Page 1255 - Sports
Kohli's plea to fans: Never give up on us
Embattled India captain Virat Kohli called on the fans to back his team following consecutive losses to England in the ongoing Test series, hoping that they "never give up" on the side. "Sometimes we win and other times we learn. You never give up on us and we promise to never give up on you either. Onwards and upwards," read a message on Virat Kohli's official facebook page. The brief post was accompanied by a picture of the Indian team in an on-field huddle. The Indian team lost the opening two Tests of the ongoing five-match series by heavy margins with the much-vaunted batting being a major let-down. Kohli, after a hundred in the first Test, also experienced a dip in form in the second match and was troubled by an old back problem. Following the innings and 159-run loss at the Lord's, the skipper admitted that the team combination was "a bit off" when questioned specifically on selection decisions so far but insisted that the side would bounce back. "(At) Two-nil down the only ...
Federer 'anxious' ahead of Cincinnati Open
Twenty-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer, who will be making his first hard-court appearance since Miami Open in March, has said that he is anxious ahead of the Cincinnati Open.The 37-year-old, however, asserted that he is happy to be back and hoping for a good tournament ahead."I've been practising on hard courts, so it's not like I haven't played on hard courts for forever. I feel I am really ready to go. Anxious actually," ATP website quoted Federer, as saying."Cincy has been a great tournament for me in the past. It's great to be back and hopefully I can play a good tournament," he added.The Cincinnati Open will be Federer's first tournament since Wimbledon where he was stunned 2-6, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4, 13-11 by South Africa's Kevin Anderson in the quarter-final of the championship.Federer will play his opening match of the tournament against Peter Gojowczyk of Germany on August 15.Meanwhile, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic defeated Steve Johnson of America to win the ...
Iyer says not getting picked for senior India team affects his performance
India A captain Shreyas Iyer says not getting picked for senior national team despite a consistent show runs into his mind and it affects his performance at times. "It is really tough to be patient. When you perform consistently, get runs and then don't get into the (senior) team, it runs into your mind. And, when you face quality bowling at top level, your performance keeps fluctuating. So, you need to keep yourself focused and, as I said, it affects you at times," Iyer told reporters here. After scoring runs heavily in domestic circuit, Iyer was picked for the national side to play shorter formats of the game. He last played for India in a one-dayer against South Africa in February this year. Last year, Iyer smashed 317 runs for India A against New Zealand A, including a highest score of 108. Three years ago, he had earned an IPL cap for Delhi Daredevils on the basis of good performance in domestic circuit. Two seasons later, he was asked to lead the side. On his captaincy, Iyer ...
India couldn't have practised more, there aren't 10 days in a week: Bayliss
England coach Trevor Bayliss has defended India's much-criticised preparation for the ongoing Test series, saying the beleaguered visitors couldn't have fit in more practice than what they did before the disastrous first two games. India trail 0-2 in the five-match series, which will continue in Nottingham with the third Test starting Saturday. "The simple fact is, teams like Australia, India and England play so much cricket. I'm sure everyone would love to play more warm-up matches than they do. You simply can't fit them in," Bayliss told reporters here. "Somewhere along the lines the players have to have some sort of rest. Most will play all the games but to keep putting more practice matches in, it's almost impossible. It's just the way it is," he reasoned. India played just one practice match before the series, a game curtailed to three days from the originally planned four days. The preparation has been roundly criticised by the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, who has questioned the ...
Serena Williams breezes past Gavrilova, Pouille ousts Murray
Serena Williams re-established her customary superiority, hammering Daria Gavrilova 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round of the Cincinnati Masters. The 23-time Grand Slam champion showed full recovery in her first match since suffering the worst defeat of her career two weeks ago in San Jose when she was crushed 6-1, 6-0 in 51 minutes by British No. 1 Johanna Konta. But the 36-year-old was all business Monday as she cleaned up on Australian Gavrilova, with Williams winning an 11th straight match here. "I'm feeling pretty good tonight. It's never easy, no matter what the scoreline says," Williams said. "I definitely felt relaxed after the first break, but you've got to keep going and try to go in for the whole thing." Though she has not played the tournament in three years, Williams lifted back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 after losing the 2013 final to Victoria Azarenka. Andy Murray's injury comeback was sidetracked as the three-time Grand Slam champion lost 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 to Lucas ...
Eto'o signs for Qatar league side
Veteran Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o has signed for Qatar league side, Qatar Sports Club, it was announced, just days after he ended a brief stay at Turkish side Konyaspor. The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker will be unveiled on Tuesday, said Qatar Sports Club, the latest big-name edition to Qatar's domestic league as it gears up to host the 2022 World Cup. The club said on social media that it would "present the international star Samuel Eto'o" at a press conference. It is understood he underwent a medical earlier in the day. The four-time African player of the year will join former colleagues in Qatar, including ex-Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez, who plays for Al Sadd, and Wesley Sneijder who was at Inter with Eto'o. In 2009, Eto'o won the Champions League with Barcelona playing alongside Xavi. A year later he won the same trophy with Inter in the same team as Sneijder. The Dutchman now plays for Al Gharafa in Qatar's domestic competition, the Qatar Stars ...
Federer 'anxious' ahead of return in Cincinnati
Roger Federer said he is eager to make his start at the Cincinnati Masters as the world number two begins his delayed summer hardcourt season. With the US Open a fortnight away, the 37-year-old Swiss is keen to test his form prior to the August 27 kick-off of the last Grand Slam of the season. The 20-time major winner skipped Toronto last week to pace himself with the tournament at Flushing Meadows followed by the Laver Cup in Chicago in mid-September. "I've trained hard, I'm anxious. I chose to skip Toronto for the health of my body," the seven-time Cincinnati champion said. "I don't want to be hurt, there is too much to play." But the Swiss admitted that sitting out competition is difficult. "Watching from afar is tough," said Federer, who will start against Peter Gojowczyk after the German beat Portugal's Joao Sousa 2-6, 6-4, 7-5. "But that's part of growing older, you've got to take care of the body. "It's nice to be back and I hope to have a good tournament." Federer last played .
Facebook bags media rights of La Liga for Indian subcontinent (IANS Exclusive)
Social media giant Facebook has bagged the media rights of Spain's top-division football championship, La Liga, for the Indian subcontinent, both parties have confirmed the path-breaking deal.
England name unchanged squad for third Test
The England selectors have named an unchanged squad for the third cricket Test against India at Trent Bridge, starting August 18.
FC Barcelona president refuses to rule out Pogba move
FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu has not ruled out a late move for the Spanish football club to sign Manchester United's French international midfielder Paul Pogba.
Champs Ishaan, Shahan, Debarun to represent India at LeMans finals
Bengaluru's Ishaan Madhesh, Agra's Shahan Ali Mohsin and Delhi's Debarun Banerjee bagged the top honours in their respective classes as the curtains came down on the MSport X30 Karting Challenge 2018 at the Meco Kartopia Circuit here on Monday.
Joining Atletico will help me become better player, says Arias
Colombia's Santiago Arias on Monday said during his presentation as Atletico Madrid's new right-back that joining the Spanish club would help him become a better player.
Dynamos add Spanish goalkeeper Dorronsoro for ISL-5
Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Delhi Dynamos FC on Monday added experienced goalkeeper Dorronsoro Sanchez to their ranks ahead of the fifth season of the cash-rich football league.
Luka pulls out of confirmatory trials, out of Asian Games
Incheon Asian Games' 800m silver medallist Tintu Luka will not feature in this edition of the continental multi-sporting event as she has pulled out of the confirmatory trials called by the Athletics Federation of India on August 15. Luka was scheduled to appear for a confirmatory trial, along with three other athletes, in Thiruvananthapuram on August 15 if she was to be considered for the Asian Games, but now she has pulled out of it. Her mentor and sprint legend P T Usha has written to the AFI, saying that her ward will not be able to take part in the confirmatory trial as she has not recovered from her heel injury. National record holder Luka, who won a bronze in the 2014 Asian Games, has been suffering from a heel injury and she did not take part in the June 26-29 National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Guwahati, which served as the qualifying event for the Jakarta Games. She also did not take part in the recent Gold Coast Commonwealth Games also due to ...
Billiards: Kothari starts with flourish, steamrolls Kansodaria
Former Asian Billiards champion Sourav Kothari of ONGC quickly struck a perfect rhythm as he powered his way to a commanding 691-106 victory against Maharashtras Chandu Kansodaria in a Group H league match on the opening day of the CCI Billiards Classic 2018. The tournament is organised by the Cricket Club of India. Kolkata-based Kothari constructed the first century break when he rolled in a run of 131 to pull off a convincing victory. He earlier had four substantial efforts of 71, 80, 74 and 98 as he settled down nicely. Earlier, Nalin Patel and Vishal Madan, both of Maharashtra, also won their opening group matches in convincing fashion. Seasoned pro Patel recovered to defeat Brijesh Damani of Indian Oil 402-328 in a Group G encounter and Madan was in complete control as he coasted to a 447-214 win against Railway cueist Nikhil Ghadge in a Group B tie. Meanwhile, Indian Oil cueist Aditya Mehta showed great touch and played some exquisite shots as he neatly compiled ..
Akshay Kumar meets Hockey legend Balbir Singh
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar on Monday met the 'living hockey legend', Balbir Singh.Kumar took to Twitter to praise Balbir Singh, stating that he was a part of the winning team that brought home the first prestigious Gold for India back in 1948.Balbir Singh is a three-time Olympic gold champion. He played a key role in India's Olympic victories in London (1948), as a Vice-Captain in Helsinki (1952) and as the Captain in Melbourne (1956).He is even called the greatest hockey player ever and is regarded as the greatest centre-forward that the sport of Hockey has ever witnessed.Interestingly, his Olympic record for the maximum number of most goals scored by an individual in a men's hockey final still remains unbeaten.Akshay Kumar's sports drama 'Gold' is set to take the audience back in time to witness a team's struggle to make India proud.The upcoming flick will release this Independence Day, marking the occasion of the 70th anniversary of free India's first gold medal at the 1948 ...
Take Solutions Masters champ Viraj Madappa jumps 1101 spots in golf rankings
Indian golfer Viraj Madappa, who won the Take Solutions Masters title last weekend in Bengaluru, has jumped from 1561st rank to be 460th in the world rankings, which were announced on Monday.
Chhetri named Best Sportsperson by Kolkata sports journalists
India football team captain Sunil Chhetri was on Monday adjudged the Best Sportsperson of the Country by the Calcutta Sports Journalists' Club.
Discus thrower Baljinder and another athlete flunk dope test
Two athletes, including National Inter-State Championships silver-medallist discus thrower Baljinder Singh, have tested positive for banned substances and they have been handed provisional suspension. Baljinder from Punjab had won a discus throw silver in the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Guwahati in June with an effort of 56.83m. The positive test has come from the dope sample collected by the National Anti-Doping Agency in this Guwahati meet. Both the athletes were not selected for the Asian Games and they were also non campers. "Baljinder has tested positive for a banned substance and he has been put under provisional suspension. He will now decide whether to go for confirmatory B sample test or not," a source close to the athlete told PTI. It is also learnt that a second athlete has tested positive from the sample collected from the same Guwahati meet. The AFI, however, said it has not yet got any intimation from the NADA.
We are favourites to win gold in Asian Games: Sreejesh
Indian hockey captain P R Sreejesh today called his team "favourites" for the Asian Games gold medal and said there aim is to secure an early qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. India finished runners-up to Australia in the elite Champions Trophy in the Netherland which saw the team jumped one place to fifth in world rankings. If Sreejesh's team defends the title in Jakarta, it will book an early berth for the 2020 Tokyo Games. "For us the target is to win a gold and qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, nothing less than that. Then we will get two years to prepare for the Olympics. And going by the current form of the team, we can win gold in Jakarta. We are the favourites to win the gold," Sreejesh told PTI in an interaction. "We have done well in the Champions Trophy and we could have won the tournament. Confidence level of the team is very high. I would say this (confidence) is a huge change in the last few years. Now, we don't fear of playing against any team in the world," .