Page 1341 - Sports
I was not patient with my tennis expectations: Djokovic
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, who recently clinched his fourth Wimbledon title after defeating South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-3) in the final match, has said that the injury in his right elbow affected him mentally and that he was not patient with his tennis expectations."In 2017, the injury of my right elbow was so severe that I was forced to be out from the Tour for six months. The injury was one of the issues; the other big one was any motivation. I didn't have problems to practice and to enjoy the tennis court but I had mental hurdles when I had to compete," Djokovic said."For the past two years, I wasn't patient with my tennis expectations. I wasn't wise in strategising. And I certainly wasn't clearly hearing my body telling me that there is something serious happening with my elbow. I was trying to find solutions somewhere else and the solution was always inside of me,' he added.The 31-year-old, who had to remain aloof from the tennis court because of an ...
Criticism on Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus unfair, says Ederson
Goalkeeper Ederson has leapt to the defence of his Brazil and Manchester City teammate Gabriel Jesus after the striker's disappointing performances at the FIFA World Cup.
Kenya calls 30 for Africa U-17 qualifiers
Kenya has named a squad of 30 players to begin preparations for the Africa Under-17 Cup of Nations regional qualifiers for the CECAFA zone.
South Korea striker Son signs new deal with Tottenham
South Korean striker Son Heung-Min has signed a new contract with north London club Tottenham Hotspur, which will keep him in the English Premier League side until 2023.
South Africa floundering despite Maharaj nine wicket haul
Keshav Maharaj completed a South African record nine for 129 haul in the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka today before the home side hit back by taking quick wickets leaving South Africa in trouble on 19-3 at lunch. Maharaj's nine wicket spree was South Africa's best in an innings since the country's post-apartheid return to Test cricket in 1991. But his form could not stop Sri Lanka's last wicket pair taking their side's first innings to a strong 338 on the second day in Colombo. Akila Dananjaya and Rangana Herath added 61 runs to the overnight score to frustrate South Africa. Returning to the bowling attack, Dananjaya then took the wickets of Dean Elgar and Theunis de Bruyn, before Herath removed Aiden Markram, as South Africa's top order crumbled again against spin. The visitors could well have been four down, had Danushka Gunathilaka held on to a sharp chance from Hashim Amla, off the bowling of Herath, when Amla was on two. Amla went to lunch at 7 not out, batting alongside captain Faf
Indian wrestler Devi to compete in Mae Young Classic tourney
Braun Strowman, a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar, has announced that Indian wrestler Kavita Devi will compete in the Mae Young Classic Tournament to be held next month in the US. Devi is the lone Indian woman among the 32 female competitors, who will take part in the tournament to be held on August 8 and 9 in Florida. The US-based company last year had announced the Mae Young Classic Tournament, which is named after WWE Hall of Famer and one of the greatest WWE Superstars, Mae Young. Featuring 32 female competitors from across the globe, it will be a single-elimination tournament. Strowman, who was in Mumbai yesterday, said this is an all-woman tournament and Devi's participation in it will help in getting more audience. She had participated in the tournament last year too. Meanwhile, describing the Indian talent in WWE as amazing, Strowman said Jindal Mahal was a tough athlete and competitor. "Every time he (Mahal) comes to the fight, he brings it up," ...
Hall of Fame Open: India's Ramkumar Ramanathan reaches semi-final
India's professional tennis player Ramkumar Ramanathan stormed into the semi-final of the ongoing Hall of Fame Open here on Friday.The 23-year-old thrashed his Canadian opponent Vasek Pospisil 7-5, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of Men's Singles event.The world number 161 has made his first ever entry into the last four of the any Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour.Ramanathan will now take on American Tim Smyczek in the semi-finals clash which is scheduled to be held on July 21.Meanwhile, veteran Indian player Leander Paes vowed out of the tournament after he, along with his American partner Jamie Cerretani, suffered a crushing 3-6, 6-7 defeat at the hands of Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Austin Krajicek in the doubles quarterfinals.
Junior Asian Wrestling: Mansi settles for silver medal
Indian wrestler Mansi Ahlawat won the silver medal in the ongoing Junior Asian Wrestling Championship here on Friday.Ahlawat, who was dominating her opponents throughout the tournament, lost to Japan's Akei Hanai 0-10 in the final of the 57 kg category bout.Another Indian wrestler, Swati Shinde, bagged a bronze medal in 53 kg division by defeating Thailand's Duangnapa Boonyasu 10-0 in the play-off.Shinde had edged past Uzbekistan's Shakhodat Djullibaeva in the quarter-final clash but she lost to China's Yuhong Zhong 0-6 in the semi-final bout.Earlier, India's Divya Kakran had clinched silver in the 68 kg category while Reena and Karuna earned two bronze medals for the country in the 55 and 76 kg category, respectively.
David Warner returns to cricket in Australia in Darwin
Former Australia vice-captain David Warner has played his first cricket match in Australia since his ball-tampering suspension, scoring 36 in a one-day match in Darwin's limited overs Strike League. Warner played for the City Cyclones in the 50 overs match against the Northern Tide at the Marrara Cricket Ground. Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft, also suspended over the ball-tampering incident, played in the same competition on an adjacent ground. Warner and Australia captain Steve Smith were suspended for 12 months and Bancroft for nine months for their involvement in the incident during a test against South Africa at Cape Town in March. Their suspensions cover international matches and Austalia's main domestic competitions but the trio are free to play in independent leagues such as the Strike League. Warner and Smith recently played in a Twenty20 tournament in Canada. Warner played a bright innings yesterday before falling to a top-edged catch. He also took a catch in the field.
Bairstow says will take confidence of ODI triumph into Tests against 'motivated' Kohli's team
Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow says England will look to carry forward the momentum of their come-from-behind ODI series triumph against India into the Test arena. The 28-year-old said: "There's an overlap of players between the Test and the one-dayers so coming off the back of a series win is going to naturally boost your confidence." After the T20 series defeat and the drubbing in the ODI opener, England registered convincing wins in the next two matches to claim the rubber 2-1. "Playing against the number two side in the world when you're ranked at one there's always pressure on it and to win that series was something we set out to do. "We will take confidence from that into the Test team but at the same time it's something that we know with Test cricket is completely different. "It's a different formula, a different game and different personnel within the team," Bairstow told Sky Sports News. The five-Test series against India follows England's 2-1 ODI series win over the ...
Trump asks NFL to suspend anthem protesters
US President Donald Trump on Saturday asked the National Football League to suspend players who kneel during the national anthem this coming season.
Sri Lanka's famed Galle cricket stadium faces stumps
England could be the last team to take on Sri Lanka at its famed Galle stadium, considered one of the world's most picturesque cricket grounds, when they tour in November. This is because the stadium with views of the sparkling blue Indian Ocean could be demolished because its pavilion stand violates heritage laws protecting a 17th century Dutch fort, according to the government. Cultural Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told parliament Friday that the fort risks losing UNESCO World Heritage status because of unauthorised construction, including Galle's 500-seat pavilion. "We have to decide if we want to remain in the World Heritage list or keep the pavilion," Rajapakshe said. The Galle stadium in the south of the island is hallowed among cricket fans the world over because of its stunning setting and because it is here that the Sri Lankan team is often at its most formidable. The hosts have won a majority of matches played there since 1998, with the strong winds favouring their
Dortmund ease past Man City in Champions Cup opener
Pep Guardiola's start to his pre-season campaign ended in defeat as Borussia Dortmund captain Mario Gotze's first half penalty was enough to see off the Premier League champions Manchester City 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Guardiola was able to call on the likes of new signing Riyad Mahrez and German Leroy Sane but his otherwise highly inexperienced, young team were unable to get the better of a Dortmund side who have already played one game this summer and looked far sharper in the opening match of this year's International Champions Cup tournament. Gotze's winner came in the 28th minute when American international Christian Pulisic was hauled down in the box allowing the midfielder who famously scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final to beat Claudio Bravo. Mahrez showed flashes of his quality yet Guardiola will be disappointed about the lack of cutting edge on show. With the bulk of his Premier League title winning squad enjoying an extended break after their ...
Indian junior men's hockey team hold the Netherlands to 2-2 draw
The Indian junior men's hockey team overcame an early 0-2 setback to hold the Netherlands 2-2 in a hard-fought encounter at the U-23 Five Nations Tournament here. The Netherlands caught the Indian team's defence off-guard early in the match with Marlon scoring the first goal in the first minute. The Dutch team's early 1-0 lead put India on the back foot and recovering from this deficit was further affected when Jip Jansen scored in the 11th minute, making it 2-0 by the end of the first quarter. But India clawed back into the game in the second quarter. While the team's defence held strong in the following minutes, the Indian attackers worked on creating scoring opportunities. The team's first breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Mandeep Mor scored a splendid goal to narrow the difference to 1-2. After a goalless third quarter, the Indian team pushed for goals in the final quarter and their efforts paved way for Mandeep Mor to score another goal in the 48th minute. Though India ...
World Ranking points for Indian PGTI events in a landmark decision
The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) took a big step towards becoming a globally recognised golf Tour with its events being approved by the governing board of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) into the OWGR system. It will also open the doors of the PGTI for international players, leading to greater value for sponsors on the Indian Tour. With the decision coming at the start of 2019, it means that PGTI events will fetch precious OWGR points for players playing in them. Uttam Singh Mundy, a former Touring pro on Asian Tour and now CEO of PGTI, said, "This is a landmark moment for Indian golf. We have a very strong Tour and excellent partners and sponsors. "They will get greater value and the sponsorships will grow. For the golfers, the OWGR points will be helpful in trying to make the Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo." Ian Barker, chairman of the OWGR technical committee, said, "This is the culmination of a three-year process for PGTI. We had certain stipulations like open-ness of .
Shubhankar makes cut, piece of history at Open; Lahiri misses out
Rising star Shubhankar Sharma presented himself a birthday gift by becoming the youngest Indian golfer to make the cut in any Major but Anirban Lahiri failed to progress at The 147th Open Championships here. Hanging by a thread till the final putt on the 18th, Sharma capped a wonderful back nine to snatch a birdie and make the halfway cut, a day before his 22nd birthday. Playing on a wet and cold day, Sharma warmed the hearts of the Indian fans at the Carnoustie Golf Links with four birdies against one bogey on the tougher back nine to climb out of a hole at 5-over through 27 holes. With rounds of 73-71 he is now 2-over 144 and sure to be inside at the cut line. He was lying tied 53 and is likely to move up a few more positions. Lahiri ended a very disappointing week with just one birdie in 36 holes as he added 74 to his first 76 and finished 8-over to exit early. Before leaving he wished Sharma luck, saying, "It is always a big moment when you play the weekend at the Major for the ...
Putin soccer ball gift to Trump gets routine security check
The red-and-white soccer ball tossed to President Donald Trump by Russia's Vladimir Putin is undergoing a routine security screening. The US Secret Service says that's standard for all gifts to the president. During a joint news conference after their summit this week in Finland, Putin used soccer metaphors and was handed a soccer ball that he tossed to Trump. Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup. Trump said he'd give the ball to his 12-year-old son Barron, a soccer fan. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a Putin critic, tweeted after the exchange that he'd have the ball checked for listening devices and "never allow it in the White House." Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told a security conference he's sure the ball "has been looked at very carefully.
Kazakh figure skater stabbed to death
Kazakhstani figure skater Denis Ten, who was the first-ever to win a bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, was stabbed to death by unknown miscreants here on Friday.Ten was involved in a dispute when two men attempted to steal his car mirrors. While resisting, he was repeatedly stabbed, leaving him in a pool of blood, CNN quoted Kazakh news agency Kazinform.He was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later. Kazakh authorities are treating his death as a murder case.As per media reports, a man has confessed to Ten's killing in front of the prosecutors. The police are on the lookout for the second suspect as well.Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said in a statement, "Denis Ten was a great athlete and a great ambassador for his sport. A warm personality and a charming man. Such a tragedy to lose him at such a young age."Kazakh Minister of Culture and Sport, Arystanbek Mukhamediuly termed the incident as "a horrific and ..
Portuguese defender Fonte joins Lille
Portuguese centre-back Jose Fonte signed a two-year deal with Ligue 1 football club Lille on Friday, less than a week after he terminated contract with Chinese Super League (CSL) side Dalian Yifang.
Shubhankar through; Lahiri to miss weekend action at British Open
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma improved his performance with an even-par 71 in the second round to make the halfway cut, while Anirban Lahiri failed to make it to the final two rounds at the 147th British Open here on Friday.