The New Nation - Internet Edition

Olympic Day Run observed

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) observed Olympic Day Run in the capital and elsewhere in the country on Friday in a bid to popularize the Olympic movement in Bangladesh.

Chief of the Bangladesh Air Force Air Marshall SM Ziaur Rahman inaugurated the Run in the capital at the Ramna National Tennis Complex at 7:30 am.

BOA Vice President and chairman of the Olympic Day Run Committee Mizanur Rahman Manu, BOA secretary general Kutubuddin Ahmed, BOA CEO and director Col (retd) M Wali Ullah, chairman of Gazi Tanks Golam Dastagir Gazi, director of Exim Bank Nurul Fazal Bulbul and country manager of Coca Cola Debashish Dey were present.

The BOA, for the first time, took the initiative to hold the program on large scale, simultaneously in all the districts and divisional headquarters.

The Run, started from Ramna Tennis Complex, and terminated at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) going past the Engineers Institute, High Court, Press Club, Baitul Mokkaram and National Sports Council (NSC) building.

The program, sponsored by Dutch-Bangla Bank, Gazi Tanks and Pumps, Exim Bank Ltd, Coca Cola, Amicus Properties Ltd, BD Blazer and Samsonite, also included blood donation, children's painting competition and cultural show at the NSC and BNS premises.

Coca Cola country manager Debashish Dey inaugurated the children's painting competition, participated by 27 children at the old NSC building.

After the Olympic Day Run ended, two cancer surviving children -- Shirin Akter and Suman, who came from Teknaf and Tetulia, ignited a torch at the BNS, which they called `Flame of Hope' to banish cancer forever.

Sonia Akhter makes two new national records

Sports Reporter

Sonia Akhter of BkSP made two new National records in the Mercantile Bank 23rd National Swimming Competition at the Mirpur National Swimming Complex on Friday.

In the women's 50 metre butterfly event, Sonia Akhter secured first position making new national records clocking 00.32.60 seconds.

In the women's 4x200 metre freestyle relay race, Sonia, Shima, Afsana, Nasima of BKSP became first making new national reconds taking 10.15.63 seconds.

In the men's 50 metre breaststroke, Shahjahan Ali Rony of Bangladesh Army won the first prize making new national reconds 00.30.13 seconds.

Sabura Khatun of Bangladesh Ansar earned the first prize in the women's 200 metre backstroke on the same day.

In the men's 1500 metre freestyle, Mahfizur Rahman of BKSP secured first position.

In the men's 4x200 metre freestyle race, Nazrul, Munmun, Jewel, Rubel of Bangladesh Navy finished first.

In the women's 800 metre freestyle, Shima of BKSP won the first position.

In the men's 50 metre butterfly event, Jewel of Bangladesh Navy secured first position.

In the women's 50 metre breaststroke, Doly Akhter finished first.

In the men's 200 metre backstroke, Rubel of Bangladesh Navy won the first prize.

Bangladesh will take on SA Airways Challebge XI today

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Cricket team will take on South African Airways Challenge XI today in a two-dayer warm-up match, which begins at 2.30 PM (Bangladesh Standard Time) at KImberly in South Africa.

Earlier, the plucky Tigers made an unlucky start as they lost to South Africa by 12 runs in their Twenty20 clash on November 5.

Later, Bangladesh tasted a 61-run defeat by South Africa in their first ODI on November 7.

Then, the Tigers conceded a massive 128-run defeat by the Proyeas in the second ODI on November 9.

The Tigers saved from a whitewash by their counterpart as the third and last ODI between Bangladesh and South Africa was washed out by rain.

Ahead the first Test match, which is scheduled to be held on November 19 to November 23, the lone practice two-dayer will be important for the tourists as the Tigers have a preparation for the upcoming Test match.

Div II Football: Sadharan Bima, Police register wins

Sports Reporter

Sadharan Bima KS and Bangladesh Police AC won their respective matches of the Second Division Football League on Friday.

In the day's first match, Sadharan Bima KS outplayed Gazir Chat SC by two goals to nil at the Kamalapur Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Stadium.

Jafor scored two goals for the winners.

In the day's second match, Police AC blanked Friends Social Welfare Organisation 5-0 at the same venue.

Al Amin netted two and his teammates Bismoy, Kamruzzaman, Nazmul scored one goal each for the victorious team.

Today T&T Club of Motijheel will play against Matuail Udayan Sangsad while Bassabo Tarun Sangha will face Euro Famous Club at the same venue.

Yuvraj's century spurs India to 158-run victory

AP, Rajkot

Yuvraj Singh's aggressive century spurred India to a record-shattering 158-run victory Friday in the series-opening limited-overs international against England.

Yuvraj belted an unbeaten 138 from just 78 deliveries to guide India to 387 for 5 in 50 overs - a record score on home soil.

India's bowlers then dismissed England for 229 in 37.4 overs. The triumph is India's highest by runs against England, whose previous biggest loss to India batting second was by 86 runs at Sydney in 1985.

Chasing the imposing target, England was never in the contest once its top order crumbled against the accurate pace attack that reduced it to 38-4. Skipper Kevin Pietersen (63) and Ravi Bopara (54 not out) provided the only innings of substance for England.

Yuvraj's ninth ODI hundred enabled India to post its second-highest ODI total ever - well behind its 413-5 against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup but ahead of its previous home record of 376-2 against New Zealand in 1999.

It was also India's highest total against England, beating the 329-7 at Bristol last year.

England's attack, meanwhile, conceded more runs than ever in an ODI, surpassing the 353-6 against Pakistan at Karachi in 2005.

Yuvraj smashed the England attack for six sixes and 14 boundaries to overcome his poor form of recent months, which led to his omission from India's squad for the home test series win over Australia.

"This is one of my best knocks in one-day internationals," Yuvraj said. "I didn't have to run, I just pressed the accelerator."

Skipper Mahendra Dhoni was delighted with the dominant start to the series.

"Yuvraj was simply fantastic. On a day like this, the opposition can't do much," said Dhoni.

"It was important to begin the series on a good note." Pietersen too applauded Yuvraj's knock, saying, "When you watch an innings like Yuvraj's, all you say is "well played guys"."

"It was an amazing batting pitch. A little touch and it goes for four, you touch harder and it goes for a six," he said.

Yuvraj's assault came after Virender Sehwag (85) and Gautam Gambhir (51) gave India a flying start, putting on 127 runs for the opening partnership.

Pietersen's decision to field after winning the toss backfired as none of the seven bowlers he used consistently bothered India's batsmen.

Sehwag's innings contained three sixes and 10 fours from 73 deliveries. He struck sixes off the first two deliveries of Paul Collingwood's first over.

Sehwag then hoisted left-arm spinner Samit Patel for his third six, but the inexperienced Patel hit back claiming both their wickets.Yuvraj then shared partnerships with Suresh Raina (43) and skipper Dhoni (39) that further boosted India's run-rate.

The English bowling figures took a battering, with James Anderson the most economical at a mediocre 0-52 in eight overs. Andrew Flintoff returned 1-67, Steve Harmison snared 2-75 and Patel took 2-78.

India's bowlers were contrastingly effective from the start, with Zaheer Khan (3-26) ripping through the top order.

He removed Owais Shah (0), Ian Bell (25) and Flintoff (4) after fast bowler Munaf Patel (1-20) dismissed opener Matt Prior (4).

Pietersen hit two sixes and seven fours off 98 balls, adding 71 runs for the sixth-wicket with Patel (28) before he was run out.

Bopara's hit five sixes and two fours from 45 balls in a rearguard innings, but by then India already had control of the match.

Bangladesh wins silver in Jr South Asian Tennis

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh won the silver medal in the five-nation 1st Junior South Asian Tennis Championship on the final day at the National Tennis Complex (NTC) here Friday.

Omar Faruq Sunny of Bangladesh beat Thurana Isharwarthi by 6-2, 6-0 sets in the singles event in the morning. In another singles event, Mofazzal lost to Sri Lankan Arvind Fernando by 5-7, 6-3, 3-6 sets.

Later in the afternoon, Sunny and Mofazzal pair ensured the silver medal beating Fernando and Dhanuk Withana pair of Sri Lanka by 6-4, 7-5 sets. India clinched the gold crushing Pakistan by 3-0 matches.

Pakistan grabbed the bronze while Sri Lanka and Nepal were placed in the 4th and 5th positions respectively.

Bangladesh Tennis Federation senior vice president ATM Hayatuzzaman distributed the medals among the participants as chief guest. Federation general secretary Mohammad Sanaul Haque, tournament director Ahmed Ziaur Rahman and other Federation officials were present.

Under-16 boys from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and hosts Bangladesh took part in the league basis meet.

Dhaka DSA reaches zonal final beating Kishoreganj DSA

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka DSA reached the zonal final in the 29th National Cricket Championship beating Kishoreganj DSA by 157 runs at Tangail Stadium Friday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Dhaka DSA posted 231 runs for eight wickets in 49 overs.

In reply, Kishoreganj DSA dismissed cheaply for 74 runs in 40.5 overs.

In the day's other matches, Rangpur DSA (141/4) defeated Sirajganj DSA (140/9) by six wickets at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium and Shariatpur DSA (93/8) outplayed Munshiganj DSA (92/10) by two wickets at Faridpur Stadium, and moved into the zonal finals.

In other matches, Chittagong DSA (75/4) earned a six-wicket win over Brahmanbaria DSA (73/10) by six wickets at Noakhali Stadium and Khulna DSA (186/10) outplayed Magura DSA (115/10) by 71 runs at Jessore Stadium, and moved into the zonal semifinals.

Div I Hockey : Mukto Bihanga defeat Shishu Kishore

Sports Reporter

Mukto Bihanga Tarun Sangha defeated Shishu Kishore Sangha by two goals to nil in the day's lone match of the Green Delta Insurance First Division Hockey League at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Friday.

After a goalless breather Rubel of Mukto Bihanga put his team ahead in the 36th minutes.

After a few seconds Rubel struck again and confirmed his team's victory.

First IFWS meeting in capital today

UNB, Dhaka

The first meeting of the Islamic Federation of Women Sports (IFWS) Athletes Committee, headed by former Bangladesh national athlete and coach Razia Sultana Anu is being held today (Nov 15) at the National Shooting Federation, Gulshan.

Chief of Army Staff and the BOA President General Moeen U Ahmed, will inaugurate the meeting at 11 am as the chief guest. IFWS Chairperson Faezeh Hashemi of Iran will attend the opening ceremony as the special guest.

BOA Secretary General Kutubuddin Ahmed will also present at the meeting, which will work out different issues of women sports in the Islamic countries.

Chairperson of BOA Women's Commission Rafia Akter Dolly will attend the day-long meeting along with IFWS Athletes Committee member Azadeh Gilani (Iran), Eghbal Al-Soliyman (Qatar), Fatima Kourouche (Australia) and Wedad Abd-al-Rahman (Sudan).