Page 1274 - Sports
Thai cave rescue: Stateless boys, coach get citizenship
Three boys from a football team, who were rescued from Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand last month, were granted Thai citizenship along with their 25-year-old coach on Wednesday.The head coach of the Wild Boars soccer team, said, they received their official Thai ID cards along with another team member, who had also applied for citizenship but was not in the cave, reported Fox News.He said, "I am happy. If they have Thai citizenship, in the future, if they don't want to play football they can take exams to become public officials or find good work that is related to their field of studies."The footballers and the coach were among the 13 people who were trapped in the cave for nine days until their dramatic rescue.Now after getting their citizenship, all four will not be deprived of basic benefits and rights, including the ability to travel outside of Chiang Rai, the Northern Province where they live.For those unversed, the footballers were found by the British divers in July, with
This academy grooming budding players in Kashmir
The State Football Academy which was launched last year is grooming budding football players both boys and girls of the Kashmir valley for future crunches.Budding players from different districts of the Kashmir valley are being groomed here at world-class Astroturf football field at TRC ground in Srinagar.Head of Academy, Mehraj-u-din Wadoo said, "The kids here are immensely talented. We were just lacking the right opportunities hence opened State Football Academy to the budding players. Here players get quality training by professional coaches."Coach, Nadiya Nighat said that players get right guidance and training at the academy for national and international levels match."We want more youth to join football, especially girls. We are trying to expand it here so that every kid is associated with sports and contributes in making the state proud. When the kid goes out to play at a national level, they usually get nervous. Hence, we have tried to give them all facilities here to prepare .
Sri Lanka get first win of ODI series against S Africa
Sri Lanka beat South Africa by three runs in a tense rain-hit clash to end their losing streak in the one day series in the fourth game in Pallekele today. Dasun Shanaka hit a quickfire 65 as Sri Lanka blasted 306-7 off 39 overs. With a prolonged rain stoppage, South Africa were set a target of 191 from 21 overs. After Hashim Amla made 40 and Jean-Paul Duminy 38, the tourists lost key wickets and went into the final over needing eight runs. But David Miller was bowled with Suranga Lakmal's first ball and tail enders Junior Dala and Lungi Ngidi were then unable to hit the ball. South Africa finished on 187-9.
Lord's Test: India eyes big changes in team?
Ahead of the second Test match in the five-match series against England, Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday hinted towards changes in the team's lineup in an attempt to plug the pretty gaping holes that were revealed during the Edgbaston Test.Having lost the closely-contested first Test by a margin of 31 runs, Kohli indicated that his team could field two spinners to capitalise on the pitch when it is worn out while speaking at a press conference ahead of the second Test."When the wicket wears off, the spinners can come into play as well. So yeah, (it is) tempting though to field two spinners, but again we have to take a call on that. Depending on the team balance but yeah, I think it's definitely in contention," he added.He also urged his batsmen to maintain composure, instead of resorting to aggression."How we react to a situation when a wicket goes down is more mental than technical. It's about how you go about facing the first 20, 25, 30 balls. More often than not, that plan .
Kohli optimistic about India's chances at Lord's
After going down by a narrow 31-run loss to England in the opening Test at Edgbaston, India skipper Virat Kohli believed that his team is positive going into the second Test at the Lord's, starting Thursday.
Athletic Bilbao's Kepa set to make record transfer move to Chelsea
Athletic Bilbao's goal-keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to be the most expensive goalkeeper in club football with his 80 million euros ($92.6 million) release clause triggered by English outfit Chelsea on Wednesday.
Kenya sprinters good enough to reign supreme at worlds, says coach Mwaniki
Kenya head coach Stephen Mwaniki believes his team will unruffle the USA and Jamaica domination of sprint events at the 2019 Doha World Championships.
Djokovic wins opener in Rogers Cup
Reigning Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has gotten off to a solid start in the North American summer hard-court season, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina's Mirza Basic 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in the first round of the Rogers Cup here.
Modric returns to Real Madrid training amid doubts over future
Luka Modric returned to training at Real Madrid today along with five other World Cup players, against a background of contradictory rumours about his future. One Spanish sports daily, AS, reported that the midfielder who led Croatia to the World Cup final was subject to a big bid from Inter Milan, while a competing newspaper, Marca said the 32-year old was about to accept a pay rise from Real and sign a contract extension. Modric, awarded the Golden Ball as best player at the World Cup, was given a break rather than join Real's pre-season tour of the United States, as were another Croatian World Cup finalist, Mateo Kovacic, who was reported to have travelled to London to join Chelsea, French World Cup winner Raphael Varane and Brazilian duo Marcelo and Casemiro. On Wednesday, as the Real first team flew back to Madrid after beating Roma in New Jersey on Tuesday night, the club said the World Cup players were in training. "The Croatian midfielder joined Marcelo, Varane, Casemiro and .
Erik Hamren presented as new coach of Iceland
Erik Hamren, former head coach for the Sweden national team, was presented on Wednesday as the new coach of Iceland, succeeding Heimir Hallgrimsson, who resigned after the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
No interpreter, East Bengal World Cupper Acosta's press conference cancelled
Days after city football giants East Bengal roped in a high-profile investor, the club's cavalier attitude came to the fore when Costa Rican World Cupper Johnny Acosta's first press briefing could not be take place for want of an interpreter.
Lille right back Malcuit moves to Napoli
Serie A runners-up Napoli on Wednesday confirmed the acquisition of French right-back Kevin Malcuit from Ligue 1 side Lille.
No interpreter available, EB call off Acosta unveiling
East Bengal's much-anticipated first formal interaction with Costa Rican World Cupper Johnny Acosta turned out to be a farce and was called off today because of non availability of an interpreter. East Bengal CEO Sanjit Sen announced that Acosta speaks "only Spanish" but their professionalism was exposed soon as the club had forgotten to arrange an interpreter. The room was crowded with 50-plus media persons, all wanting to ask questions on the defender who rubbed shoulders with the likes of Neymar and Coutinho during the recent FIFA World Cup in Russia. The 35-year-old defender, who featured in all three group matches of Costa Rica in the World Cup, tried his best taking the help of Google Translate, the widely used tool that instantly translates phrases and words. But all his efforts went in vain as there was no internet connection. East Bengal officials tried to shift the interaction to another room with better connectivity but only to be left more embarrassed. "We will have the ...
Suspense continues over Asian Games contingent announcement
The Sports Ministry continued its deliberation with regards to size of the Indian contingent for the Asian Games as suspense prevailed over its announcement. The Games begin in Jakarta and Palembang in less than 10 days but the Indian contingent is yet to be known officially. After much changing and chopping, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA submitted a list of 575 athletes and 213 officials to the Sports Ministry on Monday. The ministry is yet to make the final clearance and is continuing its deliberation on the final official list. "It may take a day or two to give the final clearance of the contingent," a source from the sports ministry said. The IOA has announced a send-off ceremony on August 10 and it is likely that the official list is cleared by the ministry by that time. It is learnt that the Ministry is not happy with the naming of Raj Kumar Sacheti as one of the four deputy Chefs de Mission of the Indian contingent. In 2013, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) has ...
Exciting that we won last week despite being not at our best: Root
England skipper Joe Root has said that their victory in the seesawing first Test, despite being "not at our best", has energised the hosts with confidence as they prepare to take on India at Lord's tomorrow. "It (the win at Birmingham) fills you with masses of confidence. One of the most exciting things about last week is that we weren't at our best, certainly areas we can improve, but we found a way to win under pressure, and wrestle momentum back in our favour," Root said at the pre-match press conference on the eve of the second Test. Hosts England prevailed over India by 31 runs in a tight finish at the Edgbaston last week, taking a vital 1-0 lead in the five-match series. "That's a sign of some strong characters in our dressing room. And having had some indifferent results in the recent past, to pull off a win like that is a really good sign for us moving forward. "If we can make small improvements in certain areas, and add that to where we were good last week, we will see some ..
Chahal should focus on playing red-ball cricket, suggests Dravid
India A coach Rahul Dravid has suggested that leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal should focus more on playing red-ball cricket to gain experience in the longer format of the game.
England need to be more clinical, made Kohli work for runs: Buttler
Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler feels England need to be more clinical in some aspects, including catching, as they seek to extend their lead over India in the second Test starting here tomorrow. Virat Kohli may have compiled a fine century in the series opener but ahead of the Lord's Test, Buttler also took solace from the way the Indian captain was made to work for his runs. "It was a brilliant hundred from Kohli in the first innings, but you have to give the bowlers credit too. He really had to battle for all of his runs, and we created some chances which weren't taken. That's something for us to work on this week, trying to be more clinical," Buttler wrote on Sky Sports. The hosts lead 1-0 in the five-match series following their 31-run victory in Birmingham. "Even though we won at Edgbaston, there are definitely some areas for us to work on. We were 216-3 in the first innings, with Root and Jonny Bairstow going very well, and we didn't capitalise on that. And then, bowling, we ..
Football fans to promote legends match in Camp Nou
Approximately 100 underprivileged football fans will be taken to the colossal Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona to promote the upcoming FC Barcelona and Mohun Bagan legends exhibition match scheduled to be held here on September 28, the organisers said here on Wednesday.
Don't be judgemental, problem is not technical but mental: Kohli
Captain Virat Kohli today urged followers of Indian cricket to not be judgemental about his team's poor batting performance after just one Test as the problem is more about making "mental adjustments" rather than technical. India lost the first Test against England by 31 runs with only skipper Kohli crossing the 50 run mark in both innings. "We should not judge so fast, and jump to conclusions As a team, we keep patience. We don't judge so fast. We don't see any pattern to (the failures). As far as wickets falling in heap is concerned, it is not about technique, it is more of a mental aspect," Kohli said at the pre-match press conference. "There must be a clear plan on how to face the first 20-30 balls, and more often than not that plan does not involve aggression. There we need some composure rather than aggression. As a batting unit, we have discussed that," the skipper said. Kohli said from a team's perspective they don't analyse how bad a defeat can look as their focus in on ...
Twitterverse wishes Roger Federer on 37th bday
Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer turned 37 today and Twitterverse extended their warm birthday wishes to the 20-time Grand Slam champion.Federer, who is known as Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in the circles of tennis, has been an inspiration for many young kids and people from different walks of life.On the occasion of his birthday, his fans took to their Twitter handles and wished the ace player in different styles.One of the fans of Federer thanked him for being a guiding light in his life and wished him best on his birthday."Happy birthday rogerfederer. Thank you for being the light in my life. Supporting you is one of the truest joys I will ever know. #happybday #rogerfederer #federer #roger #federer4ever.," he wrote.Another fan praised the birthday boy for his "magical shots" and thanked him for inspiring people around him."@rogerfederer Happy birthday #tennis . The only reason I started watching and playing (lil bit) tennis is because of you, #roger. Your magical shots, #sabr, ..