Bangladesh cricket authorities "played down security fears" on Monday after a bomb explosion outside the hotel of a West Indian touring team sparked jitters ahead of the World Twenty20, which the UAE have qualified for, next March. The West Indies Cricket Board Sunday withdrew its U19 national cricket team. Bangladesh Cricket Board officials said that they were "making an effort to persuade the team to stay on." BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, "We’ve talked to West Indies Under-19 team management this morning. They are happy with the arrangements and the extra security we have made" (AFP, 12/9). ... The OCBC Singapore Pro Cycling team's trio of riders competing at the SEA Games "now have extra impetus." OCBC Bank "will award the cyclists a bonus for each podium finish in Myanmar," giving Goh Choon Huat, Ho Jun Rong and Low Ji Wen S$3,000 ($2,400), S$2,000 and S$1,000 for gold, silver and bronze, respectively (STRAITS TIMES, 12/9). ... The All India Football Federation "is set to bid" for the '15 and '16 editions of the Club World Championships. AIFF President Praful Patel said that India has already communicated to FIFA its "expression of interest" to host the Club World Championships in '15 and '16 (PTI, 12/9). ... Around 1,000 competitors from 32 countries "will take part in the sixth Karate-Do Gojukai World Championship" at the National Sports Club of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel indoor stadium in Worli from Wednesday through Sunday. This is the first time the quadrennial championship, to be organized by the All India Gojukai Karate-Do and supported by the Tata group, "will be held in the country" (PTI, 12/9). ... New Zealand could "finally host its first UFC event" in '15. Three Kiwis were on the UFC Fight Night 33 card in Brisbane on Saturday. UFC Canada, Australia and New Zealand Dir of Operations Tom Wright confirmed after the fight night in Brisbane that Kiwi fans "would have something to look forward to" in '15. Wright: "New Zealand's always been on our radar. It takes time to make sure that we've got all the business relationships in place. But absolutely, is it on our radar? Completely and I think in 2015 it'll happen'' (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 12/9).
