December 23, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 01, 1427

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LAHORE, Dec 22: A birdie on third hole by M. Siddikur Rehman on sudden-death enabled Bangladesh to win the 8th SAARC Golf Championship, defeating Sri Lanka after a nail-biting final at Lahore Gymkhana course on Friday.

In the final , at regulation time, at the end of the 18th hole

, both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were level.

The final day was a singles match play event, in which Sri Lanka's K. Prabagran beat Milon Ahmed to gain one point. In the second singles M. Siddikur Rehman defeated T. Chandradasa to equalize the points (1-1). The excitement continued

as the final singles match between Mithun Perera (Sri Lanka) and Shahid ended up at level and each side got half a point each making an aggregate of 1 1/2 points apiece, leaving the results on a sudden death play-off.

Rehman was pitched against Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka in the play-off. The first two holes were leveled but on the third Rehman rolled in a birdie to clinch the title, thereby bringing honours to his country. It was a great victory for Bangladesh whose golf players have shown courage and consistency in application of golfing skills during the three days event.

The home team which failed to qualify for the finals, however, earned a consolation achievement, winning the Loser's Plate, defeating rather weak teams of Nepal and Bhutan.