Saturday, January 30th, 2010The 11th South Asian Games got underway with a dazzling opening ceremony at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday with thousand of athletes and performers taking part in the three-and-a-half hour programme.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the 12-day regional sports extravaganza open. Bangladesh had hosted the event in 1985 and 1993.The colourful opening ceremony started with the march-past led by Afghanistan and completed by host Bangladesh with huge cheers and fanfare from the invited crowd.Commonwealth Games gold medal winning Bangladeshi shooter Asif Hossain Khan hoisted the red and green flag to lead the 453-strong Bangladesh contingent.A total of 1,793 athletes including ...
(read more) Saturday, August 26th, 2006Mahfuzur Rahman Mithu sprinted to glory, giving Bangladesh their first athletics gold medal in the South Asian Games in eleven years when the hurdler became the 110m hurdles champion in the tenth edition of the regional Games here yesterday.Mahbub Alam won the last gold for Bangladesh at the tracks, in 1995 at Madras when he won the men's 200m. Bangladesh male athletes returned with empty hands from the Islamabad meet two years ago but there was no doubt over who was going to win after the Noakhali-born hurdler raced a metre clear of the pack at Lane 5 at the ...
(read more) Friday, August 25th, 2006The 10th South Asian Games saw its first day without rain in Colombo yesterday but the sun was not at all shiny for the Bangladeshi contingent.Bangladesh failed to win a single medal having participated in three athletics events, two in shooting and two in karate where medals were decided.Earlier, late on Wednesday, the female team earned a bronze in the kata event to take the tally to one gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze medals.Meanwhile, the athletics competition began at the Sugathadasa Stadium in front of a full house and the first gold medal went to India's S Shanthi who ...
(read more) Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006Bangladesh's gold medal hopes narrowed down at the 10th South Asian Games here yesterday when two reigning champions failed to live up to the billing.After female shooter Sharmin Akhter, gold medalist in Pakistan two years ago, had to settle for silver in the 10m air rifle individual and team events, it was Rubel Rana's turn to frustrate the Bangladesh contingent.A surprise 100m backstroke gold medalist at Islamabad, Rubel even failed to grab a medal as he finished a depressing fifth at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Swimming Pool.It was a pity to see him only better his own timing, reaching the ...
(read more) Sunday, August 20th, 2006Bangladesh bowed out of the 10th South Asian Games football competition with a 2-1 loss to archrivals India at the Sugathadasa Stadium here yesterday.Although Bangladesh had beaten India for the first time in the history of the regional Games at this very ground in 1991, the current crop, despite playing a very attacking game in the second half, failed to repeat the same act in the crunch Group B match.India lead the first half 2-0. Feroz Mahmud Titu pulled onegoal back for Bangladesh converting a 68th minute penalty but that was not enough for them to avoid an early ...
(read more) Saturday, August 19th, 2006There are only two seasons in Sri Lanka: rain and sunshine. And nature showed both of its variety as the Sri Lankan capital -- decorated like a young, shy bride -- unveiled the 10th South Asian Games amidst sunshine, rain and foolproof security here Friday with hopes that the 'Olympics' of the region will help shift focus from terror to sports.Festoons, banners and spectacular paper lanterns of eight colours had already given a festive mood to this teardrop-shaped island of the Indian Ocean which -- despite Monday's terrorist bomb attack in the heart of Colombo that killed eight people -- ...
(read more) Thursday, August 17th, 2006Bangladesh will have to beat archrivals India in their last group match to make sure they reach the semifinals of the 10th South Asian Games football competition.Bangladesh wasted a few good chances to share points with Afghanistan in a goalless draw in yesterday's first match here at the Sugathadasa Stadium.With Group B yet to break out of the jinx of draws, all four teams were level on two points after Nepal rode on another late penalty to draw 1-1 with 10-man India in the second match of the day.Nepal, who have scored twice and conceded as many goals, enjoy superior ...
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