Page 1254 - Sports
Indian hockey teams leave for Asian Games
With their vision set on securing qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, confident Indian men and womens gockey teams on Tuesday left for the 18th Asian Games to be held in Jakarta.
Australia set sight on Ashes glory
Australian cricket management has started planning for the next year's Ashes series as they aim to end their losing streak against England on the English soil.Since the 2019 Cricket World Cup is scheduled to take place right before the Ashes series, Cricket Australia's (CA) head of cricket operations Peter Roach said that they would be sending Australia A team for intensive practice session in England during the World Cup which could later be joined by the players appearing in the reputed ODI tournament."We are acutely aware of the difficulty in having a marquee series like the Ashes so soon after a Cricket World Cup. To that end, we will have our Australia A team touring before the Ashes begins, and we have plans in place that, even if we make the World Cup final, our World Cup players that form part of our Ashes campaign will still play at least one four-day match in preparation, as well as being involved in an elongated pre-Ashes camp," Cricket.com.au quoted Roach, as ...
Ramesh Powar appointed women's team head coach
Former India spinner Ramesh Powar was today named head coach of the women's national team till the ICC World T20, scheduled to be held in November. Powar's term will include a tour to Sri Lanka, a bilateral series in the West Indies in October followed by the ICC Women's World T20 in West Indies in November. "The BCCI has appointed Mr. Ramesh Powar as Head Coach of the Indian Women's Team. Mr. Powar has now been handed over full time duties till 30th November, 2018," the Board's secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement. The 40-year-old Mumbaikar was appointed interim coach of the team last month after the resignation of Tushar Arothe. Under Powar, the members of the women's team underwent a camp at National Cricket Academy (NCA). As per the Supreme Court directive, only a Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) - now functional - can appoint a fulltime coach on a long-term basis. Powar is the third coach of women's team in past one and a half year. Prior to Arothe, the post was held ..
Liverpool's Salah reported over allegedly using mobile while driving
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah could be in trouble with police after his club Liverpool passed a video apparently showing him using his mobile phone while driving. A spokesman for last season's Champions League finalists said they passed the video, which had circulated on social media, on to police after talking with Salah. "The club, after discussion with the player, have made Merseyside Police aware of the footage and the circumstances surrounding its capture," said the spokesman cited on the BBC. "We have spoken to the player also and will deal with any follow-up internally. "Neither the club or player will be making any further comment on this matter." Merseyside Police tweeted they had received the footage. "We have been made aware of a video believed to show a footballer using a mobile phone whilst driving. This has been passed to the relevant department. Thanks for letting us know," they tweeted on their official account. Salah, who had a remarkable first season with Liverpool ...
Women's handball team suffers defeat to Kazakhstan in opening match
The Indian women's handball team began its Asian Games campaign on a losing note as it suffered a 19-36 defeat to Kazakhstan in their preliminary round match here today. The Indian team gave a tough fight in the first period, trailing 13-19 but was outplayed 6-17 by its opponents in the second period of the Group A match. For India, Rimpi was the highest scorer with eight goals from just nine shots while Maninder Kaur netted three. Nidhi Sharma and Ritu scored two goals each. For Kazakhstan, Dana Abilda scored eight goals while Olga Tankita got six. The difference in class between the two sides was evident as Kazakhstan got as many as 54 shots at goals as against 36 for India. India will next play Korea in their second group match on August 16. The Indian men's handball team had lost to Chinese Taipei 28-38 in its first group match yesterday.
Tottenham to hold ceremony for club's World Cup footballers at Wembley
English Premier League (EPL) side Tottenham Hotspur will hold a special ceremony to welcome their footballers who played at the FIFA World Cup at the season's first home game at the Wembley Stadium this Saturday.
Isner, Schwartzman eliminated from Cincinnati Masters
Ninth seed John Isner from the United States and 12th seed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina, both favourites to win the men's singles title at the 2018 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament here, were eliminated in the first round.
Azarenka beats Suarez at Cincinnati Masters
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus eliminated Spain's Carla Suarez to advance to the second round of the women's singles category at the Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament, hoping to take the title again after five years.
Asian Games gold medallist Hakam Singh passes away
Asian Games gold medallist athlete Hakam Singh today passed away at a private hospital in Sangrur, Punjab. He had been ailing for some time and was undergoing treatment for liver and kidney ailments. Hakam Singh won gold in 20 km race walk event during the 1978 Asiad at Bangkok. The Dhyan Chand awardee had also served as Havaldar in the 6 Sikh regiment. Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi expressed profound grief over the demise of Singh. Condoling the demise of the athlete, Rana Sodhi said that both Punjab as well as the country would remember the glorious achievements of Singh in the sporting arena. He termed the passing away of Singh as end of an era and an irreparable loss to the sports fraternity.
Vasco da Gama sack coach Jorginho
Former Bayern Munich and Brazil international full-back Jorginho has been sacked as coach of Vasco da Gama after just 10 games in charge.
Anderson can go on for three, four more years: Trevor Bayliss
England coach Trevor Bayliss believes that English fast bowler James Anderson could play for three or four more years as long as he keeps his body fit.The comment came after Anderson became the first English bowler after Ian Botham to pass 900 points in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test bowling rankings."I don't think there's any age [when he's too old]. He's fit and keeps himself fit. As long as he keeps his body fit there's no reason why he can't go on for three or four years," ESPNcricinfo quoted Bayliss, as saying."Let's wait and see! He keeps surprising everyone. At the moment, the last 12-18 months, he has had a shoulder problem, but at the moment he seems to have got over that pretty well and he just bowls and bowls and bowls. Hopefully, that continues for a few years yet," he added.Comparing Anderson to other pacers of his age, Travis said that a lot of bowlers start to drop-off while in their mid-thirties but the English bowler is showing best of his form, at the ..
David Silva bids adieu to International football
Spanish footballer David Silva has retired from the International football.Making the announcement, the midfielder said that it is one of the most difficult decisions of his career, but several weeks of analysis has reflected that his time with the national side has come to an end."I have had several weeks of reflection and analysis to make the decision that I'm finishing my time with the Spanish national team," Silva wrote."Without a doubt, this is one of the most difficult decisions of my career," Marca.com quoted Silva, as saying."I'm happy with everything I've achieved and I've lived a dream with a team that will always be remembered. I leave full of emotion and thankful for all of the moments and people that come to mind, like the figure of Luis Aragones (Former Spanish coach), a master who we will never forget," he concluded.The footballer, who played a total of 125 games for his national side, scored 35 goals making him the fourth highest goal scorer of Spain.Silva was part of .
Sao Paulo eyeing bid for Paraguay defender Moreira
Sao Paulo could make a bid to sign Paraguay international defender Jorge Moreira from River Plate, the Brazilian football club's coach has announced.
Facebook to air LaLiga matches for free in Indian subcontinent
Spanish football league LaLiga today said social media giant Facebook will air the matches in Indian subcontinent for free for three years. The three-season deal commences with the 2018-19 campaign kicking off on August 17. "Now with Facebook, LaLiga has broken new ground, signing its first broadcast agreement ever with a social media platform," it said in a statement. All 380 first division matches of Spain's topflight football league will be available for free to people on Facebook in eight countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The Facebook community in the eight countries will be able to watch LaLiga Santander coverage on a live and on-demand basis through multiple devices. The matches would be available on the official LaLiga Facebook page as well as individual club pages, the statement added. In addition to the live matches, shoulder programming, including a full range of weekly preview shows and highlights, ...
Asian gold medalist Hakkam Singh passes away
Former Indian hockey player Hakkam Singh Bhattal, who was an Asian Games gold medalist, passed away in a local hospital on Tuesday.Bhattal was suffering from Kidney and Liver ailments for quite a long time.Earlier, keeping in view the deteriorating health condition of the former player, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had ordered the release of Rs. 5 lakh for his treatment. He had also directed the Barnala district administration to ensure all necessary assistance for the Asiad gold medalist, who was undergoing treatment at that time.The former athlete, who had also served as Havaldar in the 6 Sikh Regiment, was conferred the Dhyan Chand Award in 2008.Bhattal had a near-fatal accident, which forced him to hang his boots in 1981, marking an abrupt end to an illustrious sporting career.
Asian Games title worth weight in gold for Spurs' Son
Son Heung-min has lit up the World Cup and the Premier League but unnervingly it is the Asian Games in Indonesia that could make or break the career of the prolific South Korean forward. Anything less than gold and Son, 26, faces a compulsory stint of nearly two years' military service -- a severe blow to the player, his national team and his club, Tottenham Hotspur. Son bade farewell to his Spurs team-mates after Saturday's season-opening win at Newcastle and flew some 7,000 miles (12,000 km) to Jakarta for Asia's regional Olympics, under a special deal brokered with the club. As Asia's all-time Premier League top-scorer, and a huge celebrity in his home country, he will undoubtedly be the Asian Games football tournament's biggest star. But more than national glory is at stake as nearly every able-bodied South Korean male -- regardless of wealth or fame -- is required to enrol by age 28 in the military, for a minimum of 21 months. Son is banking on the defending champions earning him
Australia enlists soldiers in drive for Olympic gold
Soldiers have been enlisted to help Australian athletes perform better under pressure in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as part of a drive to win more medals. It follows their smallest haul in 24 years at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Australia finished 10th in the table with eight golds and 29 medals overall. In a bid to get back to winning ways, members of the military will mentor elite athletes from November as part of a partnership announced Tuesday between the army and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). The primary focus will be on improving their cognitive and physical capabilities. AIS director Peter Conde said Australia at the Rio Olympics had more athletes finish just outside the medals, in positions 4-8, than any other nation. "The AIS sees this as an opportunity to develop our sports, athletes and coaches to help them convert more podium potential into medal success," he said. Four key areas will be tackled -- mental health and wellbeing, performance under ...
Gameiro vows to score 20 goals for Valencia
Forward Kevin Gameiro said during his presentation as a Valencia CF player that he expects to score at least 20 goals this season and to help his new team finish higher than former club Atletico Madrid.
Peru striker Guerrero set for key role at Internacional
Former Argentina forward Andres D'Alessandro has hailed the arrival of Paolo Guerrero at Internacional, saying his new teammate will provide a boost both on and off the pitch for the Brazilian football club.
Indian squash players question role of coaches Poncha and Kumari in Asiad contingent
The Asian Games-bound Indian squash players have questioned the presence of Cyrus Poncha and Bhuvneshwari Kumari as coaches in the contingent, saying they can only play the role of administrators in the continental mega event in Indonesia. The eight players picked for the Asian Games have been training without a full-time coach and most of them don't train regularly with Kumari and Poncha, who has been a longtime national coach. Sixteen-time national champion Kumari's credentials as a player cannot be questioned but she is not involved in the functioning of the national team and only travels with the team during multi-sporting events like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Poncha may be a coach on paper but he is more effective as a man manager. It is also rare for a coach to be a top tournament administrator but not for Poncha, who was the competition director of the World Junior Championships held in Chennai last month. But more than a team manager, the players need technical ..