Page 1334 - Sports
India seeded fifth at team event of World Junior Squash
India has been seeded fifth and placed in Group 'E' with Switzerland and Saudi Arabia in the men's team event of the WSF-World Junior Squash Championship, which begins here tomorrow. Egypt, which has dominated in the individual events of the world junior championship, has been given the top billing. It had finished runner-up at the last edition in Poland in 2016. Canada has been seeded two and England three. Pakistan, winner of the title in 2016, has been seeded a lowly 11th. The final is scheduled on July 29. According to national coach Cyrus Poncha, India should be able to top the pool and if the team can do that there is a possibility of playing either Czech Republic or Pakistan for a place in the top eight. "Our boys have the potential," he said on the road ahead. In all 24 countries are taking part in the team event and they have been placed in eight groups. Two teams from each group would advance to the knock-out phase. Group A: Egypt, Australia, Singapore; Group B: Canada, ...
Laporte 'jealous' after seeing France World Cup win
Aymeric Laporte says he was "jealous" watching France win the World Cup as his international tug-of-war with Spain continues. The USD 74.9 million French-born Manchester City defender, who is of Basque descent and qualifies for Spanish residency having spent eight years at Athletic Bilbao, represented Les Bleus at youth level but failed to make a senior appearance. Now new Spanish manager Luis Enrique is keen for him to join his squad ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Two years ago while at Bilbao, Laporte was urged by then Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui to explore the possibility of switching nationalities. He was then called up by France and declared his intentions to play for the country of his birth. But a failure to find a way into Deschamps' plans has seen Enrique urge him to change his mind, according to a report in Mundo Deportivo this week. Spain's disappointing showing at the World Cup together with the search for a ball-playing defender to eventually replace the likes of .
Molinari steals limelight to give Italy rare moment of golfing glory
It was expected that recent American dominance of the majors would continue at the British Open, but instead Carnoustie delivered Italy's first ever winner of the Claret Jug in the shape of Francesco Molinari. Perhaps it was not the outcome that the huge crowds thronging the fairways on Sunday were hoping for, especially as Molinari's playing partner Tiger Woods looked in line at one point to claim his first major in a decade. But while Woods faded after dropping three strokes in two holes at the 11th and 12th, Molinari kept his cool to shoot a second consecutive bogey-free round. His 69 left him eight under par, two shots clear of his nearest challengers including Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, three ahead of Woods and four shots ahead of last year's winner Jordan Spieth. Molinari is a rare golfer from continental Europe to lift the Claret Jug -- Sweden's Henrik Stenson triumphed at Royal Troon in 2016 but before him you have to go back to Seve Ballesteros in 1988. The 35-year-old ...
Man Utd held to scoreless draw by Earthquakes
Manchester United, buoyed by the arrival of Alexis Sanchez on Sunday, nevertheless remained without a win in their North American pre-season tour after a 0-0 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes. The match at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, pitted a United side playing its second match of the pre-season against an Earthquakes team in the midst of what has been a lackluster Major League Soccer campaign. Sanchez was a lively presence after missing the 1-1 draw against Club America of Mexico in Phoenix on Thursday because of visa issues. But in hot conditions before a sparse crowd, United created few chances, and saw Antonio Valencia limp off with an apparent calf injury less than 10 minutes in. Valencia, who was replaced by Matteo Darmian, was part of Jose Mourinho's starting back four along with Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling. Bailly had a golden chance to score in the fifth minute but his header off a free kick from Sanchez rocketed off the cross bar. Minutes ...
Pulisic powers Dortmund past Liverpool in friendly
American international Christian Pulisic scored two second-half goals to lift Borussia Dortmund to a 3-1 win over Liverpool in an International Champions Cup friendly in North Carolina on Saturday. Pulisic almost completed the hat trick in the 93rd minute but his blast from in close was stopped and the rebound went to teammate Jacob Bruun Larsen who deposited it into the empty net as Dortmund improved to 2-0 in the 18-team pre-season tournament. With Mohamed Salah, Pedro Chirivella, Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane and Marko Grujic sitting out it was an inexperienced Liverpool side that took to the field at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 25th minute with a perfectly timed leaping header off a long cross from Andrew Robertson. Dortmund's best chance to score in the first half was a sharp angle shot by Marius Wolf that Liverpool keeper Loris Karius easily handled. Both teams swapped out several ...
Beware! Tiger licks his lips at regaining that old feeling
Tiger Woods may have had to watch playing partner Francesco Molinari lift The Claret Jug after winning the British Open but all his rivals will have taken note of the American's return to form. The 42-year-old American legend -- beset by personal problems and back issues for most of the last decade after once dominating the sport -- threatened a shock victory at Carnoustie when, halfway through his final round, he led while most of his rivals were shedding shots. However, it proved to be a false dawn as three dropped shots in two holes saw him fall behind and in the end the 14-time major winner was being consoled by his two children. Despite his disappointment, Woods -- without a win in five years and with his last victory in a major a decade ago -- says he felt he can still be a force at the highest level. "Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah," said Woods, who finished the tournament finished tied for sixth, three shots behind playing partner Molinari. "It did. It did. It didn't feel any different ..
Ozil quits Germany squad in spat over Turkey president
Mesut Ozil is quitting Germany's national team following criticism over his decision to pose for a picture with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In a series of statements posted Sunday on Twitter, the Arsenal star announced his retirement from international football. He attacked the German football federation (DFB), its president, fans and the media, criticizing what he saw as racism and double standards in the treatment of people with Turkish roots. Citing anti-Turkish comments from far-right politicians and fans, Ozil said he would "no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect." He added: "Racism should never, ever be accepted." The photo of Erdogan, Ozil and Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan meeting in London caused an uproar in Germany two months ago. At the time, the head of Germany's soccer federation, Reinhard Grindel, publicly accused the players whose families came to Germany from Turkey of allowing ...
Bangladesh beat West Indies by 48 runs in first ODI
A record double-century partnership between Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan paved the way as Bangladesh bounced back from their Test series drubbing with a 48-run win over West Indies in their opening one-day international on Sunday. Man-of-the-Match Tamim blasted an unbeaten 130, the highest by a Bangladeshi in ODIs against the West Indies, while Shakib weighed in with 97 a second-wicket partnership of 207. Captain Mashrafe Mortaza then led the way with the ball in taking four for 37 as the hosts were limited to 231 for nine in reply. "It was important for us to make a strong statement here after the way we played in the Tests," Mashrafe said after the victory at Guyana's National Stadium. "This ground has been a happy one for us over the years and we are looking now to clinch the series in the next match on Wednesday." West Indies were on course to seriously challenge the target with Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer at the crease. However when Gayle was run out for 40 and Hetmyer ...
Footballer Mesut Ozil hangs up his boots
German footballer Mesut Ozil on Sunday announced his retirement from the national team, in the wake of the controversy surrounding his recent meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Ozil was heavily criticised after he, along with his teammate, Ilkay Gundogan, who has Turkish ancestry, posed for a photograph with Erdogan at a charitable event in May.In a series of tweets, Ozil, who has Turkish roots himself, posted a lengthy statement defending his meeting with Erdogan and criticised German media for "politicising" the entire episode.The 29-year-old Arsenal midfielder said, "I'm aware that the picture of us caused a huge response in the German media, and whilst some people may accuse me of lying or being deceitful. The picture we took had no political intentions. For me, having a picture with President Erdogan wasn't about politics or elections, it was about me respecting the highest office of my family's country."Taking on the German media for its double standards, Ozil ..
Ozil quits international football amid furore over photo with Erdogan
Germany's attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil announced his retirement from international football on Sunday, a month-and-a-half after his photo with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sparked a controversy.
Cort Nielsen wins stage 15 of Tour de France
Denmark's Magnus Cort Nielsen of Astana won the 15th stage of the Tour de France road cycling race, coming out ahead in a three-rider sprint to the finish line, while Geraint Thomas of Britain (Sky) kept the overall leader's yellow jersey.
British Open: Molinari becomes first Italian to win a major golf title
Francesco Molinari became the first Italian to win a major golf title as he clinched a two-stroke victory at the 147th British Open here on Sunday.
Air India denies boarding: Manika Batra, team finally board flight to Australia
Star Indian table tennis player Manika Batra, on Sunday evening tweeted her ordeal highlighting the grave mismanagement by national carrier Air India.Batra in her tweet said that a team of seven Indian players including her, were denied boarding on an Air India Delhi-Melbourne flight due to overbooking.Batra had tagged Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office in her tweet.She wrote, "Our contingent of total 17 players and officials of Indian table tennis team including CWG medalist myself, Sharath Kamal, Mouma Das, Madhurika, Harmeet, Suthirta, Sathyan were supposed to fly today to Melbourne by AI 0308 to participate in ITTF World Tour Australian Open from tom.""On reaching Air India counter we were told that flight is overbooked and only 10 members of TT team can fly which left us in a shock.7 of us are still unable to fly.All the tickets were booked by Balmer Lawrie. @Ra_THORe @PMOIndia Shocked at such mismanagement by @airindiain," she ...
Lewis Hamilton restores championship advantage with German Grand Prix win
Lewis Hamilton reclaimed the lead in the driver's championship as a dramatic German Grand Prix saw his championship rival Sebastian Vettel crash out, thus allowing the British racer to finish in first place.Hamilton had never in his career won a race for which he qualified in sixth place or below. The odds were steeper when a mechanical failure in the qualifying rounds ensured he would start in the 14th place on the grid.Regardless, the four-time World Champion equalled Michael Schumacher's record of four German Grand Prix wins as he led home a first ever Mercedes one-two on German soil.Vettel was looking set to register his first ever win in Hockenheim as he was comfortably leading until the 52nd lap, however, a late downpour caused him to crash into the barriers and out of the race, the fifth time in his career that he had dropped out of a lead in a race.Having signed a new two-year contract with the Silver Arrows on Thursday, Hamilton made an excellent recovery to claw back into ...
Sri Lanka batsman Gunathilaka suspended from all forms of cricket
Sri Lanka batsman Danushka Gunathilaka was on Sunday banned from all forms of international cricket by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for breaching the 'Player Code of Conduct', pending inquiry.
India produce strong performance at Asian junior wrestling
Indian wrestlers bagged two gold medals on the final day to finish the 2018 Asian Junior Championships on a high note here on Sunday.
Hamilton rallies to win F1 German GP after Vettel crashes out
Reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton of Britain (Mercedes) rallied to win the German Grand Prix, after Sebastian Vettel of Germany (Ferrari) crashed out on a wet part of the track while leading in the 52nd lap here on Sunday.
Sri Lanka suspends opener on misconduct charge
Batsman Danushka Gunathilaka has been suspended over a misconduct charge in the middle of Sri Lanka's second Test against South Africa, the country's cricket board said today. The 27-year-old opener will be barred from all forms of the game pending the outcome of an investigation, the board said, without specifying the alleged misconduct. The suspension will go into effect after the Test is concluded in Colombo, it added. The board will also "withhold Gunathilaka's fee for the ongoing Test match until the outcome of the inquiry", it said. The batsman scored 57 and 61 runs in the second and final Test, with Sri Lanka on track for a series whitewash after trouncing the visitors in Galle last week. South Africa were 5/139 chasing an impossible-looking 490 target at close of play Sunday. Another member of Sri Lanka's Test squad, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, was on Friday given a suspended one-year ban from international cricket after pleading guilty to misconduct during last month's ...
Junior Asian Wrestling: Rathi, Deepak win gold on concluding day
Freestyle wrestlers Sachin Rathi and Deepak Punia won gold medals for India on the concluding day of the Junior Asian Wrestling Championship 2018.Rathi won the first gold for India by beating Bat-Erdene of Mongolia in the 74 kg category while Punia grabbed India's second by defeating Azat Gajyyev of Turkmenistan in the 86 kg category.Suraj Rajkumar clinched a bronze in the 61 Kg category by defeating Yotu Tsuchiya of Japan by 16-8.On the other hand, India's Mohit bagged bronze in the 125kg category by beating Bat Erdene Erdenebaatar of Mongolia.India finished second in the team championship with 173 points.Iran stood first with 189 points, and Uzbekistan came third with 128 points.
No BCCI decision on anti-doping
The BCCI on Sunday decided not to press the panic button on World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) pressure for coming under the purview of National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).