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National Handball: Eight 2nd round matches held on Tuesday
Eight 2nd round matches --four in the morning and four in the afternoon --of the Exim Bank 33rd National Men's Handball Championship' 2022 were decided at the Shaheed (Capt) M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in Paltan here on Tuesday.
In the morning session, Mymensingh DSA outplayed Feni DSA by 25-7 goals; Chuadanga DSA defeated Barguna DSA by 23-21 goals; Panchagarh DSA crushed Narayanganj DSA by 33-2 goals while Gopalganj DSA trounced Bagerhat DSA by 25-6 goals.
Also read: National Handball: Dhaka, Chattogram, Bandarban, Kushtia top groups
In the afternoon session, Rajshahi DSA beat Bogura DSA by 30-26 goals; Jessore DSA outplayed Madaripur DSA by 32-9 goals; Faridpur DSA defeated Sherpur DSA by 32=7 goals while Mymensingh DSA beat Barguna DSA by 25-14 goals in their day's 2nd match.
Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games kicks off
The first phase of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023, organised by the Bangladesh Olympics Association (BOA), began Monday in eleven districts of the country.
The first phase inter-upazila level competition of the Games kicked off at Chattogram, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Rangamati, Chandpur, Mymensingh, Narsingdi, Joypurhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Barguna and Lakshmipur.
Former Chattogram City mayor AJM Nasir Uddin inaugurated the Games at MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram at a function chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) and CJKS President Abu Bashar Mohammad Fakruzzaman.
Read: National Handball: Dhaka, Chattogram, Bandarban, Kushtia top groups
DC Dewan Mahbubur Rahman inaugurated the competition at Shaheed Bhulu Stadium in Noakhali and DC Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman at the Rafiquddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.
DC Abu Nayeem Mohammad Maruf Khan launched the competition at the Moslehuddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Narsingdi and DC Habibur Rahman in Barguna.
DC Saidul Arif inaugurated the Games in Kurigram, DC Pankoj Ghose in Nilphamari and Lakshmipur-2 MP Nur Uddin Nayon in Lakshmipur.
After the completion of the first phase on January 10, the inter-district second phase of the competition will be held during January 16-22.
Read: Sri Lanka lift Women's International Beach Volleyball trophy
The final phase of the competition will be held in Dhaka from February 26 to March 4.
Boys and girls aged under 17, born after January 2, 2006, can participate in the competition by showing their birth certificates.
With the new inclusion of cycling, gymnastics and rugby, the Games will feature 24 disciplines of sports.
Around 50,000 athletes took part in the first Youth Games in 21 disciplines of sports.
An athlete can compete in a maximum of eight events – six in individual and two in team events – in the first phase of the Games.
Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games begins Monday
The first phase of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023, organised by the Bangladesh Olympics Association (BOA), will begin Monday at the upazila level.
After the completion of the first phase on January 10, the inter-district second phase of the competition will be held during January 16-22.
The final phase of the competition will be held in Dhaka from February 26 to March 4.
The boys and girls aged under 17, born after January 2, 2006, can participate in the competition by showing their birth certificates.
Read: Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games begins on January 2
With the new inclusion of cycling, gymnastics and rugby, the Bangladesh Youth Games will feature 24 disciplines of sports.
Around 50,000 athletes took part in the first Youth Games in 21 disciplines of sports.
An athlete can compete in a maximum of eight events – six in individual and two in team events – in the first phase of the Games.
On December 23, BOA President and Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed unveiled the Games' logo and mascot at a function in Dhaka.
National Handball: Dhaka, Chattogram, Bandarban, Kushtia top groups
Dhaka, Chattogram, Bandarban, and Kushtia DSAs topped their groups to reach the second round of the Exim Bank 33rd National Men's Handball Championship 2022 after their wins at the Shaheed Captain Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in the capital Sunday.
Dhaka came top of Group A, defeating Dinajpur by 46-18 goals after leading the first half 21-10.
Chattogram topped Group B, beating Lalmonirhat 20-12 after dominating the first half 11-6.
Read: Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games begins on January 2
Bandarban defeated Narail 31-15 in their day's first match and later outplayed Joypurhat 26-4 in the day's second match to come top of Group C.
Kushtia topped Group by defeating Cumilla 40-14 in the first match and beating Jamalpur 33-29 in the second match.
In the day's other matches, Jamalpur outplayed Thakurgaon 28-12, Patuakhali defeated Khulna 25-11, and Cumilla beat Thakurgaon 23-11 at the same venue.
Sri Lanka lift Women's International Beach Volleyball trophy
Sri Lanka clinched the Bangabandhu Women's International Beach Volleyball title after beating Nepal by straight 2-0 sets in the final at the Cox's Bazar Sea Beach on Thursday.
Sri Lankan pair Depika and Shaturia beat Nepal's Kamala and Kopila by 21-11 and 21-11 points.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal was the chief guest at the final and distributed the prizes.
Read more: Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone U-23 Volleyball Championship begins
The final match of the Bangabandhu Men's Asian Central Zone Beach Volleyball Championship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives will be held on Friday at the same venue.
Seven countries – India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan and hosts Bangladesh – are taking part in the men's competition and four teams – Sri Lanka, Nepal, Uzbekistan and hosts Bangladesh – in the women's competition.
Djokovic says no hard feelings over Australian deportation
Novak Djokovic has reiterated his earlier comments that he bears no hard feelings on his return to Australia after his visa cancellation and subsequent deportation in January ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament.
Djokovic was deported almost 12 months ago after arriving unvaccinated against COVID-19 at a time when the country was still subject to strict quarantine regulations and proof of vaccination.
Those regulations have since been lifted and in November, the Australian government overturned the three-year ban that came with Djokovic’s deportation and granted him a visa to return for the Australian Open beginning Jan. 16.
Djokovic arrived back in Australia on Tuesday ahead of the Adelaide International, where he is scheduled to play next week.
Read more: Djokovic expected to be granted visa to compete in Australian Open
“It’s great to be back in Australia,” he said Thursday. “It’s a country where I’ve had tremendous success in my career, particularly in Melbourne. It’s by far my most successful Grand Slam. I’m hoping that everything is going to be positive. Obviously (fan reaction) is not something that I can predict.
“I’ll do my best to play good tennis and bring good emotions and good feelings to the crowd.”
Djokovic said he still has difficulty forgetting his deportation.
“Obviously what happened 12 months ago was not easy for me, for my family, team, anybody who is close to me. It’s obviously disappointing to leave the country like that,” he said.
Read more: Double-fault: Visa revoked again, Djokovic faces deportation
“You can’t forget those events. It’s one of these things that stays with you for I guess the rest of your life. It’s something that I’ve never experienced before and hopefully never again. But it is a valuable life experience for me and something that as I said will stay there, but I have to move on.”
Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record nine times, including the last three times he played. Rafael Nadal won the 2022 title in Djokovic’s absence.
Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games begins on January 2
The first phase of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games'.2023, organised by Bangladesh Olympics Association (BOA), begins on January 2 at the country's upazila level.
On completion of the first phase on January 10, the Inter-District 2nd phase of the meet will be held January 16-22 and the final phase of the meet will be held in Dhaka from February 26 to March 4.
Read more: Bangladesh win Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone U-23 Volleyball with unbeaten record
BOA Vice President and Chairman of the Games media committee Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Mamun disclosed the details of the meet at a press conference at the Dutch-Bangla Auditorium of BOA on Wednesday.
Member Secretary of the Games Steering Committee Ashiqur Rahman Miku, Games Chief Coordinator Brigadier General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and member secretary of the Media Committee Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir were also present at the press conference.
The Under-17 boys and girls, who was born after January 2, 2006 will be entitled to participate in the meet showing their birth certificates.
Read more: 27th National Youth Hockey final Tuesday
Some 60,000 athletes are expected to compete in 24 disciplines of sports with new inclusion Cycling, Gymnastics and Rugby in the ensuing Youth Game. In the first Youth Games, some 50,000 athletes took part in 21 disciplines of sports.
An athlete will compete in maximum eight events--six individual and two team events--in the first phase of the meet.
A strong and high-level organizing committee was formed with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the Chief Patron and Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal as the Chairman.
Earlier on December 23, BOA President and Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed unveiled the games logo and mascot at a function at the Bangladesh Army Multi-Purpose Complex here.
Bangladesh win Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone U-23 Volleyball with unbeaten record
Hosts Bangladesh clinched the Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone Under-23 Men's International Volleyball title, with an unbeaten record, beating Kyrgyzstan by 3-2 sets in the final in Mirpur on Monday.
In the keenly contested final at the Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium, Bangladesh beat their rivals by 25-18, 15-25, 22-25, 25-19 and 18- 16 points.
Sri Lanka finished third in the competition defeating Nepal by 3-2 sets in the morning.
Read: 27th National Youth Hockey final Tuesday
Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed was the chief guest at the final and handed over the trophies.
Bangladesh Volleyball Federation General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Miku handed out the best player award to Kaviska of Sri Lanka.
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh took part in the competition.
27th National Youth Hockey final Tuesday
The final of the Al Arafah Islami Bank 27th National Youth Hockey Championship 2022 will be held on Tuesday at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium in the capital.
Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) will face Rajshahi District in the title-decider, which will kick off at 3pm.
Read: National Athletics: Army lead medal table with 15 golds, 11 silvers, 13 bronzes
Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan, chief of air staff of Bangladesh Air Force and president of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation, will watch the final as chief guest. Al Arafah Islami Bank acting managing director SM Zafar will be present.
Dinajpur District finished third in the championship beating Natore District 5-0 in the third place match last Tuesday.
Fifty-seven teams took part in the first phase of the meet in nine zonal venues and later 18 qualified teams competed in the final phase in Dhaka.
Sports have brightened Bangladesh's image: Nasrul
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said sports have brightened Bangladesh's image.
Sports can play a vital role in enhancing global connectivity, he added.
"Sports and cultural activities are doing a great job keeping young people creative and thoughtful," he said while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 5th Hamidur Rahman National Youth Shooting Championship 2022 organised by the Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation and sponsored by Hamid Group in Dhaka on Sunday.
"Shooting has made good progress. Promising shooters can emerge if the shooting federation takes initiative to spread the game across the country instead of focusing on Dhaka," Nasrul added.
Around 105 contestants – 65 boys and 40 girls from 23 rifle and shooting clubs of the country – participated in the competition. BKSP Shooting Club became the champions and Comilla Rifle Club runner-ups.
Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation President Lieutenant General Ataul Hakim Sarwar Hasan presided over the event and Bangladesh Olympic Association Secretary General Syed Shahed Reza and Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation Secretary General Istekhabul Hamid spoke on the occasion.