United News of Bangladesh

Japan’s 17-year-old Shin Ohashi set a world record in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke at the Asian Games on Thursday, clocking 2 minutes, 4.83 seconds. Ohashi broke the previous record of 2:05.48, set by China’s Qin Haiyang at the 2023 world swimming championships in Fukuoka, Japan. “I wasn’t expecting to post a time like that,” Ohashi said. “So I was really happy. At the same time, I felt a huge sense of relief.” Kyrgyzstan’s Denis Petrashov finished second in 2:08.67, while South Korea’s Cho Sung-jae took bronze in 2:08.76. Ohashi, who already held the fastest time in the event this year at 2:06.59, has emerged as the swimmer to beat in the breaststroke this season. “I may be the world-record holder now, but the level of competition around the world will keep rising,” he said. “I don’t want to be left behind. Instead, I want to be the one who sets the pace, so I’ll keep working hard in training.” Ohashi’s record briefly shifted attention away from China’s 13-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi, who has won three gold medals at the Games in the 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley and 400-meter individual medley. She will not compete in any more individual events. Ohashi also won the men’s 400-meter individual medley earlier this week, finishing in 4:07.02. The world record in the event is 4:02.50, held by France’s Leon Marchand, who won four gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ohashi said his strongest performance on Thursday came in the final 50 meters, when he managed to maintain his pace instead of slowing down. “I think my biggest strength is my ability to keep my swimming compact and maintain a good tempo,” he said. “Ultimately, I think my biggest goal is to win an Olympic gold medal.” Marchand has been among the presenters handing out medals during the Games. Swimming events are being held at the Olympic pool in Tokyo. At 1.69 meters tall, Ohashi is not physically imposing compared with many elite swimmers. Earlier this year, he also broke Japan’s national record in the 100-meter breaststroke, a mark previously held by four-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion Kosuke Kitajima. China continues gold rush in poolChina remained dominant in the swimming events despite Ohashi’s world record, winning four of the seven gold medals contested Thursday. After five days of competition, with swimming scheduled to conclude Friday, China has won 25 gold medals from 34 events. China’s Thursday winners were Wu Qingfeng in the women’s 50-meter freestyle in 23.98 seconds, Zhang Zhanshuo in the men’s 800-meter freestyle in 7:42.49, the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay team in 3:10.60 and the women’s 4x200-meter freestyle relay team in 7:49.37. Japan also won gold through Kotomi Kato, who took the women’s 200-meter breaststroke in 2:22.57. The other gold medal went to Bahrain’s Mikhail Arkhangelskiy, who won the men’s 50-meter butterfly in 22.91 seconds. Born in Russia, Arkhangelskiy has competed for Florida State University.

Bangladesh captain Liton Das wants his team to reach the Asian Games cricket final and compete for gold, but he is also thinking beyond the tournament. Cricket will return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, and Liton sees Bangladesh’s Asian Games campaign as part of a bigger opportunity for the sport. Bangladesh are sending their national team to the Asian Games this time, rather than a second-string side. It will also be Liton’s first appearance at the multi-sport event. “It is a big thing to play for the national team, and playing at a place like this is also a big thing,” Liton told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. “You may win a trophy whenever you win elsewhere, but here there is a chance to win gold. It is a big dream. I think all the cricketers are excited.” Bangladesh have traditionally looked to cricket for medals at the Asian Games. The women’s team, however, lost to Pakistan in the bronze-medal match on Tuesday, leaving the men’s team as the country’s main hope of a cricket medal. “There is a lot of interest among our players because this tournament does not come around every time,” Liton said. “You get franchise leagues or national-team tournaments every year. But this is a rare event. Every player is excited, and we will try to fulfil the big dream.” For now, Liton said, the target is simply to get to the final. “We are looking at how we can reach the final,” he said. “Because if you play the final, you have a chance to win gold. In cricket, we always say, match by match. We will go match by match.” The 2028 Olympics will feature six men's cricket teams. The highest-ranked team from each of Asia, Africa, Oceania and Europe will qualify directly. The United States, as host, will also qualify if it is among the top 15 teams in the ICC T20 rankings. The remaining place will be decided through a qualifying tournament. Bangladesh will compete with New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for a place in the Olympics. Liton also hopes success in cricket can help raise the profile of other sports in Bangladesh. “Being able to do something for the country is a big thing,” he said. “And if it is through sport, why not? We are different in cricket. But if something can improve other sports through us, or if opportunities come for other sports, we will try.”

Amicus United have been crowned champions of the LAABRACU Futsal League 2026, organised with the participation of current and former students of the School of Law at BRAC University. The team secured the title with a convincing 3–0 victory over Invictus Victor in the final. Organised by the Law Alumni Association of BRAC University (LAABRACU), the tournament featured a total of 12 teams. De Jure Academy served as the title sponsor of the tournament. The LAABRACU Futsal League 2026 was held throughout the day on Saturday (19 September) at the Multipurpose Hall of BRAC University, followed by the prize-giving ceremony at the end of the competition. BRAC University Registrar Dr David Dowland attended the ceremony as the chief guest. Among others, the prize-giving ceremony was attended by LAABRACU President Meher Niger, Vice President Yasir Adnan, General Secretary Tafsir Ahmed Khan, BRAC University Alumni Relations Manager Farhad Hossain, and Rafiqul Islam Shimul, one of the proprietors of De Jure Academy. The tournament was coordinated overall by Sheikh Rasiful Islam, Sports and Cultural Secretary of LAABRACU. According to the organisers, the tournament was aimed at strengthening interaction and engagement among current and former students of the BRAC University School of Law while fostering a vibrant and active alumni community through sports.  

The Asian Games officially opened Saturday with a colorful ceremony, beginning a 16-day sporting event that has already been underway for more than a week. Basketball competition began on Sept. 10 due to the packed schedule, while the men's semifinals were held Friday, a day before the official opening. Soccer has also been underway for almost as long. While the Summer Olympics usually begin a few days before their opening ceremonies, the Asian Games have started even earlier. The event features at least 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions competing in 43 sports. The 2024 Paris Olympics had about 10,700 athletes, while roughly 12,000 competed at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Japanese organizers have not yet announced the final number of athletes, but the total could match or exceed the figure from Hangzhou, partly because of several new sports. Alongside Olympic sports such as athletics, swimming and soccer, the Asian Games feature traditional Asian disciplines including kurash, kabaddi and sepaktakraw. Kurash is an ancient wrestling style from Uzbekistan, kabaddi resembles a physical team version of tag, and sepaktakraw combines elements of volleyball and soccer. Mixed martial arts, padel, teqball and esports have also been added, making the schedule particularly busy. Japan has the largest delegation with 933 athletes, while China has sent more than 800. China topped the medal table at the 2023 Games with 201 gold medals, followed by Japan with 52 and South Korea with 42. Royal family leads opening ceremony Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were among the leading dignitaries at the opening ceremony. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, who was elected president of the Olympic Council of Asia earlier this year, also attended. "Tonight the eyes of Asia, and much of the world, turn to Japan," Sheikh Joaan said in his address before the Emperor officially declared the Games open. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry was also present. The ceremony was themed "Harmonic Heart Beat," with a large heart-shaped stage set up on the infield of Nagoya City Stadium. Afghanistan led the traditional athletes' parade, while host Japan entered last to loud applause. Controversies before opening The official opening may bring some relief to organizers, who faced several controversies during preparations. One major issue involved accommodation. Instead of building a dedicated athletes' village, organizers planned to house an estimated 17,000 athletes and officials on a large cruise ship, in hotels and in wooden containers converted into accommodation. Japan officially spent $13 billion on the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A government audit later suggested the actual cost may have been about twice that amount. Organizers therefore sought to avoid similarly high spending for the Asian Games. Some athletes have complained that beds and rooms are too small, while others have reported leaks in the wooden accommodation units. The wide spread of venues around Nagoya could also create logistical challenges. Nagoya, Japan's third-largest metropolitan area, has a population of about 9.5 million and is located around 200 miles (350 kilometers) south of Tokyo. Political issues also emerged before the opening. On Friday, organizers mistakenly played the North Korean national anthem during a field hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh. South Korean players stood at attention as the unfamiliar anthem played. Many South Koreans are not familiar with North Korea's national anthem and did not immediately recognize it. Around the same time, Taiwanese Sports Minister Lee Yang, a two-time Olympic badminton gold medalist, was temporarily prevented from attending a welcoming ceremony involving Taiwan and several other countries, including North Korea, Palestine and India. The Olympic Council of Asia described the incident as a misunderstanding but did not provide a full explanation. Lee was later allowed to join the ceremony. Taiwan competes in the Asian Games and Olympics as Chinese Taipei and does not use its own flag because China claims sovereignty over the island off its eastern coast.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 33 points to set a WNBA season scoring record, while Caitlin Clark added 28 points and matched her season high with 14 assists as the Indiana Fever defeated the Toronto Tempo 103-85 on Friday night. The victory was Indiana’s eighth in its last 10 games. Mitchell broke A’ja Wilson’s previous WNBA single-season scoring mark of 1,021 points, set with Las Vegas in 2024, with a 3-pointer in the third quarter. Mitchell now has 1,034 points this season. She also extended her WNBA record by scoring at least 20 points in 25 consecutive games. Mitchell shot 12 of 17 from the field and made seven of 11 attempts from 3-point range. Clark went 7 for 15 from the field and 2 for 8 from beyond the arc. She made all 12 of her free-throw attempts and recorded her 14th double-double of the season in her first game since helping the United States win the women’s FIBA World Cup in Germany. The game was the first for both teams after a nearly three-week break for the World Cup. Clark previously recorded 14 assists against Toronto in a home victory on June 16. Laura Juskaite led Toronto with 22 points, while Kiki Rice scored 18. Isabelle Harrison and Temi Fagbenle each added 16 points for the Tempo, who suffered their fifth consecutive loss. Toronto began its inaugural season with a 9-9 record but has since gone 2-21. The Tempo played without guard Marina Mabrey, who will miss the team’s final four games because of a right adductor injury. The team announced Wednesday that Mabrey had been ruled out. She has not played since Toronto’s home loss to Indiana on Aug. 18. Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley attended the game.

An advertising campaign featuring American actor Sydney Sweeney has drawn criticism from female athletes, who say the campaign sexualizes women and undermines the image of female athletes. The ad for sports prediction market platform Novig features Sweeney wearing little or no clothing, with footballs and sports apparel used to cover parts of her body. Several female athletes criticized the campaign on social media, describing it as disrespectful to women in sports. Four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Ariarne Titmus expressed her anger on Instagram, questioning why women’s bodies continue to be used for commercial gain and why women’s sports are still being sexualized. British sprinter Amy Hunt also criticized the campaign in a BBC post-race interview Sunday after finishing fourth in the 200 meters at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary. “Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like,” Hunt said while looking into the camera. “Muscles, hard work, sweat, blood, tears.” Former US gymnast Gracie Kramer also described the ad as infuriating. She said female athletes have long faced sexualization and pressure to be judged by their appearance rather than their athletic abilities. Kramer shared images of female athletes training on Instagram with the caption, “What a woman in sports looks like.” Sofie Fella, a Chinese-German rugby player, said female athletes can serve as role models for girls and women by challenging society’s traditional ideas about beauty and femininity. “And that’s why that Sydney Sweeney ad is so disrespectful to every female athlete in the world,” she wrote on Instagram. Novig did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Sweeney’s publicist also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Amid the criticism, Sweeney posted several covers from ESPN The Magazine’s “Body Issue” over the weekend. The annual edition featured athletes posing nude or semi-nude while highlighting different body types. Sweeney, a two-time Emmy nominee, starred in and produced “Christy,” a 2025 biographical film about American professional boxer Christy Martin. The controversy is not the first involving one of Sweeney’s brand partnerships. Her 2025 American Eagle campaign, which played on the similar-sounding words “jeans” and “genes,” also sparked widespread debate online.

Texas is enjoying its return to the top of the college football rankings but knows staying there will be much harder. The Longhorns moved to No. 1 after a thrilling 24-23 win over Ohio State, which dropped from No. 1 to No. 6. Texas, now 2-0, will face UTSA this week before opening its Southeastern Conference schedule against No. 15 Tennessee on Sept. 26. “A week ago, the narrative was we can’t win the big game,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. “The opinion now is we’re the best team in the country, allegedly, and so everybody is patting us on the back.” Sarkisian warned his players not to become distracted by the praise. “This is the third straight year we’ve been ranked No. 1 at some part of the season,” he said. “I don’t know how we handled it. And I don’t know how worthy we were of those rankings, of the opinions of others.” Texas appears deserving of the top ranking for now, but its position at the end of the season remains uncertain. The Longhorns reached No. 1 in 2024 for the first time since 2008. They held the top spot for a month before losing to Georgia. Texas did not return to No. 1 that season but reached the College Football Playoff semifinals, where it lost to eventual national champion Ohio State. Last season, however, Texas experienced a much steeper decline. The Longhorns began the year ranked No. 1 but lost their opening game at Ohio State. They fell to 3-2 several weeks later and dropped out of the rankings. After finishing the regular season 9-3, they missed the playoffs. Senior linebacker Justin Cryer, who transferred from Florida State, said the No. 1 ranking is not a major concern. “It’s cool to post on Instagram or whatever,” Cryer said. “We have 10 more games to play.” Quarterback Arch Manning also said the team should keep its attention on the games ahead. He remembers how quickly Texas fell from No. 1 last season and ultimately missed the postseason. “The rankings don’t really matter until the playoffs,” Manning said. “We’ve got a lot to prove.”

Alexander Zverev has been the most consistent player at the Grand Slam tournaments this year, winning two major titles and reaching another final. But he still does not consider himself the best player in men's tennis. Ben Shelton appeared more willing to give Zverev that recognition after the German defeated him 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 in Sunday's US Open final. The victory added the New York title to Zverev's French Open triumph in June. “You're one of the very best players in the world, maybe the best player in the world this year,” Shelton told Zverev during the trophy presentation. The 2026 season has been different from last year, when Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner met in the final of three of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Alcaraz won the Australian Open but missed the French Open and Wimbledon because of a right wrist injury. He was hurt in April and did not return until the US Open. Sinner, the world's top-ranked men's player, defeated Zverev in the Wimbledon final but missed the US Open because of a right knee injury. Asked whether he now considered himself the best player in the world, Zverev said the answer depended on the condition of Sinner and Alcaraz. “With Jannik Sinner being injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, right now, this moment, probably yes. Both of them healthy and both of them at the top of their game, maybe not,” Zverev said. He added that when both players are fully fit and playing at their best, he still considers Sinner ahead of him. Zverev backed up his strong year by beating the players who competed at the majors. He went 25-2 across the four Grand Slam tournaments and was the only man to reach the semifinals at all four. At the US Open, he had to play five-set matches in each of his first two rounds, becoming the first No. 1 seed in the Open era, which began in 1968, to do so. He then did not lose another set until the final. Shelton, whose serve can exceed 140 mph, said Zverev has the best serve on the tour. He also praised Zverev's all-around game, including his improved play at the net, movement despite standing 6-foot-7, strong returning and baseline game, and fitness. “He's a tough guy to play, 100%,” Shelton said. Hard work pays off for ZverevShelton also described Zverev as one of the hardest-working players he knows. Zverev was more comfortable accepting that praise than the suggestion that he is the world's best. “I think I'm up there, for sure,” Zverev said. “I don't think I'm the most talented in any way. I don't think I'm a God-given talent like some other guys are.” He said most of his success has come from spending long hours on the tennis court, in the gym and on the track. That hard work helped Zverev return to the top after suffering a serious ankle injury during the 2022 French Open semifinals. It also eventually helped him win the US Open title he believed he should have won two years earlier. In the 2020 US Open final, Zverev won the first two sets against Dominic Thiem and came within two points of victory before becoming the first player since 1949 to lose a Grand Slam final after taking a two-set lead. Winning the French Open in June helped him move past that painful memory. He then added the US Open title and a $5.5 million winner's prize Sunday. “I think the scars of the 2020 final, they kind of disappeared after I won in Paris,” Zverev said. He said he was also able to enjoy the Wimbledon final despite losing, appreciating the opportunity to play on Centre Court in front of a large crowd and celebrities. Before winning in Paris, Zverev said he felt constant pressure and wondered whether he would ever win a Grand Slam title. “Whereas before winning in Paris, I felt a lot of stress all the time, because there was always a question mark: Will I ever win one?” he said. “Now is just more of a joy to play those kind of finals.”

For the first time in nearly 24 years, none of men's tennis' legendary Big Three — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — is ranked among the world's top 10. The milestone came Monday when Djokovic, the only member of the trio still playing, dropped from No. 5 to No. 12 in the latest rankings. The last time none of the three was in the top 10 was October 2002, when Lleyton Hewitt was ranked No. 1. At that time, George W. Bush was US president, the euro had just entered circulation, Tom Brady had recently won his first Super Bowl and Brazil had won the World Cup under Ronaldo. Federer retired in 2022 at age 41, while Nadal retired in 2024 at 38. Hewitt's 17-year-old son, Cruz Hewitt, is now an emerging professional player — another reminder of how much time has passed since his father led the rankings. Djokovic's ranking drop follows his first-round loss to Mariano Navone at the US Open 15 days ago. It was his earliest exit from a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open and the first time he had lost his opening match at the US Open. “I've been very proud of all the achievements in the past, but now is now,” Djokovic said after the defeat in New York. Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles, two more than Nadal's 22 and four more than Federer's 20. Big Three dominated top 10Federer first entered the top 10 in October 2002 and stayed there until the end of 2016. During that period, he spent a record 237 weeks as the world's No. 1. Nadal entered the top 10 in April 2005 at age 18 during his breakthrough on Europe's clay courts. He remained there for a record 912 consecutive weeks before dropping out in 2023. Djokovic was the last of the three to break into the top 10, doing so in 2007. He has spent a record 428 weeks at No. 1. It remains uncertain whether today's leading players will enjoy the same longevity. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have both missed Grand Slam tournaments this year because of injuries, while Alcaraz has said he plans to take more breaks in future seasons. Federer, speaking before his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame last month, said he was proud of playing consistently from January through November during his career. “I kind of showed up everywhere,” Federer said, adding that he never wanted his career to be focused only on Grand Slam tournaments because he enjoyed competing across the ATP Tour. Zverev most consistent in 2026The men's Grand Slam season has been different from last year. Sinner and Alcaraz met in three of the four major finals in 2025 but did not face each other in any Grand Slam final this year. Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon because of a right wrist injury, while Sinner withdrew from the US Open with a right knee injury. Alcaraz won the Australian Open and Sinner won Wimbledon, but Alexander Zverev was the most consistent player across the four majors. He won the French Open and US Open, reached the Wimbledon final and made the Australian Open semifinals. Zverev, however, said Sinner remains ahead when everyone is healthy. “If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead,” Zverev said after beating Ben Shelton in Sunday's US Open final. “It's as simple as that.” Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz remained first, second and third in the latest rankings. Shelton climbed five places to No. 4 after reaching the US Open final. Rybakina takes women's No. 1 spotThe women's rankings also changed at the top, with Elena Rybakina becoming No. 1 after winning two Grand Slam titles this year — the Australian Open and US Open. Her victory in New York ended Aryna Sabalenka's 99-week run at the top of the rankings. “Her serve is amazing,” Sabalenka said after Rybakina hit 12 aces against her in the US Open final. She also praised Rybakina's ability to attack and overpower opponents, particularly on the fast US Open courts.

Elena Rybakina defeated defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday to win her first US Open title and complete her rise to the top of the women’s world rankings. Rybakina had already secured the No. 1 ranking by reaching the semifinals, but capped her campaign by claiming the trophy Sabalenka had won in the previous two years. “It’s still so difficult to process what happened,” Rybakina said. “Too many achievements these few weeks.” The victory gave the 27-year-old her third Grand Slam title and second of the year. She also defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier this season. Rybakina ended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak at the US Open. Sabalenka had not lost at Flushing Meadows since the 2023 final against Coco Gauff. Rybakina earned $5.5 million, the biggest prize in Grand Slam history, and joined Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva as the only players with three tour titles this season. Sabalenka, who received $2.8 million, was seeking to become the first woman since Serena Williams from 2012-14 to win three consecutive US Open titles. She smashed her racket after briefly embracing Rybakina at the net. “I was just out there competing, trying to do my best with what I had there today,” Sabalenka said. “Not good enough.” Although Rybakina struggled with her first serve, she consistently pressured Sabalenka with her returns. She earned 12 break points and converted three, enough to secure the victory. Rybakina’s win was the first time the lower-ranked player prevailed in a US Open women’s final between the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds since 2000. Sabalenka had occupied the top ranking for 99 consecutive weeks, but Rybakina will take over on Monday. Born in Russia, Rybakina represents Kazakhstan. She won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2022 and now needs only the French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam. Sabalenka acknowledged Rybakina’s powerful serve and ability to dictate play, particularly on the fast US Open courts. Rybakina had struggled at the US Open in previous years, never advancing beyond the fourth round before this tournament. She also briefly stopped playing during a quarterfinal match against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati because of a foot injury but recovered in time for New York. “I honestly was coming here for the last 10 years, and it was never successful — nothing close to that,” Rybakina said. “It’s just incredible. I’m falling in love with New York more and more.” Sabalenka had reached the US Open final four straight times and the semifinals six times, but her impressive run at Flushing Meadows ended with Saturday’s defeat. The Belarusian had won both of her previous meetings with Rybakina this season, at Indian Wells and Miami, and leads their career rivalry 10-8. Rybakina took the opening set after Sabalenka struggled with her serve and became increasingly frustrated. Sabalenka recovered in the second set, breaking Rybakina late to level the match, but Rybakina quickly regained control in the decider and completed the biggest victory of her career.