Category: Sports

Max Verstappen aims for a record fourth consecutive Canadian Grand Prix victory this weekend but faces automatic suspension from the Austrian GP if he receives one more penalty point. The four-time champion sits third in standings behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Mercedes seeks their first win since Las Vegas 2024, while Hamilton struggles without a podium this season.READ FULL

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between two groups over a football match in Kishoreganj’s Bhairab upazila, Bangladesh. The hour-long altercation at Tulakandi Eidgah ground involved country-made weapons and spears, with several houses vandalized. Ten victims with serious injuries were transferred to hospitals for advanced treatment. Police brought the situation under control and legal proceedings are underway.READ FULL

World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Paris Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 7-6(3) 6-3 to advance to the French Open semi-finals. After a slow start and falling behind early, Sabalenka found her rhythm to overcome the Chinese eighth seed. The three-time Grand Slam champion will face either Elina Svitolina or defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals.READ FULL

The USTA announced an $800 million renovation of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, marking the largest investment in US Open history. Plans include reconfiguring Arthur Ashe Stadium to increase lower-level seating from 3,000 to 5,000 and building a new player performance center. The privately-funded renovations have begun and will be completed by 2027 without disrupting upcoming tournaments.READ FULL

In a controversial WrestleMania main event, John Cena defeated Cody Rhodes to become a record 17-time world champion after interference from rapper Travis Scott. Scott distracted the referee, allowing Cena to deliver a low blow and strike Rhodes with the championship belt before securing the pinfall. The questionable tactics have sparked debate among fans about the legitimacy of Cena’s historic achievement.READ FULL

Rory McIlroy captured the Masters championship Sunday with a birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Justin Rose. Despite early struggles including four double-bogeys throughout the tournament, McIlroy persevered through what he called “a complete rollercoaster of a day.” The victory marks a significant breakthrough for the world number two, who had previously failed in ten attempts to complete a career Grand Slam at Augusta.READ FULL

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will increase women’s soccer teams from 12 to 16 while reducing men’s teams from 16 to 12, reflecting women’s soccer’s growing popularity, especially in the US. The Games will feature 351 medal events, 22 more than Paris 2024, with several sports adding new mixed team competitions. Total athlete numbers remain capped at 10,500, with an additional 698 quota places for the five LA-proposed sports: baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash.READ FULL

Purny Ayman became the first Bangladeshi woman to compete in an international motorsport event at the UAE Time Attack in Abu Dhabi. Driving a Toyota GT 86, she finished fourth among 35 participants in the rear-wheel drive unlimited class. A lifelong car enthusiast, Ayman trained on simulators during COVID-19 and hopes her achievement will inspire more Bangladeshi women to enter motorsports.READ FULL

McLaren’s Lando Norris won the rain-soaked Australian Grand Prix, fending off Max Verstappen in a chaotic race filled with crashes. Mercedes’ George Russell took third place on the slippery Albert Park circuit, where only 14 cars completed the race. Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri finished ninth after going off-track, while Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut ended in a disappointing 10th place finish.READ FULL

Charles Leclerc topped second practice at the Australian Grand Prix, outpacing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Lewis Hamilton finished fifth, over four-tenths behind his new Ferrari teammate. Defending champion Max Verstappen was only seventh fastest. The day saw multiple incidents involving rookies, including Oliver Bearman’s session-ending crash in his Haas and several newcomers struggling with track limits.READ FULL

Indian Grandmasters Praggnanadhaa and Gukesh played to a draw in the eighth round of Tata Steel Masters in Netherlands. Playing with white pieces, Praggnanadhaa faced Gukesh’s Berlin defense. Despite a pawn sacrifice by Gukesh, the game ended in a draw after 33 moves. Both players likely maintain their joint lead with 5.5 points. Other Indian players Harikrishna, Arjun Erigaisi, and Leon Luke Mendonca also drew their respective games.READ FULL

Rafael Nadal’s professional tennis career came to an end as Spain was eliminated by Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. The 38-year-old, 22-time Grand Slam champion, lost his singles match 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp. Although Carlos Alcaraz won his match against Griekspoor, the Dutch team secured victory in the deciding doubles rubber. Nadal, who hadn’t played since July, was emotional during what proved to be his final professional match.READ FULL

Mercedes has denied rumors of Lewis Hamilton’s early departure before joining Ferrari next year. The team’s engineering director revealed they’ll use the final three races of 2024 as testing opportunities for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s benefit. With Mercedes trailing behind Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull, Hamilton’s chances of securing a final win or podium with the team appear unlikely before 18-year-old Antonelli takes his seat in 2025.READ FULL

A leaked medical report suggests Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has ambiguous genitalia and XY chromosomes. Following this revelation, IBA President Umar Kremlev has demanded an apology from IOC President Thomas Bach for allowing Khelif to compete in women’s events at the Paris Olympics. While IBA had banned Khelif from their events, the IOC permitted her participation. The report has reignited the debate about gender eligibility in international sports.READ FULL

Rani Hamid, Bangladesh’s legendary chess player, continues to inspire at 80. She recently led the national women’s team to victory at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Hamid’s career spans decades, with numerous national and international titles, including three British Women’s Chess Championships. She became Bangladesh’s first Woman International Master in 1985. Recognized with the National Sports Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, Hamid remains a symbol of excellence in chess, defying age and expectations.READ FULL

The Walton-BSJA Sports Carnival ‘2024, organized by Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association, will begin on September 17 in Dhaka. The week-long festival includes seven sports disciplines: badminton, chess, shooting, swimming, call bridge, carom, and table tennis. The event is exclusively for BSJA members and will be held at various venues across the city. Winners will receive trophies and prize money, with a best player award also up for grabs. Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC is sponsoring the event.READ FULL

In the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, both Bangladesh men’s and women’s teams faced defeats in the second round. The men’s team lost 3.5-0.5 to Vietnam, with GM Niaz Murshed securing the only draw. The women’s team lost 3-1 to Romania, with WFM Noshin Anjum and WCM Wadifa Ahmed drawing their games. In the upcoming third round, the Bangladesh men’s team will face Cyprus, while the women’s team will play against Barbados.READ FULL

The 11th Commonwealth Karate Championship, originally scheduled to take place in Dhaka from September 25-29, has been shifted to Durban, South Africa from November 27 to December 2. The decision was made by the Commonwealth Karate Federation due to security concerns following the recent student-led protests in Bangladesh. Bangladesh had won the bid to host the event last year, but the country may not be able to participate in the tournament in South Africa due to financial constraints.READ FULL

Veteran hockey coach Fazlul Haque, known as Ostad Fazlul, passed away in Dhaka following a fall at home. He was declared dead at Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital. Fazlul, who transitioned from player to coach due to an injury, was instrumental in developing young hockey talent at Armanitola High School since the early ’90s. He mentored several notable Bangladesh players, including Rafikul Islam Kamal and Rasel Mahmud Jimmy. Fazlul is survived by his wife and daughter. His funeral will be held at Tara Masjid, with burial at Shaheb Bazar.READ FULL

British swimmer Ellie Challis, 20, won gold in the women’s 50m backstroke S3 at the Paralympics in Paris. Inspired by a dolphin named Winter, Challis overcame the loss of her limbs to meningitis as a child to become a champion swimmer. She finished 4.80 seconds ahead of her closest competitor, adding Paralympic gold to her world championship titles from last year.READ FULL

The Paris Paralympics began with French swimmer Ugo Didier winning the host nation’s first gold in the 400m freestyle S9 category. China took an early lead in the medals table with multiple golds in swimming and cycling. Notable events included Brazil’s Gabrielzinho winning his third Paralympic title in swimming, and Britain’s successful start in wheelchair rugby. The Games opened with a ceremony emphasizing inclusion, featuring 4,400 athletes from 168 delegations. France aims to improve on their 14th place finish from Tokyo 2020.READ FULL

The Paris Paralympics opened on Wednesday in the city center, marking the start of 11 days of competition. The ceremony took place at Place de la Concorde, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron. Over 2 million tickets have been sold for events across 18 venues. China is expected to dominate, while host France aims for a top-8 finish. Ukraine sent a team of 140 athletes despite ongoing war. The Games hope to raise awareness of disability issues globally. READ FULL

Jackie Chan, 70, is set to be a torchbearer for the Paris Paralympics opening ceremony. The Hong Kong-born actor, known for his blend of comedy and martial arts, has a significant following in France. Chan’s career spans from stunt work to Hollywood stardom, including iconic scenes at the Eiffel Tower. Despite controversy over his pro-Beijing stance, Chan remains a global icon with an Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award and continues to be active in the film industry. READ FULL

Olympic gold medalist Armand Duplantis dominated the men’s pole vault at the Lausanne Diamond League meet, winning with a vault of 6.15 meters. The event, held on an esplanade by Lake Geneva, saw Duplantis clear 6.00m easily while others struggled. Only Sam Kendricks also cleared 5.92m. Duplantis set a new meet record on his third attempt at 6.15m, celebrating enthusiastically. Former Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie finished eighth with 5.72m. AFP

Kobe Bryant’s locker from Staples Center sold for $2.9 million at Sotheby’s auction, nearly doubling its estimate. The locker, used during Bryant’s 20-year Lakers career, was saved from disposal in 2018. The high price reflects Bryant’s enduring legacy following his tragic death in 2020. The auction also featured memorabilia from other sports icons like Michael Jordan and Rafael Nadal. AFP

Sprinter Imranur Rahman has secured a wild card entry to the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming Bangladesh’s third athlete to qualify. World Athletics confirmed his participation to the Bangladesh Olympic Association. Rifle shooter Robiul Islam and archer Sagor Islam have already qualified. The country is expecting another wild card for swimmer Samiul Islam Rafi. Bangladesh may potentially send a four-member team to Paris, with the Olympics scheduled from July 26 to August 11. Daily Star

Bangladesh retained the Men’s Junior AHF Cup title in Singapore, defeating China 4-2 in the final. Rakibul Hasan scored twice, while Amirul Islam and Obaidul added one goal each for Bangladesh. China mounted a comeback with two goals in the later quarters, but Bangladesh held on for the win. This victory marks Bangladesh’s third title in the tournament’s history. Bangladesh, China, and Thailand have all qualified for the upcoming Men’s Junior Asia Cup. Daily Star

Bangladesh secured a spot in the final of an unspecified tournament with a convincing 5-1 victory in their semifinal match. Despite conceding an early goal, Bangladesh quickly equalized through Mohammad Joy. Amirul Islam scored twice from penalty corners, while Mohammad Abdullah netted two field goals. The defending champions will face China in the final, who defeated Thailand 4-0 in the other semifinal. Source Daily Star

Bangladesh’s women’s under-21 hockey team has qualified for the Women’s Junior Asia Cup for the first time after defeating Indonesia 10-1 in the AHF Cup. Arpita Paul scored a hat-trick, while Irin Riya and Kona Akter each scored twice. Bangladesh is currently third in the seven-team league with 12 points from five matches. The top four teams will advance to the Junior Asia Cup. Bangladesh’s final position will be determined after their match against Singapore. Source Daily Star

A new report titled “Rings of Fire” warns of the dangers posed by extreme high temperatures at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Backed by climate scientists and athletes, the report cautions that intense heat could lead to competitors collapsing or worse during the Games. It urges organizers to rethink scheduling for summer events and implement improved cooling and rehydration plans to mitigate heat-related risks for athletes and spectators. AFP

Olympic 100m champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs ramped up his preparations for the Paris Games by breaching the 10-second barrier twice on Tuesday at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland. The Italian clocked 9.99 seconds in his heat and 9.92 seconds in the final, his third-fastest time ever. Jacobs, who won 100m and 4x100m relay gold in Tokyo, had dipped under 10 seconds just once since 2021 before this meet.

The Bangladesh women’s U-21 hockey team strengthened their lead in the Women’s Junior AHF Cup points table with a commanding 7-2 victory over Sri Lanka in Singapore. Orpita Pal’s hat-trick and goals from Riya, Nadira, Sonia Khatun, and another from Orpita secured the win, Bangladesh’s third successive triumph in the tournament. With nine points, they now lead Chinese Taipei by three points, boosting their hopes of qualifying for the Women’s Junior Asia Cup.

Mohammad Din Islam’s fourth quarter hat-trick powered the Bangladesh Under-21 hockey team to a convincing 5-0 victory over Sri Lanka in the Men’s Junior AHF Cup in Singapore. After a goalless first half, Amirul Islam and Mohammad Abdullah scored before Din Islam’s trio of goals sealed the comprehensive win. With two successive victories, Bangladesh tops Pool A alongside Thailand on points but leads on goal difference.