United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) comfortably maintained their top slot on the 2nd day of the four-day 37th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition' 25 securing 34 gold, 35 silver and 14 bronze at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Thursday. A total of 28 events were decided on the 2nd day of the four-day meet in addition to 24 events finalized on the first day (Wednesday). Shilaidah Swimming Club followed the leader distantly with two ne gold, four silver and five bronzes while Bogura Swimming Club are in the 3rd slot with two gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Maisha Akhter Mim, a BKSP swimmer of 15-17 years age group, was the most successful among the girls swimmers winning five gold medals featuring a new national record in the girls 100 meter sprint. BKSP establish absolute supremacy in 37th National Age Group Swimming, Diving Competition on day 1 Nijum Akhter, another BKSP girls swimmer of 13-14 years age group, followed the Maisha Akhter Mim with four gold and two silver medals. BKSP swimmer Mohammad Sujon Miah of 15-17 years age group, dominating the boys group securing three gold and one silver medal. Some 550 promising swimmers of 80 teams from different districts, divisions, swimming clubs and BKSP, divided in five age groups ( U-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-17 and 18 years) , are competing in 100 swimming and four diving events. BKSP emerge unbeaten champions outplaying Kishoreganj in hockey BSF president and Chief of Bangladesh Navy Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan will be the chief guest at the meet's closing function on Saturday and he will distribute the prizes among the winners.

Dhaka, May 21 (UNB)- Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) established absolute supremacy on the first day of the four-day 37th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition' 25 that began at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Wednesday. The national sports training institute team BKSP topped medal list on the first day (Wednesday) securing 17 gold 17 silver and six bronze medals.  Shilaidah swimming followed the BKSP distantly with one gold, three silver and two bronzes while Bogura Swimming Club are in the 3rd slot with one gold and two bronze medals.  National Men's Handball: Holders Bangladesh Ansar & VDP make flying start beating Joypurhat DSA Earlier, BSF vice president and chairman of the Mia Foundation Mizanur Rahman (Mia Bhai) inaugurated the four-day meet this afternoon at a function, chaired by general secretary of Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF)  Mahbubur Rahman Shahin. One new national record was set up in 24 events decided on the first day (Wednesday).  4-day national age group swimming & diving competition begins in Mirpur Maisha Akhter Mim of BKSP made the day's only record in the girls 100-- meter sprint of 15-17 years age group clocking 01. 07: 54 seconds to improve the event's previous timing of 01: 07: 60 seconds made by Najma Khatun of Bangladesh Ansar in 2012. Some 550 promising swimmers of 80 teams from different districts, divisions, swimming clubs and BKSP,  divided in five age groups ( U-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-17 and 18 years) , are competing in 100 swimming and four diving events. BSF president and Chief of Bangladesh Navy Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan will be the chief guest at the meet's closing function on Saturday and he will distribute the prizes among the winners.

Defending champions Bangladesh Ansar & VDP made a flying start in the 35th National Men's Handball Championship '25 outplaying Joypurhat DSA by 45-15 goals after dominating the first half by 21-6 goals in of the five opening day's  matches at the Shaheed Captain (retd)  M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium here on Tuesday. In the other opening day's matches, Madaripur DSA beat Rajshahi DSA by 24-20 goals after trailing by 11-12 goals ißn the first half, Jashore DSA crushed Gaibandha DSA by 43-9 goals after dominating first half by 17-4 goals while Mymensingh beat Chattogram by 30-24 goals after leading the first half 16-9 goals. 4-day national age group swimming & diving competition begins in Mirpur The day's other match between Faridpur and Jamalpur DSAs ended in 26-26 goals at the same venue. Earlier, President of Bangladesh Handball Federation and Director General of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Major General Abu Mohammad Sarwar Farid inaugurated the tournament. A total of 23 teams are taking part in a two phase tournament.

The four-day  37th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition' 25, organised by Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF), will begin  at the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Wednesday. BSF vice president and chairman of the Mia Foundation Mizanur Rahman (Mia Bhai) will inaugurate the four-day meet at a function to be chaired by BSF general secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shahin. Some 550 promising swimmers of 80 teams from different districts, divisions, swimming clubs and BKSP,  divided in five age groups ( U-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-17 and 18 years) , will compete in 100 swimming and four diving events. BSF general secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shahin disclosed the details of the meet at a press conference at the Dutch Bangla Auditorium of Bangladesh Olympic Association on Tuesday. BSF president and Chief of Bangladesh Navy Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan will be the chief guest at the closing function on Saturday and he will distribute the prizes among the winners. An approximate budget of Tk 45 lakh earmarked for the Competition.  

Rory McIlroy had a clear explanation for Bryson DeChambeau on Wednesday regarding the lack of conversation between them during their final-round pairing at the Masters: it wasn’t personal—it was just part of the competition. DeChambeau, who edged out McIlroy by one stroke at Pinehurst No. 2 last summer with a clutch bunker save on the final hole, briefly held the lead at the Masters on Sunday after two holes. However, his game unraveled, and he finished with a 75, tying for fifth place. “He wouldn't talk to me,” DeChambeau said, hinting at what sounded like a snub. Though it's common for there to be minimal small talk in high-stakes final pairings, his remark suggested there may have been tension. McIlroy, however, clarified his mindset. “I don’t know what he expected,” he said. “We’re out there trying to win the Masters. I wasn’t going to focus on being his buddy. Everyone has their own way of handling pressure. I was locked in on what I needed to do. It wasn’t anything personal—just what I felt was necessary to get the best out of myself.” That focus ultimately paid off, as McIlroy claimed victory in a playoff, securing both the green jacket and the elusive career Grand Slam. Meanwhile, on the caddie front…Sepp Straka, who has already earned two PGA Tour wins this year, has had a bit of a caddie carousel over the past two weeks. At the Truist Championship held at Philadelphia Cricket Club, Straka relied on close friend Drew Mathers to carry his bag, filling in for his regular caddie, Duane “Dewey” Bock. Bock is sidelined with a back injury that will also keep him out of action for the upcoming PGA Championship. Next in line is someone who will look strangely familiar — his twin brother, Sam. “It was already planned,” Straka said. “Dewey's daughter is graduating college on Friday, I believe. So my brother was already going to caddie Friday, Saturday. So it wasn’t a huge change of plans. We just told him he’s going to be going the whole week instead.” Sam Straka also played at Georgia and was considered the better of the Austrian twins at one point. He also caddied for his brother at the Tokyo Olympics. Sepp Straka said Bock had an MRI and is expected to be back to work at the next tournament. Straka won the Truist Championship to go along with The American Express in January. The latest victory sent him to a career-best No. 9 in the world ranking. PGA champions dinner The PGA Championship has a dinner for past champions on Tuesday night, and this one had stronger attendance than most with 17 champions. BFF member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron stopped from flying to Paraguay That included Dave Stockton, with the most history. His first PGA title was in 1976 at Congressional at 1-over 281, making him the last PGA champion to win with a score over par. As usual, there were stories. Rich Beem, the 2002 winner at Hazeltine, was amazed to hear from Larry Nelson, a two-time PGA champion. Nelson won in Atlanta in 1981, and he beat Lanny Wadkins in a playoff in 1987 at PGA National. “He said he won with four sets of irons — he didn't have the same set for the rounds,” Beem said. “And before the final round, he was on the putting green with two putters.” A fascinating story, but maybe not for Wadkins, who also was at the dinner. Wadkins won the first sudden-death playoff in major championship history in 1977 at Pebble Beach. The only two players in the field at Quail Hollow who were not at the dinner were Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka. Viktor Hovland almost skipped the 2024 PGA Viktor Hovland was so unhappy with his swing last year that he considered withdrawing ahead of the PGA Championship at Valhalla. He wound up finishing third. “I almost didn’t play last year, and I almost won the tournament,” said Hovland, who shot a pair of 66s on the weekend and finished three shots behind. “So it’s like I look at that as a huge win. I almost won a major championship without feeling good about my game at all. So I don’t look at that as, like, man, I’m lacking a bunch of stuff.” Hovland had some similar struggles with his swing earlier this year and missed the cut in three straight tournaments, only to bounce back and win the Valspar Championship in late March. Since then he’s made the cut three more times, his best finish a tie for 13th place at the RBC Heritage. And while the world’s 11th-ranked player still isn’t particularly thrilled with his swing, he’s in a better headspace entering this year’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. “If I can get the ball consistently in the fairway off the tee, even though I don’t feel amazing, my iron play has been pretty solid this year,” Hovland said. “So I can still get the ball in the hole.”  

Chairperson of BFF women's wing  Mahfuza Akhter Kiron has reportedly  been barred from leaving the country to attend the 75th FIFA Congress in Paraguay. She was reportedly turned back from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early Tuesday as she arrived there for the travel. Two other BFF officials-- President Tabith Awal and General Secretary Imran Hasan Tusher, however, boarded the schedule flight  at 4: pm to attend the FIFA Congress in Paraguay on May 15. The exact reason for her return from the airport remains unclear and she is yet provided any information or statement  to the media in this regard. Mustafizur makes IPL comeback with record-breaking Delhi Capitals deal A source at HSIA immigration informed the  local media that Mahfuza was prevented from travelling abroad due to allegations of corruption against her. Mahfuza, a current EC member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC),  a former FIFA council member and close to former BFF president Kazi Salahuddin, is also leading the BFF Women's wings under the new executive committee of BFF.

Zhao Xintong dominated Mark Williams in the opening session of the world snooker championship final on Sunday, running up a 7-1 lead in his bid to become the first Chinese winner of the sport's biggest prize. Zhao, who thrashed seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 in the semifinals, was in complete control at the Crucible Theatre against another great of the game, with Williams a three-time champion and playing the final at the age of 50. The 28-year-old Zhao won each of the first three frames to set the tone in the best-of-35-frames match and has made two centuries so far. He is the firm favorite to become just the third player in history to win the worlds after coming through qualification. Zhao is playing as an amateur in Sheffield, having only recently returned to competitive action following a 20-month ban for his role in the sport’s biggest match-fixing scandal. He was ranked No. 9 in the world when his suspension began after accepting charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself. Zhao has been free to play since his ban expired in September and, in January, secured a return to snooker’s main professional tour for next season. The only other Chinese player to have reached the final of the worlds is Ding Junhui, who in 2016 lost to Mark Selby 18-14. Ding is the trailblazer for a raft of Chinese players — one of them being Zhao — to have burst through, making the sport huge in their homeland. The second of four possible sessions in the final takes place later Sunday with nine more frames.

The Bangladesh national archery team will leave for China on Sunday night to participate in Stage-2 of the Archery World Cup 2025, scheduled to take place in Shanghai from May 6 to 11. The team comprises five archers—three in the recurve division and two in the compound division—alongside German head coach Martin Frederick. The recurve archers are Sagor Islam, Ram Krishna Saha and Abdur Rahman Alif, while Himu Bachar and Bonnya Akter will compete in the compound category. Speaking at a press conference held at the Dutch-Bangla Auditorium of the Bangladesh Olympic Association on Saturday, officials of the newly formed ad-hoc committee of the Bangladesh Archery Federation shared details of the team’s participation. Tamim turns focus to grassroots, urges local cricket development Federation President Dr Moklesh-ur Rahman, Vice President Malik Mohammad Sayeed, General Secretary Tanvir Ahmed, former general secretary Kazi Razib Uddin Ahmed Chapal and Coach Frederick addressed the briefing. “Our first target is to reach the quarterfinals and also improve our compound division’s global ranking ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics,” said Coach Frederick.

Bangladesh U-19 took a strong 3-1 lead in the six-match youth ODI series against Sri Lanka with a 146-run win in Colombo on Friday. Opening batter Zawad Abrar starred with a century, finishing on 100 off 95 balls. He reached the landmark in style, hitting a flicked six in the 35th over after a 133-run stand with Rizan Hasan. This was Zawad’s second hundred of the series, having earlier scored an unbeaten 130 in the second match. Bangladesh posted 336 for 8 — their second-highest total in Youth ODIs. Rizan supported Zawad with 82 off 77 balls. In the final overs, Samiun Bashir (23 off 8) and Al Fahad (19 off 5) added vital runs to lift the score further. Bangladesh eliminated from Women’s U-19 World Cup after losing to India Chasing 337, Sri Lanka were never in the game. They lost four wickets inside 36 runs and were eventually bowled out for 190 in 38.4 overs. Captain Bimath Dinsara’s half-century was the only highlight for the hosts. Pacer Al Fahad picked up 3 for 41 while left-arm spinner Sanjid and captain Azizul Hakim took two wickets each. With this win, Bangladesh have ensured they won’t lose the series. Zawad now has a chance to match Towhid Hridoy’s record of three centuries in a youth bilateral series for Bangladesh, with two matches still to play.

Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus has parted ways with Al-Hilal by mutual consent, the Saudi club announced on Saturday. The 70-year-old's exit comes just four days after Al-Hilal suffered a semifinal defeat to domestic rival Al-Ahli in the AFC Champions League Elite. "The Board of Directors of Al-Hilal Club Company has agreed with the Portuguese head coach of the first football team Jorge Jesus to terminate the contractual relationship between them," the club said in a social media post. Neymar completes Saudi move to Al Hilal after 6 seasons with Paris Saint-Germain Appointed in July 2023, the former Benfica boss led Al-Hilal to a record-breaking 34-game winning streak and secured their 19th Saudi Pro League title last season. However, this season the club trails league leaders Al-Ittihad by six points with only five matches left. Mohammed Al-Shalhoub will serve as interim head coach. Reports in Saudi media suggest the club plans to appoint a new foreign manager before facing Real Madrid in their opening FIFA Club World Cup match on June 18. Meanwhile, Jesus is being linked with the vacant Brazil national team coaching role, following the dismissal of Dorival Junior in March.