Page 1276 - Sports
Scoring against Iraq was special, says India U-16 coach
India U-16 football team coach Bibiano Fernandes highlighted the teams "self-belief" after they finished their engagements in the WAFF U-16 Championship in Amman, Jordan.
IAAF mourns Kenyan athlete Nicholas Bett's death
The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) expressed grief on Wednesday over the death of Kenyan athlete Nicholas Bett in a car accident.
I want Kovacic to stay: Julen Lopetegui
Amidst the reports of Croatian footballer Mateo Kovacic mulling a transfer to the English football club Chelsea, Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui said that he is keen to retain the player as he is crucial for the team.The manager further stated that in case the midfielder decides to leave then the club would look out for "solutions.""There's nothing 100 per cent certain yet. Mateo has said he wants to leave. I want him to stay - he's an important player. We'll see how everything ends up," goal.com quoted Lopetegui, as saying."If he happens to leave, we'll look for solutions," he added.Elaborating on the "solutions" he is talking about, the manager said that if Kovacic leaves then the club would find a top quality replacement."The solutions are something we'd speak about privately within the club. If Mateo does leave, a player of his level, which is extremely high, we'll have to look for someone at that type of level," he said."To reach all of our objectives we need to have a ...
India invites Nepali U-19 Cricket team for One Day Series in Sep
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited the Nepali U-19 team for One Day series next month.The series is scheduled to be held from September 9 to September 20.Interestingly, National Cricket Academy (NCA) will also be participating in the upcoming tournament, the state news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) reported.Reportedly, Nepal cricket team is still waiting for the permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to participate in the event."It might take some days to decide over the participation in the series. Some of our U-19 players who are in the national team are just back from the Netherlands upon consulting with them we will decide," Raman Siwakoti, the manager of Nepali cricket team is quoted by RSS.As per the schedule prepared by BCCI, India will play against Afghanistan on September 9 in Eden Garden, whereas Nepal will be facing NCA in Jadavpur University the same day.Likewise, on September 16 the NCA team and the Indian U-19 team ...
We couldn't afford to not sign him: Cyril Abiteboul
Managing director of the Renault Sports formula One team Cyril Abiteboul has said that they could not have afforded not to sign former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo.Abiteboul further asserted that such opportunity was a very rare one to arise and they wanted to capitalise on the same, Sports24 reported."We could not afford to not sign him. Only once every two or three years does this occasion arise. The next time the train of top drivers comes past, it may be after 2021," RMC Sport quoted Abiteboul, as saying.The director admitted that French driver Esteban Ocon and Spanish racer Carlos Spainz were also under the consideration but Ricciardo was "too great a chance to miss."Earlier this month, Ricciardo had shocked the Formula One racing world by announcing his departure from Red Bull, thus ending his five-year-long association with the team. He has won a total of seven races for the team.
PSV sign Australian defender Sainsbury
PSV have acquired defender Trent Sainsbury on a free transfer from Chinese football club Jiangsu Suning, signing a three-year deal with the Australian international.
Don't see any reason to part ways with Constantine till Asian Cup: AIFF
Stephen Constantine will continue as India's national football coach at least till the 2019 Asian Cup, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das has said, putting to rest speculation about an abrupt sacking following complaints by senior players. Terming the murmurs around Constantine as hearsay circulating in the social media, the top All India Football Federation (AIFF) office-bearer said they don't see a plausible reason to part ways with the coach till the end of the continental showpiece, when his contract expires. In his second spell with the senior team, the British coach oversaw a dream 13-match unbeaten run that ended with a 1-2 defeat to Kyrgyzstan in an inconsequential away final group game of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign in March. By the time India suffered that rare recent reverse in Bishkek, the team had made it to the Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in the UAE from January 5 to February 1. "We don't see any reason to remove him. He has delivered the results, and ..
We have now learnt to make comebacks after defeats: India U-16 coach
India U-16 football team coach Bibiano Fernandes highlighted his players' self belief and ability to stage a comeback, after rounding off their campaign in the WAFF Championship in Amman, Jordan with a 3-0 rout of Yemen. The tournament also included a historic 1-0 win over Iraq, the country's first-ever against the the current U-16 Asian champions. "We have now learnt how to come back and win games especially after a defeat. We have been continuously believing in ourselves," Fernandes said after India finished with nine points from four matches in the tournament. "We had been conceding late goals in our previous matches in China, Thailand and Malaysia. The team was pushing hard for a winner in the dying stages but on this tour, we converted our chances leaving us in a much more comfortable position to defend and keep clean sheets," the coach added. The Indian colts conceded just two goals from their four matches and maintained clean sheets in the other three. However, Bibiano said, ...
Pogba keen to leave United for Barcelona - reports
France World Cup star Paul Pogba is determined to end his fractious relationship with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and move to Barcelona, according to British media reports on Wednesday. The 25-year-old -- who scored in the 4-2 World Cup final win over Croatia -- has agreed terms with Barcelona for a deal worth ?89.5 million ($115 million, 100 million euros) over five years, according to the Daily Mail. The reported agreement would see him pick up ?346,000 a week, almost double what he earns at United. The Sun claims the former Juventus star -- who joined United for a then world-record fee of ?89 million in 2016 -- has demanded the Premier League side increase his wages from ?180,000 to ?380,000 a week so he is paid almost on a par with Chilean star Alexis Sanchez, otherwise he will leave. United, though, would be most reluctant to sell him, with the Daily Mail reporting they have already rejected a bid by Barcelona of ?44.5 million plus Colombian central defender Yerry ...
Kenya's 400m hurdles champ Nicholas Bett killed in car crash
Kenyan athlete Nicholas Bett, the 2015 world 400 metre hurdles champion, was killed Wednesday in a car crash near his home in western Kenya, police said. "The accident occurred when his vehicle hit a bump and rolled and he died on the spot," Nandi county police commander Patrick Wambani said from the scene of the crash. The 28-year-old Bett, the father of two-year-old twins, made his name at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing where he surprised the field by taking gold. He has since struggled to replicate that form. Bett, whose twin brother Aron Koech is also an international 400m hurdler, was disqualified in his heat at the 2016 Rio Olympics after hitting a hurdle and was unable to defend his world title in London in 2017 due to injury. While Kenya topped the table in last week's African Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria, Bett was forced to pull out of his race, again due to injury. "It is very sad because I talked to him yesterday. He had gone to Nairobi Hospital ..
Loew facing severe striker problem
Joachim Loew is facing problems galore after Germany's early World Cup exit. While still in charge of the 2014 world champions, the 57-year-old is the subject of heated debates among fans and media.
Hughes, Asher-Smith win at European Championships
Britain's Zharnel Hughes took the gold medal in the men's 100 meter sprint, while Dina Asher-Smith dominated the women's competition at the inaugural multi-sport European Championships here.
Poland's Nowicki triumphs at European Championships
Wojciech Nowicki won gold in the men's hammer throw after achieving a distance of 80.12 meters with his final attempt at the inaugural multi-sport European Championships at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
Estudiantes beat Gremio in Copa Libertadores clash
Estudiantes de La Plata survived going a man down to beat reigning champions Gremio 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores round of 16 tie here.
Madrid beat Roma in friendly
Real Madrid continued life without former star and five-time Ballon DOr winner Cristiano Ronaldo with a pre-season International Champions Cup win over Serie A side AS Roma.
Ponting suggests 'shot clock' to tackle declining over rate
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has recommended the use of 'shot clock' to deal with the declining over rate in all three formats of Cricket.A shot clock is a timer, which is used in the game of basketball to increase the pace and scoring of the game. According to the rules, the offensive team must attempt to get the ball into the basket before the shot clock expires.Ponting said that introducing 'dead time' through shot clock might seem a bit extreme but could be considered by the International Council of Cricket (ICC)."It probably seems a little extreme, the idea of the shot clock. But once again this year, in all three formats of the game, the over rates have been in decline again. So we've talked about the idea of the shot clock and that's basically for the dead time in the game," Cricket.com.au quoted Ponting, as saying."It's not going to be when the bowler is at the top of his mark and running in because that's hard to gauge. It's the dead time. The end of the over. The .
Very less time to prepare but hope to do better at Asiad: Sindhu
P V Sindhu believes Indian shuttlers haven't got enough time to prepare for the Asian Games but expects the team to deliver more than just the one bronze medal claimed in the 2014 edition. Indian women's team had won a bronze medal at Incheon four years ago and Sindhu hoped they can change the colour of the medal this time when the multi-sport event gets underway on August 18. "Definitely, it is going to be very different. Because, we have the team events and also the individuals. Very less time to prepare. But, as a team, last time we got bronze. This time, we would expect a better one," said Sindhu, who clinched her second silver at the World championships last Sunday. "Also, individuals, I hope that I do well. Taking the World Championship silver, taking it as a confidence, I hope that I move forward and do well." India haven't won a medal in women's singles at the Asian Games. Eight-time former national champion Syed Modi is the only individual medallist for India at the Asiad, ...
Batsmen the key as India look to reverse fortunes at Lord's
The Indian cricket team would expect its floundering batsmen to take more responsibility in pursuit of a series-levelling victory in the second Test against England, starting tomorrow at the Lord's. If captain Virat Kohli had got support from his batting colleagues in Birmingham, the scenario would have been completely different. The world number one Test side came close to taking the lead but fell short by 31 runs. The mood in the Indian dressing room, though, is quite upbeat. Two days before the game, there was healthy amount of grass on the Lord's pitch. It is expected that the groundsmen will shave a few bits off before the first ball. But even if they don't, the general expectation is that the pitch would turn out to be quite dry. This has also prompted a rethink in the Indian camp as to what bowling strategy they would want to go in with. Despite India's overall failed batting effort at Edgbaston, bowling coach Bharat Arun ruled out playing an extra batsman here. He also ...
Sprint king Bolt gets new football chance at Aussie club
Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt will join the A-League's Central Coast Mariners for an "indefinite" training period as he works to realise his dream to become a professional footballer. The 31-year-old, who retired from athletics last year, is an avid Manchester United fan who has long wanted to play top-flight football. He has already tried out with teams in Germany, Norway and South Africa, to no avail. Undeterred, the Mariners have agreed to see what he has to offer and the sprint legend is set to arrive at their training ground in Gosford, 75 kilometres (47 miles) north of Sydney, later this month. "The agreement between the Central Coast Mariners and Usain Bolt does not guarantee a professional playing contract," the club said on their website late Tuesday. "But (it) does provide the eight-time Olympic gold medallist with an opportunity to achieve his burning desire to play football professionally." Bolt was thrilled to be given another chance to showcase his abilities ...
Wawrinka, Djokovic advance in Toronto
Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic reached the second round of the Toronto Masters on Tuesday, with both men polishing their pre-US Open form. Wawrinka put his comeback from knee surgery back on track with a 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 comeback win over Nick Kyrgios. Wimbledon holder Djokovic eased to victory, beating Mirza Basic 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) after the Bosnian replaced orignal opponent Chung Hyeon of South Korea, who withdrew before the match with injury. A pair of Canadian teenagers advanced, with Denis Shapovalov dominating Jeremy Chardy 6-1, 6-4 while good friend Felix Auger-Aliassime, who turns 18 on Wednesday, thrilled his home fans as he defeated Lucas Pouille of France 6-4, 6-3. Three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka put 16th seed Kyrgios out with an impressive display after losing a one-sided opening set. Wawrinka has been struggling to find his best form since returning to the ATP Tour after two knee operations a year ago and has slumped to 195 in the world rankings. "I'm looking for ...