Page 1369 - Sports
Liverpool sign Swiss winger Shaqiri
Liverpool have signed Switzerland international Xherdan Shaqiri from Stoke City, the English Premier League giants announced Friday. The Reds said he had signed "a long-term contract", with British media reports saying Shaqiri had arrived at Anfield in a five-year deal for ?13 million ($17 million, 15 million euros). The 26-year-old winger's move follows Stoke's relegation from the Premier League. "I'm very happy to be here. It's a huge club with big history, big players and a fantastic coach (Jurgen Klopp)," Shaqiri told liverpoolfc.com. "As a player you always want to be on the biggest stage in football. A few years ago I wanted to come too, but it didn't happen. I'm really happy that now I'm finally here. "I want to improve myself too, I want to be with the best and I want to win titles. That's what I'm here for." Shaqiri, who was born in Kosovo but moved to Switzerland as a child, has just returned from the World Cup in Russia where his country were eliminated in the last 16 by ...
England opt to bat in 2nd ODI vs India
England skipper Eoin Morgan opted to bat against India in the second One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match rubber at Lord's on Saturday.
Milkha Singh backs Hima Das for 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold
Legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh on Saturday congratulated Hima Das, who became the first Indian woman to clinch gold at the IAAF World U-20 Athletics Championships and advised her to focus on 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Singh said that Hima and her coach Nipon Das should train for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, keeping in mind the 400m world record or an Olympic record.Speaking to ANI, Milkha Singh said, "Hima Das has done really well. I've congratulated Hima, her coach and her family. I also want to congratulate the Athletics Federation of India for producing such athlete. She has to go a long way. She has to participate in upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics."The legendary athlete further said that Hima has what it takes to clinch a gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics."I would like to tell Hima and her coach to train keeping in mind the world record or Olympic record of 400m. They should test themselves and see whether they are reaching that record or not, I am sure they can get a medal in the ...
Swiss midfielder Shaqiri joins Liverpool
English Premier League club Liverpool on Saturday announced the signing of Switzerland attacking midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri for the upcoming season.
2nd ODI: England opt to bat after winning toss
England captain Eoin Morgan opted to bat after winning the toss in the second ODI against India. Both teams are fielding unchanged squad for the match. Teams: India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Siddarth Kaul England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (captain), Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood.
Belgium's Witsel expects France to win World Cup
Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel expects France to defeat Croatia in the final of the 2018 World Cup.
Anderson edges Isner in epic match to reach Wimbledon final
Kevin Anderson advanced to his first Wimbledon final by outlasting John Isner 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (9-11), 6-4, 26-24 in the longest semi-final in Grand Slam tennis history.
Croatia hungry for World Cup title: Midfielder Rakitic
Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic has said that all 4.5 million of his compatriots will be behind the team when they battle France in the 2018 World Cup final.
Pacquiao, Matthysse make the weight for welterweight title showdown
Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao weighed in today comfortably under the 147-pound (67-kilogramme) limit for his bid to win back the welterweight world championship against WBA champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina. The only man to have won world titles in eight weight divisions in a glittering 23-year career, the 39-year-old Pacquiao tipped the scales at 146 pounds. The heavily tattooed Argentine world champion Matthysse played up his one-inch height advantage by looking down on Pacquiao as the two came face-to-face for the last time before Sunday's 12-round showdown in Kuala Lumpur. Matthysse came in the heavier man, only just under the limit at 146.7 pounds, as the official weigh-in was held in mildly chaotic scenes at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre. Hundreds of mainly Filipino fans tried to push forward towards the stage to get a glimpse of the two fighters and especially their hero Pacquiao. As the fighters left following the obligatory toe-to-toe poses and a
PM Modi moved by Hima Das' gesture of patriotism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday tweeted a video of the final winning moments of Hima Das, who clinched gold at the IAAF World U-20 Athletics Championships, and said that he was "touched deeply" with sprinter's gestures."Unforgettable moments from @HimaDas8's victory. Seeing her passionately search for the Tricolour immediately after winning and getting emotional while singing the National Anthem touched me deeply. I was extremely moved. Which Indian won't have tears of joy seeing this!," he captioned the video, which he shared on Twitter.Meanwhile, Das, who became the first Indian woman to bag the gold medal in the championship, on Friday also thanked everyone for congratulating her on the victory.Posting a video on her Twitter handle, Das said, "Would like to thank President, Prime Minister, the sports minister, film industry and everyone who congratulated me. They have given so much love and blessings. Due to their blessings I've reached this stage.""Keep showering your ...
Coleman returns from injury to beat fellow Americans in Rabat
American Christian Coleman signalled a return to form and fitness by edging out compatriots Ronnie Baker and Noah Lyles to win a thrilling Diamond League 100-metre race in Rabat, while Hellen Obiri set a new world-leading time in the women's 5,000m. Coleman, who was runner-up to Justin Gatlin at last year's world championships, was quick out of the blocks but only just clung on to beat Baker in a season's best time of 9.98 seconds yesterday. The 22-year-old set a 60m world record of 6.34sec earlier this year, but has struggled with injuries since. He will now turn his attentions to this weekend's inaugural athletics World Cup in London. "It was a perfect night for me -- good race and good time, I couldn't be happier," he said. "I am not so surprised to win on my first race (back), even with such a great field because I was very fast in practice these last days. When I was injured, I managed to keep a good condition." Baker and Lyles share the world-leading time of 9.88 for 2018. The ..
Australia's Finch sets Surrey record with T20 ton
Australia's Aaron Finch made an unbeaten 131, the highest score by a Surrey batsman in a Twenty20 match, as his side ended Sussex's unbeaten start to English cricket's Blast tournament with a 52-run win at Hove. But it might have been a different story for the Australia Twenty20 captain had he not been dropped on just one by Sussex paceman Jofra Archer. Finch then made Sussex, coached by former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, pay with a blistering 79-ball innings including 10 fours and seven sixes as visitors Surrey piled up 192 for three. It was a total Sussex never came close to and they were bowled out for 140 in the 18th over. Archer is a fine fielder, particularly off his own bowling, so it was a shock when he dropped a gentle return catch after Finch pushed forward uncertainly to the first ball of the second over. Finch was not in a mood to give a second chance, with even Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, the world's top-ranked T20 bowler, unable to escape punishment ..
New Zealand women avoid England whitewash
Sophie Devine struck an unbeaten 117 as New Zealand's White Ferns won the third one-day international at Leicester by four wickets to deny England women a 3-0 series clean sweep. Home openers Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont shared a century stand as England threatened a huge total. But Beaumont's exit for 53 sparked a collapse and the world champions lost all their wickets for just another 115 runs as they were dismissed for 219, with White Ferns spinner Leigh Kasperek taking five for 39. Devine was in excellent touch as she led New Zealand's reply, facing 117 balls and ending the match with a six off England quick Katherine Brunt as the visitors won with more than five overs to spare.
Have mercy! Anderson and Isner demand rule change after Wimbledon epic
Kevin Anderson and John Isner called for Grand Slam chiefs to introduce a cut-off point for final set marathons after their Wimbledon semi-final entered the record books as the second longest ever singles match at a major. Anderson survived Friday's incredible endurance test, beating Isner 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (9/11), 6-4, 26-24 in six hours and 36 minutes. The final set lasted just five minutes short of three hours. The 32-year-old Anderson is the first South African man to reach the Wimbledon final for 97 years. But he has little time to rest his aching body before facing Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final. And he made it clear Grand Slam tournament organisers should consider a rule change -- perhaps introducing a tie-break at 6-6 -- to make the deciding set of five-set matches less gruelling. "I hope this is a sign for Grand Slams to change. For us to be out there for that length of time. I really hope we can look at this, because at the end you don't feel ...
Holder shines as West Indies dominate Bangladesh
Jason Holder led the rout of Bangladesh with a five-wicket haul as the West Indies took control of the second Test at close on second day at Sabina Park in Jamaica. Having fought back well at the start of the day to limit the home side's first innings to 354, the tourists were bundled out for 149 off less than 47 overs with West Indies captain Holder claiming five for 44. With the option of enforcing the follow-on available to him, Holder chose to bat a second time and although Kraigg Brathwaite fell to Bangladesh skipper Shakib al Hasan in the final over of an eventful day, the West Indies will start day three at 19 for one in their second innings, a commanding lead of 224 runs with nine wickets in hand. Only Tamim Iqbal, who topscored with 47, offered any meaningful resistance for the visitors in an abject batting display. The hosts are now poised to complete an emphatic series win after scoring a crushing victory by an innings and 219 runs in less than three days in the opening ...
Croatia stand between Mbappe's France and World Cup glory
A month on and 63 games later, the 2018 World Cup reaches its climax tomorrow as a young France side spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann look to win the trophy for the second time when they take on Croatia in Moscow. It is a final very few people could have anticipated four weeks ago, when the competition in Russia was just beginning. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have all gone home. So have the traditional powers of the international game -- Germany, Brazil and Argentina. Instead it is a gifted French side with the second-youngest squad at the tournament, embodied by the lightning-quick Mbappe, who face a Croatian team inspired by Luka Modric, arguably the finest midfielder in the world at the moment. Perhaps many neutrals will be disappointed that it has not come down to a clash between two genuine giants of the game, or that there is no South American presence. It is just the second time that none of Brazil, Germany, Italy or Argentina have made the ...
Indian boxers on a roll at Serbian youth boxing tourney
There was no stopping the Indian juggernaut at the Golden Glove of Vojvodina Youth Boxing Tournament as nine from the country advanced to the semifinals to be assured of medals on day 3 of the competition in Subotica, Serbia. Six of the nine to make the semifinals were women, joined by three men, while one boxer -- Astha Pahwa (75kg) -- lost in the quarterfinal stage last night. Nitu (48kg), Divya Pawar (54kg), Jyoti (51kg), Anamika (51kg), Sakshi (57kg) and Manisha (64kg) entered the medal rounds in the women's draw. In the men's event, S Barun Singh (49kg), Bhavesh Kattimani (52kg) and Vijaydeep (69kg) ensured at least bronze medals for themselves. The women started the proceedings with Nitu sailing past Thailand's Nillada Meekon in a unanimous verdict. Divya too claimed a 5-0 win over Hungary's Betina Kiss before Sakshi defeated Croatia'sNikolina Cacic by a similar margin. Jyoti was pushed a bit by Italian Georgia Ross but eventually triumphed 4-1, a score that was repeated during .
Wimbledon curfew forces suspension of Djokovic-Nadal semi
Serbia's Novak Djokovic was leading Spaniard Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9) in the second Wimbledon men's semifinal here when the match was suspended to comply with the tournament's 11 p.m. curfew.
Corporate support important for betterment of sports: Abhinav Bindra
Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra has called for good governance for the betterment of sports while urging the corporate houses to look beyond and invest in all forms of sports."I think couple of things needs to change in the landscape of Indian sports. There has to be lot more corporate support in sports outside of cricket. Lot more investment needs to come into Olympic sport," Bindra said while addressing an event in the national capital."I think sports governance is something which needs to change in this country. Good governance needs to come in. That change will only happen when that change is mandated. People don't like change, people like to be where they are," he added.The five-time Olympian also talked about his career and the efforts he put in during the 2016 Rio Olympics."I came over many battles in life through persistence and hard work. The need of the hour is sports legislation which shows a degree of good governance," Bindra stated.The gold medallist also ...
Kevin Anderson beats John Isner to play maiden Wimbledon final
South Africa's star Kevin Anderson is through to the Wimbledon men finals after defeating American John Isner in a marathon five setter match that lasted for more than 6.5 hours.Anderson will play his first Wimbledon final on Sunday after beating Isner 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4 26-24 in the semifinal.In the second longest match on Saturday, Anderson was able to fight back from 2-1 back to seal the victory.During the match, Anderson won the first set but failed to show his spark in the following two. He then took the fourth set 6-4, breaking the Isner's serve twice in the set.Anderson finished with 49 aces and 118 winners while Isner had 53 aces and 129 winners. He broke through for a 5-3 lead in the third set, ending Isner's run from the game.He saved three break points in the third game of the first set before Isner had to save a set point in the 10th.The final set alone lasted for two hours and 50 minutes.Anderson will now face either Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal in the final.