Page 1071 - Sports
Emphatic Osaka powers into China Open round two
US Open champion Naomi Osaka needed just 68 minutes to power into round two of the China Open with a dominant performance over Kazakh qualifier Zarina Diyas on Monday. Also safely through on Beijing's outdoor hard courts is another reigning Grand Slam champion, Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki. With world number one Simona Halep retiring from the tournament with a back injury and Serena Williams absent, Osaka and Wozniacki are among the favourites. The Japanese Osaka, who is enjoying a breakthrough season after stunning Williams to win in New York, breezed past a bewildered Diyas 6-4, 6-3. Osaka, a rising star of tennis at just 20, plays unseeded American Danielle Collins next. Former world number one Wozniacki was similarly emphatic with a 6-2, 6-3 demolition of Switzerland's Belinda Bencic. The world number two Dane was never in serious trouble against 41st-ranked Bencic, although it has not always been like that down the years, Bencic winning four of their past six ...
India will play day-night Test in future: Edulji
Committee of Administrators (CoA) member Diana Edulji Monday said BCCI is trying to work out a way for India to feature in a day-night Test. India had refused to play a day-night Test after Australia had expressed their desire to host the team for pink-ball cricket at Adelaide during its tour Down Under in December. "We are working on it (Day-Night Tests). It will happen, whenever it comes up," Edulji said when scribes asked her about the Day-Night Tests. She was speaking on the sidelines of the ninth Dilip Sardesai memorial lecture at the Cricket Club of India here. Asked where it will happen -- abroad or India, Edulji said, "wherever." Reminded that the BCCI missed out on the opportunity to play day-night Tests in India and Australia, Edulji said, "That happened, but it will change".
Gritty India suffers 0-1 defeat to Korea, fails to qualify for FIFA U-17 World Cup
The Indian football team failed to qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup after it suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat at the hands of heavyweights South Korea in an AFC U-16 Championship quarterfinal match here on Monday. The Indians, playing in their first quarterfinals of the tournament in 16 years, gave a gritty fight but the Koreans were too good for them. The Koreans, one of the title contenders, dominated most part of the match though they could score just one goal through Jeong Sangbin in the 67th minute. The four semifinalists from the AFC U-16 Championship qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in Peru. India had taken part in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup by virtue of being the host team. Despite Monday's loss, the Indians will return with their heads held high as they lost to a much superior team. They also conceded just one goal in the tournament. Indian goalkeeper Niraj Kumar was once again brilliant under the bar with some fine saves. In the 14th minute, Niraj was
Valiant India lost in quarter-finals of AFC U-16 meet
A valiant team India went down fighting 0-1 against South Korea in the quarter-finals of the AFC U-16 football Championship at the Petaling Jaya Stadium here on Monday
Manjrekar bats for day-night Test cricket
Stressing that day-night Test matches will increase viewership, former Test batsman Sanjay Manjrekar Monday wondered why India was reluctant to embrace this idea. He said players are choosing T20 leagues over Test cricket because of the money involved in the shortest formal. "The only way to get more people to watch Test cricket, increase its viewership, popularity and thereby its quality is day-night Test matches," said Manjrekar here. "Why aren't we playing more day-night Test matches, when its a no-brainer that it will draw more viewership," Manjrekar wondered while delivering the ninth Dilip Sardesai Memorial lecture at the Cricket Club of India. "An offer was recently rejected by India - because the players are vary of it, vary of the pink ball, the dew factor etc. "I always believed that conditions aren't unfair if it is the same for both the sides," the 53-year-old Manjrekar, who played 74 ODIs, said. According to the former right-handed batsman, players are ...
Mourinho defends players' commitment, denies his job is at stake
Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho on Monday stood up for his players amid criticism over the Premier League club's poor results so far this season, denying that his job was in danger.
Asian Para Games: Indians denied entry to Athletes village for non-payment of accommodation fee
The Indian contingent for the Asian Para Games was refused entry to the Athletes Village in Jakarta for a few hours on Monday by the organisers as the necessary payment was not done on time. A top official of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) said that the para-athletes were initially denied entry when they arrived at the Games Village as the Sports Ministry had not till then cleared funds to the tune of USD 2.5 lakh. The PCI officials then gave an undertaking that the payment will be done by October 4 and only then the athletes were allowed entry to the Games Village. The Asian Para Games begins at Jakarta on October 6. PCI vice-president Gursharan Singh, who is accompanying the Indian contingent in Jakarta, said, unlike the Asian Games (for able-bodied athletes) held in August, the participating teams for the Para Games will have to make payments for accommodation, competition, registration, among others. "Each country will have to pay for accommodation of its athletes at the .
Kadhe gets better of Anand, Faisal first seed to fall at Nationals
Top seed Arjun Kadhe made a confident start in his quest for National Championship, beating Kunal Anand in straight sets in the men's singles even as seventh seed Faisal Qamar was knocked out here on Monday. Kadhe initially faced stiff competition from Delhi boy Anand but dominated as the match progressed, winning the opening round 6-3 6-1 in 65 minutes. Anand hit the ball hard but Kadhe hit it harder. The Delhi lad's unforced errors on backhand let him down even as his solid returns did trouble Kadhe. With a break up, Kadhe led 4-1 in the opening set but Anand broke back in the seventh. However, he lost the opportunity to claw his way back by dropping his serve at love in the next. All his errors came from backhand shots. In the second set too, Kadhe broke as early as in the third game. He was serving much better and stroked fluently. There was no comeback for Anand, who could not hold his serve again. "He is experienced but I did not have to worry about my strategy for him. I knew ..
Cruz Azul retains top spot in Liga MX Apertura football
Cruz Azul, managed by Pedro Caixhina, has retained the top spot in the Liga MX Apertura football tournament standings.
Maradona suggests Messi to quit Argentina national team
Argentinean football legend Diego Maradona has suggested star striker Lionel Messi to no longer play for the national side.Reflecting on the reason behind the same, Maradona stated that the team always put the onus of failure on Messi which is "crazy", Marca.com reported."Yes, because if the U15 team loses, it's Messi's fault, an Argentina fixture messes up the domestic calendar for Racing against Boca and Messi is to blame. I'd say-Don't play anymore, it's crazy, but let's see if they're (AFA) brave," Clarin quoted Maradona, as saying.Expressing his views on Messi's silence after being eliminated from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the retired footballer said that the striker should have spoken about the same."Yes, I wish he had sent us all to shit because he's not to blame for not being world champion. Okay, we had all the hopes in him, but when you go to the racecourse you have the hope that your horse will win and it finishes eighth," he said."In Formula 1, Vettel has a great engine but
John Abraham plans to set up football academy in Shillong
Bollywood actor and owner of Indian Super League (ISL) franchise NorthEast United FC, John Abraham on Monday said that Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has promised to help his football club look for land here to start the club's academy.
Barcelona's Denis Suarez, Miranda, Peña called to face Tottenham Hotspur
Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez, goalkeeper Iñaki Peña and defender Juan Miranda were named on Monday for the squad heading for London to face Tottenham Hotspur in the upcoming UEFA Champions League group stage match.
ISL: Mumbai City aim for winning start against Jamshedpur
With a new head coach in place, the Mumbai City FC will look to start the fifth season of the Indian Super League (ISL) with a win when they take on Jamshedpur FC here Tuesday. The coveted ISL crown has eluded Mumbai for the past four seasons. The 'Islanders' - as they are fondly called -- had a particularly disappointing time last season. But with new coach Jorge Costa taking over their reins, they will look forward to an improvised show and change of fortunes at the Mumbai Football Arena in suburban Andheri. Mumbai have made several changes to their squad and roped in Indian players like Souvik Chakrabarti, Raynier Fernandes and Subhashish Bose. Their notable foreign acquisitions include Paulo Machado (Portugal)and striker Rafael Bastos (Brazil). With Bose, Mumbai have strengthened their defence, which was a definite concern last season, and also included Romanian Lucian Goian, Arnold Issoko (Congo), Souvik Ghosh and Anwar Ali. With Senegal's Modou Sougou bringing his ..
U-19 Asia Cup: Nepal out from group stage
Nepal has been knocked out of the group stage of the U-19 Asia cup cricket tournament which is underway in Bangladesh.Aasif Sheikh-led side lost to Afghanistan by 3 wickets on Monday to bow out of the tournament with a match still to play in the group stage.Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Nepal posted a meager total of 131 runs in 50 overs. In reply, Afghanistan surpassed the total in 37.3 overs at the loss of seven wickets.Nepal had lost all their wickets in 38.3 overs with 131 runs on the board. Rohit Kumar Poudel was the only one making a significant score of 49 runs. Rashid Khan scored 29 and captain Aasif Sheikh scored 20 runs. Afghanistan's Ajamatullah Omarai took 4 wickets to limit Nepal to a small total.Before returning home, Nepal will face the UAE on Tuesday.Earlier, Nepal had lost to India by 171 runs.
Nishikori kickstarts Japan Open with bang
Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori began his campaign at the ongoing Japan Open on a winning note as he swept aside his countryman Yuichi Sugita in straight sets in the opening round of the men's singles event here on Monday.The 28-year-old clinched an easy 6-4, 6-1 victory over Sugita in a clash that lasted one hour and 22 minutes.Nishikori, who made it to the semi-finals of the 2018 US Open, continued his good run of form in the match as he saved six out of seven break points against Sugita to eventually come out victorious in the first clash.The world number twelve, who was out of action for nearly six months due to a wrist injury, has made a solid comeback, having won eight of his last ten matches.Nishikori, who is eyeing his first tour-level title after clinching the 2016 Memphis Open, will now take on Frenchman Benoit Paire in the second round of the Japan Open.
Russian Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev quits national football team
Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who plays for the CSKA Moscow football club, said on Monday that he is quitting the national football team. Akinfeev was the captain of the Russian national team during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia."Each story has its own beginning and its end, and my story with the national team has come to its logical conclusion. It was a great honour for me to bring the Russian team to the domestic World Cup as its captain. To be honest, I never even dreamed of this. But it happened and probably became the peak of my career in the national team," Akinfeev said, as quoted on the website of CSKA Moscow football club.Akinfeev debuted in the Russian team in 2004. With 112 caps for the national team, he is second only to teammate Sergei Ignashevich, who quit the national team earlier in the year. In 2008, Akinfeev became a bronze medalist at the UEFA European Championship.
World Boxing Council convention kicks off
The 56th annual convention of the World Boxing Council (WBC) kicked off here on Monday with a participation of about 700 high-ranked guests, authorities said.
De Bruyne returns to training for Manchester City
Manchester City's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne returned to training on Monday in a bid to step up his recovery process from a knee injury.
Jharkand continues its winning streak
Jharkhand continued its winning run, beating Bengal in a high-scoring match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group 'C' league here Monday. There were also wins for Services, the surprise packet of the tournament so far and Team Rajasthan, which earned its first win. Bengal rode on Abhimanyu Easwaran's superb knock of 149 (162 balls, 14X4, 1X6) and skipper Manoj Tiwary's 69 (72 balls, 5X4, 3X6) to post a total of 267 for 8 in 50 overs. In reply, Anand Singh (118) and captain Ishan Kishan (56) powered Jharkhand by posting a 119-run partnership for the first wicket. The team remained on track despite, losing wickets in the middle. Jharkhand was 264 for 9 in 49 overs when bad light stopped play, but emerged winner on the VJD method. Manendra Singh (101) starred for Rajasthan while Nakul Sharma with a century shone for Services, which beat Jammu & Kashmir by 120 runs. Meanwhile, Test opener M Vijay and M S Washington Sundar have been selected in the Tamil Nadu team ...
GFGC Malur crowned Southern champions Kabaddi meet
GFGC Malur was crowned as the Southern Edition champions of the Red Bull Tashan Kabaddi after beating GFGC Nelamangala 33-30 in the final match at Play Arena here, it was announced on Monday.