Notun Kuri Sports rolls out bigger second edition as registration opens today

With the inaugural edition of Notun Kuri Sports set to conclude next month, registration for the programme's second edition officially opens online today, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque confirmed to The Daily Star.

The registration drive will remain open until August 31 for aspiring athletes aged between 12 and 14.

Organisers have launched extensive promotional campaigns through schools, clubs and district sports offices to encourage participation from talented youngsters across the country, particularly those in remote areas. 

The initiative aims to identify grassroots sporting talent and inspire more children to take up sports.

The second edition will also feature a revamped competition structure. While the inaugural season allowed only upazila teams to compete at the district stage, this time teams from every union across the country and every ward under city corporations will compete directly at the upazila level.

The programme has also been expanded to 10 disciplines with the addition of table tennis and volleyball. The other events are football, cricket, kabaddi, athletics, swimming, chess, badminton and martial arts.

Meanwhile, the national phase of the inaugural edition, featuring selected athletes from 10 zones across the country, will begin on July 18 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

The inaugural edition will conclude with a closing ceremony at the Army Stadium in Banani on July 27, where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to attend.