Australia's Alex de Minaur won his second consecutive ATP Mexican Open title on Saturday, defeating Norway's Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in the final at Acapulco. The 25-year-old from Sydney captured his eighth career ATP title after dropping four straight finals since downing American Tommy Paul in last year's final, the most recent last month at Rotterdam. World number nine de Minaur, a two-time winner also at Atlanta, dispatched 11th-ranked Ruud after one hour and 57 minutes, improving to 2-0 against his European foe after winning their only prior meeting at the 2019 ATP NextGen Finals. Ruud, a two-time French Open runner-up and the 2022 US Open runner-up, missed out on his 11th ATP title for the second week in a row after dropping last week's final at Los Cabos to another Aussie, Jordan Thompson. Ruud's most recent ATP crown came last April at Estoril. The players exchanged praise after the match, Ruud telling de Minaur: "Fantastic playing all week. Too good today. Seems like you are enjoying Acapulco quite well. You did a great job." De Minaur replied, "Great stuff. It was hard work. Thank you for a great match." Source: BSS

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today handed over the 'Asia Climate Mobility Champion Leader Award' to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud handed over the Asia Climate Mobility Champion Leader Award to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban this morning," Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsansul Karim told BSS. Earlier, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud and the Head of Bangladesh delegation in the COP28 high level segment, received the Award on behalf of the Prime Minister. The award was conferred on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, acknowledging her voice of leadership in championing the climate actions and a lead global advocate for vulnerable communities. The Global Centre for Climate Mobility, supported by IOM and the UN system conferred the Award during a high-level panel on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai on December 1. President of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Dennis Francis and Director General of IOM, Amy Pope co-hosted the high-level panel. During the UNGA78 Climate Mobility Summit, the Prime Minister drew the sharp focus of the global leaders to the urgency of climate-forced migration and displacement. The award is a significant international recognition to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the country's continuous advocacy in addressing climate mobility and the challenges derived from it. Botswana, Suriname and Palau also received the award from Africa and the Pacific. The Global Centre for Climate Mobility works for cooperative and comprehensive solutions to addressing climate mobility collaborating with the United Nations system, regional intergovernmental organizations and development finance institutions.  During COP27, the award was given to five African Heads of State and Government as Climate Mobility Champion Leaders. Source: BSS

The last Copa del Rey title was won by Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2014. After 9 years, Real Madrid wins the Copa del Rey title.  Los Blancos won the last Copa del Rey title in 2014 under Carlo Ancelotti. They got their title back to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium exactly after 9 years later. This time too, Carlo Ancelotti is the mastermind for Los Blancos. On Saturday, May 6, the victory of Real Madrid over Osasuna was 2-1 margin at Sevilla's Estadio de Olimpico stadium. Brazilian star Rodrygo Silva de Goes scored the both goals. And Lucas Torró Marset scored the only goal for Osasuna. Real suppressed Osasuna from the beginning of the match. It didn't take long to get the results for Real madrid.  Real Madrid scored their first goal in the second minute of the match. Brazilian forward Rodrygo did not make a mistake to score with a great pass from another Brazilian star forward Vinicius Junior.  The is the fastest goal for Real Madrid in the history Copa del Rey final in last 77 years. Which is also a record. After conceding a quick goal Club Atlético Osasuna also did the counter-attack.  In the 26th minute of the match, Real right back Daniel Carvajal Ramos saved Abdessamad Ezzalzouli's shot from the goal line. Then in the 32nd minute, Real could have scored from a free kick. But centre back David Olatukunbo Alaba's shot missed the net. The ball comes back from the goal post.  After that, Real Madrid went to the break with an one goal lead as they couldn't do any attack in the rest of the time of the first half of the match. CA Osasuna didn't take too much time to equalize after the break.  Osasuna equalized in the 58th minute of the match with Toro's long-range shot. After that, Real Madrid tried to score more. It was not too late to get the result.  At the 70th minute of the match, Real Madrid scored another goal. Toni Kroos long-range shot hit opponent defender's leg and Rodrygo got the ball and scored. So, Real Madrid won the Copa de Rey title with a 2-1 goal as they did not create any significant attacks in the rest of the period of the match. 

A new feather has been added to the crown of women's football in Bangladesh. Bangladesh won the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship title for the first time after defeating Nepal at home. By defeating Nepal in 3-0 margin, Tigresses won the title at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Shipahi Mustofa Kamal Stadium at Kamalapur. Meanwhile, the hosts started playing aggressive football from the beginning of the match. However,  Golam Rabbani's team could not see the goal due to lack of finishing. On the other hand, Nepal got a chance to take the lead in the 23rd minute of the match. However, Bangladesh was lucky in that journey by the skill of the host goalkeeper Rupna Chakma.

The Australian Open got a new champion. Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus won the Grand Slam trophy for the first time in her career. On Saturday, january 28, Sabalenka played against Elena Rybakina in the women's final in the first Grand Slam event of the year. The duration of this match was 2 hours and 28 minutes, Sabalenka defeated Kazakhstan's Rybakina. And through this match, Aryna Sabalenka won the first Grand Slam of her career in 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Sabalenka, however, fell behind in the first set at Rod Laver Arena. From there, Sabalenka turned-around. Before Sabalenka has reached semifinal once at Wimbledon and twice at the US Open. This 24-year-old Sabalenka played the first grand slam final of her life. In the land of kangaroos, Aryna Sabalenka created a history. Aryna Sabalenka fell to the ground after winning the last point. Tear in her eyes. Over 31,000 tennis fans at Rod Laver Arena joined in the applause and cheers.

To reach in the final Mahmudullah XI had to calculate a much. Tamim XI was the contender to reach the final by winning the last match as they were ahead in the run rate. But Tamim XI lost to Nazmul XI and made the way for Mahmudullah XI to reach in the final. On Sunday’s final Nazmul XI faced Mahmudullah XI. Earlier in the both league matches Mahmudullah XI lost to Nazmul XI. But in the final today Mahmudullah XI easily beat Nazmul XI. For Mahmudullah XI the difference was made by Liton Das’s 68-run innings with 10 boundaries. Besides, 53 by Imrul Kayes and captain Riyad’s 23 help Mahmudullah XI to pick the victory of 7 wickets after completing 29.3 overs. Earlier, winning the toss Mahmudullah invited Nazmul XI to bat first. But Soumya and Mushfique could not stand before the fierce bowling of Sumon Khan. Sumon began the havoc by sending Saif Hasan for 4. Then he fell down Mushfique in the trap of LBW for 12 runs. Soumya went to the dressing room scoring 5 runs. Captain Nazmul Shanto scored 32 runs before being the prey of Miraz. But in this terrible moment Irfan Sukkur wanted to turn back. Towhid Hridoy supported him to turn the innings long. Hridoy went back to the pavilion after scoring 26 of 53 balls and Irfan Sukkur scored 75 runs from 77 balls. Sumon grabbed 5 wickets after sending back Nayeem Hasan and Taskin. AH    

Palestine have become unbeaten champion in Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football tournament. The Middle East team has retained the title for second consecutive term after beating Burundi by 3-1 goals. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina enjoyed the game at Bangabandhu national stadium on Saturday. The host Bangladesh were out from the semifinal in the special tournament arranged on the occasion of birth centenary of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In the second minute of the match Khaled Salem started the goal festival for Palestine. On the 10th minute Palestine captain Sameh Maraba made the difference double. The champion of the previous tournament went to the interval with 3-0 lead when Layeth Kharoub scored his goal through a rebound shot. On the other hand Burundi tried their best to score goal for their come back in the match. But all the attacks lost pace in the Palestine defense. In the second half the African country intensified their attacking football. In the 60th minute Burundi scored a goal with help of Dikumana Azman. But in the rest of the time both the teams failed to score more. After the match Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the trophy to the winners. The daughter of Bangabandhu at that time thanked all for successfully organizing the tournament. AH   

Rtv has emerged as champion in Walton-DRU Media Cup Football Tournament-2019 after beating Channel-24 in the tie-breaker. On Sunday morning at Captain M Mansur Ali national handball stadium, in the first half of the game Rtv took the lead by 2-0 goals scored by Masud Mostahid. In the second half Channel-24 leveled the score. The match went on for tie breaker as the score was 2-2 in the stipulated time. At last team Rtv burst into joy after beating their opponent by 3-1 goals in the penalty shootout. Information Minister and Awami League publicity and publication secretary Hasan Mahmud handed over the prizes to the champion team as the chief guest. Players Sharif Uddin Limon (Captain), Zahid Rahman, Shariat Khan, Maidur Rahman Rubel, Masud Mostahid and Shahabuddin Shihab. Man of the final Shariat Khan AH

On Friday there were roars at the Bangabandhu national stadium from both the ends of Gulistan and Motijheel. The supporters of red-green were inspiring their favorite team when Bangladesh girls were attacking to the opponent post. The followers of Golam Rabbani Chhotan in their ‘group B’ last match beat Kyrgyzstan by 2-1 goals in the Bangamata Under 19 International Women’s Gold Cup Football Tournament. With this win the hosts are in the next round after being champion in the group B. The hosts attacked the opponent post from beginning to the end. Bangladesh dominated the match but missed a lot of scope for scoring. On the day Bangladesh score at the 30th second of the first half. Sanjida Akter placed the ball to the goal bar after getting a pass from Krishna Rani Sarkar. After that they missed some easy chances. Bangladesh girls went into the break with 1-0 goal lead. In the second half they began to attack like the first half. But success did not come. In the 59th minute Krishna scored with a header. She got the ball from scorer Sanjida. At the end alternative player Tahura made some opportunities but did not succeed. Bangladesh will play the second semi-final on Tuesday at the same venue. ‘Group A’ runner up team will be their opponent. AH      

Bangladesh U-18 Women’s team emerged Group B champion to reach the semifinals of the maiden SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship beating Nepal by 2-1 goals in their last group match at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan on Tuesday. Touring Bangladesh will play Group A runners-up hosts Bhutan in the 2nd semifinal on Friday while Group A champion India will play the first semifinal against Group B runners-up Nepal on the same day and same venue. In the day’s match, Bangladesh led the first half by 2-0 goals against the Himalayan nation.  Sirat Jahan Shopna, who made a double hat-trick scoring seven goals in their 17-0 goals victory over Pakistan on Sunday, opened the Bangladesh account first in the 16th minute by a placing shot after beating opponent custodian from the right wing (1-0) and dominated the scorer list making eight goals in two matches. Krishna Rani Sarkar doubled the Bangladesh margin in the 32nd minute by placing the ball over advancing opponent custodian, utilizing a long pass of her fellow custodian (2-0).  Reashi Kumari reduced the Nepalese margin scoring a goal in the 2nd minute of the stoppage time (92nd minute) (2-1).   Earlier in the different age group matches, Bangladesh Women’s team beat Nepal on regular occasions.  Bangladesh beat Nepal by 6-0 goals in the SAFF U-15 Championship in Dhaka in 2017, beat them again by 3-0 goals in the same tournament in Bhutan in  August last and outplayed Nepal by 14-0 goals in the AFC U-14 zonal meet in Kazakhstan in 2016. Earlier, Bangladesh U-18 Women’s team, riding on a double hat-trick by Sirat Jahan Shopna, reached the semifinal of the maiden SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship from Group B crushing Pakistan by 17-0 goals in their first appearance at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu. Earlier in the group matches, Nepal made a flying start crushing Pakistan by massive 12-0 goals while India also made a good start beating hosts Bhutan 4-0 and Bhutan outplayed the Maldives 13-0 and India beat Maldives 8-0 goals. Source: UNB AH