United News of Bangladesh

Bangladeshi FIDE Master Wadifa Ahmed has achieved the International Master (IM) title after emerging as the champion in the Asian Zonal Chess Championship, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday. With this achievement, Wadifa not only clinched the zonal chess title but also secured the International Master title, as per tournament regulations. Besides, she earned the right to compete in the next Women's World Cup Chess set to begin on July 5 in Georgia. Needing only a draw in the final round to qualify for the Women's World Cup Chess, Wadifa faced Bangladesh IM Rani Hamid and secured a draw, successfully reaching her target. As per tournament bylaws, the champion of the Asian Zonal Chess Championship is directly awarded the International Master title without needing to meet additional norms. Nine-year old prodigy from Bangladesh beats World Number 1 Carlsen in ‘bullet chess’ Wadifa becomes the fourth Women's International Master from Bangladesh, following in the footsteps of Rani Hamid, Shamima Sultana, and Shirin Sultana.

Kishoreganj DSA earned a massive 18-0 goal victory over Cumilla DSA in the 11-team BRAC Bank Women's Development Cup Hockey Tournament at Maulana Bhashani National Stadium here on Tuesday. This decisive win marked Kishoreganj DSA’s second triumph in four matches, propelling them into the 4th position in the league standings with six points. Meanwhile, BKSP remains at the top, dominating the table with a perfect 12 points from four consecutive victories. In the day's another match, Thakurgaon DSA upset Jhenaidah DSA outplaying them by 6-2 goals at the same venue on Tuesday. BKSP Crush Thakurgaon DSA 16-1 in Women’s Development Cup Hockey In the day's 3rd match, Jashore DSA beat Rajshahi DSA by 2-1 goal at the BAF ground here . The day's other match between Chattogram DSA and Patuakhali DSA ended in 1-1 draw also at the BAF ground here on Tuesday. Three more matches will be held on Wednesday.

Boxing is set to remain on the program for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles following years of governance disputes within the sport. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach announced Monday that the executive board had approved boxing’s inclusion in the 2028 Games. The decision still requires formal approval from the full IOC Session, which consists of about 100 members, but this is expected to be a formality later this week. The IOC has been directly overseeing Olympic boxing since 2019, following a breakdown in relations with the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA). It managed the boxing events at both the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympics but insisted a new governing body be in place before 2028. Last month, the IOC formally recognized World Boxing, a breakaway federation established in 2023. “I am very confident that the session will approve it so that all the boxers of the world then have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games L.A. 2028 if their national federation is recognized by World Boxing,” Bach said. 19-year-old Utshob taking Bangladesh to the global boxing ring IBA’s Ongoing Feud with the IOCThe IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 due to concerns over its governance, finances, and the integrity of bout judging. In 2023, the committee went further, officially expelling the IBA from the Olympic movement. Despite its removal, the IBA, led by Russian president Umar Kremlev, has continued to challenge the IOC, particularly over rules on female eligibility for the Paris Olympics. Last month, the IBA announced plans to file criminal complaints against the IOC in the United States, France, and Switzerland. World Boxing is now expected to review and update rules on female eligibility before Olympic qualifying events begin, likely next year. “This is a very significant and important decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic program,” World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst said in a statement Monday. “I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance of boxing remaining a part of the Olympic movement.” World Boxing Gains InfluenceAmerican and British boxing officials were among the founders of World Boxing in 2023. The organization has since gained support from key Olympic nations, including India and, most recently, China. The new body now boasts more than 80 national federations as members. However, Russia, Spain, and several African nations have yet to join. The IOC indicated Monday that national boxing bodies still have time to switch allegiance to World Boxing before Olympic qualification begins. Bangladeshi Jinnat wins gold medal in Nelson Mandela Cup International Boxing Russia’s Ongoing IOC SuspensionLike boxing’s IBA, the Russian Olympic Committee remains exiled from the IOC. Russia was suspended in October 2023 after attempting to take control of regional sports councils in eastern Ukraine, a move the IOC deemed a violation of Olympic regulations. “The ball is in the court of the Russian Olympic Committee,” Bach said Monday. However, he noted that working-level contacts between the IOC and Russian officials have continued. The Russian Olympic body has also been cut off from its share of Olympic revenue for nearly 18 months. “They have to follow the rules,” Bach said. “Everybody in the Olympic Movement who is following the rules of the Olympic Charter is welcome, and everybody who is not following the Olympic Charter is not welcome.” Despite its suspension, some Russian athletes were permitted to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics as vetted neutrals in individual sports. A similar system is likely to be used for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games. Source: With input from agency 

Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) continued their dominant run in the BRAC Bank Women’s Development Cup Hockey 2025, securing a massive 16-1 victory over Thakurgaon DSA at the BAF Hockey Ground on Monday. The national sports training institute team BKSP registered 18-0 goal victory over Rangpur DSA in the previous match.  Women's Hockey: BKSP secure a dominant 18-0 victory over Rangpur DSA In the day’s another match, Dinajpur DSA beat Chattogram DSA by 2-0 goal at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium here. The day’s other two matches between Patuakhali DSA and Rajshahi DSA at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium, and Rangpur DSA and Cumilla DSA at the BAF Hockey ground ended in goalless. Four more matches will be held on Tuesday (Mar 18) at two venues.

Dhaka, Mar 15 (UNB)- Bangladesh secured the gold medal in the floorball event at the Special Olympics, defeating Ukraine 4-2 in the final held in Italy's Turin on Saturday. Shorna, Fatema, Fabia, and Tamallin each scored a goal in the final to lead the Red and Green Bangladesh to victory. In the semifinals on Friday, Bangladesh advanced to the final by eliminating Trinidad and Tobago, while Ukraine reached the final by defeating India.      

Bangladesh Krira Shikka Protisthan (BKSP) earned a commanding 18-0 goals victory over Rangpur DSA in the 11-team BRAC Bank Women's Development Cup Hockey Tournament at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon. Orpita Paul and Kona Akhter both netted four goals each, completing hat-tricks, while Nadira Talukder Ima and Irin Akter Riya scored two goals apiece for the BKSP team. BKSP clinch top slot in Int'l Women’s Day Archery In other matches on the same day, Dinajpur, Jashore, and Kishoreganj DSAs all secured victories. Dinajpur defeated Patuakhali by 2-0 goals, Jashore outplayed Chattogram by 6-0 goals while Kishoreganj beat Thakurgaon by 5-1 goals. The tournament will have a rest day on Sunday, March 16. Kabaddi Series: Hosts Bangladesh wins five-match test series outplaying Nepal by 53-29 points in 4th match

Russian teen star Mirra Andreeva advanced to the BNP Paribas Open final, beating defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-3 in chilly conditions Friday night to become the tournament's youngest finalist since 2001. The 17-year-old Andreeva, seeded ninth, will face top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Sabalenka routed fifth-seeded Madison Keys 6-0, 6-1 in the second semifinal. Andreeva and Swiatek both finished the match wearing pullovers, with the temperature dipping into the 50s in the final set. It was in the mid-50s when Sabalenka finished off Keys. Andreeva ran her tour winning streak to 11 matches and ended Swiatek's 10-match run in the California desert The Russian won her first WTA Tour title last month in Dubai to become the youngest player to win a WTA 1000 event. Kim Clijsters also was 17 in 2001 when she lost to Serena Williams in the final. Swiatek, also the 2002 Indian Wells champion, was seeded second. Sabalenka ended Keys’ 16-match winning streak and got some revenge for her loss to the American in the Australian Open cfinal. Keys beat Sabalenka in three sets in January at Melbourne Park, denying Sabalenka a third consecutive title. On Saturday in the men’s semifinals, two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz — the No. 2 seed — will face 13th-seeded Jack Draper, and fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev will play No. 12 Holger Rune.  

Bangladesh has been elected vice president of South Asian Para Sports Federation. The election was held recently at Taj Palace Hotel in India’s New Delhi. Asian Women's Kabaddi: Bangladesh team due to fly for Iran tonight India was elected president, while Maldives secured the position of secretary general; Pakistan followed the position of Bangladesh, with Nepal and Bhutan becoming treasure and director-at large respectively. The newly elected committee will perform duty for next three years. Majid Rashid, president of Asian Paralympic Committee, conducted the election.

The metrics — and oddsmakers — indicated Gonzaga was far better than its record, and there was little doubt the Bulldogs had the ability to once again compete at a high level. Maybe it was simply a matter of timing. Braden Huff scored 18 points in just his second start of the season as Gonzaga avenged two regular-season losses to Saint Mary's, beating the 19th-ranked Gaels 58-51 in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs (25-8) secured the WCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, though both teams were safely in the field regardless of the outcome. “We've had an inordinate amount of one-possession games,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “I think that's why we're such an interesting seed going into this NCAA Tournament. I think we were 350th in luck in Kenpom. We've had more banked 3s on us than I could ever, ever remember in my entire career. "Whether it's law of averages coming through or just a little resiliency ... or maybe it's just desperation by some seniors who don't want this thing to end.” The Bulldogs also got some measure of revenge for losing to the Gaels in last year's title game, which ended Gonzaga's run of four conference championships and 10 of 11. Gonzaga also extended its national record to 18 consecutive 25-win seasons. Saint Mary's (28-5) had its seven-game winning streak stopped. The Gaels also had won 17 of 18 games. “We've had a great year,” Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett said. “We did not play well tonight.” Khalif Battle scored 14 points for the Zags, Graham Ike added 11 and Ryan Nembhard had 10. Mitchell Saxen led Saint Mary's with 20 points but scored only six after halftime. Two-time WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis finished with 12 points. Saint Mary’s was attempting to become the first team since San Diego in 1996-97 to beat Gonzaga three times in a season. But Gonzaga entered the game with the higher Kenpom rating, ninth to 22nd for the Gaels, and was a 3 1/2-point favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook. “You've got to go through some hardships in order to win,” Battle said. “We've been practicing for this moment. I think we were prepared more than ever going into this tournament, so I'm happy we were able to hoist the trophy.” TakeawaysGonzaga: The Bulldogs committed just four turnovers while forcing 18 that included two shot-clock violations in the closing minutes. Saint Mary's: The Gaels are the first ranked team since No. 25 Texas A&M in 2011 to go at least 0 for 16 from 3-point range and commit 18 or more turnovers. Key momentMarciulionis' layup with 15:09 left brought Saint Mary's within a point, but the Gaels went the next 7:36 without a field goal as Gonzaga built a 48-42 lead. Key statsThe teams combined to shoot 1 of 31 on 3-pointers, the third-worst combined percentage in any game over the past 20 years. Saint Mary's went 0 for 16. Up nextBoth teams will find out their NCAA Tournament seeds and destinations on Sunday.

Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation (BKF) got Taka 25 lakhs from Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan for the development and higher training of the Bangladesh Kabaddi team. Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Rezaul Maksud Zahedi disclosed this at a reception accorded by the Ministry to the Bangladesh Women's Kabaddi team at the NSC conference room here on Tuesday. Bangladesh Women's Kabaddi team clinched the bronze medal in the Asian Women's Kabaddi Championship held in Iran recently. Asian Women's Kabaddi: Bangladesh team due to fly for Iran tonight Addressing the reception as the chief guest, the Sports Secretary said, "We are proud of our women's kabaddi team, the Youth and Sports Adviser is very much happy with the achievement of Bangladesh women's Kabaddi team in the Asian Championship and gave a grant of Tk 25 lakhs for the development and higher training of Kabaddi team." "Kabaddi has a bright future, the Youth and Sports Ministry is always with you, the allocation of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation will be increased in the next budget," he added. Secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC) Aminul Islam was present at the function as special guest. BKF general secretary SM Newaj Shohag was also present, among others, on the occasion.