Short Corner

K-Sports get rights to Bangamata Gold Cup

K-Sports, the country's premium sport marketing agent, has earned all the rights to the Bangamata U-19 Women's International Gold Cup Football tournament, which is scheduled to get underway in the latter part of April.

The Bangladesh Football Federation and K-Sports signed a deal in this regard, with BFF president Kazi Salahuddin and K-Sports CEO Fahad Karim signing on behalf of their respective organisations at the BFF House yesterday.              -- Sports Reporter

Zia finishes in 36th place

Grand Master Ziaur Rahman finished 36th in the 17th Delhi International Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament after losing to Russian GM Predke Alexandr in the final and 10th round in New Delhi yesterday.

Zia, who was in joint-third position after eight round, secured 6.5 points along with 21 other players and finished 36th out of 322 players. FM Fahad Rahman, who beat Indian FM Harshal Shahi in the 10th round, became 63rd despite also having 6.5 points.

FM Mehdi Hasan Parag and Tahsin Tajwar Zia finished 185th and 195th respectively after losing to Russia's Pavlov Mark and India's Akshay Anand respectively. Both secured 4.5 points from 10 matches.

Meanwhile, Georgian GM Pantsulaia Levan emerged as the champion with eight points through the tiebreaking system. Seven players had shared the top spot after the final round.        -- Sports Reporter

FIFA, AFC in contact over detained Bahraini player

FIFA says it has been in regular contact with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over the Bahraini soccer player arrested in Thailand in November over a prison sentence in his homeland.

The Australian soccer players' union this week called on the AFC to intervene to help secure the release of Hakeem Al Araibi, who plays in Australia but was arrested in November in Bangkok on an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain's request.               --Reuters