Baga Sharif of Homna upazila in Cumilla secured his fourth championship title at the 117th edition of the traditional Abdul Jabbarer Boli Khela, held at Laldighi Maidan in the port city today.

In a closely contested final bout lasting 24 minutes and 26 seconds, Baga Sharif defeated Mohammad Rashed Boli, also from Cumilla district, to lift the champion's trophy amid loud cheers from thousands of spectators.

The day-long wrestling competition was inaugurated at 3:30 pm by Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali.

A total of 108 wrestlers out of 120 registered participants took part in the event. The competitors, locally known as Boli or Kustigir, came from different parts of the country, mostly from rural areas, with ages ranging from 10 to 70 years.

The matches were held in the open field of Laldighi Maidan from the afternoon, drawing a large crowd that filled the venue and surrounding streets. The wrestling contest formed the main attraction of the three-day Abdul Jabbarer Boli Khela and Boishakhi Fair, traditionally organized on April 25 each year.

A three-member panel of judges, headed by former ward official Hefazur Rahman conducted the competition.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahdat Hossain attended the event as the chief guest and handed over the champion's trophy. 

Among others present were Abu Sufian, MP, and Shawkat Anwar Badal, member secretary of the organizing committee and grandson of Abdul Jabbar Sawdagar.

After his victory, Baga Sharif expressed gratitude to his trainer Shahjalal Boli, a former champion of the 114th edition of the competition.

The centuries-old event also features a three-day fair showcasing locally made handicrafts, earthenware, and traditional household items in the Laldighi Maidan area. Although the official programme concludes on Saturday, the fair is expected to continue until Sunday.

The Abdul Jabbarer Boli Khela was initiated in 1909 by Abdul Jabbar Sawdagar, a noted social worker and businessman from the Badarpati area of Chattogram during the British colonial period, with the aim of encouraging physical strength and resilience among the youth.

MSH

Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim is set to feature for Fortune Barishal in the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Mushfiqur had played for Sylhet Strikers in the last edition. His price was fixed at 80 lakhs in the players' draft according to the category. Which means he was in 'A' category.

The top category player will play along with other star players like Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Khaled Ahmed in Fortune Barishal.

Neymar said he was relishing “new challenges and opportunities in new places” after he joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal Tuesday, becoming the latest big name lured to the oil-rich Gulf state.

The Brazil forward, 31, ends a six-year stay in the French capital and follows in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane in swapping Europe for the Middle East.

“I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places,” Neymar said in a statement from the Saudi Pro League.

“I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment,” he added.

Neymar was “in negotiations” on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions.

A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar “no longer figures in the club or manager’s plans” with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom.

Another source in Saudi Arabia said that “direct negotiations” between Neymar’s agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.