Local Snippets

Bangladesh chess Grand Master Ziaur Rahman makes a move during the opening ceremony of the Shaheed Muktijoddha Mufti Mohammad Kased International Rating Chess Tournament at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hallroom yesterday. Photo: COURTESY

Rajshahi reached the final of the Agrani Bank 23rd National Youth Hockey Championship with a 5-4 win over Faridpur in the tiebreaker at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.
The match rolled into the shootout after the regulation and extra time produced a 2-2 draw in the semifinal. Rajshahi goalkeeper Masud Parvez was the hero, thwarting the sixth shot of the opponents as after the first five shots the score was locked at 4-4.
Sarwar Hossain put Faridpur ahead in the tenth minute converting a penalty corner before Mostafizur Rahman levelled the margin through a field goal in the 27th minute.
After resumption, Rajshahi went ahead through Taher Ali while Faridpur equalised one minute from time through Sarwar Hossain.
AFC Women's Asian Cup
Bangladesh will host the Group B Qualifier matches of the AFC Women's Asian Cup in May next year. Bangladesh have been drawn in Group B along with Thailand, Iran and the Philippines.
The matches will take place at Bangabandhu National Stadium from May 21-25.
Bangladesh will start their campaign with a match against Thailand on May 21, before taking on Iran on May 23 and Philippines on May 25.
Senior Div F'ball
Dhaka Wanderers Club played out a 1-1 draw against Mohakhali Ekadash in the Popular Life Insurance Senior Division Football League at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium yesterday.
Ahmed Apu put Wanderers Club ahead in the 25th minute but the lead lasted only a minute as Krishna Paul levelled the margin for Mohakhali in the 26th minute.
Huge defeat for BD
The Bangladesh men's handball team made a frustrating start in the IHF Trophy Tournament when they suffered a massive 43-10 defeat against India in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday.
Bangladesh trailed the first half 26-4. Niraj Singh and Sukvir Sing scored six goals each for India.
Hosts Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen are the teams taking part in the tournament.
Rajib finishes 40th
Grand Master Enamul Hossain Rajib finished 40th in the Rose Valley Open International Chess Tournament in India after playing out a draw against Indian GM Sundararajan Kidambi in the 11th and final round in Kolkata yesterday.
Rajib earned six points from eleven matches. Uzbekistani GM Marat Dzhumaev emerged champion with eight points.
A total of 100 players from 19 countries, including 29 Grand Masters, three Women Grand Masters and 34 International Masters took part in the tournament.
Muktijoddha Chess underway
The Shaheed Muktijoddha Mufti Mohammad Kased International Rating Chess Tournament got underway yesterday at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hallroom.
A total of 164 players including GM Ziaur Rahman, GM Abdullah Al Rakib, IM Minhazuddin Ahmed, IM Abu Sufian Shakil are taking part in the event which also included six FIDE Masters and 117 rated players. Five players from Nepal are also taking part.