United News of Bangladesh

Victoria Sporting Club will face Purbahal Parishad in the opening match of the six-team Cute Metropolis First Division Handball League Sunday at the Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in the capital. The match will kick off at 3:45pm. In the day's other matches, Old Ideals will play Satirtho Club and Star Sports will face Mansoor Sporting Club at the same venue.  State Minister for Youth and Sports M Zahid Ahsan Russell MP will inaugurate the league, organised by the Bangladesh Handball Federation (BHF) and sponsored by Mousumi Industries (Cute), in the afternoon. Also Read: Cute First Division Handball League begins Sunday BHF President AKM Nurul Fazal Bulbul and Mousumi Industries (Cute) Chairman Kazi Rajibuddin Ahmed Chapal will also be present.  The six participating teams of the league are Old Ideals, Victoria Sporting Club, Star Sports, Monsur Sporting Club, Purbachal Parishad and Satirtho Club.  

Sports Bangla emerged as champions of the Marcel 2nd Division Chess League with one match to spare, securing 16 points after the eighth-round matches held at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall room and NSC conference room Thursday. In today's match, Sports Bangla defeated Nurul Islam Smriti Pathagar by 3.5-1.5 game points. Agrani Bank Chess remained in the second slot with 13 points and Deepali Memorial Club (1) in the third position with 12 points. The teams, who shared the fourth position with 11 points are BD Chess in School, Aimers, Ipsa Chess BD, Debonair Chess Club, Bangladesh Police Prime Chess Club, Nurul Islami Smriti Pathagar and Elegant International Chess Academy. In today's other matches, Agrani Bank beat Bangladesh Police by 4-0 game points, Dipali Memorial beat Morning Glory Chess Club by 3-1 game points, Ipsha Chess beat Asad Chess Club by 2.5 -1.5 game points, and BD Chess in School beat Dabaru Spandan Chess Club by 4-0 game points. Also, Aimers beat Cumilla Victorians Chess by 4-0 game points, Debonair Chess Club beat Bangladesh Police Crown Chess Club by 3-1 game points, Elegant International Chess Academy beat Legend Faraaz Chess Team by 3-1 game points, Master Mind Chess Club beat Daffodil International University by 4-0 game points, Bangladesh Chess Arena beat Mohammadpur Chess Club (Red) by 1-3 game points, and Spandan Dhaka defeated Hatirjheel Chess Forum by 3-0 game points. Read more: 2nd Div Chess: Sports Bangla takes solo lead securing 10 points Dipali Memorial Club (2) drew with Shoukat Osman Smriti Daba Parisod by 2-2 game points. The ninth and last round matches will be held on Friday from 4pm at the same venues.  

The publication ceremony of the sportsbook "Ground-Gallery-Stadium" written by veteran sports journalist Mohammad Quamruzzaman was held at the Abdus Salam Hall of the Jatiya Press Club Thursday. Bangla daily Editor Prothom Alo Matiur Rahman unveiled the cover of the book. Former cricketer and chief selector of the national cricket team Lutfar Rahman Makhan presided over the publication ceremony. Quamruzzaman, former sports editor of Dainik Bangla, captain of the Swadhin Bangla football team (SBFT) Zakaria Pintu, SBFT vice-captain Pratap Sankar Hazra, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Olympic Association and hockey player Bashir Ahmed, former vice-chairman of the National Sports Council Colonel M Obaidullah Khan (retired), former national footballer Abdus Salam, Channel 24 Sports Editor Dilu Khandaker, and Krira Jagot Editor Mahmud Hossain Khan Dulal were also present.

The six-team Cute Metropolis First Division Handball League, organised by the Bangladesh Handball Federation, will begin Sunday at the Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in the capital. State Minister for Youth and Sports M Zahid Ahsan Russell MP will inaugurate the league at 3:30pm. Chairman of the League's sponsor Mousumi Industries (Cute) Kazi Rajibuddin Ahmed Chapal will also be present. Read more: National Men's Handball: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) emerge champions BHF General Secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor disclosed the details of the league at a press conference at the conference room of the Handball Stadium Thursday. League committee chairman M Mojibul Haque and league committee secretary SM Khalequzzman Swapan also spoke.  The six participating teams of the league are Old Ideals, Victoria Sporting Club, Star Sports, Monsur Sporting Club, Purbachal Parishad and Satirtho Club.

The head of France's professional handball league has been taken in for police questioning in a child sexual assault and pornography probe, French prosecutors said Wednesday, the latest sports scandal in the country ahead of next year's Paris Olympics. The Paris prosecutor's office said Bruno Martini was taken into custody Monday morning on suspicion of attempted sexual assault on a 15-year-old, of corrupting a minor and recording pornographic images of children. The president of the National Handball League was then released Tuesday night ahead of an expected plea deal on the child corruption and pornography charges, the prosecutor's office said. Before moving into handball management, Martini was a star player, keeping goal in 202 appearances for the French national team. He's the latest leader of an Olympic sport in France under police investigation in the countdown to the 2024 Games, which open in Paris in just under 550 days. French soccer federation president Noël Le Graët is under investigation for sexual harassment and “moral harassment." French rugby federation president Bernard Laporte is appealing a two-year suspended sentence that a Paris court handed down last month. He was found guilty of passive corruption, influence peddling, illegal interest-taking and misuse of corporate assets. Read more: Olympics Football: Bangladesh Women's team put in Group B The head of the Paris Games organizing committee, Tony Estanguet, expressed hope Wednesday that the various cases will progress quickly “so we can turn the page.” “French sports need stability,” he said. “We hope things quickly return to normal.” The National Handball League’s executive committee held an emergency meeting Wednesday to consider Martini’s position and said it was expecting his resignation as president, calling it “probable and desirable." Handball is a popular sport in France. The country's men and women are the reigning Olympic champions. News of the probe involving Martini, a two-time Olympian and two-time world champion with the national team, came as France's men were preparing to play Germany on Wednesday for a semifinal spot at the world championships.

A five-member chess team will represent Bangladesh in the 1st FIDE Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Serbia's Belgrade from January 29 to February 5. The Bangladesh team consists of Md Khorshed Alam, Syed Ejaz Husain, Bappy Sarkar and Md Ali Newaz Sarker and non-playing captain plus coach Masudur Rahman Mallick. They will leave Dhaka for Belgrade Saturday morning. The details of the competition were disclosed by Bangladesh Chess Federation Vice-President KM Shahidullah at a press conference in the federation hall room Wednesday. Also Read: Bangladesh team shines at 15th International Earth Science Olympiad 2022 Bangladesh Chess Federation General Secretary Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, FIDE instructor plus Joint Secretary of Chess Federation Masudur Rahman Mallick and International Arbiter Md Haroon Or Rashid also spoke. Twenty-six teams from 24 countries are expected to participate in the FIDE Olympiad, including two teams from Serbia. The remaining 24 teams were selected based on player ratings when countries applied to participate in the competition. The FIDE Olympiad will be played in a six-round Swiss League basis format. Four players from each team will take part in four boards in each match. Bangladesh team Md Khorshed Alam (rating 2026), Syed Ejaz Husain (rating 1952), Bappy Sarkar (rating 1778), Md Ali Newaz Sarker (rating 1809)    

Chittagong University clinched the five-team Inter University Hockey Tournament title beating Cumilla University by 2-0 goal in the final at the Dhaka University Central playground here on Wednesday. Hosts Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) finished 3rd jointly. Read more: Five-team Inter-University Hockey begins Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Dhaka University Prof. Dr Mohammad Samad was present at the day's closing function as the chief guest and later he distributed the prizes. Five University teams—Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Chittagong University, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and Cumilla University—took part in the four-day meet that began last Sunday (January 22).

Sports Bangla took solo lead in the Marcel 2nd Division Chess League securing 10 points after the 5th round matches held at Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room here on Monday.  Agrani Bank Limited Chess Team is in the 2nd position with 9 points in the meet, sponsored by Walton Hi-Tech Industries and organized by Bangladesh Chess Federation.  Five teams sharing the 3rd slot with 8 points each. They are: Master Mind Chess Club, Morning Glory Chess Club-Kushtia, Dipali Memorial Club-1, Nurul Islam Smirity Pathagar and Hatirjheel Chess Forum.  Read more: Sheikh Russel Youth Rapid Chess begins Friday In the day's 5th round games, Sports Bangla beat Morning Glory Chess Club (Kushtia) by 3.5-0.5 points, Agrani Bank Limited Chess drew with Dipali Memorial Club-1 by 2-2 points, Master Mind Chess Club beat BD Chess in School by 2.5-1.5 points, Hatirjheel Chess Foroum beat Bangladesh Chess Arena by 2.5 -1.5 points, Nurul Islam Smirity Patahgar beat Daffodil International University beat by 3.5 1.5 points, Ipsha Chess.Bd beat Mohammadpur Chess Club (Red) by 3.5-05 points,  Imers beat Debonair Chess Club by 3-1 points, Bangladesh Police Prime Chess Club beat Spandan Dhaka by 3-1 points, Legend Faraaz Chess Team beat Kothashilpi Shoukat Osman Smirity Daba Porishod by 3-1 points, Elegant International Chess Academy beat Bangladesh Police Gold Chess Club by 2.5 -1.5  points,  Asad Chess Club beat Sheikh Russel Chess Club by 3-1 points, Cumilla Victorians Chess Team by 3-1 points, Dabaru Spondon Chess Club drew with Dhaka University Chess Club (Blue) by 2-2 points, Afroze Chess World beat Flame Boys Chess Club by 4-0 game points, Les Chevalers De Notre Dame by 3-1 points, Agnibina Sporting Club-1 beat Bangladesh Shishu Academy by 3-1 points, Spandan Manikgong beat A.B Chess Club by 3-1 points, Dipali Memorial Club-2 beat South Point Navy Blue by 3-1 points, BUET Chess Team beat GN. Agro & Dairy by 4-0 points, Sheikh Russel Chess Academy (Sky) beat Sheikh Russel Chess Academy (Red) by 3-1 points, Ganibina Sporting Club-2 drew with South Points Blue by 2-2 points, Sheikh Russel Chess Academy (Yellow) drew with Bangladesh Police Star Chess Club by 2-2 points, GCC Chess Club beat Agami Chess Guild Switch Club by 3-1 points, Agami Chess Guild Sohag Team beat Sheikh Russel Chess Academy (Queen) by 3.5-0.5 points and South Points Sky Blue drew with South Points White by 2-2 points.  The 6th round matches will start on Tuesday from 3-00 pm at the same venues.

Hosts Chattogram District emerged Chattogram Divisional champions in the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games' 2023 that concluded on Sunday (January 22) at the MA Aziz Stadium in the port city here. Chattogram District  secured 18 gold medals to be the champion while Cumilla District finished runners-up bagging 16 gold medals. In the meet's Badminton competition, Sifatullah Galib and Aynal Tajrian of Chattogram District earned triple crown by winning singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles.  Secretary General of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) Syed Shaheed Reza was the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the week-long meet on Sunday and distributed the prizes. President of Bangladesh District and Divisional Sports Organizers Parishad and former Chittagong City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasiruddin was also present as the guest honor at the function, chaired by Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) of Chattogram Dr. Prakash Kanti Chowdhury. CMP Police Commissioner Krishna Pada Roy, among others was also present on the occasion. Earlier on last Monday, hosts Chattogram District team also emerged champions in Handball competition beating Bandarban District by 27-22 goals in the final, also at the MA Aziz Stadium.      Some 700 (Under-17) promising athletes, who are qualified from upazila levels of eleven districts of Chattogram Division, took part in the week-long meet that began on January 16. The final phase of the meet will be held in Dhaka from February 26 to March 4. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the final phase of the meet on February 26 at the Army Stadium in Banani. Dhaka.  

The five-team Inter University Hockey Tournament began on Sunday (January 22) at the Dhaka University Central playground in the capital. Dhaka Univeristy Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Mohammad Akteruzzaman inaugurated the four-day meet on Sunday as the chief guest. Five University teams—Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Chittagong University, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and Cumilla University—are taking part in the meet.        The opening match of the tournament between Buet and Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) ended in draw.