Sports
First-ever DNCC Mayor Cup begins on Nov 15
The first-ever Saif Powertek Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Cup, powered by Runner and co-powered by Daraz, will begin here on November 15.
DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam made the official announcement of the meet at a press conference at a local hotel on Monday. Managing Director of the Mayor Cup’s title sponsor Saif Powertek Limited Tarafder Mohammad Ruhul Amin was also present on the occasion.
READ: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh lose 0-2 to Maldives
Three leading sports—Cricket, Football and Volleyball- are including in the first version of the DNCC Mayor Cup.
Former captain of National Cricket team Khaled Mashud Pilot will act as technical director of cricket while former star footballer Sheikh Mohammad Aslam and joint secretary of Bangladesh Volleyball Federation Fazle Rabbi Babul will act as the technical directors of football and volleyball respectively.
Former captains of national cricket team Mashrafe Bin Mortaza MP and Akram Khan, ODI captain Tamim Iqbal, captain of national football team Jamal Bhuiyan, volleyball player Horshit Biwas, film actor Ferdous and actress Purnima will feature in the Mayor Cup campaign.
Fifty four ward councillors and 18 women’s ward councillors (for reserve seat) will form their teams to compete in the Mayor Cup, where every citizen under DNCC will be entitled to participate for their respective ward teams.
READ: SAFF Champs: Bangladesh to play hosts Maldives Thursday night
DNCC is organizing the Mayor Cup on the occasion of birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the Bangladesh independence.
JPC Chess:Shahzad Mahmud emerges champion, Rafiqul Islam runners-up
Shahzad Mahmud Saifuddin of the Daily Observer emerged as unbeaten champion and Rafiqul Islam Azad of The Independent finished runner-up in the chess competition of the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) Sports Festival on Monday.
Shahzad, joint news editor at his paper, smartly clinched the title securing full five points from five matches beating Nizamul Hque Bipul in the 5th and last round match of the two-day competition in the Swiss League format, that concluded at the Abdus Salam Hall of the club Monday afternoon.
READ: GM Chess:Indian IM AronykGhoshm,NeelshSahamaintain joint lead
With his dominance of the chess competition, colleagues were already left preparing their arguments against Shahzad now claiming to be the cleverest journalist in the country.
Rafiqul Islam Azad became runner-up with four points after beating Amaresh Roy of Dainik Samakal in the 5th and last round.
Tapon Biswas of Janakantha finished 3rd beating ASM Hanif in a place deciding match on Monday.
International Chess Arbiter M Harun-ur-Rashid conducted the chess competition.
READ: Sheikh Hasina Chess: Indian IM Sankalp, Mitrabha take joint lead
Earlier on Sunday, JPC President Farida Yesmin inaugurated the sports meet, arranged on the occasion of the 67th Founding Anniversary of the club, EC member of JPC and convener of the sports sub-committee Shahnaz Siddiqui Soma conducted the function.
UEFA Nations League 2021: France Beat Spain in the Final to Become Champion
France won the second edition of the UEFA Nations League (2020-2021) by overcoming Spain 2-1 in the final. Spain could not have the last smile after playing fantastic football in the final and dominating ball possession for longer periods of time. On the contrary, France's counter-attacking style had caught the youthful Spanish team off guard. The French team was defeated by Switzerland in the round of 16 of EURO 2020. This victory will help them to move on from some of their past regrets. The match report of the UEFA Nations League 2021 final is discussed in this article.
Nations League Final Match Report: France vs. Spain
Kylian Mbappe's goal in the 80th minute of the match gave France's first-ever Nations League victory. Spain grabbed the lead in the 64th minute of the final match in Milan's iconic San Siro stadium.
Spanish striker Mikel Oyarzabal placed the ball into the bottom corner after receiving a long pass from Sergio Busquets. French defender Dayot Upamecano tried but failed to stop him in a one-on-one duel.
Read Argentina wins; Brazil draws in World Cup qualifiers
Following the goal, the French side responded immediately and took the lead within two minutes, thanks to a spectacular long-range strike from veteran forward Karim Benzema.
The Real Madrid striker received a through pass from Mbappe and went inside before firing a stunning shot towards the far right corner to level the score at 1-1 in the 66th minute.
Both teams tried to equalize after that, but it was Mbappe who scored in the 80th minute to give France the victory. He sprinted forward after catching a through pass from Hernandez and calmly placed the ball into the net.
Read: UEFA Nations League 2021: Semifinals Preview
Spain claimed Mbappe was offside when he got the ball, but a VAR assessment revealed a tiny contact from defender Eric Garcia. So, France's lead was maintained following this decision.
Match Stats: France vs. Spain
Overall, Spain had more ball control and executed with more efficiency than France. Spain dominated the game from the start, with 64% ball possession. They passed with an accuracy of 85%, compared to France's 78%.
Tigers start training in UAE Monday
Bangladesh took to the training on Monday after reaching the UAE overnight ahead of two warm-up matches against Sri Lanka and Ireland in preparation for T20 World Cup.
The Tigers will take on Sri Lanka on October 12 at Abu Dhabi in the first warm-up match ahead of the T20 World Cup which is set to begin on October 17 in Oman. After that, they will play against Ireland on October 14 at the same venue.
Before these matches, Bangladesh took on Oman A in a practice match at Muscat which they won by 60 runs. Mohammad Naim and Liton Das struck a 50 each in that match.
Also read: Junaid Siddique to play in T10 League
IPL 2021 Qualifier 1: Magnificent MS Dhoni Powers Chennai into Final
Delhi Capitals team was confident that they could make it three in a row after winning their two round-robin league matches against Chennai Super Kings. However, Chennai captain MS Dhoni displayed his flamboyant charisma at the most crunch moment of the game, leading his team to victory with two balls to spare. Chennai advanced to the 14th edition of the tournament final after defeating Delhi in the IPL 2021 qualifier 1 match. Delhi Capitals will play the winner of the eliminator match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in qualifier 2 for a final berth.
Match Report: CSK vs. DC
The captain of Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni opted to field first against Delhi Capitals in the first qualifying match in Dubai on Sunday (October 10)
Delhi’s Innings
Delhi Capitals batted first and set up a challenging 172/5 runs in their allocated 20 overs. Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan partnered for a 36-run opening stand, with Prithvi taking the initiative to get the scoreboard moving quickly. Shikhar Dhawan was struggling to time the ball and was finally bowled by Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over.
Read: Shakib, Mustafiz set to leave IPL to join national team
Getting the first wicket helped Chennai to increase the pressure on the Delhi batsmen. They lost three more wickets within 11 overs, including Prithvi Shaw. The excellent left-hand batsman lost his wicket to Ravindra Jadeja after an aggressive 60 off 34 balls.
Delhi skipper Rishab Pant and Windies power hitter Shimron Hetmyer (37) repaired the innings with an 83-run partnership in the fifth wicket and took the total to 163. Rishab Pant remained undefeated with a 51* off 35 balls. Josh Hazlewood was Chennai's most successful bowler, taking two wickets for 29 runs in four overs.
Chennai’s Innings
Chasing 173 runs, Chennai's most inform batsman Faf du Plessis was dismissed in the opening over. He was clean bowled by compatriot Anrich Nortje on the fourth ball of the first over. However, the loss of an early wicket had little effect on Chennai's momentum in the run chase.
Read: IPL 2021: Who will play whom in the playoffs?
A 110-run second-wicket partnership between Ruturaj Gaikwad and the experienced Robin Uthappa helped Chennai stay in the game. They took the total to 113 in the 14th over. Both batsmen were steady and did not take any needless risks while forming the partnership.
Uthappa was dismissed in the14th over after a 63-run knock. On the other hand, Gaikwad remained at the crease till the 19th over, ensuring Chennai's progress in the run chase. However, the match took a dramatic turn when in-form Avesh Khan sent Gaikwad back to the pavilion on the first ball of the 19th over.
Chennai needed 24 runs in 11 balls at that point. With two new batsmen at the crease, they were under a lot of pressure to get those runs. However, skipper MS Dhoni came out as a savior for his team and ensured victory with some blistering strokes.
Read:IPL 2021: Delhi secure Qualifier 1 with 3-wicket win against Chennai
Dhoni sealed the victory by smashing Tom Curran for a boundary in the last over's fourth ball. He stayed unbeaten, with a match-winning 18 off 6 balls knock. Taking three wickets, Curran was Delhi's most successful bowler in this game.
Player of the Match
Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad was awarded the best player of the IPL 2021 qualifier 1 match for his responsible 70-run knock.
Way Forward
Delhi Capitals lost to Chennai Super Kings for the first time of the IPL 2021 season. They overcame Chennai twice in the league phase and were considered favorites to win the IPL 2021 qualifier 1 match. However, responsible knocks by Ruturaj Gaikwad and Robin Uthappa, as well as MS Dhoni's fiery innings, saw Chennai defeat Delhi in the first match of the playoffs round. This will be the 9th IPL final for Chennai Super Kings.
Read:IPL 2021: Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan in three-way race for a playoffs spot
On the other hand, Delhi Capitals must win the second qualifier match to advance to the IPL final for the second year in a row. Delhi finished runner-up after losing the IPL 2020 final to Mumbai Indians. The qualifier 2 match will take place in Sharjah on Wednesday (13th October).
France wins Nations League with late goal from Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé scored late as world champion France came from behind to win the Nations League with a 2-1 victory over Spain in the final on Sunday.
Mbappé netted with 10 minutes remaining as France was again forced to fight back, just as it had done in the semifinals against Belgium.
There were few chances in a cagey final in Milan but the match burst into life shortly after the hour mark.
Read: UEFA Nations League 2021: Semifinals Preview
Moments after France hit the woodwork, Mikel Oyarzabal fired Spain in front but its lead lasted less than two minutes before a magnificent finish from Karim Benzema.
“This is the first piece of silverware I’ve won with France so I’m very proud and delighted," said Benzema, who only recently returned to the France squad after a five-year absence.
"We played two top-level performances. We went out there to win the trophy so I’m delighted for the team as a whole and I’m proud as an individual.”
There was a video review for a possible offside on Mbappé but the goal was given as Spain defender Eric García was the last to touch the ball as he attempted to intercept the pass to the France forward.
“I'm used to not talking about referees and I concentrate on what I can control,” Spain coach Luis Enrique said. "I don't think I've ever talked bad about referees.
“I've got nothing to say. I concentrate on trying to make my teams play the best way and accepting wins and losses.”
European champion Italy beat Belgium 2-1 in the third-place match earlier Sunday.
Spain beat Italy 2-1 in their semifinal game with Ferran Torres netting both goals. There had been doubts about Torres’ fitness but he recovered to start the final. Midfielder Adrien Rabiot was absent for France after testing positive for the coronavirus.
France started well and almost took an early lead as Benzema rounded Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón and attempted to roll across for Mbappé but the ball was cleared by César Azpilicueta.
Spain went closer five minutes later as Torres threaded the ball through to Pablo Sarabia but his fairly tame shot was an easy catch for France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Spain dominated possession but created few chances. It was the only side to have a shot on target in the first half though.
Theo Hernández had scored the last-minute winner for France against Belgium and he ignited Sunday’s final when his effort crashed off the underside of the bar and out in France’s first real sight of goal in the 63rd minute.
Moments later, however, it was Spain which broke the deadlock as Oyarzabal raced onto Sergio Busquets’ ball over the top and fired into the bottom right corner.
Oyarzabal had set up both of Torres' goals in the semifinal match.
But France was swiftly back on level terms as Benzema cut in from the left and curled a sumptuous effort into the top right corner.
And the stage was set for Mbappé to score the winner as he and France continue their revival. Mbappé was judged to have sprung the offside trap as he raced onto Theo Hernández’s through ball and placed it into the bottom right corner.
Lloris pulled off two great saves from point-blank range to deny first Oyarzabal and then Yeremi Pino as France survived a late siege by Spain.
Mbappé has now scored in successive matches, after two goals in his previous 13 internationals.
It was the third straight victory for France.
Argentina wins; Brazil draws in World Cup qualifiers
Lionel Messi was among the scorers as Argentina beat rival Uruguay 3-0 on Sunday, hours after Brazil's run of consecutive wins in South American World Cup qualifying ended in a 0-0 draw with Colombia.
Brazil leads the qualifying competition with 28 points from nine wins and the draw, six points clear of second-place Argentina after 10 matches. Brazil's tally so far would have been enough to qualify for all World Cups directly since 2002.
Ecuador remains in third spot with 16 points, marginally ahead of Uruguay based on the number of victories. Colombia is in fifth place with 15 points. All three have already played 11 matches.
The top four teams earn direct entry to the World Cup in Qatar next year. The fifth-place team can still qualify via an inter-continental playoff.
All teams in South American World Cup qualifiers will play again on Thursday.
Read: South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil to face Uruguay in October
ARGENTINA 3, URUGUAY 0
Messi’s team was preparing for a long, tense night at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. Uruguay coach Óscar Tabárez selected a back-five tasked with stopping Argentina's powerful offense and his team created most of the best early opportunities, with Luis Suárez hitting the post once.
But a stroke of luck helped Argentina in the 38th minute. Messi gave an overhead pass in an attempt to assist Nico Gonzalez, who failed to touch it. But the ball gently and unexpectedly passed by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, into the right corner.
Luck once more was on the Argentinian side in the 44th. A series of passing mistakes by both teams gave a clear opportunity to Lautaro Martinez on the edge of the box. Lautaro failed to hit it cleanly, but it was enough to move the ball into the path of a Rodrigo de Paul.
The second half started with Uruguay trying to charge up front with substitutes Edinson Cavani and Darwin Nuñez, but once again Argentina scored. Messi found de Paul on the right flank, and the midfielder sent a low cross into the penalty box. Lautaro Martinez scored from close range.
“I think we are growing a lot in the level of our game,” Messi said. “We are now used to having the ball. Tonight was a tough match and we had to win it. It all came out perfectly.”
Argentina's next challenge will be against Peru. Uruguay will travel to Brazil.
COLOMBIA 0, BRAZIL 0
Brazil had the best opportunities of the encounter and forced Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina to make three key saves. The most important was in the 84th minute in a close range finish by substitute Antony.
Neymar returned to the Seleção after a suspension, but was off pace, missing several passes and running with apparent difficulty. He left the pitch immediately after the final whistle. Brazil coach Tite said in a news conference too much is expected from his star player all of the time.
“He is an exceptional player because he makes exceptional plays, he does it exceptionally and not ordinarily,” Brazil's coach said. “He is a special player, we know it. And he was also well marked, sometimes by two players.”
Read: Brazil wins and Argentina draws away in World Cup qualifiers
Tite tested out lineup or formation changes, as he promised. His defensive midfield was Fabinho and Fred for the first time. He also used wingers Raphinha and Antony in the second half, following their impressive performances in the 3-1 win at Venezuela.
Colombia's next match will also be at home against Ecuador.
Also on Sunday, third place Ecuador lost 2-1 at Venezuela. Enner Valencia opened the scoring for from the spot in the 37th, but Venezuela turned its fortunes with goals by Darwin Machis late in the first half and Eduard Bello in the 64th.
Ecuador remains on 16 points and last-place Venezuela has seven.
Ninth-placed Bolivia frustrated seventh position Peru with a 1-0 win at La Paz. Ramiro Vaca scored the only goal of the encounter in the 85th. Peru remained on 11 points and Bolivia improve to nine points in the standings.
Eight-placed Chile beat sixth place Paraguay 2-0 to reach 10 points in the standings and maintain its chances of qualifying. Ben Breteton opened the scoring in the 68th and Mauricio Isla added a second in the 72nd. Paraguay remains in sixth place with 12 points.
Club Cup Hockey: Mariner crush Azad 9-0
Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club thumped Azad Sporting Club 9-0 Sunday in the SIBL Club Cup Hockey Tournament at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium.
Harsdeep Kapoor and Milon Hossain struck two goals each, while Satandar Kumar, Avishek, Mamunur Rahman Chayan, Fazle Hossain Rabbi and Shahidur Rahman Saju scored one goal each for Mariner.
Read: Victory Day Hockey: Army, Navy earn comfortable wins
In Sunday's first match, Sonali Bank Club beat Bangladesh Sporting Club 4-0 at the same venue.
Rakib, Parvez, Mehedi and Rocky scored one goal each for the winners.
Read: Women's Hockey: Narail DSA crush Jashore 4-0
Jatiya Press Club sports festival begins
A sports festival began Sunday with chess competition at the Abdus Salam Hall of the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) to mark the 67th founding anniversary of the club.
JPC President Farida Yesmin inaugurated the competition in the morning amid the great enthusiasm of the club members.
JPC Senior Vice-President Hasan Hafiz, Joint Secretary Ashraf Ali, Treasurer Shahed Chowdhury; EC members Kazi Rownak Hossain, Banu Ranjan Chakraborthy and Baktier Rana were also present.
JPC EC member and convener of the sports subcommittee Shahnaj Siddiqui Soma conducted the Walton-sponsored programme.
Read: Sports Festival of Jatiya Press Club begins
Thirty-two players are taking part in the five-round Swiss League based two-day competition.
After the first two rounds on the first day, four players – Mohammad Rahim Uddin, Tapon Biwas, Nizamul Haque Bipul and Shahzad Mahmud Saifuddin – are dominating the meet, securing full two points each.
Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain followed the leaders with 1.5 points.
The remaining three rounds of the meet will be held Monday from 11am at the same venue.
World Mental Health Day: What effect does depression have on the performance of athletes?
Anxiety has a massive psychological impact and mental health issues have become a frequently discussed topic in sports. Depression is a mental illness that is impacting an increasing number of athletes. This is related to a variety of clinical issues. Players with mental health issues experience depression and long-term sadness, both of which can have a negative impact on their performance. The main theme of World Mental Health Day 2021 as well as the impact of depression in sports are discussed in this article.
What is World Mental Health Day's Purpose?
World Mental Health Day is commemorated every year on October 10 with the purpose of raising awareness and disseminating knowledge about anxiety and depression throughout the world.
This day should be taken as an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health and educate people all around the world, particularly those who are depressed.
READ: Mental Health: Types of Mental Illness and supporting someone with a mental health problem
Depression is a prevalent mental health ailment, and those who suffer from it are at risk of dying young. Mental health should be a concern for everyone, especially in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
World Mental Health Day was first celebrated in the year 1992, by the World Federation for Mental Health. The goal of the day was to encourage mental health advocacy and educate the public on pertinent problems. Given the campaign's popularity, a subject for the day was chosen for the first time in 1994. This year's (World Mental Health Day 2021) theme is "Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality,"