Her transformation from a striker makes her current role all the more fascinating.

Following Bangladesh's emphatic 4-0 win over Nepal on Monday, which helped the team emerge unbeaten champions of the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship, head coach Peter Butler offered an in-depth analysis of the team's growth, collective mentality, and future ambitions as they gear up for sterner challenges ahead -- including the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers next month and the senior AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia in March 2026.

The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion had not played a competitive match in 16 months, with her last appearance on the WTA Tour coming at the Miami Open in March last year.

It wasn’t just a performance to secure the title; it was a statement of redemption.

Before kickoff, players and officials stood in solemn silence, mourning the lives lost in a tragic Bangladesh Air Force jet that crashed into a school building, killing at least 20 and injuring many more.

Mosammat Sagorika scored an exquisite hattrick to drive Bangladesh to a 4-0 win against Nepal in the last match of the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Monday, helping the imperious women's football team to yet another South Asian title.

Bangladesh's top two female shuttlers -- Urmi Akhter and Nasima Khatun -- have long been teammates, representing the Bangladesh Army. Both learned the sport in Pabna, yet over the years, a quiet rivalry has developed between them, especially in the finals of national and summer badminton championships.

At 81, Bangladesh’s chess icon Rani Hamid remains an enduring source of inspiration. On International Chess Day, marking 101 years since FIDE’s founding, she reflects with The Daily Star’s Atique Anam on her journey, late start, memorable matches, and more.

Sapna’s primary role in the ongoing SAFF Women’s Championship appears to be setting standards and shepherding for the less experienced bunch.

She started her first match of the tournament in last week's 3-1 win over Italy which secured top spot and nine points in Group B after her illness led to substitute appearances against Portugal and Belgium.

In the long gap between two triumphs, one thing echoes consistently: the cry for long-term planning, and the lingering question of whether we can truly capitalise on success and momentum.

Tunisia's Jabeur, the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final, has struggled with her form in recent months, failing to get past the third round of a major this year.

"There are many invisible things that affect performance, which we don’t often talk about."

Hosts Bangladesh kept their impressive winning run intact in the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship with an emphatic 3-0 win over Bhutan in their fourth match at the Bashundhara Kings practice ground today.

Arsenal's blockbuster move eclipses the previous record set by American defender Naomi Girma's 900,000-pound transfer from San Diego Wave to Chelsea in January, although the 25-year-old had already broken the one million dollar mark.

If results go as predicted, Bangladesh could all but seal the title before that final showdown, needing only a draw against Nepal on the last matchday.

Bangladesh forward Umehla Marma returned to the starting eleven when the hosts faced Bhutan in a SAFF U-20 Women’s Champions fixture in Dhaka on Tuesday. In vividly challenging circumstances, on a rain-soaked surface at Kings Arena with threats of lightning and thunders also looming, the girl from Rangamati produced her own sparks.

Midfielder Shanti Mardi scored a hattrick while Munki Akter added one as Bangladesh cruised to a 4-1 victory over Bhutan in their SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship fixture inside the Bashundhara Residential Area on Tuesday, consolidating the top-spot in the four-team competition with a third win in three matches.

Bangladesh women’s team take on Bhutan today at 3pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in their third SAFF U-20 Championship clash.

Trishna Rani Sarkar scored with the last kick of the match deep into stoppage time as Bangladesh edged Nepal 3-2 in a feisty encounter of the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Sunday.