Page 1188 - Sports

Asiad Boxing: Gritty Vikas, dominant Amit into semis; Sarjubala, Dheeraj ousted

Star boxer Vikas Krishan (75kg) overcame a bleeding left eye to be assured of an unprecedented third consecutive Asian Games medal, while Amit Panghal (49kg) produced a power-packed performance in his quarterfinal bout to guarantee himself a maiden podium finish here today. However, it was curtains for world silver-medallist Sarjubala Devi (51kg) after she lost her quarterfinal bout 0-5 to up and coming Chinese Chang Yuan, a Youth Olympics gold-medallist and also a former youth worth champion. Her loss means that Indian women boxers would be returning without a medal from the Asiad for the first time since the event was added to the Games in 2010. The celebrated M C Mary Kom had claimed a gold and L Sarita Devi and Pooja Rani fetched a bronze each in the 2014 edition. Vikas, a gold medallist in 2010 and bronze winner in 2014, prevailed on a split 3-2 verdict against China's Tuoheta Erbieke Tanglatihan in the quarterfinals. It was a tough bout for the seasoned boxer, who had to go on ..

Dutee bags second medal, wins 200m silver

Dutee Chand today joined her illustrious compatriots such as P T Usha in the list of athletes who have won more than one medal at the Asian Games as she added a silver to her kitty after finishing second earlier in the women's 100m dash here today. She crossed the finishing line in 23.20 seconds, behind Bahrain's Edidiong Odiong who clinched the gold in 22.96. The bronze went to China's Wei Yongli (23.27). It has been an outstanding show by the 22-year-old Odisha sprinter who was not allowed to compete in 2014-15 under the IAAF's hyperandrogenism policy due to which she missed the 2014 Commonwealth and Asian Games. She fought and won a case against this policy at the Court of Arbitration for Sports. In a recent revision of the hyperandrogenism policy of the IAAF, Dutee has been left out of its purview. Legendary Usha had swept four gold medals at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, winning 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay. Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, (800m 1500m) had also won two medals at ..

FC Barcelona forward Alcacer joins Dortmund on loan

FC Barcelona forward Paco Alcacer has joined Borussia Dortmund on loan for the 2018/2019 football season for some two million euros ($2.3 million) plus the player's wages.

Asiad Handball: Indian men's team beat Indonesia

Already out of reckoning, Indian men's handball team ended its campaign on a positive note, defeating Indonesia in a group 3 main round match at the 18th Asian Games here today. India were 16-13 ahead after the first period and scored 21-10 in the second period to seal the contest. Earlier, India had beaten Malaysia and Pakistan but lost to Chinese Taipei in group 3 matches. Indian women's team had finished at the ninth place after beating Malaysia in the classification match.

Kamal-Batra pair adds mixed doubles bronze to Indian TT's dream run at Asiad

The Indian table tennis contingent's dream run at the Asian Games got better today when the mixed doubles pairing of A Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra exceeded its own expectations to win a historic bronze. It was only yesterday that the Kamal-led men's team had secured a bronze, ending India's 60-year-wait for a maiden medal at the Asian Games. Today, Kamal and Batra played four matches in a day and only the opener against Malaysia was comfortable. In the lead-up to the event, Kamal had slammed the scheduling of the competition. In the semifinals, Kamal and Batra made life tough for China's Yingsha Sun and Wang Sun before going down 9-11, 5-11, 13-11, 4-11, 8-11. The semifinal was a best of seven games contest while the earlier rounds were played in the usual best of five format. Their pre-quarterfinal was against the strong a South Korean pairing of Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee but the Indians battled past them 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4. Next up for Kamal and Batra was the North ...

Asiad 2018: Japan takes gold in both men's skateboarding events

Japan secured gold medals in both individual mens skateboarding events at the 2018 Asian Games here on Wednesday.

Khushbir 4th in 20km race walk

India's Khushbir Kaur finished fourth in the women's 20km race walk event at the 18th Asian Games here on Wednesday.

Three Indian race walkers disqualified, Khushbir finishes fourth

Khushbir Kaur failed to match up to her last edition's silver winning show by finishing fourth while three of her compatriots were disqualified in a disappointing show by India's 20km race walkers in the Asian Games here today. Khushbir, who won a silver in the 2014 Asian Games, had to be content with a fourth-place finish with a time of 1 hour 35 minutes and 24 seconds, which was far below her 1:32:17 timing she had come up in New Delhi earlier this year. In 2014, her silver winning time was 1:33:07. Khushbir has a personal best of 1:31:40. China's Jiayu Yang took the gold in Games record time of 1:29:15 while her compatriot Shijie Qieyang (1:29:15) and Kumiko Okada (1:34:02) of Japan won the silver and bronze respectively. The other Indian in the fray in the women's 20km race walk, Baby Soumya was disqualified after receiving her third warning for 'loss of contact' after the 14km mark. Her disqualification was under the IAAF Rule 230.7c. In the men's 20km race walk event also, both .

Lahiri, Woods all set for second leg of FedExCup play-offs

India's Anirban Lahiri will look to produce a solid finish at Dell Technologies golf tournament this week to stay afloat in four-leg FedExCup play-offs. Any hiccup in the second leg of the FedExCup play-offs could spell the end of the season as only the Top-70 will move to the third leg, BMW and Lahiri would love to be there once again. Last year in his first tryst with the Play-offs, Lahiri missed the cut in Northern Trust, but finished T-56th at Dell and then had a Top-10 at BMW, but he fell short of getting into Top-30 for the Tour Championships. This year he did make the cut at Northern Trust but ended way behind in the T-71st place. Currently 97th in the FedExCup standings, Lahiri needs a good finish to enter the Top-70 and get into the BMW Championships next week. In the first round, Lahiri has been paired with Russell Henley and Danny Lee and they will tee off from the tenth. Tiger Woods, who was not able to build on his two successive Top-10s in the Majors at The Open and PGA,

China still top dogs, says Asian badminton boss

Badminton Asia president Anton Subowo denies China are in crisis after their shuttlers missed out on a singles medal at the Asian Games for the first time in 38 years. Top-seeded Chinese Shi Yuqi crashed out in the opening round in Jakarta to Indonesian gold winner Jonatan Christie, while another local favourite Anthony Sinisuka Ginting took down Olympic champion Chen Long in the quarter-finals. The Badminton Asia chief told AFP in an interview that China's dominance of the sport will continue because of their ability to churn out young and talented players regularly. "They are still the best. Chinese will always have enough players in the pool to bring them up and make them world champions," said Subowo, who is from Indonesia, and is also vice-president of the Badminton World Federation (BWF). "It was just unlucky that they did not have a good day in this Asian Games. Otherwise they are pretty good. Chen Long, Shi Yuqi are top players," he added. Subowo played down comments by ...

Ronaldo's overhead kick against Juventus wins UEFA goal of season

Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning overhead bicycle kick for Real Madrid against current club Juventus has been voted UEFA's goal of the season. The former Real Madrid striker beat competition from 11 nominees for the award in honour of his goal in last season's Champions League quarter-final first leg in Turin. "Thanks to everyone who voted for me. Will never forget that moment, specially the reaction of the fans in the stadium," the 33-year-old Portuguese superstar said on Twitter, using the hashtag #SpecialMoment. Real Madrid were already leading against the Italian champions thanks to Ronaldo's opener after just two minutes when he acrobatically blasted in Dani Carvajal's cross on 64 minutes. Ronaldo said it was "the best goal" of his career and it helped Real to a 3-0 win on the night and moved them a step closer to an eventual quarter-final victory over Juve. The Spanish club went on to win the competition for the third consecutive season. The striker said the crowd's reaction -- a ...

Asiad TT: Sharath, Manika eye mixed doubles final berth

India's Manika Batra and Achantha Sharath Kamal have set their sights on the finals of the Table Tennis Mixed Doubles event after thrashing the North Korean team in the quarter-finals of the 2018 Asian Games earlier today.The Indian duo swept aside Ji Song An and Hyo Sim Cha of North Korea 3-2 in their last-eight clash of the mixed doubles event to book their place in the semi-finals of the prestigious quadrennial event.After losing the first game 4-11 to their Korean counterparts, the Indian pair made a smashing comeback to level the match 1-1 with a 12-10 victory in the second game.In the third game, the India duo missed the chance to take a lead in the match as they slumped to a 6-11 defeat at the hands of their opponents.In the must-win fourth game, Sharath and Batra displayed exceptional coordination and kept them alive in the match with a thumping 11-6 victory.The deciding game tested the skills of both the side, but it was the Indian pair who kept their nerves intact till the ..

Verstappen's father disapproves of Ricciardo's Renault move

Jos Verstappen, father of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, has said that Daniel Ricciardo's move to Renault is quite surprising and that it is something he would have never recommended.The former Formula One driver further denied the possibility of Ricciardo moving out of the team because of Red Bull's reported interest in making junior Verstappen as the face of the team."Switching from a top team to a smaller team - I don't know if that's the right move. I wouldn't have done it," Sports24 quoted Jos Verstappen, as saying."I'm 100% sure of it. They (Ricciardo and Max Verstappen) get along well. Of course, there is competition in qualifying and the races, but the relationship is very good in my view. That's why I don't understand," he added.Reflecting on Red Bull's decision to replace Ricciardo with Pierre Gasly, Jos said that it is a good decision as his son and Pierre get along well."That's how it should be. I think Max is fine with Pierre," he said.Earlier this month, Ricciardo had ..

Russian swimmer Yefimova might continue to compete in 2024 Olympics

Fife-time world swimming champion Yuliya Yefimova of Russia says she may make a decision concerning her professional career in a spontaneous manner, and she may stay to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games.

Asiad 2018: Indian women's Sepaktakraw team loses to Vietnam

The Indian women's Sepaktakraw team lost to Vietnam 0-2 in their Group B Women's Quadrant Preliminary round at the 18th Asian Games on Wednesday.

Naveen unveils countdown clock for Hockey World Cup

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today unveiled the countdown clock for Hockey Men's World Cup to be held in the state between November 28 and December 16 at the Kalinga Stadium here. Ninety days before the stat of the mega event, Patnaik also launched the "My Heart Beats for Hockey" campaign saying the countdown clock will rhyme with the hearts of India and Odisha. He said, "The campaign aims at spreading the passion for the game of hockey in the run up to the Hockey World Cup. The campaign urges people to pledge their support for the game, saying - my heart beats for hockey, does yours?" Odisha has produced brilliant hockey players who have brought laurels for the country, Patnaik said. "The state government is taking all the steps to organize it in a befitting manner and ensure that it's a grand success," Patnaik said at the programme attended by, among others, Hockey India CEO Elena Norman. Officials said 'Heartbeat Centres' will be set up in select cities across

Confident India aim to level series in 4th Test (Preview)

After a morale-boosting win at Nottingham, India will be aiming to level the five-match rubber when they take on England in the fourth cricket Test starting at the Rose Bowl Ground here from Thursday.

Sharath-Manika in mixed doubles TT semis, medal assured

The Indian mixed doubles tennis pair of Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra entered the semi-finals, assuring themselves of a historic medal at the 18th Asian Games here on Wednesday.

Asiad TT: Sharath, Manika enter mixed doubles semis, assured of medal

The Indian pair of A Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra progressed to the table tennis mixed doubles semifinals, beating North Korea 3-2 to be assured of a medal at the 18th Asian Games here today. Sharath and Manika defeated Ji Song An and Hyo Sim Cha 4-11 12-10 6-11 11-6 11-8 in a thrilling contest that lasted 38 minutes here. Earlier, the Indian men's team had won a bronze medal.

Now we can beat anyone barring China: Sharath Kamal

Warhorse Sharath Kamal says he can peacefully retire after winning India's first table tennis medal at the Asian Games but he won't. He won't because there is a strong belief within the men's team now that a World Championship medal is very much a possibility. After all, the team comprising Kamal, G Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai beat Japan to end a 60-year-wait for an Asiad medal. "On our day, we can beat anyone except China," Kamal told PTI as the mixed doubles competition commenced here today. It is quite a statement considering Indian players were not taken seriously at the world level as recent as five years ago. And it may seem the medal has come out of nowhere but that it is not the case. More government funding for the junior programme, a table tennis league and most players plying their trade in Europe for the last five to six years has led to this "unthinkable feat". At the start of the year, India had as many as six top-100 players in the ITTF rankings. "It is a bronze but it ..