Journalist
As the national sport, kabaddi is supposed to hold special significance among the country’s 52 sports federations. That significance had long been confined to paper. Is the path now widening for kabaddi to emerge from that ‘book-bound’ state? Various events at home and abroad, priority in the activities of the National Sports Council, and Bangladesh’s growing importance in the international arena around kabaddi all point in that direction.
Another achievement. The women’s football team has qualified for the Asian Cup for the first time. Following this historic success, the female footballers are overjoyed. Amidst the emotions and excitement, many are already dreaming of Rituparna Chakma and her teammates playing in the World Cup. But is Bangladesh really in a position to think about the World Cup?
Hamza Choudhury has experience playing in the English Premier League and has also played for England’s U-21 national team. Shamit Shome plays in the Canadian league and has experience playing for that country’s national team. Fahmidul Islam, though playing in a lower-tier league in Italy, is a forward enriched with speed and a never-give-up attitude. Tariq Kazi, raised in Finland, is a symbol of reliability in Bangladesh’s defence. These players have enriched the Bangladesh national football team with their skills; but the task of weaving this talent into a coherent unit didn’t happen! That’s the coach’s job
The rumour that Faruk Ahmed may resign started gaining traction shortly after midnight on Wednesday and has since been rapidly spreading. While it remains unofficial, recent reports in local media suggest that this speculation may soon become a formal announcement. Whether that happens or not is a matter of time, but one thing is clear—the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in a state of turmoil, and that instability is reflecting on the field as well.
According to Transfermarkt.com, Inter Milan's squad value stands at €663.80 million, while Barcelona’s squad is valued at a staggering €1.02 billion. Yet it was the Italian side that marched into the UEFA Champions League final, defeating Barcelona. Squad value is often just a number—a notion that gets proven time and again. The latest edition of the Champions League confirmed that yet again. A similar story played out in domestic football, where traditional powerhouse Mohammedan SC defied the odds and outperformed expectations, throwing paper calculations out the window.
Barcelona, already Copa del Rey champions, have the chance to complete a domestic double with the league title. A win in El Clásico would stretch their lead to seven points, a gap that would be nearly impossible to close in the final three games. On the other hand, if Real Madrid win, the gap would narrow to a single point—setting up a nail-biting finish to the season.