Page 1243 - Sports
Leander's pull-out big blow to our medal chances: Zeeshan Ali
Leander Paes' last-minute withdrawal from the Asian Games has dealt a telling blow to India's medal prospects in the two doubles events, captain and coach Zeeshan Ali said today. Ali said he tried his best to convince Paes to change his mind but the 18-time Grand Slam champion decided against coming to Palembang after expressing his disappointment over selectors not picking a doubles specialist to play with him. "It is obviously very disappointing to not to have Leander. It is a big blow to us. But then again he is a complete professional. It is his decision completely and his patriotism for the country cannot be questioned," Ali told PTI before a practice session here today. "Having said that, Paes needed to be here irrespective of whoever he was going to play with as he volunteered to represent the country," Zeeshan said. The former Davis Cupper said that his focus is now is to rejig the doubles combination after Paes' pull-out. "But I have to forget that he is not coming and focus .
Delhi Dynamos sign striker Kaluderovic
Delhi Dynamos on Friday announced the signing of Serbian striker Andrija Kaluderovic for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) football season.
ISL: FC Pune City sign centre-back Martin Diaz
Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Pune City on Friday announced the signing of Uruguayan centre-back Martin Diaz to strengthen their defence line for the upcoming season.
India's Esow Alben wins silver at World Junior Track cycling C'ship
Teen cyclist Esow Alben has scripted history by claiming India's first ever medal -- a silver at the UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland. The 17-year-old from Andaman and Nicobar put enormous pressure on Czech Republic's Jakub Stastny in the final sprint before settling for the silver medal. Kazakh cyclist Andrey Chugay won the bronze medal. Esow finished just 0.017 seconds behind gold medallist Stastny in the thrilling photo-finish of a race. In the first round, he had topped his heat with a 200m timing of 10.851 seconds. "I just wanted to stay at the front and avoid getting involved in any crashes. I believed I could win but I am still happy ... well a little bit happy," Esow was quoted as saying by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Esow, who became the world no 1 in junior sprint category after a sensational run in the Asian Championships and victories in the 2018 Cottbuser Sprint Cup 2, GP Brno Track Cycling competitions, trains in Delhi at the ...
FC Pune City sign Martin Diaz
Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Pune City today announced the signing of the Uruguayan centre back Martin Diaz to strengthen their defence line for the 2018-19 season. After acquiring Martin's signature, FC Pune City CEO Gaurav Modwel said, "Martin will strengthen our defence with his vast experience in South America, Europe and of course an entire season in ISL. He is versatile and can play either as centre-back or a defensive midfielder. He is technical and is good with playing the ball from the back, which suits our style of play." Martin began his senior career with Defensor Sporting in 2008 and later played for Dinamo Bucuresti, CD Badajoz, Montevideo Wanderers, Atletico Rafaela and Liverpool FC in Primera Division. NorthEast United FC signed him last season where he played 16 games. Martin also captained his national team in 2005 FIFA U17 World Championship. Head coach Miguel Angel Portugal said, "I have seen Martin last season and what impressed me is his work ethic and ...
Shamed batsman Bancroft to play for Durham in 2019
Disgraced Australian cricketer Cameron Bancroft will play for Durham in 2019, the English county side announced today, omitting to mention in their statement his role in a scandal that rocked the sport. The 25-year-old opening batsman received a nine-month ban for his part in a ball-tampering scandal in Australia's Test series with South Africa in March. Bancroft was punished along with Australian captain Steve Smith and opening partner David Warner, who both received one year suspensions from international and state cricket. "Durham County Cricket Club are delighted to announce the signing of Cameron Bancroft for 2019," the club said. "The Australian opener will sign as the club's overseas player and be available in all formats for the full campaign, subject to international selection." Bancroft, who has played eight Tests with a top score of 82 not out during the Ashes series with England last winter, welcomed the contract but indicated he was also eyeing possible selection for his .
Former Test opener Jamshed banned for ten years over spot-fixing
Pakistan cricket banned former Test opener Nasir Jamshed for ten years today on multiple charges of spot fixing, wrapping up a 16-month investigation into a wide-ranging scandal that rocked the Pakistan Super League. Jamshed, 28, is the sixth player to be banned following the scandal that tainted the Twenty20 tournament in only its second year, and was described by cricket authorities as its lynchpin. "Today's decision against Jamshed wraps up the fixing saga and the tribunal has banned him for ten years on multiple charges," said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi in footage shared by the PCB on Twitter. Spot-fixing refers to illegal activity in a sport where a specific part of a game is fixed, unlike match-fixing, where the whole result is fixed. Jamshed was first banned for 12 months in December last year after he was found guilty of non-cooperation with the tribunal investigating allegations of spot-fixing. This year, he faced five further charges related to
Muzarabani drops out of Zimbabwe cricket team
Blessing Muzarabani, 21-year-old Zimbabwean pacer dropped out of international cricket on Thursday for an indefinite period of time.The fast bowler has not specified any reason for his departure from the Zimbabwe cricket team, although the decision fires warning shots to the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), which is going through an insecure administrative period.ZC is currently surviving on financial support from the International Cricket Council (ICC), giving it time to downsize its expenses and debts. Most of the ZC staff members will be left without contracts from August 31, while only a handful will be working for the domestic season in November.Muzarabani played many matches for Zimbabwe including one Test, 18 ODIs, and six T20Is. The latest match played was against Pakistan in July. On his test debut of the four-day Boxing Day Test in South Africa, Muzarabani had gone wicketless. Later in 2018, he played in an ODI tri-series that included Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, in T20s against ...
Athletes like buffet spread at Games' village but wish for bigger rooms
Athletes including Indians have given a thumbs up to the variety of food on offer at the Asian Games' Village here but say they would have been better off with more space in their accommodation. "Rooms are on the smaller side. It has three beds each and a single bathroom. It would have been better if they had more space. You feel a bit cramped but it is okay. It is the same for everyone," an Indian athlete told PTI here today. Furusho Daijiro, captain and coach of the Japanese women's tennis team, said it would have been nicer to stay in bigger rooms. "Yes they are a bit on the smaller side but it is fine. It is the same for everyone. That is the beauty of being part of a multi-sporting event like the Asian Games and Olympics. "But I really like the food being served. They have a nice mix of Indonesian and world cuisines," said Daijiro, who fondly remembers his playing days alongside former India Davis Cupper and current coach and captain Zeeshan Ali. He also had a word of ...
Asiad success key to World Cup podium dreams: Harendra
Indian men's hockey team coach Harendra Singh is chasing a second successive Asian Games gold not just to secure qualification to the 2020 Olympics, but also kick-start preparations for the year-end World Cup, where he is eyeing a podium. "In the last couple of years we have proved to the world that India is back on the hockey map. We are number five in the world but by the end of the year we want to be in top 3 in the world," Harendra told PTI during an interview before leaving for Jakarta. "The Asian Games is the first step towards achieving that goal. We want to have a shot at the podium in 2020 Tokyo and the Asian Games will set the tone for our preparation towards that." Harendra, who took over the reigns of the senior men's national team for a fourth time in May this year, wants his wards to create a legacy by the end of 2018 and, according to him, the Asiad is the first step towards attaining that. "2018 is a very important year for us and I want this team to create a legacy by
Leander's absence is big blow for us: India coach Zeeshan Ali
Leander Paes' last-minute pull of the 18th Asian Games has to be respected but it has dealt a telling blow to India's medal prospects in the men's doubles and mixed doubles, said captain and coach Zeeshan Ali. Ali said he tried his best to convince Paes to change his mind but the 18-time Grand Slam champion eventually decided against coming to Palembang after expressing his disappointment over selectors not picking a doubles specialist to play with him. "It is obviously very disappointing to not to have Leander. It is a big blow to us. But then again he is a complete professional. It is his decision completely and his patriotism for the country cannot be questioned," Ali told PTI before a practice session here today. "Having said that, Paes needed to be here irrespective of whoever he was going to play with as he volunteered to represent the country," Zeeshan said. The former Davis Cupper said that his focus is now is to rejig the doubles combination after Paes' pull-out. "But I have .
Spanish teams granted right to water break in extreme heat
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has granted teams the right to request water breaks when playing in temperatures exceeding 30 C (86 F) in the months of May, June, July, August and September.
Ghana, FIFA meet over ban threat
Ghana and FIFA met at the headquarters of the world football governing body here to settle matters concerning the current situation of football in Ghana.
Striker Ulloa motivated by Mexican adventure
Argentine striker Leonardo Ulloa has said that he was convinced to join Mexico's Pachuca by what the club offered "on all levels".
Botafogo beat Nacional in Copa Sudamericana tie
Brazilian football club Botafogo advanced to the round of 16 to face Bahia after defeating the Paraguayan Nacional 2-0 in a match of the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana.
Sevilla pummel Zalgiris 5-0
Sevilla routed Zalgiris Vilnius 5-0 here to win their third-round Europa League qualifying tie 6-0 on aggregate.
Ronaldinho's son to join Cruzeiro youth team
The son of retired football great Ronaldinho has begun training with the youth academy of Brazilian Serie A club Cruzeiro.
Delhi Dynamos sign striker Andrija Kaluderovic
Delhi Dynamos FC today signed Serbian forward Andrija Kaluderovic for the upcoming Indian Super League season. The striker joins the ISL side on the back of finishing as the top scorer for Wellington Phoenix in the Australian League last season. Kaluderovic's signing takes the Dynamos foreign quota to four players. The 31-year old Kaluderovic has previously had stints in Serbia, China, Spain, Switzerland, Lithuania and Australia and has scored more than 100 goals in 236 club appearances. The striker has also been capped thrice by the Serbian national team. Head coach Josep Gombau is confident that Kaluderovic can replicate his past form in the ISL. "Andrija is a very intelligent player who is quick and a good finisher. I have seen him play in the Australian league and he has performed consistently well both in the league and the continental cups as well. He has a great mentality and experience which will really help the side," Gombau said in a statement. The forming Racing Santander ..
Desperate India set for reshuffle in do-or-die Test
Shaken by abject surrender in the first two Tests, a desperate India are expected to ring in a slew of changes as they aim at redemption against a rampaging England in a do-or-die third Test, starting tomorrow. For Indian team, the Trent Bridge Test will be their last chance to save the series after being outplayed in the first two Test matches -- by 31 runs Edgbaston and innings and 159 runs at the Lord's. Down 0-2 with only five and half days of competitive cricket in all, skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri will be aiming to get the team combination right having bungled at the Lord's. As a result, India will play their 38th combination in as many matches that skipper Kohli had led. The most awaited change will be 20-year-old Rishabh Pant's imminent Test debut replacing a horribly out-of-form Dinesh Karthik, who might well have played his last international game in the longest format. With scores of 0, 20, 1 & 0 in four innings coupled with shoddy glovework meant that ...
Tendulkar terms Wadekar's demise as irreparable, personal loss
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar today paid rich tributes to Ajit Wadekar and said the demise of the former India captain was an "irreparable and personal loss" for him. Wadekar passed away at a South Mumbai hospital on August 15 at the age of 77 after prolonged illness. "This is an irreparable loss. I will say it is a personal loss. People know Wadekar sir as a great cricketer, but I was fortunate enough to see him as a great cricketer as well as a wonderful person. For me he was very important. Over the years our relationship grew stronger," Tendulkar said while paying his last respects to the departed soul here. Wrapped in the tricolour, Wadekar's body was kept at his Worli residence for people to pay their last respects ahead of his cremation to be performed later in the day at the Shivaji Park crematorium. Tendulkar fondly remembered Wadekar's contribution in shaping up his career. "Wadekar sir has a big contribution in my life, especially at a critical stage. I was a 20-year-old .