United News of Bangladesh

The Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh Junior and Senior International Badminton Tournament 2024 is set to kick off at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium in Dhaka on Friday. The Junior Series will take place from December 13 to 16, while the Senior Series is scheduled for December 17 to 21. Leading shuttlers from 19 countries will compete in the tournaments, which are being organised by the Bangladesh Badminton Federation (BBF). BBF Acting President Quamrunnahar Dana shared details of the event at a press conference on Wednesday. A total of 114 players from India, Indonesia, and host nation Bangladesh will compete in the Junior Tournament. West Indies seal series with 7-wicket win over Bangladesh Meanwhile, the Senior Tournament will see 228 participants from 19 countries, including India, Thailand, Myanmar, Canada, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, the Maldives, England, Ukraine, Italy, Finland, Bulgaria, Uganda, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Singapore. Both tournaments will feature five events each for junior and senior categories.  

Bangladesh suffered a humiliating defeat against China in their first appearance in the Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 in Muscat, Oman on Saturday, as they were blanked 19-0.  It is also a qualifying tournament for 2025 Women’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup. Bangladesh are in five-team Pool A of the meet with India, China, Malaysia and  Thailand. Bangladesh team will play their next match against giant neighbour India on Sunday. In what was the day’s opening match, stronger China dominated the first quarter (15 minutes) of the match by 6-0 goals. four goals each in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and five more goals in the last quarter to win the match convincingly. Bangladesh Women’s (Under 21) Hockey team qualified for the first-ever Asia Cup Hockey as they finished runners-up AHF Cup Tournament held in Singapore last June.   Bangladesh Men’s Junior Hockey team qualified for the Junior World Cup Hockey to be held in India next year as they finished 5th in the just concluded 10-team Junior Asia Cup Hockey also in Oman. Bangladesh Men’s Junior team beat China by 6-3 goals in the place deciding match after playing 1-1 draw in their group match.

Bangladesh finished 5th in the 10- team Men's Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2024 beating China by 6-3 goals in the 5th-6th place deciding match in Muscat, Oman on Wednesday.  This was first victory for Bangladesh against China in the ongoing meet after their Group B match ended in 1-1 draw this week. Bangladesh made a history to qualify for the Youth World Cup Hockey for the first time, first of its kind in any format of Hockey, beating Thailand by 7-2 goals in a place-deciding match of the ongoing Junior Asia Cup Hockey on Tuesday. With the feat, Bangladesh finished 3rd in Group B of the ongoing Junior Asia Cup to qualify for the final round  of the next year's Youth World Cup in India as one of the seven best teams of Asia. In the day's match, Amirul Islam made a hattrick scoring three goals in a row in the 31st, 26th and 30th minutes, all from penalty corners while Mohammad Hasan  scored the remaining three field goals in the 1st, 52nd and 60th minutes. China scored three goals in the 11th, 19th and 42nd minutes-- first was field goal and rest two goals from penalty stroke Earlier, Bangladesh beat hosts Oman by 3-1 goals, conceded 0-6 goals defeat against Pakistan, play 1-1 draw with China and 2-2 draw with Malaysia in the group B matches. Bangladesh team will return home on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, President of Bangladesh Hockey Federation and Chief of Bangladesh Air Force will accord a reception to Bangladesh Junior Hockey team to qualify for the Youth World Cup Hockey for the first time Thursday afternoon at the Falcon Hall of Bangladesh Air Force

Lewis Hamilton reflects on an “amazing journey” and the most successful partnership in Formula 1 history as he prepares to part ways with Mercedes and join Ferrari. The transition represents a fresh chapter for the 39-year-old Hamilton, whose final season with Mercedes has been challenging. Ferrari’s initial focus next year will likely be on helping Hamilton regain his top form, reports AP. Kimi Antonelli named as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Formula 1's Mercedes “We’re probably not going to finish on a high,” Hamilton remarked on Sunday after enduring a tough race in Qatar, where he placed 12th following penalties, a puncture, and even discussions with Mercedes about retiring the car. Just two days earlier, he admitted he was “definitely not fast anymore” after another disappointing qualifying session. Hamilton’s last race for Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday marks the end of a 12-year tenure with the team. During this period, he secured six of his seven world championships, the most achieved by any F1 driver with a single team. As an all-time legend and Formula 1’s only Black driver, Hamilton’s influence reaches far beyond the racetrack. Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams part of bid to buy Chelsea In February, Hamilton stunned the F1 world by announcing his move to Ferrari in 2025 — a decision he even kept from his parents. This upcoming shift has loomed over his season. “I’ve had the whole year to process it, with its highs and lows,” Hamilton reflected last week. “I can’t predict how I’ll feel after the race, the days following, or even during Christmas.” Hamilton shared he would deeply miss the “family” atmosphere at Mercedes, cherishing memories like those with Niki Lauda, the late F1 champion instrumental in bringing him to the team. “There’ve been so many special moments, including with Niki — incredible conversations and even arguments,” he said. “This journey has been truly amazing and one I’ve genuinely loved.” Hamilton recalled the challenges of switching teams, recounting a moment in 2013 when he mistakenly stopped at McLaren’s pit during his early days at Mercedes. “It was strange passing my old team in the pit lane, to the point I stopped there once,” he recalled. This season brought emotional highs, such as his triumphant win at the British Grand Prix, ending a 945-day drought, and his victory in Belgium following George Russell’s disqualification. However, Hamilton has struggled since, finishing behind Russell in 10 of the last 12 races, including sprints. Qualifying has posed significant difficulties for Hamilton, forcing him to recover positions on race day. “When you’re consistently starting far back on the grid, it’s almost impossible to compete for wins,” he admitted last week. Hamilton will forego a chance to test the Ferrari at this season’s end due to his Mercedes contract. However, he expressed mixed feelings about beginning his Ferrari career that way. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur wanted Hamilton to drive the car in Abu Dhabi, but Hamilton preferred a private introduction at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track next year. “Driving the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi didn’t excite me,” Hamilton said. “In an ideal scenario, you’d drive without being seen and do a proper rollout next year. Am I missing out? Certainly.”

Bangladesh made their first -ever Youth World Cup Hockey berth beating Thailand by 7-2 goals in a place-deciding match of the ongoing Junior Asia Cup Hockey held in Oman on Tuesday. With the day's feat, Bangladesh finished 3rd in Group B of the Junior Asia Cup to qualify for the final round  of the next year's Youth World Cup Hockey  in India as one of the seven best teams in Asia. Bangladesh will now play the 5th-6th place deciding match against the winners of Korea and China on Wednesday- which will not affect their Youth World Cup berth. Chief Adviser congratulates Bangladesh Blind Cricket Team Bangladesh never lost any match against Thailand at national level or junior level. In the day's vital match, Mohammad Joy put Bangladesh ahead in the 3rd minute by a field goal (1-0), Amirul Islam doubled the margin in the 6th minute from a penalty corner (2-0) Mohammad Abdullah scored the 3rd goal for Bangladesh in the 16th minute (3-0) while Kritsada pulled the Thai margin one back scoring a goal in the 30th minute  from a penalty corner (3-1).   Mohammad Hasan again sounded the Bangladesh Margin in the 34th minute, also by  a field goal (4-1) while Kritsana reduced the Thai margin in the 35th minute from a penalty corner (4-2). Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Joy and Mohammad Abdullah scored three more field goals in the 36th,  38th and 49th minutes respectively enabling Bangladesh to reach their dream target. Earlier, Bangladesh beat hosts Oman by 3-1 goals, conceded 0-6 goals defeat against Pakistan, play 1-1 draw with China and 2-2 draw with Malaysia in the group B matches. Bangladesh team will return home on Thursday morning.  

Bangladesh keep their hope alive to play in the Junior World Cup Hockey after playing 2-2 draw with stronger Malaysia in a keenly contested 3rd group match of the 10-team Junior Asia Cup Hockey held in Muscat, Oman on Saturday. Bangladesh, which beat hosts Oman and lost to Pakistan in two previous matches, will play China in their 4th and last group match on Sunday to decide their fate. Read: Jr AHF Cup Hockey: Bangladesh Men's team clinch title for record 3rd time beating China After the day's match, Bangladesh are in the 3rd slot in five-team group B with four points after Pakistan (9 points) and Malaysia ( 7 points). Six top teams of the ongoing Jr Asia Cup alongside hosts India will play in the next year's Junior World Cup. In the day's match, Danish Daniel secord first for Malaysia in the very 2nd minute while Amirul Islam leveled margin for Bangladesh in the 27th minute from a penalty corner (1-1). Bangladesh took lead from behind in the 36th minute by Mohammad Hasan's goal (2-1) while Muhammad Norizam equalized the match in the 40th minute (3-2).    

Right-arm pacer Sumon Khan bagged seven wickets with a hat-trick in the ongoing sixth round of the National Cricket League (NCL), and it led to a record collapse of Rajshahi Division, who lost all wickets in just 42 runs against Dhaka Division at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura on Saturday. Sumon took two wickets in his first over, and he continued his dominance throughout the innings. The 24-year-old pacer wrapped up Rajshahi’s innings in dramatic fashion, securing his maiden first-class hat-trick by dismissing Asaduzzaman LBW, becoming the 15th Bangladeshi bowler to achieve this milestone in first-class cricket. Tilak Varma creates history with 3rd consecutive T20 century Before Sumon, 14 other bowlers registered hat-tricks in NCL, with Sohag Gazi and Elius Sunny each doing it twice.  Sumon’s heroics also brought Rajshahi their lowest-ever first-class score, surpassing the previous record of 46 runs set by Barishal against Khulna last season.Rajshahi’s batters had no answer to Sumon’s relentless pace and swing. Their highest scorer, Meherob Hossain, managed just 18 runs, while only one other batter, Sabbir Hossain, reached double figures.

New York City FC’s $780 million, 25,000-seat venue that it intends to open next to the Mets’ Citi Field in 2027 will be named Etihad Park under a 20-year agreement announced Thursday with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. The Major League Soccer team’s controlling owner is City Football Group, the parent company of England’s Manchester City. The Premier League team’s venue was renamed Etihad Stadium in July 2011. NYCFC president Brad Sims said revenue from the deal will go to the MLS team and not the parent company or English club, which is under investigation by the Premier League for alleged violations of financial fair play rules. Etihad has been NYC's shirt sponsor since 2014 and Manchester City's since 2009-10, a season after the Abu Dhabi United Group took control. “It’s a 100% New York City FC deal,” Sims said. “Etihad Airways has been essentially our premiere, our principal and founding partner since Day 1 at the club here. ... We wanted to ideally stay with someone who is a current partner of New York City FC and or someone in the City Football Group family but Etihad was easily kind of the No. 1 focus that we've had all along." Etihad also has collaborated with NYCFC on community initiatives. “They’ve been interested for quite some time about this stadium in New York and really buying into, I think, the path of travel of the sport in this country, in the New York market specifically,” Sims said. “For them the New York market, the New York City market is a very strategic commercial market.” Since taking the field in 2015, NYCFC has played home games primarily at Yankee Stadium, home of the Major League Baseball team that is a minority investor in NYCFC. But because of schedule conflicts, NYC has played some home matches at Citi Field, the home of the rival New York Red Bulls in Harrison, New Jersey, and Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. Saturday's Eastern Conference semifinal against the rival New York Red Bulls will be at Citi Field because Notre Dame is playing Army in a college football game at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC announced the site in 2022. The New York City Council approved the soccer stadium in April as part of a Willets Point redevelopment that includes 2,500 housing units, a new public school, hotel and retail stores. Bulldozers and cranes are involved in pre-construction, lease negotiations with New York City are progressing and a groundbreaking is likely before the end of the year, according to Sims. Mets owner Steve Cohen is among the bidders for a license to build a casino in an area adjacent to Citi Field. “The more activity that can happen in development in Willets Point and make it a live-work-and-play neighborhood the better,” Sims said. Sims said when NYCFC is home first in a day, there has to be a six-hour buffer before a Mets game can start. When the Mets are home first, there has to be a seven-hour buffer before soccer can kick off. Similar parameters exist with the U.S. Tennis Association for the U.S. Open. Sims said the new stadium will benefit NYCFC if MLS switches to an August-to-May schedule, aligning with most European soccer leagues, from its current February-to-December calendar. “There’s a lot of pros to doing that. The cons mostly reside in cold-weather cities that have outdoor stadiums,” Sims said. “I think for us with the new stadium we would likely be relatively insulated, at least in the early — at least in the first five-, 10-plus years just with kind of excitement around the stadium.” 2026 World Cup MLS season ticket holders will have priority access to hospitality tickets for the 2026 World Cup. “All MLS season members, season ticket holders, corporate partners and such will have will have a kind of presale access, these opportunities ahead of the marketplace to purchase suites, club seats, hospitality-type products at all games in all markets throughout the 2026 World Cup,” Sims said. “That’s something that I think is a great benefit to our season ticket members and to our sponsors and corporate partners. ... We're in the marketplace actively marketing 2025 City memberships and that's going to be another benefit of that.”

Bangladesh Navy emerged champions in the Max Group 33rd National Swimming, Diving and Waterpolo Championship securing 32 gold, 26 silver and 12 bronze medals that concluded at the Syed Nazmul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Tuesday. Bangladesh Army finished distant runners up with 10 gold, 15 silver and 23 bronzes while BKSP became 3rd with one silver and seven bronzes. Assistant Chief of Bangladesh Navy Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa was the chief guest at the closing and prize distribution ceremony of the four-day meet and distributed the prizes. BSF Senior Vice President and Chairman of the meet's sponsor Max Group Engineer Golam Mohammad Alamgir presided over the function, organized by Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF). Samiul Islam Rafi of Bangladesh Navy became the best male swimmer securing five gold and a bronze medal featuring three national record while Sonia Akter, also from Bangladesh Navy, emerged as best female swimmer securing eight gold and one silver. Some 550 athletes and 185 officials from 69 teams including different divisions, district, Army, Navy, Air Force, BKSP, BGB, Police, Ansar and swimming clubs are participating in 38 swimming(19 each for the male and female), three diving and one waterpolo event.

The 9th Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, the world’s most prominent corporate golf tournament, returned to Dhaka recently and Dhaka’s champion will represent the city in the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Grand Finale later this year. The event, held at Kurmitola Golf Club recently, was the 109th of 109 tournaments in this year’s Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup - with the victors competing in the Grand Finals in Türkiye later this year. Turkish Airlines General Manager in Dhaka, Islam Güre said, “Events like the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup reflect our commitment to creating memorable experiences and building lasting relationships across the globe, Congratulations to our winners, and I look forward to seeing all of you next year for more great moments together.” All Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup finalists will fly to Türkiye with the comfort and luxury of the Turkish Airlines’ Business Class, said a media release. From a global total of 109, those that win will go through to the Grand Finals and have the chance to stay and play at Gloria Serenity Resort & Gloria Golf Club on the Turkish Golf Coast. Representing Dhaka, Selim Abed secured their champion position with 43 points, and Mohd Sajidul Islam was runner-up, while Lt Col Md Anwar Hossain came third. The closest to the Pin competition was won by Col Liaquat Ali Khan for the men and Kusum Farid for the women. Sherin Sultana won the lowest gross score with a score of 75. Since its inception in 2013, the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup now brings together over 8,000 players who compete against one another in more than 100 tournaments in 67 countries worldwide.