Dhaka, May 22 (UNB) – Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) initially picked up 34 players to join training camp for the ensuing Indoor Asia Cup Hockey 2019 scheduled for July 15-21 in Bangkok.

Selected players have been asked to report on Thursday (May 23 ) at 2 pm to team coaches Zahid Hossain Raju and Ashiquzzaman at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium here.

Selected players are : Ashim Gope, Abu Sayeed Nippon, Biplab Kuzur, Al Amin Miah (GK), Imran Hasan Pintu, Khorshedur Rahman, Farhad Ahmed Shetul, Ashraful Islam, Kamruzzaman Rana, Shohanur Rahman Sabuj, Sarwar Hossain, Roman Sarkar, Nayeem Uddin, Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Rasel Mahmud Jimi, Pushkar Khisa Mimo, Milan Hossain, Moinul Islam Kawshik, Arshad Hossain, Mahbub Hossain, Deen Islam Emon, Sarwar Morshed Shawon, Shafiul Alam Shisir, Hasan Jubair Niloy, Mohammad Mohsin, Abed Uddin, Prince Lal Simanto, Rezaul Karim Babu, Mehdi Hasan, Taher Ali, Mohammad Rokin, Raju Ahmed Tapu, Al Nahian  Shuvo and Sifat Ahmed.

Dhaka, May 21 (UNB)- Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Noshin Anjum of Elegant International Chess Academy emerged champion in the girls section of the Walton 39th National Junior (Under-20) Chess Championships on Tuesday.

Anjum secured full seven points from seven matches at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall room.

Walijah Ahmed of Elegant International Chess Academy is in the 2nd position with 6 points while Kazi Zarin Tasnim is in the 3rd slot with 5 points after the day’s 7th round games of the girls section. 

FM Mohammad Fahad Rahman of Pirajpur leading the points table in the open section collecting 6.5 points after 7th round matches. 

CM Subrota Biswas of Mymensingh, Swarnavo Chowdhury, Sadanan Hasan Dihan of Elegant International Chess Academy and Yasir Ali Khan Evan sharing the 2nd slot securing 5.5 points each. 

Dibakar Dibya, Mortuza Mahathir Islam, Nafim Al Karim, Mahin Ahmed Shuvo, M. Anower Hossain and M Shafiqul Islam are in the 3rd position jointly with 5 points each. 

In the day’s 7th or penultimate round matches in the open section, FM Fahad beat CM Subrota, Swarnavo drew with Evan, Dihan beat CM Manon Reja Neer, Dibakar beat M. Sajidul Islam, Mahathir beat Md. Ashabubur Rahman Taif, Nafim beat Mahfuzur Rahman Saif, Shuvo beat Mortuza Muhtadi Islam, Anower beat Marzouq Chowdhury and Shafiq beat Md Azmaeen Parvez Sayor. 

In the girl’s section, WCM Noshin beat Warsia Khusbu, Walijah beat Israt Jahan Diba, Zarin beat Tasnia Tarannum Orpa. 

The 8th and last round games will be held on Wednesday from 12:30pm at same venue.
 

Dhaka, May 21 (UNB) – The first-ever National Men’s Softball Championship will kick-off on June 12 at Paltan Maidan in the capital.

The three-day meet will end on June 14, Bangladesh Baseball-Softball Federation said in a statement.

The federation requested Ansar, police and divisional sports associations to participate in the competition.

Dhaka, May 20 (UNB) – A golf tournament titled “5 Clubs Golf Tournament-2019’ was held in Islamabad recently to promote friendship and generate bondage amongst the diplomats.

The defence wing at Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad arranged the daylong tournament at Margalla Golf Club.

A total of 48 golfers, including eight female ones, participated in the tournament, said the High Commission on Monday.

It was well-appreciated by all concerned and really provided a wonderful exposure of Bangladesh High Commission in sending the message of friendship across the diplomatic community, it said. 

Prizes were distributed among the winners by chief guest Ambassador of Turkmenistan and Dean of Diplomatic Corps Atadjan Movlamov. 

Defence Advisor of Bangladesh High Commission Brigadier General Khondaker Shafiur Rahman received net runner-up prize. 

Speaking on the occasion, he said the defence wing of Bangladesh High Commission is looking forward to organising many more such events in the coming days.  

The tournament was sponsored jointly by the defence wings of Bangladesh High Commission and Nigerian High Commission.

Dhaka, May 20 (UNB) – The Dhaka Metropolis 2nd Division Hockey League will begin on June 15 at the Maulana Bhasani National Stadium here. 

The decision was taken at a meeting of the league committee of Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) at the federation office at the stadium on Monday.

The 12th edition of the league was held in 2017 when Dilkusha Sporting Club emerged champions beating Dhaka Young Star Club by 3-0 goals in the last league match at Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium. 

The player registration window of the 2nd division league is likely to open on May 30-31. 

Newly elected BHF joint secretary and vice-chairman of the 2nd Division Hockey League Committee Kamrul Islam Kismat said each of the participating teams will get appearance money of Tk 1 lakh. 

“We hope all the previous seven clubs will take part in the league and we’ve decided to provide Tk 1 lakh for all the participating teams each,” he said. 

Replying to a query about the team’s participation in the hockey league, Kismat said, “We’ve discussed the matter with the representatives of all seven clubs during the meeting when they agreed to participate in the league.”

He continued, “We pledged before the election to save the hockey. It’s part of our promise to hold the domestic leagues regularly.”

The previous two committees -- executive committee and ad-hoc committee -- of the federation had never felt the need to arrange the second division league on regular basis, he alleged.

The domestic leagues have become irregular in recent times due to internal conflict in the hockey federation. Only 12 leagues were held in the last 43 years between 1974 and 2017.