A day before taking on Qatar in a friendly match, India U-23 coach Derrick Pereira labelled it as "a perfect opportunity to gauge ourselves before the (AFC) qualifiers".
The match is part of the Indian U-23 team's preparation for the forthcoming AFC U-23 Qualifiers slated to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from March 22, where India have been clubbed with hosts Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
"The match against Qatar provides us the opportunity to get a fair idea of where we stand, and where we need to work on. The focus will be more on finding the right combinations, and style of play," Pereira said.
The match will take place at the Aspire Academy ground.
Pereira, a former India International has been working on the fitness as it's going to be one of the crucial factors to churn out a result.
"Fitness is one part that carries paramount importance in modern football. We have to sustain 90 minutes on the pitch, both on the attacking and the defensive front.
"Joel (Carter) is doing a good ...

India U-23 take on Qatar in friendly, coach calls it opportunity

PTI Automatic

India opener Smriti Mandhana has jumped three places to reach a career-best third position in the latest ICC Women's T20I Player rankings released Sunday.
Mandhana, the top-ranked ODI batter who led the T20I side in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, scored 72 runs in the three matches, including a fifty in the third match.
Harmanpreet, who had missed the England series due to an ankle injury, slipped two places to the ninth spot.
Among bowlers, Radha Yadav has gained five slots to reach fifth position after grabbing three wickets from two matches while other left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht has also finished with three from two to gain three places and reach 56th in the list.
Off-spinner Anuja Patil has moved up from 35th to 31st position.
England's Danielle Wyatt also achieved career-best position in the T20I Player rankings after the visitors defeated India 3-0 in the three-match series in Guwahati.
while Wyatt's player of the series effort of 123 runs has helped her gain two slots and ...

Mandhana achieve career-best ranking in T20Is

Unbeaten in 19 matches from the last four editions, defending champions India will aim to clinch an unprecedented fifth title in a row in the upcoming SAFF Women's Championships.
India have been drawn alongside Maldives and Sri Lanka in Group B in the six-team competition while hosts Nepal have been placed in Group A with Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Indian have a strong record in the competition having won all four editions so far -- the first of which came in 2010. The team has claimed victory in each and every match it has played in the tournament -- a streak which extends to 19 games.
For coach Maymol Rocky, the tournament will be the last opportunity to fine tune the team for the crucial 2020 Olympic Qualifiers Round 2, which is slated to be held in Myanmar from April 1 to 9.
"The SAFF Women's Championship has always been a successful tournament for India in the past. We are confident of going all the way and making it five trophies in a row," Rock said.
"The girls have been together ..

SAFF Women's Championship: India eye fifth straight title

To bowlers bruised and battered, and faced with the frightening prospect of again running into Virat Kohli, spin great Shane Warne offered an advise: bowl at either leg or wide of off stump, but not at the stumps.
"If you're going to bowl to Virat Kohli, you either bowl at leg stump and protect the on side, or you bowl wide of off stump and you protect the off side. You cannot bowl at the stumps, because he can hit you both ways," Warne was quoted as saying 'ESPNcricinfo'.
"So, I think you've to take out one side of the field. Protect just one side of the field, that's how you bowl to very good players," the Australian added.
Warne plotted Kohli's dismissal if he were to actually bowl to him.
"I'd be bowling wide of off stump and letting him try to cover drive with a slip, short cover and some protection out there. So then it'll be very hard for him to get it over the leg side. That's what I'd be trying to do and hopefully get a little bit lucky and he mis-hits one."
Warne said he has 

You cannot bowl at Kohli's stumps, Warne tells bowlers

Jasprit Bumrah's freakishly unconventional bowling action may pose injury concerns to his "lumbar vertebrae", feels Dr Simon Feros, a lecturer in functional anatomy/strength and conditioning sciences.
Part of Deakin University's sports team in Victoria, Australia, Feros and renowned physiotherapist Gloster studied the Indian pacer's bowling action.
Ranked the third best sport science school in the world, Deakin University's School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences is a leader in its field.
"Bumrah tends to release the ball outside the line of the front foot. This means he can 'push' at the ball, usually resulting in an excellent in-swing delivery to a right hand batter.
"However, if he exceeds 45 degrees of trunk lateral flexion (which I think he may on some occasions), then this element of his action may pose some injury concerns to his lumbar vertebrae," said Feros.
The lumbar vertebrae are the five vertebrae between the rib cage and the pelvis.
Even as many in the international ...

Bumrah faces risk of suffering lumbar injuries, feels strength and conditioning sciences expert

New Zealand short-ball maestro Neil Wagner believed a result in the rain-affected second Test against Bangladesh was still "definitely possible" after New Zealand trailed by 173 at stumps on day three in Wellington on Sunday.
New Zealand reached 38 for two in reply to Bangladesh's first innings 211 after the first two days were washed out.
Thirteen wickets fell in the 72 overs possible, leading New Zealand's chief wicket-taker Wagner to think there was still time to force a result in the remaining two days.
"It's definitely possible," Wagner said having removed the cream of the Bangladesh side with four for 28.
"If we keep taking it session by session and get ourselves into the lead and pile on whatever we can, anything is possible." New Zealand will resume on Monday with Ross Taylor on 19 and Kane Williamson on 10.
Tamim Iqbal gave the tourists a sound start with 74 as Bangladesh reached 119 for one before the next nine wickets fell for just 92 runs.
New Zealand, in reply, were ...

Result 'definitely possible' as N.Zealand reach 38-2, 173 behind

Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat in the fourth ODI against Australia here Sunday.
For India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, K L Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Yuzvendra Chahal came in for Mohammed Shami, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja.
Marcus Stoinis made way for Ashton Turner in the Australian XI.
India lead the five-match series 2-1.
Teams:
India: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia: Aaron Finch(capt), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Turner, Alex Carey, Jhye Richardson, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa.

4th ODI: India win toss, opt to bat against Australia

A formidable Karnataka continued  their winning streak in the Super League stages of the Syed  Mushtaq Ali trophy after they trounced Delhi by 8 wickets in  Group B match here Sunday.
Earlier, Karnataka had beaten domestic giants Mumbai  and Uttar Pradesh in their previous two Super League stage  matches of the national T20 tournament.
It was an all-round show from Karnataka where  right-arm medium pacer Koushik V shone with the ball and later  Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair remained unbeaten as Karnataka  chased the 110-run target with utmost ease.
Karnataka bowlers justified their skipper's decision  to invite Delhi to bat first at the Emerald Heights  International School Ground.
Koushik (4-19) and leg-spinner K C Cariappa (3-15)  wreaked havoc as Delhi was restricted to a meagre 109/9 in  their 20 overs.
Apart from Nitish Rana (37 off 29 balls) and Lalit  Yadav (33 off 40 balls), no other Delhi batsman showed spine  as Koushik and Cariappa rattled their top and middle order.
For ...

K'taka continue winning run; maul Delhi by 8 wickets

Indian qualifier Prajnesh Gunneswaran achieved the biggest win of his career when he stunningly knocked world number 18 Nikoloz Basilashvili out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters event, continuing his dream run here.
Playing his maiden singles main draw at this level, the Indian left-hander secured a hard-fought 6-4 6(6)-7 7-6(4) victory over the Georgian in two hours 32 minutes.
The world number 97 needed only a single break of serve to take the lead in the match. Prajnesh broke Basilashvili's serve in the fifth game and then held his serve to take the opening set in 31 minutes.
The second and third sets were tightly contested and went into tie breaks with Basilashvili emerging victorious in the former and Prajnesh in the latter to seal a spot in the next round.
"It was definitely a huge match. I think I played well better than I did in the previous round. I had to step up because I was playing a really good player, someone who has been in form and is ranked in the top 20," Prajnesh ...

Prajnesh stuns Basilashvili at Indian Wells

There was no stopping the Indian juggernaut as Shiva Thapa and Mohammed Hussamuddin, along with four others, advanced to the finals of the 38th GeeBee Boxing Tournament in Helsinki, Finland.
Thapa (60kg), a three-time Asian medallist besides being a former bronze-winner at the world championships, out-punched Russia's Mikhail Varlamov to notch up a 5-0 triumph.
The Assamese boxer has set up a summit showdown with local favourite Arslan Khataev.
Signing off with bronze medals after semifinal losses were Sumit Sangwan (91kg) and former youth world champion Sachin Siwach (52kg).
It will be a rare all-Indian final in the 56kg category with Hussamuddin taking on Kavinder Singh Bisht, a world championship quarterfinalist.
Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Hussamuddin pulled off a narrow 3-2 triumph over Kazakhstan's Zhanbolat Kydyrbayev, while Bisht got the better of Frenchman Jordan Rodriquez to make the finals.
Also advancing to the last-two stage were Dinesh Dagar (69kg), Naveen Kumar .

Shiva, Hussamuddin among six to enter finals of Finland boxing tourney

Novak Djokovic shook off some rust and US qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo Saturday, opening his ATP Indian Wells Masters campaign with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 victory.
The second-round clash was the world number one's first match since he won his seventh Australian Open title in January.
Djokovic went down an early break to the 128th-ranked Fratangelo, but leveled the set with a break for 5-5. He had to dig down again in the tiebreaker, taking a 4-1 lead before Fratangelo fought back to lead 5-4.
But Fratangelo coughed up a double fault and sent a forehand wide on his own serve and Djokovic was able to seal the set on his first opportunity when Fratangelo sent a forehand wide.
From there Djokovic dominated, sealing the win after one hour and 29 minutes.
"To be honest, I was a bit nervous in the beginning, I didn't play my best. Credit to Bjorn for coming out firing from every corner.
"I was lucky to get the first set. After that things went better for me," said Djokovic, who dominated the second .

Djokovic dispatches Fratangelo to reach Indian Wells 3rd rd

An effective four-wicket spell by New Zealand's short-ball king Neil Wagner and three late wickets to Trent Boult saw Bangladesh all out for 211 in the rain-shortened second Test in Wellington on Sunday.
After being put in to bat after the first two days were washed out and going to lunch at 127 for three, Bangladesh lost their last seven wickets 84 runs in the middle session.
Three of the dismissals, including the key scalp of Tamim Iqbal for 74, came in a sharp 13-ball spell from Wagner either side of lunch.
Boult came back to destroy the tail with three wickets in nine balls.
Tamim had led a spirited start to the Test when the match finally saw some overdue action on the third morning, with the green wicket not holding the predicted demons.
He put on 75 for the first wicket with Shadman Islam and was unbeaten on 72 when Bangladesh went to lunch at 127 for three.
But he only had time for two quick singles after the resumption before his touch deserted him and an attempted pull shot .

Wagner, Boult carve through Bangladesh

Australian Nick Kyrgios, coming off a scintillating run to the ATP title in Acapulco, lost his opening match at the ATP Indian Wells Masters to German Philipp Kohlschreiber.
A break of serve in each set was enough to give Kohlschreiber, ranked 39th in the world a 6-4, 6-4 victory over 33rd-ranked Kyrgios.
Kyrgios had captured his first ATP title in more than a year when he lifted the Mexico Open trophy, beating three top-10 players along the way in world number two Rafael Nadal, No. 9 John Isner of the United States and, in the final, third-ranked German Alexander Zverev.
Kyrgios's title run in Mexico wasn't without controversy, with Nadal praising the mercurial Aussie's talent while also charging he "lacks respect for the public, the opponent and for himself."
Kyrgios shrugged off those comments and said Saturday he'd put the good and bad of Acapulco behind him.
"Honestly, I'm over that now," Kyrgios said, adding that he was mentally ready for his Indian Wells opener but just didnt' .

Kyrgios falls at first hurdle at Indian Wells

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams rallied from a set and two breaks down to topple third-seeded Petra Kvitova 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 on Saturday and reach the third round at Indian Wells.
"Today I just fought and tried my hardest," said Williams, currently ranked 36th in the world.
"Honestly, a double break is not ideal against a great server, especially a left-handed server.
"A lot of it is just being in the moment. And I think I created some opportunities. I had some good points. I think she had a few tight points, and here we are." She booked a third-round clash with fellow American Christina McHale, a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 winner over 30th-seeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova, who was runner-up to Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open in January, also reached the final in Dubai last month.
The Czech appeared to have taken control of the stadium court slugfest when she broke Williams for a 4-3 lead in the third.
But Williams immediately broke back ...

Venus fights past frustrated Kvitova, Osaka takes Indian Wells stage I

Bayern Munich warmed-up for Wednesday's Champions League showdown against Liverpool with a 'feel-good' goal spree to seize control of the Bundesliga after a 6-0 battering of Wolfsburg.
"It was a perfect day - it feels good and is good for self-confidence. I think we can definitely win," said goal-scorer Joshua Kimmich with an eye on Liverpool.
This was a polished display from Bayern in their final match before hosting Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in the last 16, return leg following a goalless draw at Anfield.
Bayern ran riot in Munich as Robert Lewandowski led the way with two goals as Serge Gnabry, James Rodriguez and Kimmich also netted.
"I am very pleased," said head coach Niko Kovac with Bayern back on top of the Bundesliga for the first time since September on goal difference ahead of Borussia Dortmund.
"At no time were we in trouble, we could have scored more and now we are leaders - which is where we want to stay.
"We have another important game on Wednesday, that's what we want ..

Bayern tune up for Liverpool with 'feel-good' goal spree

David Warner smashed a rapid-fire century for his Sydney club side on his return from elbow surgery, reinforcing his destructive abilities ahead of the World Cup in England.
The opener plundered seven sixes and four fours in his 77-ball onslaught for Randwick-Petersham, better known as the Randy Petes, in a one-day game against Penrith that they lost.
He was finally caught during Saturday's match, in front of a few dozen fans, off the bowling of 18-year-old left-armer Henry Railz, the Cricket Australia website reported.
Year-long ball-tampering bans from state and international for Warner and former Australian skipper Steve Smith run out on March 28.
They were both left out of Australia's squad on Friday for the upcoming one-day series against Pakistan despite being eligible for the final two games.
Selector Trevor Hohns said they would be better served easing their way back at the Indian Premier League, which gets under way this month.
Both men were forced to pull out of the ...

Warner smacks century on return from elbow surgery

Krzysztof Piatek struck again to rescue a 2-1 win for AC Milan at bottom club Chievo on Saturday, keeping their Champions League push firmly on track, but the Polish striker was accused of scoring with a 'kung fu' kick.
Piatek joined Milan from Genoa in January and has now scored eight goals in nine matches, as the club notched up a fifth straight league win to remain unbeaten since before Christmas.
Returning from injury, Lucas Biglia opened with a curling free kick after 31 minutes in Verona. It was just his second goal for Milan and first since February last year.
Finnish midfielder Perparim Hetemaj got his head to the end of Leris cross to pull the hosts level four minutes before the break.
But once again Piatek proved crucial, scoring the winner after 57 minutes in controversial circumstances.
The 23-year-old met Samu Castillejo's header amid a goalmouth scramble, during which the Pole looked to have struck a Chievo player while attempting an overhead kick.
A VAR review confirmed 

Piatek 'kung fu' goal rescues Milan at Chievo

Lyon's stand-in captain Marcelo left the field with a leg injury as his side struggled to a 2-2 draw at Strasbourg on Saturday, just days away from the Champions League last 16 second leg at Barcelona.
Bruno Genesio's side head to the La Liga giants with the tie finely balanced at 0-0 after the first leg in France but the Brazilian defender is a doubt for Wednesday's fixture.
"It's too early to know if he'll play against Barcelona. He has a little issue with his hamstring. We'll do everything we have to so he plays, but we have to wait until Sunday," Genesio told Canal+.
Genesio added he plans to talk to the club's doctor after extra tests are carried out on the centre-back on Sunday.
Moussa Dembele scored twice for Lyon at the Stade de la Meinau before Ludovic Ajorque claimed a double of his own in the space of 60 seconds during the second half.
Club skipper Nabil Fekir, forward Bertrand Traore, attacker Memphis Depay as well as midfielder Tanguy Ndombele started on the bench as ...

Skipper Marcelo injured as Lyon stumble before Barca trip

Raheem Sterling's rapid second-half hat-trick moved Manchester City four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Watford as Tottenham's hopes of a top-four finish faltered again in a 2-1 defeat to Southampton.
The Saints' spirited second-half comeback ensured they remain two points above the relegation zone despite Cardiff's 2-0 win over West Ham, while victory for Brighton and Newcastle also boosted their survival hopes on Saturday.
City and Sterling had fortune on their side to end Watford's resistence after a goalless first-half.
A minute into the second period Sterling was initially flagged offside as Daryl Janmaat's attempted clearance ricocheted off the England winger and into the net.
However, after a long discussion with his assistant, referee Paul Tierney awarded the goal because Janmaat's intervention meant Sterling was onside.
"The first goal will be debated. I don't like this situation but it is what it is. I'm sorry if it was offside but we ...

Sterling hat-trick takes City four clear, Southampton stun fading Spurs

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez might have been rested but instead both played and scored as Barcelona came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano, ahead of their crunch Champions League second leg against Lyon.
Raul de Tomas' scintillating strike gave struggling Rayo a surprise lead at the Camp Nou but Messi converted a penalty and Suarez finished a brilliant passing move to seal a 3-1 win, after Gerard Pique had headed in an equaliser on Saturday.
When Barca kicked off, Atletico Madrid had just completed their own 1-0 victory over Leganes, although Diego Simeone was more cautious, resting Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata and Saul Niguez, with Tuesday's trip to Juventus in mind.
"It is normal when there is an important game on Tuesday," said Simeone, who substituted Griezmann at half-time.
"He was not injured, he had just given all that he had to give." There was always a risk that La Liga's top two might take their eye off the ball, given Barcelona's last 16-tie with Lyon hangs in the ...

Messi and Suarez lead Barca to Rayo victory

Grandmaster S P Sethuraman showed his true mettle crushing Gawain Jones as Indian men drew with another higher ranked team, England, in the fifth round of the World Team Chess Championship here Saturday.
Krishnan Sasikiran suffered a rare defeat with white pieces on the second board against Luke McShane after B Adhiban and Surya Shekhar Ganguly had played out a draw with Michael Adams and David Howell with black pieces respectively.
After Sasikiran's loss it was left to Sethuraman and the way he responded was splendid as the Indian team remained undefeated in the biennial premier team competition.
With four rounds still to come, Russian men defeated Kazakhstan 3-1 to take their tally up to nine points out of a possible 10 match points. India and England share the second spot on seven points each while the United States follow them a half point behind.
Iran and China are on their way to resurrection as they share the fifth spot jointly on five points apiece and Kazakhstan and Sweden ...

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