Prizes of the Joytu Sheikh Hasina International Online Chess Tournament' 2020 were handed over at a function at the La Meridian Hotel in the capital on Sunday.

State Minister for Youth & Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell MP distributed the prizes among winners as the chief guest.

President of Asian Chess Federation His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nehyan was present the function as the guest of honour while Dr. Benazir Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Chess Federation, President of South Asian Chess Council and Inspector General of Bangladesh Police was also present as special guest.

General Secretary of Asisn Chess Federation Hisham Al Tahir joined the function through video conference.

Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, Chairman of Canadian University, Bangladesh and Vice President of Bangladesh Chess Federation presided over the ceremony.

A documentary film on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's life and leadership was also displayed at the function.

Addressing the function the State Minister for Youth and Sports said, Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina created a rare example in the world facing Coronavirus successfully and made Bangladesh a role model of development.

Prasing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for making huge development in the country's sports at grassroot level, the minister finally assured the Chess Federation to provide a permanent land for them very soon.

Grand Master Megaranto Susanto of Indonesia emerged unbeaten champion in the Joytu Sheikh Hasina International Online Chess Tournament' 2020 securing seven points from nine-round Swiss League basis competition that concluded on Saturday.

On completion of the nine-round competition last evening, three players have secured seven points each, but in the tie breaker Susanto clinched the title of the first ever meet, arranged on the occasion of the 74th birthday of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He received prize money of US dollar 1200.

The two other players---Indian GM SL Narayan and Iranian GM M Amin Tabatabaei, who also bagged seven points each, finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the tie breaker to earn prize money of US dollar 800 and 500 respectively.

Among the Bangladeshi players, promising Fide Master Subroto Biswas was placed 12th securing six points while another Bangladeshi Fide Master Mohammad Javed was placed 14th, also collecting six points.

Three Bangladeshi GM even failed to manage a seat in the top 15 places of the meet, sponsored by Canadian University, Bangladesh, organised by South Asian Chess Council, associated by Golden Sporting Club.

Five players earned 6.5 points each. Their positions are: 4th-GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong of Vietnam, 5th-GM Diptayan Ghosh of India, 6th-GM D Gukesh of India, 7th-R. R. Laxman of India and 8th – Jhon Paul Gomes of Philippines.

Six players earned 6 points each. Their positions are: 9th-IM Priasmoro Novendra of Indonesia, 10th- GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly of India, 11th- Volkov Sergey of Russia, 12th –FM Subrota Biswas of Bangladesh Navy, 13th- Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh of India and FM Mohammad Javed of Bangladesh Navy.

Three players of Bangladesh Navy achieved the top three positions among Bangladeshi players. They are: FM Subrata became 1st and FM Mohammad Javed 2nd and IM Abu Sufian Shakil became 3rd.

The 7th to 9th rounds games were held on the Last day of the three-day meet on Saturday in the online chess platform.

In the 7th round: GM Megaranto drew with GM Diptayan, GM Gukesh drew with GM Thruong Son, GM Valkov drew with GM Tabatabaei, GM Narayan beat GM Antonio, IM Priasmoro beat Villamayor, GM Gangulay beat IM Nubairshah, IM Shakil beat GM Vishnu, GM Razib beat FM Taibur.

In the day's 8th round: GM Thruong Son drew with GM Megaranto, GM Diptayan drew with IM Priesmoro, GM Narayanan beat GM Razib, GM Tabatabaei beat GM Ganguly, GM Laxman drew with GM Volkov, GM Gomes beat IM Shakil, GM Gukesh beat FM Parag, FM Subrota drew with GM Zia and Shafiq beat GM Villamayor. drew with GM Megaranto, GM Ganguly drew with GM Thurong Son, GM Zia drew with GM In 9th or last round GM Megaranto drew with GM Narayanan, GM Gomes drew with GM Thruogn Son, GM Gukesh drew with GM Diptayan, GM Tabatabaei beat IM Priesmoro, GM Laxman beat Shafiq, GM Volkov drew with Shakil, GM Ganguly beat IM Fahad, FM Subrato beat GM Vishnu.

A Total 74 players including 17 grandmasters, 6 International Masters from 14 countries including Bangladesh took part in the thee -day meet.

Also read: Sheikh Hasina International Online Chess begins

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) broke out of the bio-secure bubble which was created for the cricketers to keep them safe from the deadly Covid-19 ahead of the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

The bubble was created on September 20, and a residential training camp was kicked off on September 21. Since the tour is still uncertain, BCB decided to allow the cricketers to break the bubble and meet their family. The decision came to keep the players mentally fresh.

“We have to keep the cricketers mentally fresh. They were stuck in the hotel rooms for a few days. The bubble is indeed broken now. But we have to consider their mental health as well. So had to make this move,” Debashis Chowdhury, the chief physician of BCB told the media.

As the chairman of the BCB cricket operations department, Akram Khan told the media that this break will last for three days. After that, the training will be resumed at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. However, it’s unclear whether a new bubble will be set or not.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is yet to respond positively for this tour. As per the health department’s protocol of Sri Lanka, everyone entering the island nation is required a strict 14-day quarantine. But BCB urged them to trim this period to seven days for the touring side, which was refused by the Covid-19 task force of Sri Lanka.

However, BCB is still hopeful for the series. Akram Khan on Saturday told the media that the BCB is still waiting for a positive response from SLC.

Also read: Cricket Still nothing definite on Sri Lanka tour

Despite waiting for about two weeks, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is yet to provide the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) with a positive response regarding the proposed three-match Test series which is a part of the ongoing World Test Championship. As per the latest update, BCB is still waiting for a set of health guidelines that the SLC will obtain from the Sri Lankan counterpart of our COVID-19 taskforce/technical advisory committee.

If BCB finds these guidelines to be reasonable, the tour can still go ahead. The SLC has already made clear that it cannot brook any request for deviation from the guidelines stipulated by their Health Department.

Therefore if BCB finds any condition too restrictive, the SLC would rather postpone the series till next year.

During a media interaction on Saturday, chairman of cricket operation department of BCB, Akram Khan, told the media that they are hoping to fly for Sri Lanka within 7-10 of October, which means the series is still on but the schedule may see another change. As per the current schedule, the first Test of this series would take place from October 24. 

“We have discussed our next plan with the coach, selectors and CEO. Since we are unable to fly for Sri Lanka on September 27, we opted to leave the players for three days. We’ll resume the training after three days, and we hope, we’ll get a response from SLC,” Akram Khan told the media on Saturday at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. 

“We didn’t get any update from Sri Lanka. And we know that this is out of the control of SLC. They are depending on the decision of the health department of Sri Lanka. SLC is hoping that they’ll get a response from their health department within the next three days. We’ve decided to wait for more,” Akram added.

While BCB is waiting for a positive response from Sri Lanka, SLC’s CEO Ashley Silva had said that they are bound to abide by their health department. He also had said that if BCB denies following the guidelines what will be provided by the health department, the series might see postponement. 

“Whatever the feedback which we would get from the Covid-19 task force, will be shared with the BCB. If BCB is not prepared to abide by those guidelines given by the task force, then we would be compelled to call off the tour and reschedule the tour during the same cycle maybe for next year or the following year,” Ashley told a local media in a recent interview. 

However, Akram Khan, says if everything goes according to the changed plan, the Bangladesh national team will fly for Sri Lanka within 7-10 October. 

“We have enough time to play this series. Sri Lanka was preparing to host a T20 league which was rescheduled. Since both BCB and SLC have enough time, we are hopeful to play this series,” Akram further told the media. 

This series was originally scheduled for July-August this year. But due to the deadly outbreak of the Covid-19 around the globe, both the boards decided to reschedule it in October-November. But now, the series is facing a deadlock due to the strict 14-day mandatory quarantine period set by the health department of Sri Lanka. 

BCB has urged SLC to reduce the quarantine period in seven days, but they are unable to do so avoiding the government health protocol. Not just for Bangladesh team, Sri Lanka is maintaining this health protocol for everyone who enters the island nation during the pandemic.

Also read: Tigers' SL tour facing postponement over BCB's unreasonable demand

The National Athletics Championship' 2020 has been shifted to January next year due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision was taken at an executive committee meeting of Bangladesh Athletics Federation held on Friday with its President ASM Ali Kabir in the chair.

As per preliminary decision, the 44th National Athletics'2020 will be held in January 15-27 next.

The 43rd National Athletics Championship'2019 was held in last January in Chattagram.

The meeting also decided not to arrange Summer Athletics meet this year. The last Summer meet was held in August last year.

But, the Federation decided to start their athletics activities by arranging two-day long 36th National Junior (Age Group) Athletics meet, likely in November 20-21 this year.

They also decided start federation's development program very soon.

Bangladesh’s proposed Sri Lanka tour for a three-match Test series may have to be rescheduled once again as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley Silva informed they are bound to abide by the regulations of the national task force formed to prevent a Covid-19 epidemic in the country. 

Ashley Silva said they would get a health guideline from the Covid-19 task force for touring sides and they will pass it to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). If BCB agrees to abide by that, the tour will continue. But if BCB says no, the tour must see another change in the schedule. 

“Whatever the feedback which we would get from the Covid-19 task force, will be shared with the BCB. If BCB is not prepared to abide by those guidelines given by the task force, then we would be compelled to call off the tour and reschedule the tour during the same cycle maybe for next year or the following year,” Ashley told a local media. 

Sri Lanka is one of the most successful countries in the world who control the spread of the deadly virus successfully. The Covid-19 task force of the island nation made it mandatory for everyone who enters Sri Lanka to maintain a strict 14-day quarantine. 

However, SLC honorary secretary Mohan De Silva said they are expecting Bangladesh will continue with the tour. He said: “We have done well to control the pandemic. To keep it up, we have to follow the health guidelines created by the Covid-19 task force. The authorities are encouraging to resume international cricket at home. We expect Bangladesh will understand and continue with the tour.” 

The BCB had asked SLC to reduce the period of quarantine to seven days for the Bangladesh team. But the health department of Sri Lanka along with the task force refused this two weeks ago. Now, SLC is negotiating with the task force to provide the guidelines for Bangladesh team so that the tour can take place in time. 

During a media interaction on September 14, BCB president Nazmul Hassan said that they will not tour Sri Lanka unless the quarantine period is trimmed to seven days. The BCB CEO, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, has said the same. 

The tour was originally supposed to take place in July-August this year, but due to the Covid-19 situation, had to be rescheduled for October-November. This series is a part of the ongoing World Test Championship. Bangladesh have played a total of three Tests of this event and lost all of them.

Also read: Continuing with Sri Lanka tour challenging: BCB CEO