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U-14 School Handball advances to semifinal stages on Sunday
The Tasmery Under-14 School Handball Tournament' 2024 ( Boys & Girls) advanced to semifinal stages at the Capt (Retd) M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium on Sunday.
Both the semifinals and the final will be held on Monday.
In the boys semifinals, Sunnydale School will play Saint Gregory's High School at 8: am while Narinda Govt. High School will meet Nijhor Cantonment Public School at 9:am on Monday.
In the girls semifinals, Viqarunnisa Noon School
College will face Shaheed Anwar College at 10 am while Sunnydale School will encounter Sher-e- Bangla Girls College at 11 am on Monday.
Finals of both the boys and girls competitions will be held Monday afternoon.
International Master and veteran chess player Rani Hamid will be the chief guest on Monday's finals and will distribute the prizes.
Proprietor of the meet's sponsor Tasmery and Company Salim Bin Baten will also present on the occasion as the special guest.
9 hours ago
National Swimming: Four new national records set on first day
The Max Group 33rd National Swimming, Diving and Waterpolo Championship organized by Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) began on Saturday (November 9) at the Syed Nazmul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur with four new records created on the day.
BSF Senior Vice President and Chairman of the Max Group Engineer Golam Mohammad Alamgir inaugurated the four-day meet on Saturday afternoon. sponsored by Max Group.
Bangladesh Navy swimmers --Shamiul Islam Rafi and Kajal Mia made records in the day's men's competitions while Romana Akter of Army and Joyti Akter of Navy made records in the day's women's events.
After the day's ten swimming events, Bangladesh Navy dominated pool securing seven gold, six silver and three bronze medals, Bangladesh Army followed Navy distantly with three gold, four silver and five bronzes while BKSP bagged two bronze medals
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 water polo event of the meet.
BSF president and Chief of Bangladesh Navy Admiral M Nazmul Hasan will be the chief guest at the closing and prize distribution ceremony on Tuesday (November 12).
The champions, runners-up teams, the best male and female athletes of the meet will be awarded with trophies.
1 day ago
Sinner, Alcaraz headline ATP Finals with Djokovic out
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are poised to add another entry into their rapidly developing rivalry when the ATP Finals open on Sunday without any of the Big Three for the first time in 23 years.
The top-ranked Sinner and No. 3 Alcaraz evenly split the year’s Grand Slam titles between them with two apiece and it would be fitting if the pair meet again in Turin.
Sinner and Alcaraz were placed in different groups in Thursday's draw.
The Ilie Nastase Group features Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.
The John Newcombe Group features Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev.
After the round-robin stage, the top two finishers in each group advance to the semifinals.
The big name missing is that of defending champion Novak Djokovic, who withdrew on Tuesday due to an unspecified injury.
Djokovic, Federer and Nadal absent
Not since 2001 has the finals been held without at least one of Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. This season also was the first since 2002 without at least one Grand Slam title for a member of that trio.
Djokovic has won the ATP Finals a record seven times. He beat Sinner in the final last year.
Federer, who retired in 2022, won the event six times after making his debut in 2002; Nadal, who is retiring after playing in the Davis Cup the week after finals, was the runner-up twice at the finals but never won it.
Sinner withdrew from last week’s Paris Masters due to a virus and showed up early in Turin for training.
“This is for me the main event of the end of the year,” Sinner said.
Decision on Sinner doping still pending
As an Italian, Sinner will be the main focus of attention in Turin.
It’s the first time Sinner is playing at home since it was announced before his U.S. Open title that he tested positive in two separate drug tests this year.
A decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in September and the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to make a final ruling on the case early next year.
Alcaraz is 3-0 vs Sinner this year
Sinner opened this year by winning the Australian Open to become the first Italian man to win a Grand Slam singles title in nearly a half-century — since Adriano Panatta raised the French Open trophy in 1976.
Alcaraz then claimed the French Open and Wimbledon titles to raise his career total to four Grand Slams.
Sinner responded by winning the U.S. Open.
Alcaraz won all three official meetings with Sinner this year and holds a 6-4 advantage in their career head-to-head rivalry. Last month, Sinner beat Alcaraz in the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia.
Zverev seeks third title
The only two players in the field to have won the finals are Zverev and Medvedev.
Zverev won in London in 2018 and in Turin in 2021; Medvedev triumphed in 2020, the final year the event was held in London.
Zverev enters in solid form coming off a title at the Paris Masters and leapfrogged Alcaraz into No. 2 in the rankings this week.
Fritz is looking to add another big result after his maiden Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open; Ruud was a finalist in 2022; De Minaur is making his tournament debut; and Rublev is making his fifth straight appearance.
Winner gets $4.8 million
If a player wins all five of his matches en route to the trophy, he will earn $4.8 million — the largest winner’s prize on the men’s tour.
That’s significantly more than what Sinner and Alcaraz earned for their victories at the U.S. Open ($3.6 million) and Wimbledon (2.7 million pounds or $3.45 million) this year.
3 days ago
Willes Little Flower off to good start in School Handball beating North Kafrul High by 5-3 goals
The Tasmery Under-14 Boys and Girls School Handball Tournament' 2024 began here on Tuesday at the Capt (Retd) M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium here.
Proprietor of the meet's sponsor Tasmery and Company Salim Bin Baten inaugurated the meet Tuesday morning.General Secretary of Bangladesh Handball Federation Asaduzzaman Kohinoor presided over the opening ceremony.
In the official opening match, Willes Little Flower School beat North Kafrul High School by 5-2 goals in a girls group match after leading the first half by 3-0 goals.
In the day's boys group matches, Nijhor Cantonment Public School beat Motijheel Ideal School by 5-2 goals, South Point School & College defeated Scholastica, Uttara by 9-6 goals, Model Academy beat Willes Little Flower School by 7-4 goals, Narinda Govt. High School outplayed Scholastica, Uttara by 18-6 goals while South Point School & College crushed Cambrian School & College by 11-0 goals.
In the girls section, Shaheed Anwar College beat Kadamtola East Bashabo High School by 8-3 goals, Heed International School defeated Uttar Kafrul High School by 6-2 goals while Sunnydale School outplayed Shaheed Anwar College by 13-3 goals.
5 days ago
Fed Cup Golf: Kurmitola Golf Club clinch title in team event
Kurmitola Golf Club clinched the 8th Federation Cup Golf Championship 2024 beating Bhatiary Golf and Country Club on the 2nd day of the two-day tournament that concluded at the Kurmitola Golf Course here on Thursday.
Commandant of National Defense College and Vice Senior Vice President of Bangladesh Golf Federation Lt. Gen. Mohammad Shahidul Haque was the chief guest at the day’s closing function and distributed the prizes.
Col. M. Humayan Rashed of Bhatiary Golf and Country Club emerged as the men’s individual champions while Major Mujib-ul Alam of Kurmitola Golf Club finished runner-up.
In the women’s section, Mrs Luna Sarker of Kurmitola Golf Club emerged individual champions while Mrs Kusum Farid of Army Golf Club became runner-up.
In the Junior (Boys) group, Master SM Samir Hossain of Kurmitola Golf Club emerged champions while Mastere Mohammad Abir Rahman finished runner-up.
3 weeks ago
22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will retire from tennis after next month's Davis Cup finals
Rafael Nadal announced Thursday he will retire from tennis at age 38 following next month's Davis Cup finals.
Nadal won 22 Grand Slam singles titles during an unprecedented era he shared with his rivals in the so-called Big Three, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
In an announcement on social media, the Spaniard indicated his decision was related to persistent injury problems.
Read: Spanish Tennis Maestro Rafael Nadal Wins Record 21 Grand Slam Titles
“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end,” Nadal said.
Nadal added he was “very excited” to finish his career at the Davis Cup, which will be played in Malaga, Spain.
Nadal has not played since the Paris Olympics, where he lost to old rival Djokovic in the second round of the singles tournament and reached the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.
Read more: Rafael Nadal returns to top of ATP rankings
1 month ago
Veteran sports journalist Aghore Mondal dies at 58
Veteran sports journalist Aghore Mondal, who had been suffering from kidney and heart-related diseases, dies on Wednesday at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College (BSMMC) in Dhaka. He was 58.
Along with existing conditions, he was diagnosed with dengue fever recently. After his health deteriorated further, he was undergoing treatment in the incentive care unit.
Aghore had been a journalist for more than three decades. In the 1990s, he worked at the Bengali daily newspaper Bhorer Kagoj, one of the most influential newspapers at the time.
During his long career, Aghore was considered one of the mainstays in the sports journalism industry of the country.
Apart from stints at several newspapers, Aghore also worked in the television media. He worked for Channel I, Deepto TV, and in his last job, he was a news editor at the ATN News.
The Bangladesh Sports Press Association and Bangladesh Sports Journalist Association, two groups of sports journalists, expressed their condolences on his passing. Other sports journalists have also mourned his death.
“I remember today, in some past life, during the farewell evening—I stood on this side, while you floated your boat to the other side,” Arifur Rahman Babu, another veteran sports journalist and a friend of Aghore, wrote this Kazi Nazrul Islam poem on his social media, expressing sorrow for the death of Aghore.
“My heart is filled with sorrow,” Arifur added. “Aghore Mondal has passed away to the land of no return.”
1 month ago
Tajwar Mohammad Awal elected president of Arambagh Krira Sangha
Prominent businessman Tajwar Mohammad Awal has been elected as the new president of Arambagh Krira Sangha, one of the oldest sports organizations in Bangladesh.
Tajwar is the son of Abdul Awal Mintoo, a vice chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and he is the younger brother of the former vice president of the Bangladesh Football Federation, Tabith Awal.
Tajwar was unanimously elected during a special general meeting on Saturday night.
The meeting also announced a 10-member partial executive committee for the 2024-25 term, with Md. Yakub Ali as the General Secretary. The full committee will be announced later.
The event was attended by notable figures including Abdus Salam, a freedom fighter and central leader of BNP, who was as the chief guest.
1 month ago
Chess Star Rani Hamid: The Pride of Bangladesh
Rani Hamid, a name synonymous with women’s chess in Bangladesh, has a long career marked with triumphs and accolades. Her journey in chess has inspired generations and made her a national icon.
With multiple national and international championships, she has proven that societal limitations cannot hold back true talent. This article sheds light on the life, career, and legacy of Rani Hamid, one of the most prominent female chess players in the history of Bangladesh.
Early Life and Introduction to Chess
Born as Saiyeda Jasimunnesa Khatun on July 14, 1944, in Sylhet, Bangladesh, Rani Hamid's early life was influenced by her father's passion for sports, especially chess. Her father, Saiyed Momtaz Ali, a police officer, often played chess with friends, sparking her interest in the game.
Although her family moved frequently due to her father’s job, her passion for chess remained constant. Rani completed her primary education at Nandankanan Girls’ High School in Chattogram.
Despite the restrictions of the time, which limited girls' participation in sports and education, Rani managed to balance both. After completing her education at Eden College, Dhaka, she found an encouraging partner, her husband, Lieutenant Colonel MA Hamid, an athlete and sports organizer.
Read More: Top Bangladeshi Golf Players of All Time
International Acclaim and Recognition
Rani Hamid did not stop at national glory; she also made her mark on the international stage. In 1981, she participated in the first Asian Women’s Chess Championship in Hyderabad, India, where she gained international recognition. She became the first Bangladeshi woman to win the title of Woman International Master (WIM) in 1985.
Rani’s success in the international circuit continued when she participated in the British Women’s Chess Championship, winning the title three times (in 1983, 1985, and 1989). Her dominance in this tournament was such that foreign players were eventually barred from competing in the British National Championship.
Triumphs and Honors
Rani Hamid’s chess career is studded with prestigious titles and awards. Hamid won the national title for six consecutive years from 1979 to 1984, totaling 19 times throughout her career.
She won the Commonwealth Chess Gold Medal in 2017, and the Zonal Championship in 2018. Her contributions to chess were recognized in 1985 when she received the Bangladesh National Sports Award, one of the country’s highest honors in sports.
Recognizing her contribution as a renowned Bangladeshi chess player, the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award in April 2016.
In 2018, she was awarded the Journalists' Choice Award during the Chess World Cup in Russia. This accolade was a testament to her enduring prowess and contribution to the sport.
She continues to dominate the women’s chess scene in Bangladesh and has become a symbol of excellence and perseverance.
Read The most famous Bangladeshi female athletes of all time
Victory at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest
In an inspiring display of resilience and chess mastery, 80-year-old Rani Hamid led the Bangladeshi women’s team to a resounding victory at the 45th Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest, Hungary in 2024. Competing against Barbados, Rani triumphed over her opponent, Springer Leshay, contributing to her team's overwhelming 3.5-0.5 win.
Her victory came as part of a stellar team performance, with Women FIDE Masters Noshin Anjum and Wadifa Ahmed also securing wins against their Barbadian counterparts, Wilson Hannah and Reifer-Belle Chanon. Woman Candidate Master Nusrat Jahan Alo drew her match against WCM Blackman Katrina, completing the team’s dominant performance.
This victory not only highlighted Rani Hamid’s enduring excellence in chess but also served as a testament to her leadership and ability to inspire younger players. Leading a new generation of Bangladeshi chess talent, she remains a formidable force on the international stage, defying age and expectations with each passing tournament.
Read more: Top Bangladeshi Chess Players of All Time
Conclusion
Rani Hamid’s journey from a curious child watching her father play chess to becoming a national icon is a testament to her talent, determination, and resilience. She not only broke barriers for women in chess; but also brought international recognition to Bangladesh through her achievements.
1 month ago
International runners invited to join the world's largest women's marathon
The Nagoya Women's Marathon, a globally recognized celebration of women's running, has opened its doors to international participants for the 2025 race. Participants from Bangladesh will also be able to join it.
Runners who live outside Japan can submit their names from September 5th to 25th, requesting for sport in the race taking place on March 9th next year.
The Guinness World Records recognize this marathon as the world’s largest women’s marathon. The next edition of this event is expected to be joined by 20,000 runners on the field, with 3,500 international runners.
Every runner who completes the marathon will receive a crystal tumbler from Baccarat, the esteemed French luxury brand marking its 260th anniversary. The tumbler’s design, which will be revealed at the Marathon Expo, adds a touch of anticipation to the event’s pre-race excitement.
The event will also have a virtual version for the runners who want to participate from their own comfort zones. This virtual race, held from February 9th to March 31st, offers a sustainable and inclusive option for those unable to travel to Nagoya or wishing to minimize their carbon footprint.
Virtual participants completing the full marathon distance will receive the same commemorative tumbler as in-person finishers.
With limited spots available and entries expected to be highly competitive, interested runners are encouraged to apply early. The Nagoya Women's Marathon 2025 promises an unforgettable experience for all participants, uniting women runners from across the globe in a celebration of athleticism and camaraderie.
1 month ago