United News of Bangladesh

In a historic first, four national women athletes from Bangladesh will accompany Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on his upcoming four-day state visit to Qatar, scheduled to begin on Monday. The delegation includes footballers Afida Khandakar and Shaheda Akhter Ripa, and cricketers Sumaiya Akhter and Sharmin Sultana, the press wing of the Chief Adviser confirmed on Thursday. Women's World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh’s World Cup berth delayed conceding first defeat in 4th match losing to West Indies by three wickets This is the first time a group of female athletes will travel as part of an official state delegation with a head of government of Bangladesh.  The Qatar Foundation extended the invitation to the athletes through the Office of the Chief Adviser. On Thursday evening, the four athletes met with Professor Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna, where they discussed their goals for the visit and expressed their excitement. “We are thrilled to be part of this visit. It’s not just a personal honour but also a proud moment for our teammates and the sports community in Bangladesh,” the footballers were quoted as saying in a press release of the press wing.  They added that they hoped to invite the Qatari women’s football team for a friendly match and were eager to explore Qatar’s sports facilities and professional training methods. The cricketers said their desire to spark interest in cricket in Qatar, where the sport is not yet widely followed. “We’ve prepared a presentation to introduce both our men’s and women’s cricket journeys,” they said.  During the meeting, the athletes also shared their personal struggles and thanked the Chief Adviser for giving them the opportunity to represent the country abroad. Professor Yunus praised the athletes for their resilience and passion. “You are Bangladesh’s sports ambassadors. Share your real stories. Represent our country’s spirit and progress through sports,” he said. He assured full support from his office to ensure the success of their trip. The chief adviser is expected to attend the Earthna Summit and hold several high-level meetings during his visit from April 21 to 24, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature baseball at Dodger Stadium in its return to the program with surfing and cricket held outside the city as part of an updated venue plan released Tuesday by the organizing committee. Surfing will be at Trestles Beach, a renowned collection of surfing spots between northern San Diego County and southern San Clemente in Orange County, about an hour’s drive south of downtown Los Angeles. It formerly hosted a World Surfing League competition and attracts about 2.5 million visitors every year. “We’ve promised the world an incredible Olympic Games and today we’re proud to share the plan that will make it happen,” LA28 chief executive officer Reynold Hoover said in a statement. Cricket will return to the Olympics for the first time in a century in a temporary structure at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, about 35 miles from LA. Host committee chairman Casey Wasserman had initially said it was likely to be played on the East Coast, which would have better aligned with the time zone in India, home of the sport's biggest fan base. Squash will make its Olympic debut on the Universal Studios lot, famous as the setting for movies and television shows. Beach volleyball is going to Long Beach after negotiations fell through with the city of Santa Monica. Triathlon is moving from Long Beach to famed Venice Beach on the west side of LA. Joining the sports in Long Beach are target shooting at a temporary indoor range at the city's convention center. Sport climbing will take place outside in the parking lot. Already planned for Long Beach is the new event of coastal rowing as well as marathon swimming. IOC board approves boxing for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Venice Beach will also be the starting location for the marathon and cycling road courses. The course layouts and finishing sites for both events will be announced later. Boxing returns to the Olympic program with preliminary matches at the Peacock Theater across from Crypto.com Arena, which will host the final stages in downtown LA. Weightlifting also will be at Peacock, while artistic gymnastics and trampoline will be in Crypto.com Arena. Volleyball will be at Honda Center in Anaheim, about 27 miles from downtown Los Angeles. The city of Carson will host archery at Dignity Health Sports Park after the Rugby Sevens tournament. Shotgun shooting will be in South El Monte, about 14 miles from downtown LA. Equestrian is set for Santa Anita racetrack in suburban Arcadia, which hosted the sport during the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Rhythmic gymnastics will be at Galen Center on the University of Southern California campus, along with badminton. The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area in the San Fernando Valley north of downtown LA will host 3x3 basketball, as well as modern pentathlon, BMX freestyle, BMX racing, skateboarding and skateboarding street.  Esports Olympics to debut in Saudi Arabia later than expected in 2027 The updated plan was announced after being approved last week by the International Olympic Committee's executive board. Still to come is an updated Paralympic venue plan.

Four times champions  Bangladesh Men's Hockey team will fly for Indonesia Tuesday (April 15)  early hour at 2:30 am by a Thai flight in a hope to repeat their feat in the AHF Cup Hockey Tournament '2025 billed for Indonesia capital Jakarta from April 17 to 27. Earlier on last Sunday, Bangladesh Hockey Federation ( BHF) announced a 26- member Bangladesh national team, consists of 18 players and eight officials. BKSP emerge unbeaten champions outplaying Kishoreganj in hockey Celebrated forward Rasel Mahmud Jimmy dropped from team earlier due to age limit  while Mehrab Hossain Samin, who guided the Bangladesh U-21 team to the  Youth World Cup Hockey, also excluded from the squad. Senior player Pushkar Kisha Mimo named as the new captain of the Bangladesh National Hockey team for the AHF Cup Hockey,  a  qualifying tournament for the Men's Asia Cup Hockey. Holders Bangladesh will compete in the 10-nation AHF Cup Hockey alongwith Oman, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Singapore and Kazakhstan to repeat their feat  Top two teams of the AHF Cup Hockey will qualify for the eight-team Men's Asia Cup Hockey to be held in the Indian city of Rajgir, Bihar from Aug 27 to Sept 7. Six teams--Defending champions South Korea, hosts India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and China--will directly play in the final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey. Players of the Bangladesh national team are: Pushkar Kisha Mimo (Captain), Fazle Hossain Rabbi (Vice Captan), Huzaifa Hossain, Rezaul Karim Babu, Sohanur Rahman Sabuj, Farhad Ahmed Shetul, Ashraful Islam, Amirul Islam, Abed Uddin, Nayemuddin, Al Nahian Shuvo, Roman Sarkar, Arshad Hossain, Obaidul Hossain Joy, Rakibul Hasan, Mahbub Hossain, Biplob Kuzur and Abu Sayed Nikson. Women's Hockey: BKSP to face Kishoreganj DSA in final Saturday Eight officials are: Syed Bayazid Haider ( Manager), Kazi Abu Zafar Tapan (Assistant Manager), Mamumur Rashid (Head  Coach), Moshiur Rahman Biplob ( Assistant Coach), Alamgir Islam ( Trainer), Saifuddin Ahmed ( Physio),Taposh Barman (Video Analyst ) and Ismail Hossain Liton (Umpire).  

Former France international Wissam Ben Yedder is trying to revive his career in Iran after almost a year on the sidelines and a suspended prison sentence for sexually assaulting a woman. Ben Yedder, who was out of contract, signed a deal with five-time Iranian champion Sepahan FC, the club said in a statement. Terms of their agreement were not disclosed. The Isfahan-based club said that Ben Yedder, a diminutive forward with excellent finishing skills, underwent medical tests and is now waiting for his international transfer certificate before he can resume his professional career. Ben Yedder has been embroiled in court cases recently. He was condemned last year after being accused of sexual assault while intoxicated. The court in the southern city of Nice also imposed on Ben Yedder a duty to follow treatment. The 34-year-old player, a prolific striker who played 19 matches and scored three goals for France, was briefly detained then released after the incident in his car on the French Riviera. Ben Yedder, who underwent alcohol detox and therapy, has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired in 2024. Experts involved in Maradona’s autopsy testify that he had an abnormally large heart He scored 16 goals with three assists in the French league last season to help Monaco finish second behind Paris Saint-Germain. In five seasons with Monaco, he scored 118 times in 201 appearances in all competitions to become the club’s second-highest scorer behind retired Argentine striker Delio Onnis (223). Ben Yedder's last cap for the national team came in June 2022. In a separate legal case still being pursued, Ben Yedder was handed preliminary charges of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault over another alleged incident in the south of France. Ben Yedder, who also played for Toulouse in France and Spanish club Sevilla from 2016-19, was also sentenced in Spain in 2023, being handed a suspended prison sentence of six months for tax fraud.

Liverpool expects to set an attendance record for a Merseyside derby at Anfield for Wednesday's Premier League match against Everton. The record crowd for a match between the rivals at the famous stadium was 56,060 for a 0-0 draw in 1963. Wednesday will be the first time the teams have faced each other at Anfield since expansion work was completed at the stadium last year, with attendances now rising above 60,000. The renovated stadium's official capacity is 61,276, which is below its all-time record attendance of 61,905 set in 1952 for an FA Cup match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Liverpool manager Arne Slot predicts the home crowd will be an advantage to his players after February's 2-2 draw with Everton in a bad tempered match when Slot was one of four people sent off. Delhi Capitals climb to 2nd after comfortable victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL Slot said Tuesday he expected another difficult game. “I expect the same,” he said. “But with one difference: that every time the Everton players do something well, they don’t get the cheers and the reactions from 50,000 people. ... Our players will get that reaction after every tackle they make, after every pass they do and that is a different emotion.” Liverpool is on course to win a record-equaling 20th English league title this season. It leads the standings by 12 points over second-placed Arsenal. If it lifts the title, it would equal with Manchester United's record.

Novak Djokovic had some company for another Miami Open victory. With Lionel Messi watching, Djokovic cruised into the Miami Open final by routing 14th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium. The fourth-seeded Djokovic will try for a seventh Miami Open title on Sunday against unseeded 19-year-old upstart Jakub Mensik, who won a thriller decided by a third-set tiebreaker over No. 3 seed Taylor Fritz in Friday's other semifinal, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4). The 37-year-old Djokovic, who won six times at the tournament’s previous venue at Key Biscayne, also is going for his 100th professional title. He has been out of form this year, starting with an injury retirement at the Australian Open in January. Earlier this month, he lost his first match at Indian Wells to Botic van de Zandschulp. In his on-court interview, Djokovic acknowledged the presence of Messi, who plays for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, calling him “King Leo." Djokovic said Messi visited the locker room with his wife and children and they “exchanged gifts." Djokovic has seen Messi play live before but this was the first time the soccer great watched him. “Obviously, it’s a thrill to have his whole family,’’ Djokovic said. “It’s a huge honor. He’s such a great athlete, not just a football player. His impact on the world of sports in the last 20 years has been immense. “To have him watch me live brings me great joy and excitement and also a little pressure. It’s definitely different when he brings his family. I was touched by that." The match was disrupted during the third game when a fan was removed by security. The chair umpire came down to the court and called for security as he walked toward the stands. Dimitrov had jawed with the fan and came over to the sideline to point out the heckler to the umpire. “It’s just heckling, it’s fine,’’ Dimitrov said. “I’m a very calm guy overall. I don’t pick any fights but don’t trigger me.’’ Dimitrov eliminated Francisco Cerundulo in the quarters. He stayed on the court for 25 minutes after the victory, sitting in a wheelchair because of dizziness. He was helped off by tournament medical personnel and canceled his post-match news conference. Dimitrov said he was given lots of water and ice but added “I don’t have a recollection of exactly what happened. We’re putting our bodies through so much. It’s one of those matches where you have to carry me out of the court somehow.’’ Djokovic was broken by Dimitrov in the first game, but he quickly settled down and closed out the first set in 32 minutes. The men’s leader with 24 Grand Slam titles made 87% of his first serves, missing just six all match on a breezy day. He also committed only five unforced errors in the 70-minute match. “Now I know how it feels to be (John) Isner and (Reilly) Opelka,’’ Djokovic said of two serving behemoths. “Maybe my serve has been a bit underrated." The Serbian improved to 13-1 against Dimitrov in his career. The Bulgarian pulled out the ultimate superlative. “He wears confidence like a stain on your shirt,’’ Dimitrov said. “It’s beautiful to see. Only a few athletes on Earth possess that quality.’’ Mensik hasn’t been to an ATP 1,000-point final and came in to the Miami Open ranked 54th. He showed nerves of steel against Fritz at 4-4 in the deciding tiebreaker, winning the last three points. Mensik, who didn’t post a service break all match, blasted a backhand winner down the line for 5-4. Fritz hit a forehand long off a 20-shot rally and punched a forehand in the net on double match point to end the two hour and 25-minute nightcard. Mensik shook hands with Messi before the match. “I didn’t wash my hands before I stepped on the court," Mensik said. Mensik credits Djokovic as the reason he picked up tennis. He lost to Djokovic in Shanghai Masters in a three-setter last October. Djokovic will have 18 years on his opponent. “It feels incredible, unbelievable (to play him),’’ Mensik said. “It was a dream to play against him in Shanghai. I’m a better player now than I was in Shanghai.’’

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Tamim Iqbal returned home from hospital on Friday, four days after suffering a heart attack during a domestic cricket match and undergoing emergency medical treatment. Dr Shahabuddin Talukder, who oversaw Tamim’s treatment at a hospital in Dhaka, confirmed that Tamim was discharged. “He will have to maintain a rehabilitation programme,” Dr. Shahabuddin said in a press briefing on Friday. Tamim had fallen ill on March 24 while leading Mohammedan Sporting Club in a Dhaka Premier League match at the BKSP grounds in Savar. After initially experiencing chest pain — which he believed to be gastric discomfort — he was rushed to a nearby hospital. There, doctors detected a blockage in one of his arteries and performed a stenting procedure to restore blood flow. His condition was initially critical, but he improved steadily over the next few days. Before being shifted to the capital, Tamim was able to walk and speak with family members. Hamza leaves to rejoin his EPL club  Tamim, who announced his retirement from international cricket earlier this year, shared a heartfelt message with fans earlier this week, thanking them for their prayers and support. “I offer my heartfelt gratitude and love to all of you. Please keep me and my family in your prayers,” he wrote. Tamim is Bangladesh’s highest run-scorer in international cricket, with over 15,000 runs across all formats.

Former national cricketer and match referee Salim Shaheed has been elected as the convener of the 13-member ad-hoc committee of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) on Sunday (March 23). He replaced former national captain, BCB director and parliament member Naimur Rahman Durjoy, who resigned from BCB and went underground after the collapse of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League Government. Women's Hockey: BKSP to face Kishoreganj DSA in final Saturday CWAB, which became inactive since long in absence of its president Durjoy, today (Sunday) in a meeting at the Sher-s-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, suspended the Durjoy-led previous committee and formed a 13-member fresh ad-hoc committee with the celebrated cricketers. New convener Salim Shaheed was a top order batsman cum off spinner of the 90’s, a key player Dhaka Mohammedan SC in the Dhaka league and played for Bangladesh in the ICC Trophy in Kenya in 1994. Wadifa Ahmed becomes International Master after winning Asian Zonal Chess Championship The long serving secretary of CWAB Debabroto Paul, two former national captains Minhajul Abedin Nannu and Habibul Bashar Sumon, alongside former national cricketer Niamul Rashid Rahul were included in the convening committee. Apart from above five cricketers, eight representatives of the country’s eight divisions, ARE also included in the 13-member convening committee.

Bangladesh Krira Shikka Protishtan (BKSP) will face Kishoreganj DSA in the final of the Brac Bank Women's Development Cup Hockey tournament on Saturday. The title-deciding match between the National Sports Training Institute team BKSP and Kishoreganj DSA will kick off at 2 pm on Saturday at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium in Dhaka. Kishoreganj DSA crushes Cumilla DSA 18-0 in Women's Hockey Development Cup Earlier, BKSP confidently reached the final, crushing Rajshahi DSA 12-0, while Kishoreganj DSA secured their place in the final by defeating Jashore DSA 2-1 in the semifinals. The third-place deciding match between the two losing semifinalists, Rajshahi and Jashore DSAs, will kick off at 9:30 am on Saturday at the same venue.

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.