Page 1245 - Sports
Javelin thrower Neeraj aims to give his best at Asian Games
One of India's brightest medal prospect, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is not in a mood to be bogged down under pressure and said he is only focussed on producing his best at the upcoming Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang. Neeraj will lead the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games and the young athlete said it is an honour for him to be the flagbearer. "It is a great honour for me to lead the Indian contingent and carry the country's flag at such a prestigious event. As far my preparations for the Asian Games are concerned, I want to say that I am not thinking about any medal or rank, all I want to do is give my best there," said the 20-year-old athlete. Neeraj has top class credentials by virtue of being the first Indian to win a gold medal at a World Championships. This came courtesy his victory at the 2016 World Youth Championships. Neeraj has maintained his fine form this year, consistently throwing the javelin beyond the 85m mark and also has set a new ..
ISL: Dynamos to travel to Kolkata & Doha for pre-season training
Delhi Dynamos FC are set for a month-long pre-season camp in Kolkata and Doha, as the two-time semi-finalists begin their preparation for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season.
Olimpia takes first place in Honduran league tournament
Olimpia defeated Universidad Pedagogica 1-0, grabbing the top spot in the Honduran Apertura football tournament standings.
Anand finishes last in St. Louis Rapid and Blitz
India's Viswanathan Anand had a forgettable outing in St. Louis Rapid and blitz as he finished last after scoring 13.5 points in all out of a possible 27 games that ended here. Anand will now combat the world's best including Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the Sinquefield cup slated to start after a day's gap. The Indian ace never got going after scoring a first round victory over Hikaru Nakamura of United States in the rapid section and this could be saving the blushes as Nakamura emerged as the clear winner of this leg. Anand ended the last day scoring four points out of a possible nine in the blitz section that left him with 7.5/18 and did not help much. Nakamura won the event handsomely with a round to spare. The American scored 22.5 points in all and ended a full point clear of Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France who finished second. Just a half point behind was Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan for his third place finish. Fabiano Caruana ended on fourth place on 20 points, two ...
Major Davis Cup shake-up approved
World tennis chiefs today approved a radical Davis Cup revamp that will overhaul the 118-year-old competition, condensing the annual worldwide showpiece into an 18-team, week-long event. The shake-up for the men's team tournament received 71.43 per cent support from about 120 delegates at the International Tennis Federation annual meeting in Orlando, well ahead of the two-thirds majority needed for approval. ITF president David Haggerty supported the revamp proposed by Kosmos, a group led by Barcelona football star Gerard Pique -- who flew in from Spain for the vote -- and backed by Japanese billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani, that has vowed USD 3 billion over 25 years to support the new event. Haggerty called the reform plan "key to ensuring that the ITF and its member nations will guarantee a bright future for the sport." Also backing the reconstituted event is US billionaire Larry Ellison, who hopes his Indian Wells tennis facility would host the 2021 edition of the finals after the ...
Chhetri might skip SAFF Cup
India captain Sunil Chhetri today said he might skip next month's SAFF Cup in Bangladesh. "It's not a declaration but I think I have had enough of SAFF," the 34-year-old said. "I was fortunate to play SAFF three or four times. I am not declaring anything right now but I had a chat with the coach and he said he wants to bring a lot of junior players which I think is a very good thing." Defending champions India have won the title seven times and would start as a favourite when Bangladesh hosts the event for the third time from September 4 to 15. "It's not trying to demean the other teams in the SAFF region. It's a great opportunity for the youngsters to come to the table and show the coach that they also have potential. I think even with the U-23 team, we are very strong in the SAFF region. I hope they do well and we retain the championship," Chhetri said. Chhetri also regretted that the national football teams did not get a chance to compete at the Asian Games. The Indian Olympic ...
Chhetri rues football team's Asian Games snub
India captain Sunil Chhetri on Thursday said the football team needs to be given a chance to perform after the the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) decided not to allow the side to participate in the upcoming 2018 Asian Games.
Want to give my best at Asiad: Neeraj Chopra
One of India's best bets for an athletics gold at the upcoming Asian Games, Neeraj Chopra is determined to focus on the job at hand and not put extra pressure on himself.
Believe in yourself: Shastri's mantra to struggling team
Facing criticism from various quarters after India's consecutive defeats in the first two Tests of the five-match rubber, head coach Ravi Shastri on Thursday urged his wards to believe in themselves when they take on England in the third cricket Test starting at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
India U-23 footballers to travel to Australia for camp
A 22-member India U-23 football team will travel to Australia on Friday as part of their preparation for the forthcoming SAFF Suzuki Cup. The squad has been camping here since July 28.
4th round of racing championship to be held from Aug 17-19
The fourth round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Racing Championship will be held at MMRT track at Sriperumbudur near here from August 17-19. The weekend card has races in the MRF F1600, saloon cars (Indian Touring Cars, Super Stock, Indian Junior Touring Cars and Esteem Cup), and Formula LGB 1300 besides Volkswagen Ameo Cup, a 'one-make championship', a press release said. The season has been so topsy-turvy that Chennai teenager Ashwin Datta (96 points), despite three wins on the trot in the MRF F1600 class, is only 12 ahead of Mamallapurams Raghul Rangasamy. The previous round witnessed three different winners Rangasamy, Gowtham Parekh (68) and Sandeep Kumar (67) - in the triple-header. With the championship winner in this category eligible for a ticket to the Mazda Road To Indy shootout in the United States, an MMSC initiative, the title contenders have everything to play for. The winner of the shootout is eligible for a scholarship of USD 200,000. The situation .
India beat Nepal to make U-15 SAFF final
The Indian U-15 womens team progressed to the final of the SAFF U-15 Championship after defeating Nepal 2-1 in the semi-finals at the Changlimithang Stadium here on Thursday.
Injury-hit Kohli could be more dangerous in third Test: Bayliss
He might be recovering from a back injury, but Virat Kohli could become more dangerous as a player when the India skipper turns up for his team in the third cricket Test starting here on Saturday, feels England coach Trevor Bayliss. Kohli did not take the field on the fourth day of the second Test because of a back injury. However, he batted in the second innings even though he looked in discomfort. Bayliss said he isn't worried about Kohli's fitness issues. "It could mean he's more of a dangerous player. Through history there are a lot of players who have played with an injury and scored runs and taken wickets," Bayliss said. "I don't know if that focuses the mind more but I have just seen him take some slip catches without any problems, so I'm sure he'll be playing. That won't change our approach to the way we play him." Bayliss hoped the conditions at Trent Bridge would be similar to Lord's. "I haven't been out there but normally there is a bit of swing around. We're looking ...
Ben Stokes not assured automatic selection: Bayliss
England coach Trevor Bayliss today welcomed Ben Stokes back in the national team's fold after he was cleared of affray charges but said the troubled all-rounder is not assured of an automatic selection for the third Test against India. Stokes was acquitted of affray at a trial in Bristol on Tuesday. Due to the trial, he had missed the second Test which England won by an innings and 159-run win at Lord's to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. "It's good to have him back around the squad. I'm happy for Ben that's all over. It was a collective decision (to bring him back into the side so quickly). It was basically thought that for his own wellbeing, it was good to get him back around cricket," Bayliss said. However, the coach said Stokes is not assured of an automatic selection for the third Test starting here on Saturday. "There's nothing automatic about selections and we'll see how he is mentally as well as physically. He hasn't played for a couple of weeks. He's been a guy that .
Indian team pay tribute to Ajit Wadekar
Indian cricket team observed two minutes of silence in Nottingham for the former cricketer and coach Ajit Wadekar, who passed away last night in Mumbai.The silence was observed during the practice hours of the Kohli-led side ahead of the third Test of the ongoing five-match series against England.Earlier, people from cricket fraternity like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, and Ravi Shastri took to Twitter to mourn the demise of the cricketing giant.Wadekar, who was considered as India's finest slip fielders and an aggressive left-hander, appeared in a total of 37 Tests and amassed 2,113 runs at an average of 31.07. He scored his sole century against New Zealand in 1968.Born in Bombay, Wadekar made his first-class debut in 1958, while he played his first Test match against the West Indies in 1966.In 1967, the Government of India bestowed Wadekar with the Arjuna Award. He also received the Padma Shri Award, the country's fourth highest civilian honour, in 1972.Wadekar also served as the ..
Hardik Pandya not ready yet for all-rounder spot: Michael Holding
West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding believes that Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya is not effective enough to be called an all-rounder.The 64-year-old expressed that Pandya is not as impactful with the ball as he should be and as a batsman, he is not getting the required amount of runs."When he bowls he isn't as effective as he should be. If he was a good batsman, if he was getting runs - 60s, 70s, not even regular hundreds - at the number at which he bats and then he bowls and gets two or three wickets, happy, hallelujah. Happy with that. But he is not getting the amount of runs that can then allow him to get a wicket or two in the Test match. That doesn't work," ESPNcricinfo.com quoted Holdin, as saying."If you are going to be a frontline bowler anywhere in the world, if you are going to be someone that your captain can rely on, that can throw you the ball and expect you to get wickets and expect you to have control, he is not really the man in my opinion," he added.Holding also ..
Carlos Sainz to replace Fernando Alonso in McLaren
Formula One team McLaren have declared that Renault driver Carlos Sainz would replace the departing member, Fernando Alonso, in their squad.The F 1 team took to Twitter and posted a photo of Sainz along with the induction announcement."Carlos Sainz to race for McLaren from 2019," they wrote.Expressing happiness over joining Mclaren, Sainz said that it is like a dream come true."Extremely happy and proud to announce that I will be joining the @McLarenF1 family next year. Dream come true to drive for such a legendary team!" he tweeted.The announcement came a day after McLaren driver Fernando Alonso announced that he would bid adieu to racing at the end of the ongoing season.Announcing the news, the 37-year-old driver had said that it is a right time for him to move on after spending 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport.Considered as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers, Alonso won the F1 world championship titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006.In a career spanning 17 years, McLaren .
Bright future for surfing in India, says Somdev Devvarman
Former India tennis star Somdev Devvarman today said he was was hopeful of a bright future for surfing in India, now that it has been included in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. At the launch of the sixth Covelong Point Surf, Music & Yoga festival here, Devvarman said he had been an avid surfer himself. He hoped the good work done by city-based Covelong Point Surf School over the years was replicated across the coasts of India so that the country can take advantage of the sport being included in the Olympics in 2020. The three-day festival is scheduled to be held from August 17 to 19 and would see close to 170 wave riders from 10 countries compete for top honours, including defending champions in both the men's and women's categories - Raghul Paneerselvam and Suhasini Damian respectively. Chennai-based TT Group is the principle promoter for the Covelong Point Surf Music and Yoga Festival 2018, which is approved by the Surfing Federation of India. Organisers said 10 Sri ..
Constantine's boys to travel to Australia on August 17
A 22-member Indian football team squad will travel to Australia on August 17, as part of their preparation for the forthcoming SAFF Cup. The squad has been camping in Delhi since July 28. The Indian U-23 squad will be based at the Valentine Sports Park in Sydney for a 16-day long preparatory camp before they leave for Dhaka on September 1. "The exposure trip was planned before the Asian Games but unfortunately, we were barred from taking part in the Games. We didn't see any reason to cancel the trip and had to postpone it prior to the SAFF tournament," head coach Stephen Constantine said. Apart from the 22 players, two have been kept in reserves and might get a call-up to join the contingent in Australia if circumstances demand so. 20 players will eventually travel for the SAFF Suzuki Cup. Constantine also thanked the clubs for releasing the players from their club commitments giving the national duty more priority. "I would like to express my gratitude to the clubs for letting the ...
Arsenal's Maitland-Niles sidelined over leg injury
Arsenal on Thursday announced that midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles would be sidelined for about six to eight weeks over a leg injury.