Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the prestigious Sheikh Kamal National Sports Council (NSC) Award-2023 to 10 sports personalities and two organisations in eight categories in recognition of outstanding contribution to sports on Saturday, July 5. Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Sports Council (NSC) organised the programme at the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium. She distributed the awards among the winners on the occasion of the 74th birth anniversary of Shaheed captain Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Who gets the award? For the first time, included sports commentator category in the Sheikh Kamal NSC award. Former national cricketer and cricket commentator Atahar Ali Khan was adorned with the sports commentator award. Abdus Sadek, the legendary hockey player and the first captain of Bangladesh national hockey team, was nominated for the lifetime achievement award. Women's football team captain Sabina Khatun, cricketer Taskin Ahmed and South Asian gold medal winner weightlifter Ziaur Islam got the award in sportsman category. Table Tennis player Muhtasin Ahmed Hriday and hockey player Amirul Islam received emerging athlete award while grassroots hockey organiser Ustad Fazlu and Kalsindur Govt. School and College's principal Mala Rani Sarker got the awards in sports organiser. Bangladesh Archery Federation received the sports association/ federation/ organisation award while Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) got the sports sponsor award. Khandakar Tarqk M Nurullah got sports journalist award. In 2021, The youth and sports ministry introduced the Sheikh Kamal NSC Award for the first time on the occasion of Sheikh Kamal's 72nd birth anniversary. Everyone will receive Taka one lakh, a crest and certificate.

As the Special Olympics looks to change the attitude towards disabilities, its athletes are inspiring people the world over. Those include stars from the sport's world like Dirk Nowitzki and Lewis Hamilton. As the Special Olympics World Games kicked off with its opening ceremony in Berlin's Olympic Stadium, former Dallas Mavericks' star Dirk Nowitzki had one simple request: "Come out and support all the athletes." The basketball star was not alone in lending his support to the Special Olympians as seven-time Formula 1 champion driver Lewis Hamilton sent a message to the 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 180 countries, especially those athletes from Great Britain. "It's really amazing what you are able to do out there," Hamilton said in a video. "Just go out and have the best time and enjoy yourself."   Taking part Indeed, as Hamilton implies, the "taking part" is as, if not more, important than the competition at the Special Olympics World Games, adding:  "I am massively inspired and so proud of all of you."   "It is not about winning or losing but about engaging in sport," said Dirk Nowitzki, the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2007, who hails from from Würzburg, Germany. "It's about athletes coming together and having the chance to play and learn from sports, just like I did," Nowitzki said after an appearance with the German Special Olympics 3-on-3 basketball teams. "I am happy to experience this." Romania's five-time Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci is similarly inspired, and not just by the athletes. "Special Olympics is not just about a big event like Berlin, important though that is," she wrote recently. "It's also about the work done at grassroots level" by coaches, trainers and administrators. 3,000 coaches have joined the athletes in Berlin. But that is a drop in the ocean compared to those who work with the six million athletes with intellectual disabilities globally "using sport to create an inclusive world for people of all abilities," as Comaneci, a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics, wrote in a Laureus Sport for Good column. Challenge to German, European sports clubs Among the star power boosting Special Olympics in Berlin is a member of unofficial United States royalty. Timothy Shriver, the Chairman of Special Olympics, is a part of the Kennedy family. His mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the younger sister of President John F. Kennedy, helped start the Special Olympics.  He told he sees the Games in Berlin specifically helping German and European sports clubs further open their doors to Special Olympians. "We're very confident that this country will embrace the idea of the Special Olympics as a challenge to be more inclusive in sports clubs and schools." "Less than 10% of the clubs offer sport for Special Olympics athletes. I hope that the Special Olympics World Games will create more attention." We hope that this message resonates throughout Europe," Shriver told DW. "People with intellectual disabilities have something unique to offer." Changing attitudes As the Special Olympics' inspirational athletes and message continues to resonate around the world, the hope is that events in Berling can further change the perception. "Let's change public attitudes towards disability, Special Olympics," Drogba, the former Ivory Coast football star, has tweeted.  He, like Nadia Comaneci, famous for her the first-ever Olympics perfect gymnasitcs score of 10 in 1976, is a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics.  As is Irish golfer Padraig Harrington, American figure skater Michelle Kwan, Chinese tennis star, Li-Na, and a host of other stars from the world of sport.  Speaking to the athletes, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton said in his video: "I am massively inspired and so proud of all of you, I don't think anyone can understand just how hard the journey has been for all of you to be able to be where you are." As the World Games continue to inspire people across the globe, many, it seems, are coming closer to that understanding. 

Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council (JKSC) recently conducted a community outreach program in the Badamwari and Kalai Andar area of downtown Srinagar in an effort to combat drug abuse and promote a healthier lifestyle. The program aimed to sensitize elders and sports enthusiasts about the rising issue of drug abuse while highlighting the positive impact of sports in addressing prevalent social challenges. Speaking about the initiative, the JKSC Secretary expressed their commitment to leveraging the power of sports as a tool for social change. They stated, “Sports can play a significant role in mitigating the effects of prevalent social issues like drug abuse. By involving community members in sports activities, we aim to create a strong support system and foster a sense of belonging among individuals.” These individuals, who gather early morning from various downtown areas, were encouraged to become ambassadors of fitness, sports awareness, and community involvement in government initiatives. Under the leadership of the JKSC Secretary, along with the additional Secretary of the Youth Services and Sports (YSS) department, Waseem Raja, the campaign sought to raise awareness about the government’s initiatives to engage the general public in sports through the Jan Baghidari program. The ultimate goal is to create a vibrant sports ecosystem in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir. The additional Secretary of YSS, Shri Waseem Raja, emphasized the importance of community involvement and said, “The Jan Baghidari campaign encourages active participation from the public to collectively build a robust sports ecosystem. When community members embrace sports, they not only improve their physical well-being but also contribute to the overall development of the society.” The program witnessed enthusiastic participation from the residents of the Badamwari and Kalai Andar areas, who expressed their eagerness to contribute to the growth of sports in the region. A local resident, Mr Ali Khan, stated, “We are grateful for the efforts of the J-K Sports Council in reaching out to us. Sports have the potential to channel our energy positively, and we are ready to be the torchbearers of fitness and community engagement.” Through this community outreach program, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council aims to foster a culture of sports and fitness, empowering individuals to tackle societal challenges while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. The government’s Jan Baghidari campaign, coupled with the enthusiastic response from the residents, promises a brighter future for sports in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Source: The Print

Joy of sports is not just for the youth, the District Youth Services and Sports in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, has shown by conducting events for senior citizens as part of their Sports for Seniors Sports Week. About 45 senior citizens participated in football and Tug-of-War events held at GD College Baramulla, proving that age is just a number when it comes to enjoying sports. One of the participants, Abdul Rashid, expressed his delight at being part of the event. He said, “I never imagined that I would be playing football at this age, but I am so happy that I did. It was such great fun. I am grateful to the Department of Youth Services and Sports for organising such an event.” Another participant, Zareena Begum, shared her story saying, “I used to be a basketball player when I was young, but due to my age, I had to give up the sport. However, today, I feel young again. I thank the department for making me feel that way.” The event was a reminder that everyone, regardless of their age, can benefit from participating in sports. Bilal Ahmad, the organiser of the event, highlighted this point, saying, “We organised this event to encourage senior citizens to participate in sports and show that sports can bring joy and health benefits to people across ages.” Ahmad added, “The success of this event has encouraged us to organise more such events for senior citizens and continue promoting sports as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.”

UFC and WWE are joining together to form a mega sports entertainment brand worth over $21 billion. Endeavour, the owner of the UFC brand, will hold a controlling share. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) are set to become one joint company, according to a deal announced by UFC-owner Endeavour Group Holdings Inc on Monday. The new publicly traded company will combine the two popular fighting entertainment brands with a combined worth of over $21 billion (€19.3 billion). WWE alone is valued at $9.3 billion. Endeavour will hold a 51% controlling stake in the new company with WWE's shareholders taking the remaining 49%. "This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed," said Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, in a company statement. More value for the shareholders Vince McMahon, the founder of WWE, will keep his job as executive chairman. He only returned to the company in January, saying that it was up for sale. There had already been rumors of such a move being planned, with Endeavour, Disney, Fox, Comcast, Amazon and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund seen as the most likely buyers. While both UFC and WWE brands broadcast fights for entertainment, the former focuses on mixed martial arts whereas the latter is well known as a performance of fighting along with soap opera-like storylines — although still with a high risk of injury for the performers. "For decades, Vince and his team have demonstrated an incredible track record of innovation and shareholder value creation, and we are confident that Endeavor can deliver significant additional value for shareholders by bringing UFC and WWE together," Emanuel said. WWE — an attractive acquisition WWE is considered a fruitful investment due to its broad range of appeal and large loyal fanbase, especially regarding social media interactions. The wrestling company pulled in a revenue of $1.3 billion last year. It hosted its annual flagship event Wrestlemania over the weekend. The company is a giant on social media with almost 94 million YouTube subscribers and over 20 million followers on TikTok. Its performers also have their own media pull, especially the women wrestlers who make up five out of the top 15 most followed female athletes across various social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Winter sports are breaking down barriers and becoming a national movement in India, according to Olympic legend Shiva Keshavan of India. Keshavan, a special visitor at the third Khelo India National Winter Games in Gulmarg, has represented India six times at the Olympics and was the first Indian to compete in the sport of luge there. He is presently a member of the committee set up by the Union Sports Ministry to promote winter sports and is regarded as a legend in Indian winter sports. While enjoying the colourful atmosphere during the Khelo India National Winter Games at Gulmarg, Keshavan said that Government should be hailed for popularising winter sports in the country. “I am personally too happy to see such an atmosphere during the winter games. I always dreamt about it and it is truly turning into reality now,” Shiva said.  Around 1500 athletes representing 29 States, Union territories and other Institutional teams participated in the 3rd edition of the Games in Gulmarg. “Important thing is that in this Khelo India Games, there are participants and teams from all over India. Those who were thinking that Wintersport has no following, no athletes in India, have to change their thoughts,” the Olympic legend said. For Shiva Keshavan seeing winter sports getting popular and having such huge gatherings is personal dream come true moment. “When I started winter sports, it had very little following in India. Only athletes from certain places used to compete and had to endure a lot to even do that. Now all that is changing and these games are making winter games popular. The wintersport in India is now turning into a true pan India sport and for me, it is dream come true,” he said. Keshavan who is a member of the Union Ministry to develop a wintersport in the Country said that he will try to give his input and help Government to take this sport to other parts of the Country. “Government is serious and committed in the promotion of wintersport. They want to develop other wintersport destinations as well and don’t want to confine this sport to traditional places only. We will give our suggestions and share our experience in that regard. We will also try to hold future Khelo India Games in a better and smooth way,” he said. Source: Greater kashmir

Conquering New Zealand in New Zealand At in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, Bangladesh’s year in sports began with the miracle. After 36 defeats, for the very first time Bangladesh men’s cricket team conquered New Zealand in New Zealand, that too in Tests, the format where they are the most vulnerable. The Test began on 1 January. Tigers squad was without Tamim and Shakib, so naturally, not much was expected from them against the reigning ICC World Test Champions. But Mominul Haque’s team outclassed everyone’s expectations and scripted an upset, which according to many cricket analysts is the biggest in the storied history of the game. Pacer Ebadot Hossain was the star of the match as it was his fiery spell on the fourth day after half-centuries from Mominul, Liton Das, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto in Bangladesh’s first innings that set up a landmark eight-wicket win over the Black Caps. ODI series win in South Africa After the conquest down under, the men’s cricket team went to South Africa and notched up another remarkable win. On 18 March, the Tigers won their very first ODI against the Proteas in South Africa, defeating the hosts by 38 runs. That win was enough to term the South Africa tour a success for Bangladesh. But on March 23rd, in the third and final match of the ODI series, the Tigers went one step further and sealed their maiden ODI series win against South Africa away from home. Pacer Taskin Ahmed was the star performer for Bangladesh in that series, with eight wickets in those two wins. Women’s team register maiden win in World Cup In March this year, the Bangladesh women’s cricket team began their maiden ODI World Cup campaign. Nigar Sultana’s team didn’t head into the tournament with lofty dreams. Realistically, there were only two opponents Bangladesh could target for a win in the eight-team competition– West Indies and Pakistan. Against the West Indies, Bangladesh lost by four runs in a nail-biter. However, against Pakistan, it was Bangladesh who ended up on the winning side. Bangladesh posted 234-7, their highest total in a Women’s ODI, thanks to Fargana Hoque’s 71, Nigar’s 46 and Sharmin Akhter’s 44. With Captain Sidra Ameen’s 104 Pakistan got near the target but Fahima Khatun’s three-wicket haul helped Bangladesh seal a historic nine-run win. The SAFF triumph This calendar year in September, the most joyous moment came in Bangladesh sports. At the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu the likes of Sabina Khatun, Maria Manda, Sanjida Akhtar ran circles around their opponents with eye soothing football at the SAFF Women’s Championship. Bangladesh won all three of their matches at the group-stage, thrashed Bhutan 8-0 in the semifinal to set up a final against hosts Nepal. In the final, Krishna Rani Sarkar scored a brace and Shamsunnahar Junior scored once to help Bangladesh win 3-1 and lift their first ever women’s SAFF Championship title. What happened after the triumph, was something the country’s sports hadn’t witnessed before. The champion team arrived in Dhaka to a grand reception, with thousands flocking the airport to catch a glimpse of the golden girls. Then, the team got on an open top bus and paraded their trophy throughout Dhaka in a joyride that will be remembered forever. Defeating India at home, again After a lull in between, the men’s cricket team finished the year on a high note, defeating India 2-1 in a three-match ODI series. A star-studded Indian team arrived in Dhaka for a bilateral series after seven years at a time when the entire country was obsessing over the FIFA World Cup. The Bangladesh team then forced the countrymen to take interest to the series by defeating India in the first ODI by one wicket, thanks to a remarkable unbeaten 38 from Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s bat. Miraz didn’t stop there, as in the following match he brought up his maiden ODI century to rescue Bangladesh from 69-6 and claimed a couple of wickets, which ensured a series winning five-run win for the hosts. Source: Daily Prothom Alo

Girls of Jammu and Kashmir are setting new goals by participating in sports and winning medals for India. It is quite a common sight in the Kashmir valley to see girls practicing during early mornings and evenings. On conversing with Bilquis Mir, an international mentor for Water Sports who hails from the midtown area of Srinagar, said that a tough lady isn’t one who doesn’t cry, a resilient lady is the person who cries, battles and gets up once more. She accepted that Kashmiri young women have a huge potential to contend in whatever field they are dedicated themselves to. Jabeena Akhter, who won a bronze for the country in April last year in Wushu, shared difficulties athletes have to deal with. During her training, she had to walk many kilometres at an hour of turmoil when there was no vehicle on the street. She said that she couldn’t even realize that she had covered so much distance to reach the practice session because of the passion towards her game. 23-year-old Sheikh Sajida, a senior rugby player, recalled the hardships that she faced in the morning practice session during the 2016 unrest and said that she used to go to the polo ground that is situated in the heart of the city, Lal chowk and she could hardly see any civilians on the streets. She used to go to the field on my bicycle and used to bump into the army men on the roads. There are associations and trainees who work with the players but these international women players who have fulfilled their dreams by reaching the highest level have set up their respective academies and given full support and training to the upcoming players from the state. According to the statistics provided by Youth Services and Sports, there has been a considerable increase in the participation of women in different games. In 2016 unrest, the total number of women that participated at different levels was 6,886 by December 31, 2017. In 2017, the total number of women that participated was 7,724 till November 30. An official from Youth Services and Sports said that the 2016 unrest hardly affected the participation in the national games. They had sent the same number of women teams outside that they used to in previous years. Mir, who had started the Water Sports Academy in 2008, has seen a tremendous increase in the number of girls from 3 to 200 in 2017 and she feels extremely happy about it. She said that he trains my players for the international level so that they win their national-level medals at a minimum. Sajida, who also runs rugby classes at the University of Kashmir, trains players of both genders of all age groups. Girl participation in her classes has also increased from 11 to 80 players this year. She gets immense happiness while seeing them getting trained and I do it free of cost. Akhter also runs an academy in Baramulla which she started in 2008. She has set up many Wucho clubs in different areas of the district. Every year 30 students from her academy participate in the state championship. She said that in every club under my academy, at least 35 players are getting trained. Not only in Rugby, Wushu, water sports, but also cricket, football, badminton and basketball are areas where girls are showing their mettle. Unjuman Farooq, 26, has been the first woman from India to bring the gold medal to the country in the senior category at the international Thang Ta Martial Arts championship held at Imphal, Manipur in 2011. She has participated in 16 nationals including three Federation Cups and considers her father as her role model. She is also looking forward to achieving the status of being a Black Belt this year. South Kashmir’s Anantnag district which is mainly affected by the conflict has produced a cricket player Rubaiya Syed who recently played for the north zone women’s team in an inter-zone tournament organized by BCCI in Mumbai. She has also played in the Ranji Trophy. Jammu & Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) has sent it’s first-ever girls team to participate in the 6th National under 15 championships this year. Arifa Bilal is the first female from Jammu and Kashmir who won a gold medal in powerlifting. Apart from being the first female powerlifter gold medalist at the National level, Arifa has also won three more gold medals. Two Sisters Sofi Sheerana and Sofi Sharmeen from Ganderbal fetched gold medals at the National as well as on state levels. Both the sisters are proud students of Thai Boxing iron fist academy and are promoting self-defence for girls in letter and spirit. It is pertinent to mention that Jammu and Kashmir Youth Development Forum is a non-governmental organization which is functional in Kashmir for decades. The organization always stands active to work for the cause of National integration despite facing a number of threat warnings. The said organization focused on strengthening the National interests in Kashmir and nowadays the organization is actively working for the empowerment of women in Kashmir. All the above-quoted girls were time and again promoted, helped and felicitated by the Jammu and Kashmir Youth development forum with the motive to empower them and attract more and more girls towards the mainstream in Kashmir. The recently issued order by the lieutenant governor’s administration of Jammu and Kashmir making sports personnel qualified for occupations is clearly going to focus on the choice of young women for various posts and their change will rouse different young ladies to partake in the sports and mainstream activities. Source: Daily Sikh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on continuation of the ongoing progress in the field of country’s sports to brighten Bangladesh’s image in the international arena. “The sports and games help project the country in the international arena,” she said while addressing a reception accorded to the players of Bangladesh Under-16 Women Football Team for becoming the Group F champion in the recently held AFC Under-16 Women’s Championship. The reception was held at the Prime Minister’s official residence Gonobhaban in the capital on Thursday. Reports UNB. The Bangladesh Under-16 Women Football Team became the group champion beating Vietnam by 2-0 goals in the AFC Under-16 Women’s Championship in Dhaka on September 23 last. The Prime Minister assured of providing all possible support and cooperation to further flourish the country’s sports sector. Stressing the importance of engaging children in sports and cultural activities alongside their academic studies, she said the extracurricular activities help them be disciplined. “Besides, such activities play a significant role in ensuring their physical and mental growth,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said steps were taken during the first tenure of her government in 1996 to arrange football tournaments for female players, but there were lot of hurdles and obstacles during that time. Since then, she said, she vowed to bring a change to people’s mentality about women sports and games, particularly participation of women in football. “The arrangement of various tournaments like Bangamata football tournament during the last 10 years played a significant role in changing this attitude. As a result, Bangladesh’s female team earned lot of successes in regional and international competitions in both football and cricket,” she said, adding that the success of the under-16 girls is the outcome of such efforts. The Prime Minister recalled the contribution of Abahani founder Sheikh Kamal to the sports and games, saying he was also the introducer of modern football in Bangladesh. She said Bangladesh marched forward in many fronts during the last 10 years due to various steps taken by her government. “The present government has been working to ensure improved living standard and better future for all.” Sheikh Hasina expressed the hope that many more girls will be inspired in games and sports witnessing the successes of the female players like Bangladesh Under -16 Female Football Team. Later, the Prime Minister handed over prizes and gifts among the under-16 girls. AH