Page 1361 - Sports
India look to overcome teething middle-order problems in series' finale
Their middle-order frailties laid bare in the previous match, India would be aiming to plug the loopholes in tomorrow's deciding third and final ODI against England, where a win would fetch Virat Kohli's men their 10th successive series triumph. Smarting from their 86-run loss at the Lord's after winning the first game in Nottingham by eight wickets, India have their task cut out. Victory in London confirmed England's spot as the No.1 ODI side in the ICC Rankings. A win for India at Headlingley will only help close the gap and hand them the bragging rights before the Test series begins on August 1. India had previously won the T20I series 2-1. The Men in Blue have been on a high-flying streak in bilateral ODI cricket. Going as far back as January 2016, when they last lost 4-1 in Australia, India have won every bilateral ODI series since, beating Zimbabwe, New Zealand (twice), England, West Indies, Sri Lanka (twice), Australia and South Africa, both home and away. It is also another ...
Wishes pour in for newly crowned Wimbledon champ
As former world number one Novak Djokovic clinched the fourth Wimbledon title of his career by registering a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 straight sets victory over South Africa's Kevin Anderson, social media is flooded with wishes for the newly crowned champion.Taking to Twitter, fellow Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson congratulated Djokovic for his achievement and expressed delight over sharing the centre court with him.The Duchess of Cambridge and Duke of Cambridge, who were present during the men's singles Wimbledon final, also sent their congratulatory wishes to the championship winner.The royal guests took to twitter and lauded both the finalists for their efforts.Other people from tennis community like Rod Laver, Juan M. del Petro, Patrick McEnroe, and Boris Becker also sent their wishes to Djokovic through twitter.Novak Djokovic's last Wimbledon title came in 2015 after which he clinched his maiden Roland Garros title in 2016.The Serbian player experienced a major downfall in .
Indonesia invites Korean leaders Moon, Kim to Asian Games
The leaders of the two Koreas have been invited to next month's Asian Games in Indonesia, Jakarta said today, after the neighbours agreed to field several joint teams at the event. Indonesian president Joko Widodo sent a formal invitation Friday to South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Widodo's spokesman said, but it was not immediately clear if either has responded. "The invitation letters have been sent to the leaders," spokesman Johan Budi told AFP. Last month, Asian Games organisers announced that North and South Korea will field joint teams in three sports -- canoeing, rowing and women's basketball -- in a sign of thawing tensions. The two countries -- which are technically still at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty -- will also march together at the opening and closing ceremonies for the showpiece event from August 18-September 2. The two Koreas formed their first-ever unified Olympic team -- a ..
With flags, song, pride, French celebrate unifying victory
It was a victory for all of France and the home crowd did it justice, pouring into Paris' Champs-Elysees Avenue by the tens of thousands to celebrate in an explosion of joy. France's 4-2 win over Croatia in the World Cup final in Moscow on Sunday marked the second time in 20 years that France has won the World Cup, and came at a time when the people feel needy. "It represents enormous things," said Goffrey Hamsik, dressed in a hat resembling a rooster - the French national symbol - and a shirt with the No. 10 for Kylian Mpappe, the 19-year-old breakout star who hails from the Paris suburb of Bondy. "We've had lots of problems in France these past years," he said, recalling deadly terror attacks. "This is good for the morale ... Here, we are all united. We mix. There is no religion, there is nothing, and that's what feels good." People wrapped in flags and dressed in crazy hats, and one man spotted totally nude except for the tricolor, marched down the avenue where France displayed its
Ramesh Powar named Indian women's team interim coach
Former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar has been appointed the interim coach of the national women's cricket team until the BCCI finds a suitable replacement for Tushar Arothe. Arothe was forced to resign in the wake of differences with senior players who were not happy with the coaching methods of former Baroda all-rounder. Powar will oversee the women's team camp which begins in Bengaluru from July 25. The BCCI has already invited applications for the full-time coach's job with July 20 being the deadline to apply. "I am happy with the responsibility given and I will try my best to take them (women's team) ahead," Powar told PTI. The 40-year-old played just two Test matches for India, claiming six wickets, while his 31 ODI appearances fetched him 34 scalps. His first-class career was more prolific and he claimed 470 wickets in 148 games. It has been learnt that Powar got a call from the cricket board yesterday about his interim appointment. Only last week, Mumbai wicket-keeper and ...
Lt Governor pitches for promoting football in Puducherry
Hailing France on its victory in the football World Cup, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today called for efforts to build on the spirit of celebration by promoting the game in the former French colony. France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the FIFA World Cup final in Moscow yesterday to win the title for a second time. "We can build on this spirit of celebration by promoting football in the union territory by organising inter-village, inter-town and inter-city football tournaments," Bedi said in a WhatsApp message to mediapersons here. "It costs just one ball to unite as was visible in the French team," she added. The former IPS officer also said "we in Puducherry wanted France to win the World Cup as the Union Territory has a very memorable and historical bond with France." Thousands of people in the union territory have maintained close ties with France, which also generously supports Puducherry in several ways, the Lt Governor said.
After Wimbledon, reborn Djokovic targets US happy hunting ground
With his Grand Slam reputation and place back in the world top 10 restored, Novak Djokovic will now target a third career Wimbledon/US Open double after clinching his fourth title at the All England Club. Djokovic defied the odds and even stunned himself by cruising to a 13th major title on Sunday to go fourth on the all-time list of Slam winners. Only Pete Sampras (14), Rafael Nadal (17) and Roger Federer (20) are ahead of him following his 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Kevin Anderson. Now the 31-year-old heads for the North America hard court season where he has traditionally thrived. Of his 69 career titles, 51 have been on hard courts with 17 of those in the United States. When he won his first Wimbledon in 2011, he was to add his maiden US Open, repeating the grass court/hard court double four years later. His desire to repeat that feat burns even deeper after he missed last year's New York showpiece with the elbow injury which threatened to torpedo his career after his 2017 ..
USA win inaugural athletics World Cup
The United States of America recorded a comprehensive victory in the inaugural edition of the Athletics World Cup after dominating the second day of the event in London on Sunday. It might have lacked the prestige and visibility of football's World Cup final earlier in Moscow, hindered by the absence of many of track and field's most recognisable names and an unfortunate clash of dates with the final of the greatest sporting show on the planet. Yet reasonable crowds, compared to much of the Diamond League circuit, and a rapid format with audience appeal, is worth extending, according to IAAF president Sebastian Coe, with three nations understood to have expressed interest in staging the next scheduled edition in 2020. "I've been very clear that I want new things to be tried," he said. "They are not always going to work out from the word go but that can't inhibit us from going 'we tried, it didn't do everything so we go back to the same old thing'. "There is a lot of work being done on
Modric says Golden Ball 'bittersweet' after World Cup defeat
Croatia captain Luka Modric said being awarded the Golden Ball for the World Cup's best player was "bittersweet" after losing the final 4-2 to France on Sunday. "Obviously I liked the recognition and thanks to those who chose me, but clearly I would have preferred to have won the World Cup," said the Real Madrid midfielder. "It wasn't to be and now we will rest and in the coming days celebrate this because it is still a huge thing for Croatia, but right now the feeling is bittersweet. "We are proud of what we have done, but a bit sad at losing the final." Despite being forced into extra-time in all three of their knockout rounds before the final, Croatia dominated the opening period and were desperately unlucky to trail 2-1 at half-time through Mario Mandzukic's own goal and a controversial Antoine Griezmann penalty. The smallest country to make a World Cup final in 68 years, with a population of just over four million, finally wilted after the break as Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe ...
Argentina part company with coach Sampaoli
Argentina have parted company with coach Jorge Sampaoli following their poor World Cup campaign, the federation announced on Sunday. "Today the Argentine football federation and Jorge Sampaoli agreed by mutual consent to bring to an end his position as head of the national team," the AFA said in a statement. The split comes just one year into Sampaoli's five-year contract. The 58-year-old's days as coach were numbered after his Lionel Messi-led side failed to fire in Russia, their campaign fraught with tension and dispute. Appointed in June 2017, his final game in charge was the last-16 defeat to France, who were crowned world champions earlier Sunday. Divorce proceedings were complicated by Sampaoli's reluctance to resign and a costly contract clause were the AFA to sack him. Reports suggest he walks away with a $2 million pay-off. Sampaoli's record makes grim reading given Argentina's usually high standards: seven wins, four draws and four defeats in 15 matches. He was hired with a .
Macron cheers from the stands -- then 'dabs' in the changing room
President Emmanuel Macron was pictured cheering from the stadium, got drenched in the rain on the pitch, then attempted to "dab" with the players in the changing room Sunday after France's victory in the World Cup. The football-loving 40-year-old leapt to his feet to celebrate France's goals as he attended the game in Moscow alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. After the final whistle, Macron found himself on the pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium without an umbrella during a fierce downpour that started during the trophy presentation -- unlike Putin who was sheltered by an aide. "MERCI" he wrote in a one-word tweet after the match, which gave France its second World Cup victory and sparked euphoric street parties across the country. Widely shared footage posted on Twitter later showed him with French defender Benjamin Mendy and star midfielder Paul Pogba in the changing room attempting to "dab" -- a craze thought to have been ...
France World Cup win 'as beautiful' as 1998 victory for Deschamps
Didier Deschamps said France were "swimming in happiness" after his players interrupted his post-World Cup final press conference, dancing and showering their manager in drinks as they celebrated their 4-2 win over Croatia. The coach was about to start speaking when the squad came into the room packed full of journalists at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, with defender Benjamin Mendy leading the celebrations as he danced with his shirt off. Deschamps then tried to compose himself to give his view on France's second World Cup triumph -- he was the captain of the team that won the trophy in 1998 by beating Brazil 3-0 in Paris. "My story is linked to that of the players. I had the immense privilege and happiness to experience that as a player 20 years ago, and it was in France as well so it will remain with me forever. "But what they have done today is just as big and just as beautiful," said Deschamps. His team took the lead through a Mario Mandzukic own goal, and then went back in ...
Croatia's luck ran out with World Cup penalty call, says Dalic
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said his side had run out of luck after they conceded a controversial penalty awarded by VAR in the 4-2 World Cup final defeat against France on Sunday. With the score level at 1-1, Argentine referee Nestor Pitana changed his initial decision and awarded a spot-kick, converted by Antoine Griezmann, for handball against Ivan Perisic after viewing television replays. Dalic defended VAR (the video assistant referee system) as a "good thing for football" but believes his side's luck in Russia finally ran out after penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia on route to the final. "I never comment on referees but in a World Cup final you do not give such a penalty," said Dalic. "It in no way diminishes France's win. We were a bit unlucky. Maybe in the first six games we were favoured by luck and today we weren't. "I have to congratulate my players. Maybe today we played our best game at these championships. Against such a strong side as France you must not make
Macron to welcome French football team at Elysee Palace
French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a reception ceremony on Monday for the national football team at his Elysee Palace official residence to celebrate their victory against Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Who could move after World Cup performances?
Every World Cup has its winners and losers: no matter who finally lifts the trophy, with some footballers' performances seeing their stock rise dramatically and earning them a big-money move over the summer. These are some players whose displays in Russia will have attracted attention and who could be on the move.
Croatian leader says Trump, Putin key to peace
Croatia's president hopes her American and Russian counterparts show "responsibility" and remember they are the guarantors of the whole world's stability when they hold their first summit today. In an interview with The Associated Press yesterday, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic also shrugged off US President Donald Trump's aggressive behavior with NATO allies at a meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. "It's about his personality. I don't take it against him," she said. Grabar-Kitarovic, who lived through Croatia's 1991 independence war and governs in a region that has been caught up in larger geopolitical battles, said Trump's meeting Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin could calm international tensions instead of inflame them. "I'm really hopeful that the two state leaders will show enough ... responsibility for global stability and the trans-Atlantic relationship," said Grabar-Kitarovic, who met Putin at the Kremlin yesterday before her country's team played in ...
France's FIFA win an end of immigration debates?
With France winning its second FIFA World Cup title after defeating Croatia 4-2 in a high-octane final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, it has not only put an end to its 20-year-long itch for the triumph but also the debate over colour of players.With the majority of its team's 23 players being either immigrants or the children of immigrants, France, at least for the time being, would shut the ugly discussions on the immigration.Footballer Kylian Mbappe, who emerged as the French hero of the World Cup, is the son of immigrants from Algeria and Cameroon. Similarly, footballer Paul Pogba was also raised by immigrant parents in Paris.N'Golo Kante, who plays as a defensive midfielder for the France national team is the son of immigrants from Mali while Blaise Matuidi, a central midfielder of the team, is the son of an Angolan father and a Congolese mother.Another player Samuel Umtiti is the Cameroon-born defender while Steve Mandanda was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the ...
Putin 'proud' of Russia's handling of World Cup
President Vladimir Putin said Russia could be "proud" of its hosting of the football World Cup, judging it a success "in every respect" after final. "We can surely be proud of how we organised this tournament," Putin said in televised comments after France's victory against Croatia yesterday. "We have made this grand event a success in every respect," he added. "We have done it for our supporters, for Russians who are passionate about sport and for all those who love sport across the world." Putin thanked the foreign fans who came to Russia for the tournament. Before it started a month ago, there had been concerns due to the memory of violence between Russian and English fans during the Euro 2016 tournament in France. Fans at this World Cup however "showed that sport and football can manage not to divide people and not lead to fights and disputes, but unite people on the basis of common values," Putin said. "People tried to scare us by saying the English would come and commit ...
Croatia's luck ran out with penalty call: Dalic
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic lamented his side's luck after conceding a controversial penalty awarded by VAR in losing the World Cup final 4-2 to France. With the score level at 1-1, Argentine referee Nestor Pitana changed yesterday his initial decision and awarded a spot-kick, converted by Antoine Griezmann, for handball against Ivan Perisic after viewing television replays. Despite the decision, Dalic defended VAR as a "good thing for football" but believes his side's luck in Russia finally ran out after penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia en route to the final. "I never comment on referees but in a World Cup final you do not give such a penalty," said Dalic. "It in no way diminishes France's win. We were a bit unlucky, maybe in the first six games we were favoured by luck and today we weren't. "I have to congratulate my players, maybe today we played our best game at these championships. Against such a strong side as France you must not make mistakes. We are a bit sad but ..
World Cup: France are champions, that's what matters, says Deschamps
Brushing aside talk during the FIFA World Cup as to whether France played attractive football or not, head coach Didier Deschamps on Sunday said all that matters is they are champions and will remain at the top for the next four years.