Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 977 Wed. February 28, 2007  
   
Sports


West Bengal on top
Indo-Bangla Games conclude today


Bangladesh finished behind West Bengal in the first Indo-Bangla Games at completion of all competitions here yesterday.

Bangladesh tallied 30 gold, 34 silver and 18 bronze compared to the hosts' haul of 38-34-32.

The Games will be officially concluded today at the Salt Lake Stadium.

SWIMMING
On the final day of competition yesterday, Bangladeshi swimmers Shahjahan Ali Rony and Doly Akhter clinched their third individual gold.

Rony claimed gold in 100m breaststroke after his success in 50 and 200 metres breaststroke to establish himself as the undisputed king of the event in the region. He took 1:08.45s to win the 100m event at the Subhas Sarobar swimming pool with fellow swimmers Niaz Ali and Karar Samedul Islam bagging silver and bronze respectively.

Doly, who became the fastest woman swimmer at the Games after winning the 50m freestyle on Monday, won the 100m breaststroke in 1:20.83 seconds yesterday.

Other Bangladeshi swimmers Mahfuza Khatun finished behind Doly for silver.

ATHLETICS
The short-distance Bangladeshi runners maintained their success on the second day of the athletics competition at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Mohammad Shamsuddin, the fastest man of this competition, completed the double winning the men's 200m sprint.

Shamsuddin raced in 21.90s ahead of compatriot Masudul Karim, who took 22.10s for silver their compatriot Imran Bhuiyan took 22.20s for bronze.

Earlier, Bangladesh lifted their first gold of the day when they won the 4x100m relay in 42.30s with the West Bengal relay team finishing in 43.30s. Shamsuddin, Masudul, Imran and Abu Abdullah made the Bangladesh team.

Of the eight events, West Bengal clinched six gold medals, eight silver and seven bronze medals.

Bangladesh finished with 18 medals with the breakup of five gold, eight silver and five bronze.

TEAM EVENTS
Bangladesh men's football team scored a consolation 3-1 win over West Bengal at the Barasat Stadium. West Bengal had earlier confirmed the gold by winning the first two matches 3-0 and 4-1 in the best-of-three competition.

The women's football match between the two sides ended in a goalless draw at Howrah Municipal Stadium. The West Bengal girls also ensured gold winning the first two matches 1-0 and 2-0.

Despite failure in football and basketball, the Bangladesh kho kho and kabaddi teams won gold medals.

The kho kho team won the last match 19-18 while the kabaddi team blanked the West Bengal rivals 3-0.

Picture
Gold medalist Shahjahan Ali Rony, flanked by fellow swimmers Niaz Ali (L) and Karar Samedul Islam, celebrates after Bangladesh swept all three medals in the men's 100m breaststroke at the Indo-Bangla Games at Subhas Sarobor in Kolkata yesterday. PHOTO: Focus Bangla