Page 1301 - Sports
Son released for full Asian Games under Spurs deal
Son Heung-min will miss South Korea's first two matches at the Asian Cup in January under a compromise agreed with Tottenham Hotspur to release him for this month's Asian Games, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said Wednesday. The South Korean striker will fly to Indonesia for the Asian Games -- where a gold medal is likely to win him exemption from military service -- after Spurs' Premier League season opener against Newcastle United on August 11, a KFA spokesman said. Spurs had initially sought to keep Son back until August 18, when they have a Premier League match against Fulham. That would have effectively kept the 26-year-old out of the group stage for Asia's mini-Olympics, where the football tournament runs from August 14 to September 2. But Spurs later relented, striking a deal that rules Son out of South Korea's Asian Cup games on January 7 and 11 against the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan, as well as an international friendly in November. There are precedents for footballers .
Sindhu, Srikanth, Praneeth win; Prannoy ousted in World Championship
PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth notched up contrasting wins to progress to the pre-quarterfinals but world no 11 H S Prannoy suffered a shock defeat to unheralded Brazilian Ygor Coelho to bow out of the World Championship here today. Olympic silver medallist Sindhu, who had got a bye in the first round, opened her campaign with an easy 21-14 21-9 win over Indonesia's Fitriani. The 23-year-old Indian, who won the silver medal last year, will face Korean Sung Ji Hyun, a 2015 World Championship bronze medallist, in the next round. Srikanth, seeded fifth, recovered from a slump during the hard-fought contest to see off Spain's Pablo Abian 21-15 12-21 21-14 in a second-round match that lasted 62 minutes. Srikanth, who had clinched four titles last year, will lock horns with Malaysia's Daren Liew, a former world no 10, who had won the 2012 French Open Super Series. B Sai Praneeth also entered the next round after dumping Spain's Lus Enrique Penalver 21-18 21-11 to set up a meeting with ...
IOA issues 'No Needle Policy' guidelines for Indian Asian Games contingent
The Indian Olympic Association has asked the country's Asian Games contingent to strictly follow the "No Needle Policy" of the continental Olympic body while staying at the Athletes' Village, seeking to avoid a Commonwealth Games type embarrassment where some athletes were pulled up for violation of similar rules. The officials of the National Sports Federations have been tasked to take responsibility of ensuring that medicines prescribed for specific purposes or illness do not contained prohibited substances. They have been asked to carry prescriptions from licensed doctors regarding medicines the athletes or the officials may require, including details of the medical condition. "It is the responsibility of the NSFs and their appointed officials to ensure that prescription medicines carried by the team/athlete do not contain any WADA prohibited substance. Medicines should be carried/kept in sealed transparent cover. A copy of the prescription by licensed doctor including details of ..
Serena reflects on her shocking loss
American tennis star Serena Williams, who suffered an embarrassing defeat against unseeded Johanna Konta of Britain in the first round of the ongoing San Jose Tournament on Wednesday, has said that she is capable of playing a "zillion times" better than the English player."I'm taking everything a day at a time. I think she played better in this match than she did in about 18 months, so I think that's a good thing for her. I know I can play a zillion times better, so that kind of helps out too," Williams said.The 36-year-old had lost 1-6, 0-6 in 12 straight games to crash out of the tournament in a clash that last 51 minutes.The 23-time Grand Slam champion admitted that she was not playing her best game but asserted that she does not have any time to be shocked about the loss."I have so many things on my mind, I don't have time to be shocked about a loss. I clearly wasn't at my best. I can only try to be there," she said."When I was out there, I was fighting. I wasn't just giving it ..
Lahiri, Sharma play in the morning session at WGC; Woods is in the field
Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri will tee off at the same time as Tiger Woods but from a different end of the Firestone South course at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, here tomorrow. Lahiri will play with Luke List at 10.20 am from the first tee, while Woods will start play with Jason Day at the same time but from the tenth tee. Also playing in the morning session will be Shubhankar Sharma as two Indians will play the event for the first time. Sharma plays the first round with Aaron Wise from first tee at 9.30 am. This is an important event for both as they seek to move forward on various fronts. Lahiri is trying to get back to top-50, while Sharma is trying to gain a PGA Tour card. Meanwhile Woods, who has won this event eight times, including the first three times of this event's history. Woods got into top-50 in the nick of time after recording his best finish since 2013 by getting to tied 6th at the Open at Carnoustie. That year he was also tied 4th at the Masters and tied 6th at ...
Edgbaston Test: India asked to field first against England
England won the toss and asked India to field first in the opening Test of the five-match series here at Edgbaston cricket ground on Wednesday.Following the toss, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said, "I think it'll be a good batting wicket but we wanted to get maximum out of the ball on day one. There's always excitement and anticipation - it's a long series. We've to do well at different stages. The boys are well prepared. Comfortable with our skill sets and preparations. The pitch looks different from last time: the results haven't gone our way before here but we're not a team that carries baggage."Meanwhile, England captain Joe Root said that the preparations have gone pretty well and that they are now just looking forward to deliver on the field.India, under the leadership of Kohli, will look to banish their horrors from 2014's humiliating Test series defeat on English soil in the current series.Having gained some momentum from the victory in the T20I series and the considerable ...
Tottenham's Son sorry to leave club for Asian Games
English Premier League side Tottenham Hostpur's striker Son Heung-Min feels sorry for having to leave his club to represent South Korea at the Asian Games this month.
England opt to bat in Test series opener
England skipper Joe Root won the toss and opted to bat against India in the opener of the five-Test rubber at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground here on Wednesday.
Football Federation Australia unhappy at FIFA-backed report
Football Federation Australia appears on course for a confrontation with FIFA after rejecting "some crucial aspects" of a review backed by the world body into the structure of football's governing congress in the country. The congress review working group (CRWG) has made recommendations to FIFA for the expansion of the Australia congress after seven weeks of consultation with key stakeholders in Australian football. The current FFA congress is seen as one of the smallest in world football and lacking significant female representation. The CRWG report, which was completed to meet FIFA's Tuesday deadline, has not been publicly released and its recommendations can only be revealed at FIFA's discretion. FIFA commissioned the report to pressure the FFA to comply with statutes around the structure of national governing bodies after trying for several years to force change. FIFA is reported to be ready to approve the report's recommendations and to demand they be adopted at an FFA special ...
Afghan spin king Khan boosts Sussex's T20 Blast title hopes
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, the world's top ranked Twenty20 bowler, has boosted Sussex's chances of reaching the knockout stages of the English county T20 Blast competition by committing to them for all of their group games. The 19-year-old leg-spinner -- who in March reached the landmark of 100 one-day international wickets quicker than any other player -- became available for the seven remaining matches after withdrawing from the Caribbean Premier League. Sussex are fourth in the South Group ahead of their game in hand against leaders Gloucestershire later on Wednesday. "I had always wanted to play more than the first seven games so when I heard I was now going to be free, I asked the club straightaway if they would like me to stay for the full 14 matches," Khan said in a statement released by Sussex. "Thankfully, they also wanted me to stay. "I'm really enjoying my time at Sussex so far and I'm looking forward to the rest of the matches here. Let's hope we can win many of them," ...
Srikanth advances at Badminton World Championships
Indian star Kidambi Srikanth has entered the third round of the men's singles category at the Badminton World Championships following a hard fought win over Pablo Abian of Spain.
German defender Howedes joins Lokomotiv Moscow
Veteran German international defender Benedikt Howedes has signed a four-year contract with Lokomotiv Moscow football club.
Colombia win football gold at Central American Games
Hosts Colombia have won the football gold medal at the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games, beating Venezuela 2-1 in the final at the Romelio Martinez Stadium here.
Williams, Russell power West Indies over Bangladesh
Kesrick Williams' career-best bowling figures and a hurricane batting cameo by Andre Russell highlighted an efficient effort by the West Indies in defeating Bangladesh by seven wickets in the rain-affected opener of the three-match T20 International series at Warner Park in St Kitts on Tuesday. After off-spinner Ashley Nurse rocked the visitors with the wickets of both openers without scoring in the first over of the match, fast bowler Williams claimed four for 28 to ensure there would be no substantial recovery for the tourists despite a fighting topscore of 35 from Mahmudullah as they finished at 143 for nine. Set a revised target of 91 off 11 overs after rain delayed the West Indies response by more than 90 minutes, Russell blazed an unbeaten 35 off 21 balls with three fours and three sixes to ensure there were no alarms for the home side in taking a 1-0 lead ahead of the final two matches in Florida at the weekend. They reached 93 for three off 9.1 overs. Russell and Marlon ...
Neymar's mother defends her son
Brazilian superstar Neymar's mother, Nadine Gonçalves dove head first into the controversy surrounding her son in the wake of an ad in which he admitted that he sometimes exaggerated his reactions after being fouled at the World Cup.
Atletico Madrid send Vrsaljko to Inter Milan on loan
Atletico Madrid have announced the departure of defender Sime Vrsaljko to Inter Milan on loan in a deal that gives the Serie A side an option to make the acquisition permanent.
Cuenca enter Copa Sudamericana quarters
Deportivo Cuenca qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana football tournament after beating Bolivia's Jorge Wilstermann 2-2 (6-5) via penalty shootout.
Manchester United beat Real Madrid in friendly
Manchester United beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a pre-season soccer friendly as part of the International Champions Cup here.
Roma beat Barcelona in friendly
AS Roma scored three goals in the second half to beat Barcelona 4-2 after trailing initially in the pre-season International Champions Cup football tournament here.
Revenge, semis spot on India's mind in quarterfinal clash against Ireland in WC
Their erratic campaign back on track, the Indian women's hockey team would now be aiming to secure its first World Cup semifinal spot in 44 years by extracting revenge from giant-killers Ireland in the last-eight stage here tomorrow. India registered their first win of the tournament by sailing past Italy in a quarterfinal play-off last night and if If they manage to beat Ireland, it would ensure them only their second appearance in the World Cup last-four. 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 eighth. Having come second best in their last two meetings, it would be quite a task for the Indians to beat Ireland. The Irish have been in ominous form having topped Pool B ahead of higher-ranked USA and India. World No.16 Ireland have already scripted history of sorts by ...