Page 1001 - Sports

ISL: Dynamos in search of first win as they lock horns with Chennaiyin (Preview)

Delhi Dynamos FC and Chennaiyin FC will be keen to put their struggles behind them and secure the first win when they face off in this edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Tuesday.

I-League debutants Real Kashmir scoops sportswear giant Adidas as official kit partner

I-League debutants Real Kashmir Football Club Monday pulled off a major sponsorship coup by signing up with sportswear giant Adidas for the upcoming national season. The two-year-old Srinagar-based side, which won the second division league to become the first club from Jammu and Kashmir to qualify for the top-tier I-League, the association with Adidas is significant. No other football club -- big or small -- has an association with a global brand like Adidas in Indian football. Though the financial nitty-gritty of the deal is not known, Adidas will be the official kit partners of Real Kashmir in the I-League which begins on October 26. "It is a momentous day for Real Kashmir. Such a big brand coming to support us as official partner is an achievement in itself. No other club has Adidas as sponsor but we have got it," club co-owner Shamim Meraj told PTI. Asked how this association came through, he said, "We wanted a big sponsor and they (Adidas) must have their reasons to be with us. .

Priyanshi, Reddy move to second round of junior Asian tennis championship

India's Priyanshi Bhandari and Sai Karteek Reddy scored contrasting victories to move to the second round of the girls and the boys events respectively at the HCL Asian B1 Junior Tennis Championship, here on Monday. Priyanshi Bhandari thrashed Hoi Ki Jenny Wong of Hongkong 6-0, 6-1 while Reddy came faced stiff competition from Hong Kong's Sebastian Nothhaft before prevailing 6-4 1-6 6-4 in the opening round. Also moving to the next round was top seed Dostanbek Tashbulatov, who easily got past wild card Aryaan Bhatia 6-3 6-2. Sixth seeded Sacchitt Sharma rallied past wildcard Tejasvi Mehra 6-1 6-3 and seventh seeded Mann Maulik Shah played out a tough second set to get past Aaryan Zaveri 6-2 7-6(4). Local lad and last year's runner-up Siddhant Banthia beat Christian Didier Chin of Malaysia 6-4 6-2. In the most exciting contest of the day, Taiyo Hirano of Japan came back from behind to edge out Madhwin Kamath 4-6 7-6(6) 6-3. In the girls event, top seed Hong Yi Cody Wong of Hongkong ...

Dynamos, Chennaiyin look for their elusive win

Hosts Delhi Dynamos will be aiming to end their winless streak against an equally desperate Chennaiyin FC when the two teams lock horns in an Indian Super League encounter here on Tuesday. The hosts secured a draw against Kerala Blasters where they needed a late goal from Andrija Kaluderovic to salvage a point. Even in the opening game against FC Pune City, they dropped points at the fag end and coach Josep Gombau will feel they needed much more than two points from their three games. "We are a new team. We are trying to play a new style of football. This is something that cannot happen in one day. I think we deserve more than the two points we have because, in all the three games, we had chances to win the game," said Gombau. While Lallianzuala Chhangte and Romeo Fernandes have shown glimpses of their quality, lack of composure in front of goal is telling. Delhi's profligacy has seen them score only three goals despite fashioning countless opportunities. "The important thing is that .

Sri Lanka seeks Indian help to tackle match-fixing

India has offered to assist Sri Lanka with its inquiry into match-fixing in cricket and drafting laws to combat cheating in the game, a Sri Lankan cabinet minister said Monday. Sri Lanka's Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could provide technical expertise in probing widespread allegations of corruption in cricket. "We don't have the expertise or the laws to deal with this problem in a proper manner. India promised to help us in drafting legislation too," Ranatunga said after returning from New Delhi. The CBI named Ranatunga and his deputy Aravinda de Silva in a match-fixing investigation in 2000 but the pair were cleared of any wrongdoing. Sri Lanka promised to establish a special police unit to investigate match-fixing after a documentary aired in May alleged massive global corruption in cricket. Galle groundsman Tharanga Indika and professional cricketer Tharindu Mendis allegedly speculated about fixing the pitch to ensure a ...

Pakistan cricket officials uphold ban against opener Jamshed

A Pakistani cricket tribunal Monday upheld a 10-year ban on former opener Nasir Jamshed over his role in various fixing scandals that rocked the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The 28-year-old -- one of six players banned for multiple charges of spot fixing -- was sanctioned by an anti-corruption tribunal in August for his role in the scandal, which tainted the Twenty20 tournament in only its second year. "The independent adjudicator has found the ban was 'perfectly justified' and shall continue to remain in force," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement. Jamshed was first banned for 12 months by the same tribunal last December for failing to cooperate with the investigation. The cricketer has been enmeshed in controversy since allegations broke he had effectively been a "lynchpin" who approached and solicited other players" in spot-fixing in PSL matches played in the United Arab Emirates. Spot-fixing refers to illegal activity in a sport where a specific part of a game is

Deodhar Trophy: Chance for Ashwin, Rahane and Karthik

All eyes will be on Prithvi Shaw but senior pros like Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin will aim to remain relevant in the one-day format when the rejigged Deodhar Trophy starts here on Tuesday. With only 17 ODIs left before India play their first World Cup match, the core of the team Indian team is more or less settled, which can be detrimental for the motivation for the star players. For the younger crop of domestic performers, it will be an opportunity to stake claim for the A tour to New Zealand, next month. While his bowling partner in Tests, Ravindra Jadeja, has managed to make an ODI comeback, Ashwin has not played a limited overs game for India since July 2017. Considering India's spin department looks settled at the moment, it will take a special effort from Ashwin to get back in the reckoning in white-ball cricket ahead of the 2019 World Cup. His captain in the India A team and Tamil Nadu teammate, Dinesh Karthik, faces a similar situation after being dropped for the ..

Namibia hosts seminar for general secretaries of African football associations

The first-ever General Secretaries Academy Seminar organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in partnership with the UEFA kicked off here on Monday.

Yuki drops out of top-100, Prajnesh touches career-best 146

Yuki Bhambri, who has just returned to circuit after recovering from a knee injury, dropped out of top-100 but Prajnesh Gunneswaran was rewarded for his good run at the Ningbo Challenger as he touched a career-best 146 on Monday. Bhambri was on the edge of the top-100 when he lost his first round at the European Open in Antwerp last week and has now dropped seven places to 107. He had returned to top-100 in April this year after spending 26 months outside the bracket. Left-handed Prajnesh, who lost the Ningbo Challenger title clash to Thomas Fabbiano on Sunday, jumped 24 places to 146. "It was a very tough match for both of us. We played a high quality match for the most part. To put it plainly, I can't win if I don't convert break points. I don't think I took enough chances when I had the opportunity," Prajnesh told PTI from Ningbo. "Overall, it was a good tournament. Fabbiano deserved to win as he played better than me at crucial moments. I wish the outcome had been in my favour but

Raikkonen 'very happy' to join Sauber in 2019

Finish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen, who had announced his exit from Ferrari by the end of 2018 season, has said that he is "very happy" to join the Sauber Formula One team next year.The 39-year-old further stated that he enjoyed his time with Ferrari, adding that he now wants to face different challenges."I think people don't understand that I'm actually very happy where I'm going," Sport24 quoted Raikkonen, as saying."I had my time with Ferrari, I won the championship with them. I won many races with them and for me, as a driver, I want different challenges, I want different things and I'm actually very happy to go there," he added.Reflecting on his decision to join Sauber, Raikonnen stated that he never felt disappointed with his move. Moreover, it will keep him close to his family as Sauber is roughly 40 minutes away from his home, he continued."It (Sauber) is roughly 40 minutes from my home. For sure my family will be happy, I'm happy to be with my family. I think it's ...

Naomi has remained focused after controversial US Open finals, says coach Bajin

Sascha Bajin, coach of Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, has stated that the World number four has impressively maintained her focus level after the controversial US Open final, last month.Giving the examples of players like Sloane Stephens, the coach said that unlike others, Osaka did not struggle much."I think that after the US Open, we have seen in the past with a lot of players who kind of fall into a little dip after achieving such a big milestone because it is kind of satisfying and it's something you dream of so long," WTA quoted Bajin, as saying."Kerber, when she won the Australian Open, struggled for a little while. Sloane [Stephens] lost eight first-round matches, I believe, in a row. Ostapenko. Everybody kind of struggled. Just seeing her, how she manages all of it, it's pretty impressive," he added.Reflecting on Osaka's performance in the subsequent tournaments, Bajin stated that he is quite satisfied with her performance."We try to keep a focus, we try to keep our ...

AC Milan-bound Paqueta helps fuel Flamengo's title hopes

AC Milan-bound midfielder Lucas Paqueta scored his 10th goal of the Brazilian Serie A football season as Flamengo kept their title hopes alive with a 4-0 rout of Parana.

Last chance for Lopetegui as Real Madrid take on Plzen

Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui steps into the last chance saloon when his side takes on Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday.

T20: Mandhana, Kaur shine in India A win over Australia A

Smriti Mandhana and experienced Harmanpreet Kaur shone with the bat as India A defeated Australia A by four wickets in the lung-opener of the three match T20 series here Monday. The India women, which is basically the national team that will play the women's T20 World Cup, have thus begun their preparations well. Choosing to bat, Australia A managed to score 160/6 in their alloted 20 overs, with Heather Graham top-scoring with 43 at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex facility. But Mandhana (72 off 40 balls) and Kaur (45 off 39 balls) made a mockery of the stiff target as they dominated the Aussie bowlers. India A scored 163/6 to surpass the target with an over to spare. Left-handed Mandhana showed her class after young Jemimah Rodrigues (4) and wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia (0) fell cheaply. She found an able partner in Kaur as the two took the side towards victory. When Kaur fell, India A were 126-4, but all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar remained unbeaten on

Herath to retire after first Test against England

Sri Lanka's left-arm bowler Rangana Herath is retiring earlier than expected and will bid farewell after next month's opening Test against England in Galle, the cricket board announced Monday. Herath, 40, was expected to bow out at the conclusion of England's three-Test tour, but he will now call it quits from international cricket at the same ground where he made his Test debut against Australia in 1999. "We respect and support Rangana's decision even though his retirement will be a big loss for Sri Lanka Cricket," the Sri Lankan board said. "We wish to thank him for the invaluable contribution he has made." Herath has played 92 Tests, taking 430 wickets -- making him Sri Lanka's second most prolific bowler behind Muttiah Muralitharan, who holds the all-time world record of 800. His last ODI appearance was in Wellington against England in March 2015. The first Test against England starts on November 6.

Iniesta still adapting to his stint with Japanese football club

Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta said on Monday that he was still adapting to Japanese football and J-League club Vissel Kobe, which he joined in July, and admitted the team is not in its best phase.

Halep retains No.1 WTA ranking

Simona Halep of Romania maintained the world No.1 spot in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings released on Monday, despite the herniated disc back injury that has forced her to miss the WTA Finals, the eight-player, season-ending event currently being played in Singapore.

Nadal stays atop ATP rankings

Spain's Rafael Nadal retained the number one spot in the men's Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) world singles rankings released on Monday with 7,660 points, while Serbia's Novak Djokovic came in second.

CA rejects corruption allegations against players

Cricket Australia (CA) has denied all the corruption charges levied against their players by Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera in its recently-aired documentaries.The governing body asserted that they had conducted a proper review of the claims made in the documentary, but found nothing against the players.The statement came after Al Jazeera released its second documentary on alleged corruption in cricket. The documentary claimed that around 15 international matches had been subject to spot-fixing in the 2011-12 period."Cricket Australia takes a zero-tolerance approach against anyone trying to compromise the integrity of the game, and to suggest anything otherwise is unsubstantiated and incorrect," cricket.com.au quoted CA CEO James Sutherland, as saying."Prior to the broadcast of Al Jazeera's documentary, Cricket Australia's Integrity Unit conducted a review of the latest claims by Al Jazeera, from a known criminal source, and, from the limited information provided by Al Jazeera, ...

BCB yet to decide on Shakib's request to play UAE T20x

Responding to all-rounder Shakib-Al Hasan's request to allow him to play in the upcoming UAE T20x tournament, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) media committee chairman Jalal Yunus has said that the decision on him is "yet to be made."The chairman further assured that the decision is likely to be taken in the next one or two days."He [Shakib] has applied for the NOC for the T20 tournament, but a decision is yet to be made," ESPNcricinfo.com quoted Yunus, as saying."It will be taken in a day or two," he added.The left-arm bowler is currently recovering from a finger injury that had aggravated during the 2018 Asia Cup. After going through the recovery process, his comeback to the competitive cricket depends upon how quickly he recuperates from the injury.Bangladesh, who are currently playing against Zimbabwe, will next take on West Indies for a two-match Test series beginning November 22. Shakib's presence for the tour is still not confirmed.UAE T20x is a Twenty20 franchise cricket ...