Page 1102 - Sports
Could have won by fancier scoreline against Vietnam: Bibiano
After defeating Vietnam to kick off their AFC U-16 Championship campaign on a positive note, India's head coach Bibiano Fernandes said that there is "still work to be done" and that they could have won by a bigger margin. "We have toiled hard to get the result against Vietnam. It has been a long journey to build this team. Still there a few tweaks to be done and we should not be overconfident of ourselves in the attempt," Bibiano said. "We dominated the entire match and could have won by a fancier scoreline but we missed our chances in front of the net. That is something we will focus upon and try to increase our conversion rate." "The credit goes to the players for attacking incessantly and finding the win," he added. The Indian U-16s had as many as four clear scoring chances. In the 83rd minute, skipper Vikram Singh's run awarded India a penalty which was converted to hand them three points. "We came here to get a win and we got the win. That is what matters. I am happy with the ...
Hasan, Asghar, Rashid fined 15 per cent of their match fees
Pakistan all-rounder Hasan Ali along with Afghanistan duo of Asghar Afghan and Rashid Khan have been fined 15 per cent of their match fees for different incidents during their Super Four match in the Asia Cup on Friday. They have also received one demerit point each for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Afghanistan skipper had brushed his shoulder with Hasan as he passed him while taking a run when he was bowling the 37th over. The incident involving Hasan happened in the 33rd over of Afghanistan's innings when he threatened to throw the ball towards striker Hashmatullah Shahidi off his own bowling. Rashid was charged and fined for giving a send-off to Asif Ali in the 47th over of Pakistan innings Hasan and Asghar were found guilty of breaching Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game", while Rashid was found to have violated Article 2.1.7, which deals with "using
By Giorgi! Japan's Osaka romps into Tokyo final
Japan's Naomi Osaka crushed Italian Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-3 in Tokyo on Saturday to set up a Pan Pacific Open final against Czech Karolina Pliskova. Third seed Osaka needed just 71 minutes to complete her 10th straight win after capturing a historic US Open title earlier this month. Former world number one Pliskova beat Croatia's Donna Vekic 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 but took well over two hours to get the job done. Osaka, however, made quick work of a dangerous opponent who had knocked out top seed and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki, breaking twice in a one-sided first set which she took with a blistering forehand down the line. The 20-year-old, who has climbed to seventh in the world rankings since her stunning victory over Serena Williams in New York, piled on the pressure in the second. A brutal Osaka forehand forced a break in the fifth game, before a vicious backhand return forced Giorgi to whiff a shot beyond the baseline on match point. "I was pretty nervous because I really wanted
Dominic Thiem enters St Petersburg Open semis
Top-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem prevailed over home-crowd favourite Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2) to book a place in the semi-finals of the St Petersburg Open.
Jemimah smashes 57 as Indian women win 3rd T20 Int'l by 5 wkts
Young Jemimah Rodrigues scored a power-packed 40-ball 57 as Indian women won the third T20 International against Sri Lanka by five wicket here Saturday. India now enjoy an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series with the second encounter being a washout. Opting to field, India restricted the islanders to 131/8 with Shashikala Siriwardene (35) and Nilakshi de Silva (31) being the chief contributors. India comfortably chased down the target in 18.2 overs. For India, rookie medium pacer Arundhati Reddy kept things tight with figures of 2/19 in four overs. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur also chipped in with a couple of wickets in the penultimate over. In reply, Rodrigues anchored the chase with six boundaries and two huge sixes adding 53 runs for the fourth wicket with Harmanpreet (24). The two sixes came off pacers -- one off Udeshika Prabodhani and other off Sreepali Weerakoddy. Rodrigues had scored 36 in the first T20 International. While Harmanpreet and Rodrigues were both dismissed .
Malcom, Walace called up for Brazil friendlies; Douglas Costa left out
FC Barcelona forward Malcom and Hannover 96 midfielder Walace have been called up for the Brazilian national football team's two upcoming friendlies in Saudi Arabia, although Juventus' Douglas Costa has been left out of the squad after spitting at an opponent in a Serie A match.
Liverpool coach Klopp backs Salah
Liverpool's German coach Jurgen Klopp has backed his Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, whose form was questioned by some fans.
Stuttgart supporters still waiting for 1st victory
Supporters of VfB Stuttgart will have to wait at least until next week to see their team post a win in the 2018-2019 Bundesliga after the side was held 0-0 here by newly promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf.
US tops Canada 3-1 in Volleyball Men's World C'ship
The United States remained undefeated at the Volleyball Men's World Championship by defeating Canada 3-1 (25-17, 25-14, 21-25, 25-17) at the start of the second-round play in Pool G here.
Huesca fall 0-1 to Sociedad to remain winless at home
Real Sociedad, who finished the match with nine men, prevailed 1-0 here over SD Huesca to leave the hosts still in pursuit of their first home victory since winning promotion to La Liga.
India settle for silver in Asian Team Snooker Championship
India settled for the silver medal after losing to Pakistan 2-3 in the final of the Asian Team Snooker Championship here. After Babar Masih put a fluent 81 break to win the first frame against Pankaj Advani, Malkeet Singh restored parity with a 52 break win over Mohammad Asif. The doubles was the turning point where Asif played out of his skin to pull back a 62-point deficit and allow his partner Masih to wrap up the frame 70-72. Pushed on the back foot, Pankaj displayed fine potting to craft a frame-winning 68 break. It was then again down to Malkeet to save the day for India, but he could not on this occasion. Hours before that, Malkeet played the match of his life under pressure to clinch the deciding frame against Pakistan 2 and a berth for the Indian team in the final. Pakistan-1 beat India 3-2 Pankaj Advani lost to Babar Masih 2-110(81) Malkeet Singh defeated Muhammad Asif 81(52)-47 Doubles Pakistan beat India 70-72 Pankaj Advani beat Muhammad Asif 107(68)-5 Malkeet Singh lost ..
Fancied India wary of unpredictable Pakistan
Favourites India have no grounds for complacency as they wait to see 'which' Pakistan turns up in the Asia Cup here Sunday, well aware of the unpredictable arch-rivals' penchant for surprising not just opponents but themselves, too. India are eyeing a place in the final after three wins in as many matches, while Pakistan will look to step up their game in the Super Four match, after a scare against Afghanistan. India walloped Pakistan by eight wickets in the group game three days ago but if history is any indication, the Men in Blue will take their traditional rivals lightly at their own peril. After being made to work hard by minnows Hong Kong in their tournament opener, India got their act together in the much-awaited group game against Pakistan and produced a clinical display to make short work of Sarfraz Ahmed's team. Chasing a small target, India were hardly tested as a half-century from skipper Rohit Sharma ensured that the team was home with as many as 21 overs to spare. Even ..
Team World socks it to Federer-Djokovic at Laver Cup
Kevin Anderson and Jack Sock spoiled the doubles debut of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic but Team Europe still led Team World 3-1 after the first day of the 2018 Laver Cup. Grigor Dimitrov, David Goffin and Kyle Edmund all won their opening singles matches Friday to give Team Europe a commanding 3-0 lead going into the evening's final doubles match. Team World's Jack Sock and Kevin Anderson needed a tiebreaker to defeat the doubles dream team of Federer and Djokovic 6-7, 6-3, 10-6. Sock and Anderson won the tiebreaker after Federer double faulted to give Team World a key 5-4 lead. Earlier in the day, Europe's Dimitrov cruised past Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4, Goffin saved two match points to outlast Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 4-6, 11-9 and Edmund toppled World's Sock 6-4, 5-7, 10-6. This is the second instalment of the Laver Cup which has been dubbed the Ryder Cup of tennis -- although it lacks the tradition of golf's premier team event. The exhibition is taking place on US soil for the ...
Malik's unbeaten fifty saves Pakistan blushes against Afghanistan
Experienced Shoaib Malik conjured up a crucial unbeaten 51 under pressure as Pakistan survived a scare from Afghanistan, winning their Super Four match of the Asia Cup by three wickets, here on Friday. Chasing a competitive 258 to win, Pakistan overhauled the target with just three balls to spare with former captain Malik playing the match-winning knock from 43 balls. Pakistan required 10 runs from the last over and Malik dispatched pacer Aftab Alam for a six and four after playing a dot ball. Wickets kept falling for Pakistan with star Afghan spinner Rashid Khan yet again proving his utility with a three-wicket haul but Malik held his nerves to keep one end tight. Before Malik, Imam-ul-Haq (80) and Babar Azam (60) hit patient half-centuries in a 154-run stand but the slow run rate made it difficult for Pakistan. Electing to bat, Hashmatullah Shahidi (97) missed out on his maiden ODI hundred by just three runs after skipper Asghar Afghan hit a combative 67 off 56 balls as Afghanistan .
Hope to repeat our performance against Pakistan, says Rohit after beating Bangladesh
Hailing his team's "clinical performance" against Bangladesh, India skipper Rohit Sharma says they would look to replicate the show in Sunday's Super Four Asia Cup match against arch-rivals Pakistan here. Rohit played another classy knock after comeback man Ravindra Jadeja picked up a four-wicket haul to set up a seven-wicket win in their opening Super Four match Friday. "It was a clinical performance from the start. We bowled very well and we always knew it was going to be better batting under the lights. Very good from everyone. It was important on a pitch like that to rotate the bowlers and now allow the batsmen to settle," Rohit said at the presentation ceremony. India bowled out Bangladesh, who batted first, for a paltry 173, and then chased down the target with plenty to spare. India's bowling show was led by left-arm spinner Jadeja, who was making a comeback to the one-day team after more than a year. "We wanted to rotate the bowlers in shorter spells. It was a challenge for ...
I don't have to prove anything to anyone: Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja kept count of the number of days he was out of India's One-day squad and once in, he made it count with four wickets, and stated "I don't have" to prove anything to anyone. The left-arm spinner, who is also a handy bat, returned, in his own words, after around 480 days, with very impressive figures of 4/29 and bagged the Man-of-the-Match Award in India's seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. "I will always remember this comeback because I returned to the team after a gap of around 480 days. The earlier gaps have not been this long," Jadeja told reporters at the post-match press conference. Making a statement of sorts, he said, "I don't have to prove anything to anyone. What my ability is, I need to sharpen it. I don't have to show anyone what I can do. I need to challenge myself." With less than a year left for the 2019 World Cup, Jadeja might have sent a timely reminder to the selectors about his prowess, but he said he was not thinking that far ...
Fear of losing drives Joshua to remain world's 'best heavyweight'
World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua may have proclaimed himself "the best in the division" ahead of putting his titles on the line against Russia's Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium but he also stressed a defeat would not signal the end of his career. The 28-year-old British boxer has won all 21 of his fights since entering the paid ranks, with 20 by way of knockout, although his last title defence, against New Zealand's Joseph Parker in Cardiff in March, saw him go the distance for the first time as a professional before he secured a unanimous points decision. But Joshua, citing the example of many great boxers, insisted a reverse in front of his home crowd on Saturday would not see him bow out of boxing. - 'Who am I to go undefeated?' - "That fear of losing is always there," Joshua, the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation champion, told reporters at Wembley. "Sugar Ray Robinson, the best fighter of all time, can lose. ...
World Cup success has given Pogba a boost, says Mourinho
Paul Pogba's fine form for Manchester United this season is evidence that post-World Cup hangovers are as much mental as physical, according to the club's manager Jose Mourinho. Pogba played a crucial role in France's path to being crowned world champions -- scoring a sublime goal in the final against Croatia -- in Russia in July. Yet despite a short close-season break, he has been given the captaincy by Mourinho and performed impressively. The issue of post-World Cup fatigue has been debated extensively be club managers, with Tottenham striker Harry Kane the most high-profile example of those sturggling to replicate their best form. Mourinho, though, thinks that Pogba's success with France has given the midfielder an extra surge of energy. "I think good results, and good performances, they make miracles," said Mourinho at his press conference on Friday. "And bad results and bad performances, they make you look more tired, more upset, more ugly, more everything." Mourinho's remarks ...
Giroud and Morata battle for Chelsea starting spot
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has a tough decision to make over whether to pick Alvaro Morata or Olivier Giroud for a testing encounter with West Ham on Sunday. The Stamford Bridge club are top of the Premier League table after five wins out of five but the fixture list has been relatively kind to them so far. West Ham had a miserable start to their campaign but victory against Everton has lifted the mood and they will be further buoyed by last season's results against Chelsea -- when they took four points off their London rivals. Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard has been the star man for Chelsea so far this season, scoring a hat-trick in their 4-1 demolition of Cardiff last week to lead the race for the Premier League Golden Boot. But who will Sarri pick to lead the line at the London Stadium? Up until last weekend Morata, 25, was getting the nod, with French World Cup winner Giroud -- a stronger physical presence -- consigned to the bench. But Giroud got his chance against Cardiff and ...
Woods maintains share of the lead at Tour Championship
Tiger Woods edged closer to snapping a five-year winless drought as the 14-time major winner maintained a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Tour Championship. Woods birdied the final hole en route to a 68 to tie Justin Rose (67) at seven-under par 133 in heatwave conditions at the East Lake golf course in Atlanta. Rory McIlroy, winner two years ago of both the FedEx Cup and Tour Championship, remains in the hunt in sole possession of third after shooting a 68. "The best way to describe today is I ground out a round," said Woods, a former two-time winner of the season-ending tournament. "I wasn't quite as sharp as I was yesterday, but I hung in there and tried to miss the ball on the correct sides so I had angles. "For the most part, I did that." Woods had been two strokes clear of his rivals before stumbling to a double-bogey on 16. But the World No. 21 recovered to shoot par on 17 and then sank a two-footer for birdie on 18 to tie his English rival Rose. Woods' last ...