Page 1294 - Sports
Poulter leads Bridgestone with 62, Woods four back
Ian Poulter, gunning for a spot on the European Ryder Cup team, fired an eight-under par 62 on Thursday to grab the first-round lead in the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio. The English golfer, who won the Houston Open in April, had eight birdies without a bogey to hold a one-stroke lead over Americans Kyle Stanley and Rickie Fowler. Eight-time Bridgestone winner Tiger Woods, Northern Ireland Star Rory McIlroy, former world number one Jason Day and US Open champion Brooks Koepka were among the 19 players within four strokes of Poulter on a talent-laden leaderboard. "My whole game was great today," said Poulter, who hit 12 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation. "Whenever you shoot eight-under par you've generally done a lot of good stuff. "I did very well tee to green, proximity to the pin, I rolled a few nice putts in. As silly as it sounds, I would have liked to have nicked another couple. But any time you shoot eight-under par on this golf course .
Low-energy Isner ousted in Washington
Ninth-ranked John Isner, fatigued after a first-ever Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon and an Atlanta title run, lost to 152nd-ranked Noah Rubin on Thursday at the ATP and WTA Washington Open. Rubin, a 22-year-old American who lost to Isner in the French Open's first round, beat the second seed 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) at the rain-hit US Open tuneup event. US second seed Isner blamed his low-energy outing in part on his busy recent schedule and also on the showers that delayed his opener to Thursday after an opening bye. "For me, this could very well be a good loss. I need a little rest," Isner said. "There are some big tournaments coming up. I want to be full of energy for those. It's a blessing in disguise. That's the mentality I have to have." Isner plays at Canada and Cincinnati the next two weeks in major tuneups for the US Open, which starts August 27. Isner, who also won the Miami Open in March, surrendered a break in the penultimate game of the opening set. Rubin denied Isner on 7-of-8
Higuain signs for AC Milan as Bonucci returns to Juventus
Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain on Thursday moved to AC Milan in a three-player swap deal between the seven-time European champions and Juventus that will see Leonardo Bonucci return to Turin after just a season away. Milan signed 30-year-old Higuain on a one-year loan deal worth a reported 18 million euros ($21 million) that gives them the option to buy the striker next summer for a further 36 million euros. Italy centre-back Bonucci has been swapped for promising Mattia Caldara just weeks after Caldara arrived at Juve following his transfer from Atalanta, which was agreed in January 2017. Higuain left Juventus, where he won two Serie A titles and scored 40 goals in 76 league appearances, following the shock signing of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid that made the Argentine surplus to requirements. Italian media reported that Higuain's transfer had been structured to allow Milan to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations, which they fell foul of last season. Last ...
Hockey WC: India eves lose to Ireland in penalty shootout
Playing a first quarter final since 1978, the Indian Women's hockey team crashed out of the Women's World Cup on Thursday as they were pipped by Ireland in the penalty shootout.A goalless game was hotly contested right till the end, with the Irish bettering the Indians in creating meaningful chances. They made six circle penetrations, one more than India in the first and second quarters, although the Indian defense withstood their attacks well.Ireland started the third quarter strongly, not allowing India to settle in possession and stretching India's defence on numerous occasions, threatening to take the lead. The Indians, however, managed to avert danger time and again, most notably in their defending of a free-hit that was directed in the circle and looked destined to end in the goal minutes from the end of the third quarter.Indian got their best chance to score a goal when they were awarded a penalty corner in the final quarter, although, Irish goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran made a ..
Praises showered for Kohli's masterclass in Edgbaston
With Indian skipper Virat Kohli bringing up his maiden Test ton on English soil on Wednesday in the ongoing first test, a host of celebrities showered words of appreciation for him.Most notable of Kohli's admirers was Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, who took to his Twitter handle to congratulate his heir apparent for his Test century, adding that it was a "Lovely way to set up the Test series," while also stressing on the importance of the knock.Another former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif lauded him for "single handedly" keeping India's hopes alive in the match."One of his most important hundreds. An absolutely brilliant innings from @imVkohli . Has single handedly kept India in the game. What a player ! #ENDvIND," Kaif tweeted.Former England captain Michael Vaughn said that Kohli's knock was "Test Batting at its Best.""Test bowling at its best .. Test Batting at its Best from @imVkohli .. These last 2 days have given us all a reminder why it's the best format by a country mile ... .
Women's Hockey WC: India lose to Ireland in quarters
Reigning Asian champions India lost to lower-ranked Ireland 1-3 (0-0) via penalty shootout here on Thursday as the European side extended its dream run into the semi-finals of the Vitality Women's Hockey World Cup.
Day 2: Kohli helps India post 274; England lead by 22 runs (Roundup)
Virat Kohli notched up a hundred to guide India to 274 all out in the first innings before leaving the hosts on 9/1 with a slender lead of 22 runs at stumps on the second day of the first Test match here on Thursday.
Women's Hockey World Cup: Indian women lose to Ireland via shoot off
India's dream of breaking their 44-year-old last four jinx lay shattered as Ireland registered a 3-1 win via shoot-off in the quarterfinal of the women's hockey World Cup here today. Poor execution in shoot-off cost India dearly as skipper Rani Rampal, Monika and Navjot Kaur failed to get past Irish goalie Ayeisha McFerran. Reena was the only scorer for India in the shoot-off. Even though India goalkeeper Savita produced two saves in the shoot-off to keep her team in the hunt, it was not enough as Ireland scored through Roisin Upton, Alison Meeke and Chloe Watkins to make their maiden World Cup semi-final. It was great chance for India to recreate history and secure its first World Cup semifinal spot in 44 years but it was not to be. The only time India had managed to enter the semi-finals of the show-piece event was back in 1974 in Mandelieu, France where they eventually finished fourth. In the last edition of the tournament in Rosario, Argentina India had finished a disappointing ...
Day 2: Kohli helps India reach 274, England 9/1 at stumps
England finished day two on nine for one in their second innings at stumps of the opening Test match against India here on Thursday.
Scoreboard at stumps on the second day of the first cricket Test between India and ...
Scoreboard at stumps on the second day of the first cricket Test between India and England here. England 1st Innings: Alastair Cook b Ashwin 13 Keaton Jennings b Shami 42 Joe Root run out 80 Dawid Malan lbw b Shami 8 Jonny Bairstow b Umesh 70 Ben Stokes c & b Ashwin 21 Jos Buttler lbw b Ashwin 0 Sam Curran c Karthik b Shami 24 Adil Rashid lbw b Ishant 13 Stuart Broad lbw b Ashwin 1 James Anderson not out 2 Extras: (B-9, LB-4) Total 287 all out in 89.4 overs Fall of wickets: 26-1, 98-2, 112-3, 216-4, 223-5, 224-6, 243-7, 278-8, 283-9 Bowler: Umesh Yadav 17-2-56-1, Ishant Sharma 17-1-46-0, Ravichandran Ashwin 26-7-62-4, Mohammed Shami 19.4-2-64-3, Hardik Pandya 10-1-46-0. India 1st Innings: Murali Vijay lbw b Curran 20 Shikhar Dhawan c Malan b Curran 26 KL Rahul b Curran 4 Virat Kohli c Broad b Rashid 149 A Rahane c Jennings b Stokes 15 Dinesh Karthik b Stokes 0 H Pandya lbw Curran 22 R Ashwin b Anderson 10 M Shami c Malan b Anderson 2 I Sharma lbw Rashid 5 U Yadav not out 1 Extras
England 9/1 in second innings at stumps on Day 2
England were nine for one in their second innings at stumps on the second day of the opening cricket Test against India, here today. England, thus, enjoy a slender 22 runs lead over India with three days remaining in the match. Alastair Cook was the lone English batsman to fall in the second innings, bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin. Earlier in the day, skipper Virat Kohli (149) struck a gritty century to single-handedly take India to 274 all out. Brief scores: England 287 all out & 9 for 1 in 3.4 overs (Keaton Jennings 5 not out; Ravichandran Ashwin 1/5). India: 274 all out in 76 overs (Virat Kohli 149; Sam Curran 4/74).
Gritty Kohli stands tall amidst ruins as India score 274
Virat Kohli took a giant stride towards exorcising the ghosts of 2014 with a masterful century as he singlehandedly pulled India out of the woods against England on an eventful second day of the first Test. Kohli's 149, which will rank amongst one of the finest hundreds by an Indian batsman on English soil, enabled the visitors to reach 274 thereby bringing down the first innings deficit to only 13 runs. England had scored 287 in their first essay. At stumps, England were 9 for 1 in their second innings with an overall lead of 22 runs. The day certainly belonged to Kohli, whose dogged determination for a course correction was evident during an innings where he scored more than fifty percent of his team's runs even as he was booed by England fans for his version of 'mic drop' celebrations on the first day. He got a couple of reprieves early in his innings but his intent to scrap it out under overcast conditions with an incisive Sam Curran (4/74), wily James Anderson (2/41) and ...
Kohli's magical ton helps India post 274 in 1st innings
Virat Kohli took on England single-handedly to notch up a sublime hundred and guide India to 274 all out and still trail by 13 runs in the first innings on the second day of the first Test match here on Thursday.
Athletic Bilbao midfielder Garcia trains normally
Athletic Bilbao's midfielder Raul Garcia on Thursday trained normally in a session as he seemed to have fully recovered from a minor muscle injury sustained recently.
Azarenka routs lucky loser to reach San Jose quarters
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka cruised into the quarter-finals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over lucky loser Anna Blinkova.
Egypt's new coach vows to play more attractive football
Mexican Javier Aguirre was presented on Thursday as Egypt's new head coach for four years, promising to play pleasing, offensive football for the fans.
Badminton Worlds: Saina, Sindhu, Ashwini-Satwik, Praneeth in quarters
India's Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, B. Sai Praneeth and the mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa advanced to the quarter-finals, while Kidambi Srikanth suffered an upset in the pre-quarterfinals of the Badminton World Championships here on Thursday.
BWF World C'ship: Sindhu elated after entering quarters
Thrilled after reserving her seat in the quarter-final of the BWF World Championships 2018, Indian shuttler PV Sindhu on Thursday said she is "really happy with her performance".The Rio Olympic silver medalist cruised into the quarter-final of the tournament on Thursday as she humbled her South Korean opponent Ji Hyun Sung 21-10, 21-18.Reacting on her dominating victory, Sindhu said, "Really happy with the performance. It was a good match overall. Even though I won the first set easily, the second game was not easy where I was actually trailing almost like 7-2. Still, I gave my best. I had hope in me. Each point was very important for me because even after trailing I came back and those few points were really important."Sindhu will now face Japanese shuttler Nizomi Okuhara to get into the semi-final of the tournament on August 3.Speaking on the quarter-final clash with Okuhara, an opponent against whom the Indian shuttler suffered a loss in July's Thailand Open final, Sindhu said, "We
SC dismisses petitions filed by athletes for inclusion in Asiad squad
The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition filed by two athletes against their non-inclusion in the Indian 4x400m relay team for the Asian Games in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2. A bench of justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao dismissed the petition filed by quarter milers Prachi and Chhavi who claimed that they should have been included in the 4X400 relay team. The athletes' contended that they finished 3rd and 4th respectively in 400m event at Senior Inter-State Championship, which was the final selection event for the Asian Games. Based on the result in Guwahati, Prachi and Chhavi claimed that they should have been included in the team. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI), represented in apex court through advocates Parth Goswami and Hemant Phalpher, had contended that it was the policy of AFI to only include campers for relay events. AFI said the policy was published far back in October 2017. The Federation also contended that it was important for the relay team .
Boxing: First Sub-Jr (U15) Women Nationals from Sep 2
The Maharashtra Boxing Association (MBA) will be hosting the Boxing Federation of India's first Sub-Junior (U-15) Women Nationals in Nagpur from September 2. The six-day long tournament will conclude on September 7, BFI Secretary Jay Kowli said in a media release. The tournament will see boxers in action in 14 different weight categories including 32-34 kg, 36 kg, 38 kg, 40 kg, 42 kg, 44 kg, 46 kg and also higher weight categories like 57 kg, 60 kg and 63 kg, said Dr Rakesh Tiwari, Executive Secretary, MBA. He also informed that each team can field a maximum of 14 boxers in each weight category.