The New Nation - Internet Edition

BFF accords reception to Swadhin Bangla Football team in city

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Sunday accorded a reception to the members of the Swadhin Bangla Football team at the Balurmath near BFF Bahban in Motijheel.

The reception was organized to honour the heroes of the Swadhin Bangla Football team which played some exhibition matches in India in 1971 to create public opinion in favour of Bangladesh's liberation war.

The BFF also unveiled a stone containing engraved names of all the 36 footballers of the team.

Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of National Sports Council (NSC) General Moeen U Ahmed, attended the function as chief guest and inaugurated the commemorative inscription Sunday evening.

Addressing the function, General Moeen said, members of Swadhin Bangla Football team will get a honourium of Taka 3,000 each from this month, which was stopped one and half year ago.

Spondan Shilpo Goshti displayed their cultural show at the BFF Bhahan while country's popular band group LRB and famous vocalist Azam Khan rendered songs at the function in presence of large crowd.

The team members are: Jakaria Pintu (captain), Protap Shankar Hazra (vice captain), Late Ali Imam, Mohammed Kaikobad, Amlesh Sen, Ainul Haq, Sheikh Ashraf Ali, Bimol Kor, Shajahan Alam, Late Sheikh Monsoor Ali Lalu, Kazi Salahuddin, Enayetur Rahman Khan, K N Nosherruzzaman, Shubhash Chandra Shaha, Fazle Hossain Khokon, Abdul Hakim, Taslim Uddin Sheikh, Aminul Islam (Suruz), Abdul Momin Joardar, Late Maniruzzaman Payera, Abdus Sattar, Pran Govinda Kundu, Mojibor Rahman, Major General Khondokar Nurunnabi(retd), Lutfor Rahman, Aniruddha Chaterjee, Sanjit Kumar De, Late Mahmudur Rashid, Saidur Rahman Patel, Dewan Siraj Uddin(Siru), Nihar Kanti Dash, Mojammel Haq, Biren Dash Biru, Abdul Khalek, Tanvir Mazharul Islam Tanna (manager), Mr. late Nani Basak (coach).

National Cricket League: Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal register wins

UNB, Dhaka

Rajshahi Division and Khulna Division registered third consecutive wins while Barisal Division earned their second win in the one-day matches of the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League at separate city venues on Monday.

Rajshahi Division beat Sylhet Division by 17 runs at BKSP in Savar, Khulna Division earned a thrilling two-run win over Dhaka Division at Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium and Barisal Division defeated Chittagong Division by 30 runs at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium.

Rajshahi Division vs Sylhet Division:

Sent into bat first, Rajshahi Division scored 192 for all in 48.3 overs with Suhrawardy Shuvo contributing 62 runs. Saikat Ali captured three wickets for 17 runs.

In reply, Sylhet Division were all out for 175 in 48.3 overs with Monir Hossain scoring 43 runs. Shan Jamal claimed four wickets for 11 runs while Suhrawardy Shuvo took three for 35.

Khulna Division vs Dhaka Division:

Put to bat first, Khulna Division scored 231 runs for all in 48.4 overs with Nazmus Sadat contributing 87 runs. Arafat Sunny and Mahmudullah Riad took three wickets each for 28 and 48 runs respectively.

In reply, Dhaka Division were dismissed for 229 in 50 overs with Mehrab Hossain scoring 37 runs. Nazmus Sadat grabbed three wickets for 40 runs to be adjudged man of the match for his all round performance.

Barisal Division vs Chittagong Division

Batting first, Barisal Division made 164 for nine wickets in stipulated 50 overs with Imran Ahmed contributing 40 runs. Tareq Aziz captured three wickets for 29 runs.

In reply, Chittagong Division were dismissed for 132 in 47.4 overs with Sajjadul Haq scoring 45 runs. Monwar Hossain of Barisal Division grabbed four wickets for 11 runs to be adjudged man of the match.

Once troubled teenager now feels like a grandmother

AFP, Brisbane

She may still be only 19 but Bulgaria's Sesil Karatantcheva said she felt like a grandmother as she reached the second round of the Brisbane International Monday.

Karatantcheva's 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Czech Iveta Benesova is her best result since returning to the tour in 2008 after serving a two-year ban for testing positive for the steroid Nandrolone.

The Bulgarian, now ranked 158 in the world, had to win through three rounds of qualifying just to make the main draw in Brisbane, but now finds herself playing Belarussian Olga Govortsova for a place in the quarter-finals.

The colourful Karatantcheva has never been shy of speaking her mind and she could barely contain her excitement after her win over Benesova.

She said every match she played was an enjoyable one, win or lose.

"Because I haven't played for two years everything now is a good resultt every win is a good win and every loss is just'I'm so happy about it because I'm playing tennis'," she said.

Karatantcheva, who beat Venus Williams on her way to the French Open quarter-finals as a 15-year-old, said she was relishing being back on the tour.

"You kind of realise what you have once you lose it," she said.

"I kind of took it for granted, you know the tournaments and everything, then once you stop travelling you have to face a reality that I can't do this any more-I was lucky that I was so young."

She said she had learned from her mistakes, adding that time away from tennis had changed her for the better.

"It was just a good experience, you definitely learn a lot, you grow up and you kind of see a different world than tennis.

"It helped me.

"I'm kind of wild sometimes and say what I think, but there comes a period where you just kind of know what's right and what's not."

While she reached a career-high ranking of 35, Karatantcheva has never played many of the women now on the tour.

"As much as I feel like a rookie, I feel like a grandmother on tour-you know, seeing all these 14- and 15- year-olds coming," she said.

"I remember when I was 14, 15 -- they probably think I'm slow and old.

"But I still have some time left."

Bukola scores hattrick: Dhaka Mohammedan crush Muktijoddha

UNB, Dhaka

Riding on Nigerian striker Alamu Bukola's superb hattrick, Dhaka Mohammedan crushed Muktijoddha Sangsad KC by 5-0 goals in the lone second phase match of the Citycell 2nd B. League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) here on Monday.

With this win, Dhaka Mohammedan secured 25 points to join Brothers Union Club in the second slot of the league table, playing 12 matches. Muktijoddha Sangsad KC remained at eight points from 13 matches.

Holders Dhaka Abahani dominates the league table with 26 points from 12 matches.

In the day's match, striker Alamu Bukola made the hattrick scoring three goals while Abdul Baten Komol struck twice for Dhaka Mohammedan which led the first half 4-0.

With the day's hattrick, Bukola scored 9 goals to share the highest scorer's honour with Sheikh Russell KC striker Alfaz Ahmed.

Dhaka Mohammedan went ahead in the very 1st minute of the match as Bukola scored from the danger zone taking a right wing cross from skipper Arman Aziz (1-0). He doubled the team margin scoring his second goal in the 6th minute with a right footer from inside the danger zone off Nasir Hossain close pass (2-0).

Komol widened the winners' margin scoring the 3rd goal in the 12th minute from vantage position utilizing a pass from Bukola from left wing (3-0).

Bukola completed his hattrick scoring the 4th goal for his team as his own shot from inside the danger zone fisted by Muktijoddha custodian Paul again came his way in the 30th minute (4-0).

Komol sealed the fate of the match in the 63rd minute with a box shot after receiving a right wing pass from Nasir Hossain, who took the ball with his solo effort from mid field (5-0).

Muktijoddha Sangsad failed to create any real attack in the entire match and seemed helpless in front of Mohammedan attacks.

Today's match - Rahmatganj MFS vs Chittagong Mohammedan SC (BNS; 4 pm).

Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka scoreboard

AP, Chittagong

Scoreboard at stumps Monday on the third day of the second test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium:

Sri Lanka, 1st Innings: 384

Bangladesh, 1st Innings: 208

Sri Lanka, 2nd Innings

(Overnight: 13-0)

Malinda Warnapura lbw b Shahadat Hossain 27

Prasanna Jayawardene c Al Hasan b Ashraful 28

Kumar Sangakkara b Ashraful 54

Mahela Jayawardene c Kayes b Haque 22

Thilan Samaraweera not out 72

Tillakaratne Dilshan not out 81

Extras: (2b, 2lb, 3w, 5nb) 12

TOTAL: (for four wickets) 296

Overs: 95. Batting time: 395 minutes.

Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-55, 3-123, 4-165.

To bat: Chamara Kapugedara, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Ferdando.

Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 15-3-53-0, Shahadat Hossain 23-2-67-1 (1nb, 2w), Shakib Al Hasan 12-1-39-0 (1nb), Enamul Haque 26-1-66-1(3nb, 1w), Mohammad Ashraful 11-1-29-2, Mehrab Hossain 7-0-35-0,Raqibul Hasan 1-0-3-0.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor, West Indies, and Nigel Llong, England

TV Umpire: Enamul Haq, Bangladesh. Match Referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.

Toss: Won by Sri Lanka.

Series: Sri Lanka leads 1-0.

29th National Sub-Junior Chess begins Jan 12

UNB, Dhaka

The 29th National Sub-Junior (Under-16 ) Boys and Girls Chess Championship, organised by Bangladesh Chess Federation, will begin on January 12 (Monday) at the chess hall-room of Bangladesh Chess Federation.

The Swiss league system tournament is open for all under-16 boys and girls with no entry fee.

All the interested boys and girls have been asked to enroll their name on or before Saturday (Jan 10) at the Chess Federation office (2nd Floor, National Sports Council, 62/3 Purana Paltan, Dhaka-1000).