From a shock defeat to Scotland in the first round to eventually qualifying for the Super 12, Bangladesh have seen both sides of the coin in their short time at the ICC T20 World Cup.

Mahmudullah Riyad's troops will now begin their Super 12 journey with a game against Sri Lanka in Group 1 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium today.

The match will begin at 4:00pm Bangladesh standard time.

In the evening, the flagship event will witness an epic Group 2 clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket stadium, the frenzy created by which can be observed on the streets of the UAE.

Although the India captain Virat Kohli and his Pakistani counterpart Babar Azad will be taking it as just another game, emotions related to this historic face-off always give it a deeper significance.

Pakistan have never been able to beat India in the T20 World Cup in five attempts, but considering the form guide, both teams are evenly matched.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh dressing room has taken on a dense environment following the six-run defeat to Scotland. Intense criticism followed that defeat, with even Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan remarking about the poor showing from the Tigers.

However, Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo stated yesterday that the players are focused on upcoming matches and were not concerned by what was being said on the outside.

“The focus will be on cricket, not concern about what is being said outside the team, be it in the media or anywhere else. My concern is about my team and making sure my team is preparing well for Sunday mentally and physically,” Domingo said during a pre-match press conference yesterday.

Bangladesh's main weapon against Sri Lanka will be premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was in terrific form during the three first-round matches in Oman.

The left-hander, who has 675 runs in 28 T20 World Cup matches, has a chance to leapfrog South Africa legend AB de Villiers (717 runs) into fifth place in the list of top run-getters at the T20 World Cup.

With 39 wickets, Shakib is also joint-top among leading wicket-takers in the T20 World Cup. He can go past Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and make a spot for himself at the top with just one scalp.

Recent scores suggest that the pitch in Sharjah will be slow and it will be difficult for batters to score freely, so the Tigers must be watchful of Sri Lanka's bowling, which was instrumental to them winning all three of their first-round games. Leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga can play a vital role against the Tigers.

The two sides have met each other eleven times in T20Is, with Sri Lanka managing seven wins and Bangladesh winning four times.

The Capital Complex Dree Festival Committee (CCDFC) 2023 successfully concluded the thrilling three-day Itanagar Dree Badminton and Table Tennis Tournament 2023, showcasing the extraordinary skills of the community’s finest talents on 22 May last. The tournament witnessed fierce competition among top athletes, leaving spectators on the edge of their seats.

In the enthralling final matches of the Table Tennis championship held yesterday, more than 20 teams and 75 matches showcased remarkable displays of agility and precision. The Badminton championship, on the other hand, witnessed over 50 teams battling it out in 98 matches across eight categories over the course of three days.

The Closing & Prize Distribution Ceremony was graced by esteemed senior citizens, Mr. Michi Kani, Deputy Director (IPR) (Rtd), and Mr. Tage Tado, Former Director (Transport) to do the honours to give away the prizes.

Tado acknowledged the contributions of Dree Ground Management Committee, Papu Nallah for bringing up such good infrastructures. Tado also thanked CCDFC for being inclusive for including programmes from children to Senior Citizens.

Kani addressing to the gathering encouraged to balance sports and career and he implored and said that time has changed and one can carry forward sports as a career to glorify our state and nation.

The winners are-

Open Men’s Single: Winner- Mom Nitin, Runner-up – Koj Tajang

Open Women’s Singles: Winner- Khoda Punya, Runner up- Michi Yamung

Super Veteran Men’s Singles: Winner- Dr. Subu Habung, Runner up- Bamin Grayu

Open Men’s Double: Winner- Duyu Tubing & Mom Nitin, Runners up- Hage Guro & Millo Tara

Super Veteran Men’s Doubles: Winner- Dr. Subu Habung & Hibu Dante, Runners up- Bamin Koyang & Habung Tapa

Veteran Men’s Doubls: Winner- Michi Buker & Tailyang Tatung, Runners up- Dr. Hage Tadii & Mihin Tapin

Open Mixed Doubles: Winner- Khoda Punya & Mom Nitin, Runners up- Michi Yamung & Millo Tara

Speaking to reporters, Chairman of CCDFC 2023, Dani Sulu, highlighted the significance of inviting senior citizens as Special Invitees, emphasising the committee’s commitment to honouring the elders and promoting inclusivity by providing equal chance and opportunity to every age and section of Tanw society.

General Secretary Hano Taka expressed contentment of overwhelming response by the participants from all corners of the state addressing to the media. Takka also extended his gratitude to the participants and invited everyone to partake in the upcoming events and competitions of CCDFC 2023, which will span over two months.

Games and Sports Secretary of CCDFC 2023, Ngilyang Lailyang Richo, shared that the next exciting events on the calendar were Volleyball and Archery Competition scheduled for 27-28 May 2023 at Dree Ground Papu Nallah, followed by a thrilling Marathon race.

The meticulously planned and executed tournament was spearheaded by the Games & Sports Department of CCDFC 2023, led by Ngilyang Lailyang Richo, with invaluable assistance from Assistant Secretaries Tasso Kobing, Hage Laji, and Nani Ankha.

The Championship received the expert guidance of renowned Badminton player of Arunachal Pradesh Mudo Ado, who served as the Chief Referee. Ado was supported by the Apatani Badminton Association of Ziro, led by Khoda Yubbey as the President and Tage Pugang as the General Secretary.

The Itanagar Dree Badminton and Table Tennis Tournament 2023 enthralled sports enthusiasts and showcased the immense talent present in the region.

The Capital Complex Dree Festival Committee 2023 aims to continue promoting and organising such exciting events that foster a spirit of sportsmanship and unity among the participants and spectators alike.

Fencer Chingakham Jetlee Singh, who made his way from Manipur to the Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune at the age of 15, is all set to showcase his skills once again at the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2022 slated to take place, here.

Jetlee participated in the games for the first time in Bengaluru last year and won two gold medals (individual and team).

At the age of 21, Jetlee is currently representing Guru Nanak Dev University. As a first-year student, Jetlee is practicing at ASI Pune, which is also a SAI National Centre of Excellence, these days and is confident about his good performance in the upcoming KIUG 2022, which is set to take place in Uttar Pradesh for the first time.

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"I am confident about performing well in KIUG 2022. I am working hard for it," said Jetlee in a media release.

Jetlee's father runs a dhaba in the Imphal East district of Manipur. He was named as a TOPS Development Athlete in 2022.

Among his three siblings, Jetlee, the youngest, said, "My father runs a fast food dhaba in Imphal East district. My mother assists him in his work. My brother is searching for a job after completing his studies, and my sister is already married."

Jetlee came to SAI ASI Pune in 2016 and has been staying there since.

"In 2014, I won a medal in a national event. A trial was organized at SAI ASI Pune the following year, in which I performed well and got selected. Since 2016, I have been practicing in Pune," the fencer said about his journey to Pune.

Jetlee has also competed at the international level for India. Earlier this year, he participated in the Grand Prix held in Doha, and before that, he competed in the 2022 Commonwealth Championship. He won the team gold in the championship and improved his ranking with a good performance at the Grand Prix.

Asked about how he got into fencing, Jetlee said, "There is a boy named Eklavya in my village who is very good at this sport. He has won many medals. Seeing him, many children, including me, got inspired to take up this sport. When I tried it for the first time, I liked it."

Jetlee believes that the Khelo India University Games provides an excellent platform because athletes receive world-class facilities.

"It is a good competition. Players get a good platform here. Good players participate, and the facilities are also very good. Bangalore had excellent arrangements. I am excited for my second Khelo India University Games," he said.

The talented athlete aims to win a medal for the country in the Olympics.

"My dream is to win a gold medal for the country in the Olympics. I have targeted the 2028 Olympics for myself, and I am practicing accordingly. I will give my all to win a medal for the country," said Jetlee.

The third edition of the Khelo India University Games will be held from May 25 to June 3 in four cities of Uttar Pradesh -- Lucknow, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Gorakhpur, Varanasi as well as in Delhi.

KIUG-2022 is set to witness the participation of over 4,000 athletes from various institutions across the country. Under the Under-27 category, all athletes will compete for medals in 21 different sports disciplines.

Former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener, globally recognised for his power batting, is all set to enter into a contract with Tripura Cricket Association for 100 days, Vice President of Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) Timir Chanda said on Thursday.

According to Chanda, Klusener has agreed to share his ideas with the younger teams apart from helping the state Ranji Trophy team hone their cricketing skills.

“We all know about Lance Kulsener and his international cricketer. Later, in his life, he coached several teams and now he has expressed his interest to work with Tripura Cricket Association,” said Chanda.

He said the TCA had issued an advertisement on its official website inviting applications for coaches having national and international sporting backgrounds.

“Among the several responses it generated, Lance Klusener was one. The modalities are being fixed for the contract. If things play out in the right direction, he will join TCA for 100 days. We are very grateful to him that he has expressed his willingness to share his ideas with the younger state teams as well,” Chanda added.

The cricketer-turned-sports administrator has also said that for the first time cricket is on the threshold of conducting 500 domestic matches within the state.

“For the first time, the Tripura Cricket Association has set a target of 500 domestic matches within the state. Already 450 matches have been organized, so we can predict that over 500 matches would be organised at the end of this year. Apart from that, we are conducting open selection trials across the state for batsman, bowlers and all-rounders to get raw talent,” Chanda added.

Guwahati: Around 1,500 boys and girls, including 100 from the home state are expected to take part in the All India U-19 Junior Ranking badminton championship that starts at the DTRP Indoor Stadium in the city from Wednesday.

Assam Badminton Association (ABA) secretary Omar Rashid informed that the competition will be held in singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories.

Haryana boys Manraj Singh and Gagan are the top seeds for the boys’ singles event, while local boy Tonmoy Bikash Boruah is the No.12 seed. Among the girls, Haryana’s Unnati Hooda and Anmol Kharb are the top-seeded players in singles.

Karnataka’s Nicholas Nathan Raj and Tushar Suveer are the No.1 seeds in boys’ doubles, while the Tamil Nadu pair of Shreya Balaji and Srinidhi N top the seeds in the girls’ doubles category. In mixed doubles, the Tamil Nadu pair of Arulmurugan R and Srinidhi N is the top-seeded pair.

The competition is crucial for the participating players as probables for the national camp for the forthcoming Asian Junior Badminton Championship will be selected from the tournament.

The Asian Junior Badminton Championship is scheduled to be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from July 7-16.

According to the Badminton Association of India (BAI), the top-8 players from both boys’ and girls’ singles events will be invited for the selection trials to be conducted in the national capital from June 4-7.

The top-4 pairs from each of the pair events, namely boys’ doubles, girls’ doubles and mixed doubles in the competition will also get a chance to take part in the selection trials in New Delhi.

The competition will start with the qualifying round matches across all categories for the first four days (May 10 – 13), before the main draw contests begin on May 14. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are scheduled for May 16 while the finals of all categories will be played on May 17.

The matches will begin at 9 am each day while the timings for the final will be decided once the tournament progresses.

Over the years, most age-group competitions have been marred by controversies, the more prominent being the menace of age fudging. Armed with fake documents and thick skin, there have been numerous cases of players competing in younger age groups to get ahead by unfair means and do injustice to deserving candidates.

In 2022, multiple cases of age fraud emerged during the All India Sub-Junior Under-13 ranking tournaments in Hyderabad, and later in Mohali, leading to many aggrieved parents protesting against the participation of over-aged players, and demanding a probe into the suspected players’ claims.

The parents have been dashing off letters to the Badminton Association of India (BAI), a few of which have also been shared with the media.

Most recently in February 2023, the BAI disqualified as many as eight shuttlers from participating in the All India Sub Junior Ranking badminton tournament in Jaipur, after the Badminton Parents group, called Swachh Badminton India (SBI) complained against the eight players, who were found manipulating their age qualification.