Page 1376 - Sports
Fulham sign midfielder Seri from Nice
Fulham, newly promoted to the English Premier League (EPL), on Thursday announced that they have reached an agreement with OGC Nice to sign Ivorian midfielder Jean-Michael Seri for four football seasons.
Pedrosa announces imminent retirement from MotoGP
Spain's Dani Pedrosa, three-times a world MotoGP championship runner-up, announced today he will retire at the end of the season. The 32-year-old Honda pilot, who won the 125cc category in 2003 and 250cc in 2004 and 2005, currently sits in 12th spot of the MotoGP standings ahead of this weekend's German race in Sachsenring. One of the most successful riders of all time, Pedrosa has the third most podiums and 54 wins over his 18-year career. Pedrosa found out in June he would be replaced at Honda next season by Jorge Lorenzo, who signed from Ducati. "Next year I won't compete in the championship, I'll finish my career in MotoGP this season," Pedrosa said. "It's a decision I've thought about for a long time and it's a hard decision because this is the sport I love but despite having good opportunities to keep racing, I feel like I don't live racing with the same intensity as before and I now have different priorities in my life.
FC Goa signs Nirmal Chhetri
FC Goa have announced the signing of Sikkimese defender Nirmal Chhetri for the upcoming season. Chhetri has been a veteran in the Indian Super League since its inception, playing for two clubs before joining the Gaurs ahead of the 2018-2019 season. The entire country noticed the brand of exciting football that FC Goa played last season and now I have the chance to be a part of it. Coach Sergio (Lobera) did wonders last season and I'm happy to be under his tutelage going forward, said Chhetri. The supporters are also one of the major reasons for wanting to move to Goa. They back the team and the thunder that is at Fatorda is mind blowing. Their passion at away games is no less and there are always people cheering for this club at any stadium in India. I am looking forward to being a part of this great family, he said. Chhetri started his senior career with Air India back in 2006 before playing for both Bengal giants, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan respectively. He scored three goals for .
CCI fines All India Chess Federation for anti-competitive ways
Fair trade regulator CCI today penalised the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and directed it to "cease and desist" from anti-competitive practices. The ruling has come on a complaint filed by four chess players. After a detailed probe, the watchdog concluded that the federation violated competition norms. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a fine of Rs 6.92 lakh on the federation and the amount is equivalent to 2 per cent of the grouping's three-year average annual turnover for the period from 2014-15 to 2016-17, as per its order. The four chess players (informants) faced disciplinary action from AICF for participation in a chess event not authorised by it. The matter pertained to several stipulations of the federation, including on chess players, organisation of chess tournaments and discretionary nomination of players. AICF is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 as the National Sports Federation (NSF) for chess. It is also affiliated
Karunaratne ton lifts Sri Lanka to 287 on tough day one
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne hit an unbeaten 158 to lift Sri Lanka to 287 all out against South Africa on day one of the first Test in Galle today. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada claimed four wickets to reduce Sri Lanka to 176-8 but Karunaratne gave the total respect with his 222-ball knock after the hosts elected to bat first. The left-handed Karunaratne, who registered his eighth century in his 50th Test, built crucial partnerships including a 63-run 10th wicket stand with Lakshan Sandakan, who made 25. In response South Africa were in trouble at four for one at stumps after veteran spinner Rangana Herath got Aiden Markram out for nought. Dean Elgar, on four, and nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj were at the crease at close of play on a tough day's cricket that saw rain in the afternoon and an extended final session. The day belonged to Karunaratne who stood tall during his marathon stand after Rabada and then left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi tore into the Sri Lankan middle-order. Rabada, ..
Mental strength carried Croatia to World Cup final, says Lovren
Croatia have relied on mental strength to defy limited resources and become the smallest nation in 68 years to reach a World Cup final, said defender Dejan Lovren. Zlatko Dalic's men have taken the long road to a meeting with France in Moscow on Sunday after three lots of extra-time and two penalty shootouts in the knockout phase to squeeze past Denmark, Russia and England. Born to Croatian parents in the Bosnian city of Zenica, Lovren was forced to flee to Germany at just three years old when the Bosnian War broke out in 1992. His family eventually settled back in Croatia and the Liverpool defender believes a tough upbringing and fierce desire to make the nation of just over four million people proud are key motivating factors. "I think it is our mentality. We went through again a lot... wars, all these things, and even now the situation is not the best. But it is unbelievable how many talents we have in sports," Lovren told reporters after Croatia ended England's World Cup dreams ...
French defender Lenglet signs for Barcelona
French defender Clement Lenglet will join up with compatriots Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique at Barcelona in a transfer from La Liga rivals Sevilla worth 35.9 million euros ($42 million), the club said today. The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with a buyout clause valued at 300 million euros, it added. "With... a height of 186 cm (6 ft 1 in), Lenglet arrives at Barca after success in Seville, where he led the defence with elegance and determination," the club said. Lenglet has been one of Sevilla's stand-out players this season, with then coach Vincenzo Montella admitting earlier this year his French defender had the talent to play for a club like Barcelona. Sevilla initially signed the French player in January 2017 from Nancy on a four-year deal.
Kerber storms into second Wimbledon final as Ostapenko misfires
Angelique Kerber raced into her second Wimbledon final as the German crushed former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3 in just 67 minutes today. Kerber took the express route to her a fourth Grand Slam title match with a 'blink and you miss it' demolition of Ostapenko on Centre Court. The 30-year-old hit only 10 winners but that was all it took to get the job done as Ostapenko shot herself in the foot with 36 unforced errors. Kerber faces seven-time champion Serena Williams or German 13th seed Julia Goerges in Saturday's final. "I was just trying to move good and take my chances. I'm so excited," Kerber said. "It's such a great feeling to be back in the final. Playing on Centre Court is always great." Referencing her dismal form last year, Kerber added: "2017 is over and I'm really happy about that. We are in 2018! "I'm really happy and proud to be in a Grand Slam final. These are the matches I was working for since I was a kid." Kerber was beaten by Williams in the 2016 ..
Kohli currently best batsman because Smith not there: Ponting
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes India captain Virat Kohli is currently the best batsman in the world only because Steve Smith is serving a year-long ban for his role in ball tampering at a Cape Town Test. Asked who is the number one batsman in the world, Ponting said: "Right now, he (Kohli) is because Steve Smith is not there. "(But) if Steve Smith was playing now, I'd have him as the number one player in the world," he said at Channel Seven's cricket season launch. Ponting believes Smith's contribution in Australia's many victories, especially at the Ashes, makes him a better batsman than Kohli. "That's how high in regard I hold Steve Smith - what he's done the last three or four years with his game and (he's been) able to lead an Australian team to so many wins the way he has (batted)," Ponting said. "The Ashes summer last year was just some of the best and purest batting as you're ever going to see. To do it on the big stage in an Ashes series, and to do it on the
Manu, Anish emerge champions at Pilsen Shooting Hopes Meet
Extending her golden run, teenager Manu Bhaker won her ninth international gold medal in the last one year while talented Anish Bhanwala also emerged champion at the Meeting of the Shooting Hopes, a junior tournament being held at the Military Shooting Range in Pilsen, Czech Republic. Manu clinched the honour in the women's 10m Air Pistol as she led from the front in the eight-woman final to emerge triumphant with a score of 238.7 ahead of France's Camille Jedrzejewski (234.1) and Martina Marsalkova (212.9) of Slovakia. Anish won gold in Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event. He was never out of the top two in his final, shooting 33 out of 40 to clinch gold with a resounding five hits out of five finish. Local boy Matj Rampula won silver with 30 hits while another Indian Anhad Jawanda won bronze with a score of 21. Both Manu and Anish are savouring a dream year with gold medals in both the junior world cup as well as the Commonwealth games held earlier in the year. Manu also became the ...
Blind cricket: India to play Sri Lanka in bilateral series
The Indian blind cricket team will engage in a bilateral series comprising three one-day matches and five T20 games from July 15 in Colombo. "TheIndia-Sri Lanka Blind Cricket Bilateral Series is set to be held betweenJuly 15 and 17 at Burgher Recreation Club, Colombo," a media release from Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) said. They are set to host three ODI matches between July 15 and 17, followed by three T20 matches on July 19, 20 and 23 at the Air Force Ground and two T20 matches on July 24 at Burgher Recreation Club respectively, it added. According to the release, the Indianteam would also play a friendly match with the Sri Lankan Army team comprising soldiers, who lost their eyesight on the battlefield. CABI president Mahantesh G K said, "The tournament would act as a platform to encourage new talent in the field of blind cricket and help towards the betterment of the game.
Ronaldo wil retire at Juventus: Mendes
Cristiano Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes has revealed that the Portugal superstar will retire at Juventus, the club he just joined from Real Madrid.
Sindhu enters quarterfinals of Thailand Open
Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu was the only bright spot on a dismal day for Indian badminton as she progressed to the quarterfinals with a straight-game win at the USD 350,000 Thailand Open World Super 500 tournament here today. On a day when rest of the Indian shuttlers found the going tough, world no 3 Sindhu, who clinched the silver medal at Commonwealth Games, continued her impressive run with a 21-16 21-14 win over Hong Kong's Yip Pui Yin to set up a fight with USA's Soniia Cheah tomorrow. 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap put up a brave fight before going down 18-21 21-18 19-21 to Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama, while fourth seed H S Prannoy also went down 18-21 14-21 to Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro to crash out of the tournament. Indian men's doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy also played some good badminton but couldn't get past Japanese world no 16 pair of Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe, going down 24-22 13-21 19-21 in an hour and six ...
From consulate to former colony in Bengal, all ready to cheer for France
When France walk out of the tunnel one last time this FIFA World Cup to take on Croatia in Sundays final, pockets of the football crazy city of Kolkata will share the common prayer with the French footballers in Moscow vying to lift the coveted trophy for the second time.
India vs Eng first ODI: England stands at 82 runs for loss of three wickets
England scored 82 runs for the loss of three wickets at the end of 15 overs in their first match of the ongoing ODI series against India at Trent Bridge on Thursday.Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow scored 38 each, while Joe Root departed early at 3.Kuldeep Yadav took all of the 3 wickets.The match started with India winning the toss and electing to field first as they play against England in the opening match of the One-Day International (ODI) series.The highly anticipated series comes after India emerged victorous against the three lions 2-1 in their three match Twenty-20 International (T20I) series on Sunday.ODI squad for India: Virat Kohli (c), Yuzvendra Chahal, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Siddarth Kaul, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Sureh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Umesh YadavODI squad for England: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, .
For England it's deja vu: Turin 1990 (Comment)
The story of so near and yet so far continues for English football, ever since the only time the team captained by Bobby Moore won the World Cup at home in 1966.
England returns to training camp after World Cup semifinal defeat
England national football team returned to their training grounds here on Thursday after their defeat in the 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinal clash against Croatia.
Four things we learned from World Cup semis
The semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup have left us with two finalists and two teams who have tasted the bitterness of falling at the last hurdle. Here are some things we learned over the past two days, reports Xinhua news agency:
If players decide fate of coaches then we are setting bad precedent: Tushar Arothe
Forced to resign after senior women cricketers gave a negative feedback about him, a hurt Tushar Arothe says that "letting players decide the fate of coaches" will only set a bad precedent. The 51-year-old Arothe, who guided India women cricket team to World Cup final, was removed after the BCCI received complaints from senior players, especially Twenty20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, about his training methods. "If students start deciding on the syllabus and course curriculum when there is a teacher, I don't think it's a great thing. Similarly, if you start removing coaches merely on the basis of allegations from the players, then you are setting a bad precedent," Arothe told PTI in a no-holds barred interview today. Arothe also said that this frequent chopping of coaches whenever the players are unhappy will only reflect poorly on them. "There was someone before me (Purnima Rau), who was removed as players didn't want her. Now they don't like my style. Tomorrow, a new person will come ..
Golfer Rawat wins PGTI event
Local lad Rajesh Kumar Rawat delivered a sublime final round of six-under-64 to snatch victory with an impressive five-shot margin at the PGTI Feeder Tour event staged at The Palms Golf Club & Resort here on Thursday.