries looked on.

The guest list included Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, German President Horst Koehler and South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo.

Earlier Saturday, they shook hands and posed for photos with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People, the seat of China's legislature in the heart of Beijing. Hu gave a brief speech and toasted the games.

"Caring for the disabled is an important symbol for social civilization and progress," Hu said before raising his glass.

"China's people and government have always attached great importance to the cause of the disabled," he said in remarks televised on state television. "We insist on putting people first, carrying forward a humanitarian spirit and advocating equality and opposing discrimination."

Opening just two weeks after the Beijing Olympics ended, the Paralympics are designed to be a parallel games for athletes with a wide range of physical disabilities. The 10-day competition begins Sunday.

Some 4,000-plus athletes will use many of the same Olympic venues, with 148 countries represented and 472 medal events contested - 170 more than the Olympics.

Hosting the Olympics and the Paralympics is a source of national pride for China and a way to showcase the country on the international stage. The Aug. 8-24 Olympics was overshadowed at times by human rights and censorship disputes surrounding the event.

China is keen to use the Paralympics to underscore what is says it has done for the country's 83 million disabled citizens.

The official Xinhua News Agency said Beijing used much of its US$100 million budget for the Paralympics to improve handicapped facilities in competition venues, airports, the public traffic system, hotels, hospitals and tourist attractions like the Great

Wall and the Forbidden City.

An editorial on the front page of the ruling Communist Party's People Daily newspaper hailed the games as a "stage for the world's handicapped people to realize their dreams."

"Remarkable progress has been made in basic living standards, medicare, education and employment for the disabled," the editorial said, "and the preparation for the Beijing Paralympics t recorded fresh achievement made by China in promoting the cause for the disabled."

But the country has also had a contentious history with dealing with its disabled population.

The government has long advocated sterilizing mentally handicapped people. In the early 1990s, a draft law was presented to the legislature to reduce the number of disabled through abortion and sterilization, a move that unleashed international criticism.

In 1994, China ratified a law calling for the abortion of fetuses carrying hereditary diseases and restrictions on marriages among people suffering mental problems or contagious diseases.

More recently, Beijing Olympic organizers issued an apology in June for clumsy stereotypes used to describe disabled athletes in an English-language manual compiled for thousands of volunteers.

One section described the physically disabled as "isolated, unsocial and introspective; they usually do not volunteer to contact people. They can be stubborn and controlling."

Australia sweeps 3-match series with Bangladesh

AP, Darwin

Allrounders James Hopes and Shane Watson combined for five wickets as Australia overcame a lackluster batting performance to beat Bangladesh by 73 runs Saturday and sweep their three-match limited-overs series.

Australia posted 198-5 from its 50 overs and looked set for defeat when Bangladesh reached 82-3 in reply, but recovered to bowl out the tourists for 125.

Hopes put Australia back into the match with a career-best 3-30 and Watson had 2-8 from five overs.

The match was the closest of the series following Australia's 180-run win last weekend and its eight-wicket victory Wednesday.

Teenage opener Tamim Iqbal's impressive innings of 63 put Bangladesh in a position to repeat the upset victory over the world champions they achieved in 2005 in Cardiff.

But once Shakib Al Hasan fell for 27 in the 17th over, Bangladesh's pursuit ran out of spark as Tamim gradually ran out of partners. The 19-year-old was eventually the eighth man out, slicing in the air to third man after an innings containing five fours and a straight six.

Bangladesh lost its last six wickets for 43 runs - Shahadat Hossain did not bat because of an injured hand.

While Australia did well in the field, Bangladesh struggled with the bat, laboring against some tight bowling and having three batsmen run out.

For Australia, Mike Hussey top-scored with 57 not out, while opener Shaun Marsh made 30.

With the scoring rate slow throughout the innings, Watson, acting captain Michael Clarke and David Hussey were all out to questionable running over a 12-over span trying to up the run-rate.

Watson (27) was caught short when called through for a quick single by his captain. Two overs later Clarke (25) was out after a moment's hesitation with Mike Hussey, and beaten by Alok Kapali's direct hit.

David Hussey (11) also was run out after he drove straight to Mohammad Ashraful and was two meters short when the Bangladesh skipper hit the stumps.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak (1-22 from 10 overs) bowled well and had Haddin caught at cover for 16, while spin partner Shakib Al Hasan (0-25 from 10) also bowled impressively.

Marsh, with previous scores of 76 and 69 not out, and Mike Hussey, who made 85 and eight not out in the first two games, were the standouts for Australia's batting in the series.

Bangladesh coach and former Australia player Jamie Siddons said skipper Ashraful needs to pick up his game.

The 24-year-old Ashraful has averaged just over 22 runs in his 128 matches and has made only six scores over 50 in the past two years. He was also dismissed in single figures in each of his three innings in Australia.

"He's been given a lot of positions in the order and he's still failing," Siddons said. "It's disappointing for him, being the leader of the team. If it were anyone else he wouldn't be in the side. He needs to start making runs. He knows that."

Siddons said a slow pitch, humid conditions and good bowling gave Bangladesh its best chance to win - until the batsmen became impatient.

"It was just a procession of poor shots and missing straight balls from Hopesy," he said. "Hard to explain why you'd miss a straight ball on a flat wicket."

Jankovic, Serena set for finals showdown

AFP, New York

World No. 2 Jelena Jankovic advanced to her first Grand Slam final by defeating Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-4 at the US Open on Saturday, setting up a showdown with two-time winner Serena Williams.

"I have tears in my eyes," said an emotional Jankovic. "I have played in five semi- finals and to be in the final for first time in a Grand Slam is unbelievable. I'm thrilled."

Jankovic had to rally in both sets of the semi-final on a windy Friday afternoon in front of a crowd of 22,892 at the main Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Eight time Grand Slam winner Williams reached her first US Open final in six years, storming past Russian Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-2 in just 88 minutes.

"I am finally back in the finals," Williams said. "An American back in the finals. I am really excited."

The final is scheduled for Saturday night but weather forecasters are predicting rain all day as the remnants of tropical storm Hanna move through the New York area. If that happens the final will be moved to Sunday night.

Not only will Jankovic and Williams be gunning for the 1.5 million dollars in first place prize money, but the winner will also surpass Serbian Ana Ivanovic as world number one.

Jankovic finished off her semi-final by breaking Dementieva for the fifth time in the set, winning it on the second match point when the Russian hit the final ball long.

"It was windy but I really tried to fight," said Jankovic.

Jankovic said she had to adjust to hitting into a headwind.

"It was hard for both of us. Especially from one side the wind was very strong. You keep hitting as hard as you can and the ball doesn't go anywhere.

"From the other side you hit the ball and it flies. It was tough but it was the same conditions for both players."

Serbia's Jankovic won 63 percent of her first serve points and made just 22 unforced errors in the one hour, 34 minute match.

It has taken her 20th career Grand Slam tournaments to get to the final.

"I wanted to go out there and from the first point be focussed," Jankovic said. "I wanted to come out with a game plan and know what I have to do to win and just fight. I knew I could do it and that is what matters."

Once again, Russian fifth seed Dementieva seemed tormented by her weak second serve. She squandered numerous opportunities, finishing with six double faults and 42 unforced errors.

She posted her final double fault in the last game where she won just one point when the chair umpire refused to let Jankovic challenge a ball the Serbian thought was long.

"I made too many unforced errors and she was trying to put everything in. I tried to go for the winners and couldn't close the point. I couldn't make it," said Dementieva. Jankovic, a semi-finalist at the French Open in June, has won just one title in 2008. That came at the Italian Open, where she defeated Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova en route to the final.

She said it was rare for her to play a Grand Slam without being hurt.

"This has been first Grand Slam I don't have issues bothering me," said Jankovic.

"Knock on wood. For the first time this year in a Grand Slam I am healthy. It is a miracle for me to be healthy."

Williams kept her game plan simple on Friday, converting 5-of-10 break-point opportunities and making just 21 unforced errors.

At one point in the match, Safina had her serve broken four times in a row.

She made 41 unforced errors and converted only 2-of-6 break-point opportunities in the 88-minute match.

"I was behaving like a spoiled girl on the court and I can't do this in a semi-final of a Grand Slam," Safina said. "I have to get better.

"She (Williams) behaved like a champion. She was there and fighting and was fighting with me and I was fighting with everything around except her."

Serena rallied from having her serve broken on her opening game of the match to take the first set by winning the final three games.

BCB Academy plays two-day match against Sri Lanka today

UNB, Dhaka

The visiting BCB National Cricket Academy team will their only two-day match against host Sri Lanka today (Sunday) in Dambula.

During the three-week tour, the BCB Academy team will also play three one-day and two four-day matches.

They will play the 1st four-day match on September 10-13 at Dambula while the 2nd four-day on 16-19 at Premadasa Stadium.

After the four-dayer, they will play the 1st one-day match on Sept 21 at Premadasa Stadium, the 2nd on September 23 at the SSC ground and the 3rd and last one-day on September 25 at the NCC ground.

Rahmatganj eliminates SK Russell to reach semis in Futsal tournament

UNB, Dhaka

Rahmatganj MFS moved to the semifinal of the Citycell Futsal Tournament by eliminating Sheikh Russell KC by 8-2 goals at the NSC wooden floor gymnasium here Saturday.

Jakir and Hirok made hattrick each, while Shipon and Morsehed netted one goal each for the winning team.

Pervez Babu and Jakir netted one goal each to bring consolation to the defeated camp.

In the day's other match, Abahani Limited defeated Arambagh KS by 7-5 goals at the same venue.

Siraji and Emily scored hattrick each with four and three goals respectively for Abahani Limited, while Shahjada, Turja struck twice and Pervez netted the other goal for Arambagh KS.

In another match, Brothers Union Club was declared winner by 2-0 goals against Mohammedan SC as the black & white Motijheel outfit left the field before the stipulated time of the match following an unexpected incident.

Meanwhile, Abahani Limited will play the 1st semifinal against their arch rival Mohammedan SC at 3:30 pm while Brothers Union Club meet Rahmatganj MFS in the 2nd semis at 4:30 pm at the same venue Sunday.

Div II Football: Matuail, Euro Famous register wins

Sports Reporter

Matuail Udayan Sangsad and Euro Famous Club registered wins in the Second Division Football League on Saturday.

In the day's first match, Matuail Udayan Sangsad blanked Gazir Chat SC 3-0 at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium.

Sekandar, Ismail, Ang Thai of Matuail Udayan Sangsad scored one goal each.

In the day"s second match, Euro Famous Club outplayed Dhanmondi Club by three goals to nil at the same venue.

Rubel, Shamol, Bazlu netted one each for the victorious team.

Today East End Club will take on Little Friends Club at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium while Bangladesh Boys Club will face BG Press S&RC at the same venue and Bangladesh Police AC will meet Uttar Baridhara Club at the Banani Bangladesh Army Stadium.

Nadal, Federer eye Slam final rematch but foes want change

AFP, New York

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are on the verge of a third consecutive Grand Slam title showdown but the world's other two top tennis players are intent on changing the plot for the US Open final.

Four-time defending champion Federer will face Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic and world number one Nadal, the Wimbledon and French Open champion, will face British sixth seed Andy Murray in semi-finals set for Saturday.

Heavy rain in the forecast could delay the drama, but whenever the Fab Four step on the court to decide the finalists in the year's last Grand Slam event, expect tension- filled confrontations setting the stage for a date with destiny.

Second seed Federer has to hope it's third-time lucky after losing his third consecutive French Open final to Nadal and seeing the Spaniard deny him a sixth Wimbledon title in a row in one of the greatest matches ever played.

Federer enters his record 18th consecutive Slam semi-final, a rematch of his 2007 US Open final triumph over Djokovic, on a 33-match US Open win streak. Bill Tilden's run of 42 from 1920 to 1926 is the only longer men's streak.

The 27-year-old Swiss superstar has won 12 Grand Slam singles crowns, two shy of matching the all-time record of Pete Sampras, but this could be the first year since 2002 that Federer does not win at least one.

That's due to the emergence of Nadal, who captured Olympic gold last month at Beijing and has shown himself to be far more than a clay-court magician by breaking through to dethrone Federer at Wimbledon to reach the ranking pinnacle.

Nadal, 22, ended Federer's 237-week rankings reign last month and the left-hander will remain atop the ATP performance list no matter how the Flushing Meadows fortnight finishes.

A victory in the US Open final would put Nadal alongside Rod Laver, Pete Sampras and Federer as the only men to win three Slams in a row in the 40-year Open era.

"I'm here with very special motivation," Nadal said.

Nadal, who has won 19 Grand Slam matches in a row, could join Manuel Orantes as the only Spanish champions of this event in the Open era. Orantes won the US Open in 1975 when it was played on clay.

But title or not, Nadal has punctured the aura of invincibility that once surrounded Federer. This has been Federer's most difficult season since 2003.

The US Open offers a chance for Federer to reclaim a bit of the mystique or for Nadal to close his rival's last chapter and give himself a chance to win a fourth Slam in a row at next January's Australian Open.

"For (Federer) it's a big challenge now to win another Slam and stay in the race with Rafa to be number one at the end of the year," Djokovic said. "It's a bit strange to see No. 2 next to his name."

Then again, there are a couple of 21-year-old Europeans who would be just as happy if neither Federer nor Nadal make it to the trophy showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Serbian third seed Djokovic has lost six of eight meetings with Federer but beat him in this year's Australian Open semi-final on his way to taking his first Grand Slam title, beating France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the title match.

Olympic bronze medallist Djokovic has reached his sixth Slam semi-final after reach his first Slam final here a year ago. If he wins the US Open he will move past Federer into second in the world rankings.

Murray has made the breakthrough run of the four to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final, ensuring that he will jump to fourth in the next ATP rankings to match Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski as the highest-rated British man ever.

It will take another breakthrough, however, to book a trip to the finals. Murray has lost all five prior meetings with Nadal but earned his respect.

"He can win the title," Nadal said. "For sure it's his first Grand Slam semi-final but he has played very important matches. It's going to be nothing strange for him."

Since taking a two sets to one lead in a fourth-round match with Nadal at the 2007 Australian Open, Murray has been unable to take a set off the skilful Spaniard, losing 11 in a row, three of them in a June Wimbledon quarter-final.

Rain king Bolt beats Powell in season farewell

AFP, Brussels

Triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt won the 100m at the Golden League meet here on Friday, beating compatriot Asafa Powell in a time of 9.77sec to bring the curtain down on his record-shattering season.

The Jamaican flyer's winning time was well outside his world record of 9.69sec set in Beijing last month, but was enough to see off the challenge of Powell, who on a wet and windy night, could only clock 9.83.

Nesta Carter made it a Jamaican clean sweep, placing third in 10.07sec.

"Asafa is a great guy and I warmed down with him after the race," said Bolt of his rival who sprang out of the blocks to take an early lead, which the fastest man in the world only wiped out in the last 10m.

"We are adversaries on the track but also the best of friends.

"It's great to finish the season with a victory. I had a bad start (his reaction time of 0.223sec was the worst of the nine runners) so I have to be satisfied with 9.77 especially in these wet conditions.

"Without doubt, I would have had the legs to have run faster had the conditions been better. "Now I will go back to Jamaica. I'll rest and think about next season. I'm going to keep working harder and harder and improve my start, that's the most important thing."

Powell, who beat Bolt in Stockholm in July, added: "I had an excellent start, but Usain gives up nothing."

The former world record holder, who ran the second-fastest 100m of all time in Lausanne on Tuesday, said he was already planning ahead to 2009 where winning gold at the world championships in Berlin would be a priority.

"I was close to Usain but he beat me. I'm not that far off but now I will have to work hard," said Powell.

"It'll be important not to get injured over the winter and to start 2009 in the best condition. Next year, the objective will be to take gold in Berlin.

"Reclaiming the world record would be great but once you have a medal you can't lose it."

Bolt, who lit up the Beijing Games last month winning three gold (100m, 200m and 4x100m relay) and notching up a hat-trick of new world records, will now head home for a well-earned rest.

Friday's race should also have featured world champion Tyson Gay but the American pulled out on Thursday, opting to concentrate on his recovery from a hamstring injury