DT e-Paper 27 February 2017

Sports 19
DT
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017
2ND SHEIKH KAMAL INTERNATIONAL CLUB CUP
TC Sports face Manang in first semi
• Shishir Hoque
TC Sports Club of Maldives will take
on Nepalese outfit Manang Marshyangdi
Club in the first semi-final of
the second Sheikh Kamal International
Club Cup Football, scheduled
to kick off at MA Aziz Stadium in
Chittagong today at 6:30pm.
TC Sports, who got promoted to
the top flight, the Dhivehi Premier
League, for the first time in 2015
after winning the second division
crown the previous year, are confident
of their title-winning prospects.
“It won’t be an easy game. It will
be the toughest game and we are prepared
to show the same consistency
that we had put up in the last three
matches. Our target is to win the
match,” said TC Sports head coach
Nizam Mohamed during the prematch
press conference yesterday.
TC Sports might be a new addition
in the Maldives top tier, but
they have strengthened the squad
over the last few years. They began
their Club Cup campaign with
a surprising win over Bangladesh
Premier League champion Dhaka
Abahani Limited on the opening
day. They finished top of Group A
with seven points.
“When we got confirmation
of our participation, I have been
teaching the players. I am lucky
to have some experienced players
who played at national level. They
also played AFC Championship.
There are some young players and
they are up for the semi-finals. I am
really happy that they are ready for
the semi,” added Nizam.
Manang Marshyangdi, on the
other hand, are one of the most successful
clubs in Nepal's domestic
football scene, winning a record seven
Nepal A-Division League titles.
However, their journey to the
last four has been anything but
easy as they narrowly finished second
in Group B with four points.
“Every coach hope to win a
semi-final. I think we will give
them (opposition) a good fight.
Both teams are favourite to win the
match. The team will come out who
create more chances and avail them
in the match because two teams
have same strength,” said Manang
coach Chiring Lopsang Gurung.
He added, “We are not physically
equal with the Maldivian club and
everything depends on how the
tactics work. So we will do our best
to capitalise the opportunities. We
have watched them and are mulling
a strategy to destroy their plan.”
Meanwhile, the second semi-final
between Ctg Abahani and South Korea’s
Pocheon FC will be held at the
same venue tomorrow evening. •
TC Sports Club of Maldives put the finishing touch to their preparation yesterday
in Chittagong
COURTESY
Imrul blasts ton, Sanjamul bags five in BCL
• Tribune Report
2nd BTI Open Golf tees off today
• Tribune Report
A total of 126 golfers, including some
top names from south Asia, will be taking
part in the second edition of the BTI
Open that tees off at Kurmitola Golf Club
in Dhaka today.
Bangladesh golfing icon Siddikur Rahman,
who won the inaugural edition
last year, is not participating this time
around. In his absence, Mohammad Zamal
Hossain Mollah will lead the charge on
behalf of the host nation.
Indian golfer Rashid Khan is one of the
favourites this year but there are some
other names from the neighbouring country
like Ajeetesh Sandhu, Shamim Khan,
Khalin Joshi and Udayan Mane who can
exhibit a strong display. Sri Lanka will
also be well represented in the form of
Mithun Perera and Anura Rohana.
A press conference was held at Kurmitola
Gold Club yesterday where the details
of the tournament were announced.
It was informed that the tournament will
be the Professional Golf Tour of India's
Imrul Kayes struck a hundred as
South Zone were all out for 296
against East Zone in the first day of
the fifth round of the BCL yesterday.
In the other match, left-arm
spinner Sanjamul Islam bagged
five wickets as Central Zone were
dismissed for 181.
South v East, Chittagong
National cricketer Imrul, who is
recovering from thigh injury and
had to sit out the Sri Lanka tour,
smashed a brilliant century after
highest prize-money event in Bangladesh,
carrying a prize purse of Tk4.8m.
“The PGTI, the BPGA and BTI are
working towards a common goal of promoting
professional golf in the south
Asian region. The second edition of the
South elected to bat at Zahur Ahmed
Chowdhury Stadium in the port city.
The left-hander blasted 18 sweetly
timed fours and two sixes in his
294-ball 136. Anamul Haque was the
second highest scorer with 58 but
none of the batsmen were able to put
up a significant score as South were
eventually bundled out for 296.
Medium pacer Mohammad
Saifuddin and left-arm spinner
Saqlain Sajib picked up three wickets
each. East finished the day on
four without loss. They trail the
opposition by 292 runs. Opening
batsmen Imtiaz Hossain (four not
The details of the second BTI Open Golf were announced in a press conference yesterday at
Kurmitola Golf Club in Dhaka
COURTESY
BTI Open is a reflection of this shared
vision. Tournaments such as the BTI
Open will further contribute towards the
strengthening of golfing ties between India
and Bangladesh,” said PGTI director
Uttam Singh Mundy. •
out) and Afif Hossain (nought not
out) will resume the second day's
proceedings today.
North v Central, Sylhet
Central continued their poor run
with the bat as they were skittled
out for 181. North spinner Sanjamul
bagged 5/45 in 24.5 overs. Opener
Saif Hasan was the top-scorer with
63 while Taibur Rahman remained
not out on 40. Seamer Farhad Reza
provided valuable support to Sanjamul,
picking up three wickets.
In reply, North Zone lost three
wickets and ended the day on 63
5TH BCL, RD 5, DAY 1
CENTRAL ZONE 181 in 63.5 overs (Saif
63, Sanjamul 5/45) lead NORTH ZONE
63/3 in 21 overs (Jahurul 35, Sharifullah
1/5) by 118 runs
SOUTH ZONE 296 in 80 overs (Imrul
136, Saqlain 3/17) lead EAST ZONE 4/0
in eight overs (Imtiaz four not out, Afif
zero not out) by 292 runs
with skipper Jahurul Islam scoring
35. Junaid Siddique (17 not out) and
Naeem Islam (four not out) will resume
their innings today. •
BGB, Army claim inaugural
Oriental Wrestling titles
• Tribune Report
Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Army
emerged as champions in the Walton 1st Oriental Wrestling
Championship in the men's and women's category
respectively as the event concluded at Paltan Maidan
yesterday.
BGB bagged a total of three golds, three silvers and two
bronze medals to finish top in the men's category while
Bangladesh Army became runners-up with three golds,
two silvers and as many bronzes. Bangladesh Ansar &
VDP ended third.
Bangladesh Army retained their title in the women's
event, winning six golds and two silvers while Bangladesh
Ansar & VDP claimed one gold and five silvers to
finish runners-up. Bangladesh Police emerged third.
In the men's category, Uzzal Mia, Sheikh Jamal, Dipu,
Mehedi, Mahfuz, Kazi Bahar, Mokarram and Mangnu
clinched golds in 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg
and 125kg respectively. In the women's event, Rumi,
Runa, Mukti, Nipa, Sharmin, Rina, Mariom and Aklima
grabbed golds in 48kg, 53kg, 55kg, 58kg, 60kg, 63kg, 69kg
and 75kg respectively. A total of 128 male and female
wrestlers from four service teams took part in 16 weight
category events in the two-day long tournament. •