Page 1393 - Sports
Fans cheer for Russia at stadium in war-torn Ukraine
Scores of Russia-supporting fans gathered in a cafe inside the disused Donbass Arena in conflict-stricken eastern Ukraine to watch their favoured team play Croatia in the World Cup. Some came with Russian flags in support of the country which they consider to be their homeland, jumping up and applauding until Croatia finally prevailed on penalties. It is six years since the arena hosted stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta during Euro 2012, and four years since the outbreak of a deadly conflict in this eastern part of Ukraine. The war has left the arena in disrepair and locals are subject to a curfew. But for a few nights at least, the curfew has been relaxed and fans have been able to enjoy broadcast games here. Three weeks after the World Cup kicked-off in mid-June, the pro-Russian separatist authorities finally fulfilled their promise to open a cafe at the stadium. "All the tables are booked for the Russia-Croatia game," Julia, the 27-year-old cafe administrator, ...
Rakitic dreaming of going further than Croatia's heroes of 1998
Ivan Rakitic is hoping this Croatia team can go a step further after matching the country's heroes of 1998 by making it to the semi-finals of the World Cup. Barcelona midfielder Rakitic scored the decisive spot-kick as Croatia beat Russia 4-3 on penalties after a dramatic quarter-final in Sochi on Saturday finished 2-2 at the end of extra-time. "We worked so hard and gave everything we had to get through to the semis. I think for a country like Croatia it is impressive and we want to keep going further," said Rakitic. "We want to enjoy this victory and not put more pressure on ourselves with what happened in 1998 -- what they did was impressive but we want to keep writing our own history and enjoy what we are doing which is very positive." Croatia will play England in the last four in Moscow on Wednesday, as they aim to outdo the team of 20 years ago. Back then they lost to hosts France in the last four. "I hope we can outdo them. Their generation are more than heroes for us," added ..
Boxing's national observer Akhil Kumar enrolls for coaching course at NIS
Indian boxing's national observer Akhil Kumar is all set to foray into coaching and has enrolled for a one-year diploma course at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala. The 2006 Commonwealth Games gold-medallist, who has also tried his hand at professional boxing some months back, will start the course on July 11. He is also a serving DSP in the Haryana Police but has been granted permission to pursue the one-year course. "Even when I was an active boxer, I had mentored some juniors and by completing this course, I would be certified. I am grateful to Haryana Police DGP Baljit Singh Sandhu for permission to undertake this course," Akhil told PTI. The 37-year-old Akhil has been among India's top performers in the ring, having won medals at the Asian and Commonwealth championships besides making the quarterfinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics after a memorable win over the then world champion Sergey Vodopyanov. The maverick boxer enjoyed a rockstar image in his amateur days ...
Aditi Tied-26th at Thornberry LPGA Classic
Aditi Ashok shot her third straight round in the 60s with a three-under 69 and moved to 11-under 205 at the Thornberry LPGA Classic here. Aditi, who had rounds of 68-69 on first two days, is however 13 shots behind the runaway leader, Sei Young Kim, whose rounds of 63-65-64 put her at a record 24-under 192. Aditi, who was T-22 after second round, is now T-26th. Kim is eight shots ahead of second placed fellow Korean Amy Yang (67-66-67) who is 13-under and T-second. Kim posted an 8-under 64 yesterday to get to 24-under and will have an eight shot lead with 18 holes left on Sunday. Through 54 holes, Kim has made 24 birdies, an eagle and her lone mistake of the entire tournament was a double bogey in round two and she has no bogeys so far. Amy Yang carded a 5-under 67 and is alone in second place at 16-under. Lydia Ko, Anna Nordqvist and Emma Talley share third place at 15-under.
Lahiri slips in third round, but stays in contention at Greenbrier
Anirban Lahiri staged a terrific fightback after a disappointing front nine to bring home a card of one-over 71 in the third round of the Greenbrier Classic here. Lahiri who bogeyed first, second, seventh and ninth on front nine, stopped the leakage of shots in the back nine as he birdied 12th, 14th and 17th to take his total to 11-under 199. The Indian golfer slipped from overnight T-2 to T-6 but is still within striking distance at just three shots behind leader, Harold Varner (66). With the Old White TPC dried out on a sunny Saturday the scores weren't as low as the first two days when rains softened the course. Yet there were no less than eight rounds of 63 or better. Lahiri, who holed a lot of long putts on second day, missed at least three inside six feet and another one from under nine feet. Varner is tied with second-round leader Kelly Kraft (69). Varner had four back-nine birdies after 10 consecutive pars. Kraft led by as many as four strokes but bogeyed two of the final ...
Russia's fairytale World Cup run ends in tears
The impassioned shouts of "Ros-si-ya" died away on the streets and tears filled the stadium as Russia bowed out of their home World Cup in the cruellest fashion: on penalties. The men in red exceeded the wildest expectations by coming within a penalty kick and a save against Croatia of making it into the semi-finals for the first time since 1966. They lost the quarter-final shootout 4-3 after extra-time ended with the sides deadlocked at 2-2 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. It was that close -- and it all ended just as the nation was starting to believe. "We leave the tournament with tears in our eyes but our heads held high," the team tweeted as the stadium emptied of the 45,000 or so who had lost their voices cheering them on. They had reason to be proud. Russia were the lowest-ranked team entering the tournament and many in the sceptical media thought they would be lucky to win a game. They trudged off the pitch after making it to the quarter-final for the first time in 48 years. .
'Wednesday's cancelled' - English media revel in World Cup success
English media heaped praise on Gareth Southgate's team for reaching the World Cup semi-finals and told the country to cancel plans for Wednesday evening when they face Croatia seeking a place in the final. "Wednesday's cancelled! Fans go wild as Three Lions reach first World Cup semi-final for 28 years," said the Sun on Sunday after England beat Sweden 2-0 in the Russian city of Samara. The Mail On Sunday online edition said: "The Dream Goes On! England in ecstasy." It praised the emerging star of the England team, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, for more "heroic saves", and said 32 million people had watched on TV. The Sunday Mirror paraphrased the song written when England hosted the 1996 European Championships, saying: "England are in the World Cup semi-finals - could this really be the summer football comes home?" The broadsheet Observer said in its report: "At the final whistle, the victorious players converged on one another. It took a few seconds for them to gather their breath and
Why Wimbledon white not quite right for Federer
With a record eight Wimbledon titles, Roger Federer has achieved most things at the All England Club. However, he is yet to have his underwear inspected in forensic detail by over-zealous officials keen to enforce the tournament's all-white clothing policy. Wimbledon's insistence on all-white playing gear, a rule stretching back to the 19th century, is strictly observed with only the tiniest amounts of colour allowed on shirts, shorts and dresses. Federer respects that tradition but is desperate for the tournament not to be too strict. "It's good fun that it's different but it would be nice to add a splash of colour, let's just be honest for a second here," said the 36-year-old. "I understand that traditions are the way they are. I know that Phil Brook, the chairman right now, he believes in strict tradition, going back to the '50s, '60s. "I get it. Back in the day, Borg and McEnroe walked out in red outfits. "I'm not saying that should happen again. Maybe it would be nice if we mix ..
Russia coach laments harsh end to World Cup dream
Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov lamented that luck had turned against the World Cup hosts after they lost on penalties to Croatia in the quarter-finals. Cherchesov's team beat Spain in a shootout in the last 16 but fell short in Sochi after extra-time ended with the sides deadlocked at 2-2. They lost the shootout 4-3. "Luck was against us," Cherchesov said. "My guys feel like conscript soldiers whose term of service was over just when they were preparing to go into battle." "They still want to fight that war." Cherchesov walked into the room still visibly dazed after the dramatic ending. He asked a reporter to repeat the first question, saying after a long pause: "I am still not myself." Russia were the lowest-ranked team in the tournament and expectations were not high. But Cherchesov said he knew "from the first second that I put this team together how far we could go". "People not only started to believe in us, but the whole nation loves us now," he said.
Djokovic blasts 'whistling, coughing' Wimbledon crowd
Novak Djokovic blasted Wimbledon's Centre Court crowd, claiming fans "whistled and coughed" as he prepared to serve, insisting he deserves better treatment. The three-time champion described the sometimes febrile atmosphere on the famed arena yesterday as similar to that of a Davis Cup tie as he downed home favourite Kyle Edmund 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Djokovic was furious with the reaction of a section of the crowd after he had been given a time violation for bouncing the ball too often. "I thought the crowd's reaction was quite unnecessary. A couple of guys pretending they were coughing and whistling while I was bouncing the ball more or less to the end of the match at that end where I received the time violation," said former world number one Djokovic. "Those are the things obviously that people don't get to see or hear on the TV. I just think it's not necessary. That's what I didn't like." Djokovic responded by sarcastically blowing kisses to the crowd and cupping his ear as he ...
Federer, Serena aim to advance on Wimbledon's 'Manic Monday'
Roger Federer and Serena Williams will be expected to maintain their flawless progress at Wimbledon as the title favourites head into the fourth round looking to survive the tournament's giant-killing carnage tomorrow. Federer has been in imperious mood in pursuit of his ninth Wimbledon crown, while Williams is rounding into form just as the seven-time champion's rivals have collapsed all around her. The status quo has been challenged like never before in the women's singles, with nine of the top 10 seeds crashing out before the Wimbledon last 16 for the first time in the Open area. In the men's draw, third seed Marin Cilic, fourth seed Alexander Zverev and sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov have all fallen. But it's business was usual for Federer as the defending champion took his consecutive sets won at Wimbledon to 29 in a third round dismissal of Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff. Federer's 175th win from 200 career grass-court matches saw him overtake Jimmy Connors as the most successful male
Brazil's World Cup exit is 'saddest moment' of career: Neymar
Neymar has described Brazil's elimination from the FIFA World Cup as the "saddest moment" of his football career.
Croatia dump Russia out in penalties; advance to semis
After 120 minutes of nerve-wracking drama in Sochi's Fisht Stadium, Croatia's golden generation eliminated hosts Russia from the FIFA World Cup 2018 in the penalty shootout to book their place in the semi-finals for the first time since 1998.Having progressed to the quarter-finals with a penalty shootout win over Denmark in the Round-of-16, Croatia became only the second team in World Cup history to win consecutive shootouts since Argentina in 1990.The home team drew first blood on 31 minutes, as after a neat interplay with Artem Dzuyba, Denis Cheryshev, Russia's top scorer in the World Cup, unleashed a world beater from beyond 25 yards, leaving Danijel Subasic, Croatia's penalty shootout hero from the Round-of-16, a mere spectator with his curling effort sailing into the top corner.Their lead lasted for just eight minutes, however, with Croatia equalising with a rather soft goal from a counter charge led by Mario Mandzukic.With no significant pressure from any of Russia's defenders, .
Djokovic, Nadal advance; Zverev stunned at Wimbledon
Former champions Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic advanced to the fourth round, while third-ranked German Alexander Zverev suffered yet another upset loss in a Grand Slam tennis tournament, losing 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 to Latvia's Ernests Gulbis in the third round of Wimbledon.
Croatia pip Russia to enter FIFA World Cup semis
Croatia halted valiant hosts Russia's splendid run with a 4-3 (2-2) win via penalty shootout at the Fisht Stadium here on Saturday to enter the FIFA World Cup semi-finals for the second time after a gap of 20 years.
Hsieh upsets world number 1 Halep at Wimbledon
Hsieh Su-Wei of Chinese Taipei earned the biggest win of her singles career on Saturday after upsetting world number 1 Simona Halep of Romania 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the third round of the Wimbledon tennis championships.
Croatia beat Russia on penalties to reach World Cup semi-finals
Ivan Rakitic scored the winning penalty as Croatia beat Russia 4-3 in a shoot-out after a dramatic 2-2 draw to end the World Cup hopes of the host nation and advance to a semi-final against England. Brazilian-born Mario Fernandes had kept Russia's dream alive when he headed home in the 115th minute to level the scores and force penalties, but he and Fedor Smolov both failed to convert their spot-kicks in Sochi. Croatia, for whom Andrej Kramaric and Domagoj Vida had earlier found the net, advance to their first World Cup semi-final since 1998. They will face England, who beat Sweden 2-0 earlier, at the Luzhniki Stadium Moscow on Wednesday. In contrast for Russia, who had taken the lead through another Denis Cheryshev wonder goal in the first half, there is only heartbreak as they finally go out. They can however be proud of their efforts, with a run to the last eight exceeding expectations for a side written off as no-hopers before the tournament. And it remains to be seen how quickly
Here's how some LeBorn James' fans got lucky
NBA store in New York recently sold LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers jerseys prematurely.The No. 23 jerseys were sold by mistake for supposedly an hour on Friday (local time), but quickly pulled off after that, reports ESPN.This happened after James recently announced his decision to join the Lakers on a four-year, USD 153.3 million contract.But, as he has still not officially signed with the team yet, so no jerseys can be sold.A statement on the sale by an NBA spokesperson read, "Due to tremendous fan interest, the LeBron James Lakers jerseys were prepared to be put on sale at the NBA Store upon an announcement by the team."Adding, "Mistakenly, they were placed on shelves prematurely."However, online pre-sales for the jersey are permissible as soon as a contract is agreed to. Hence James' jerseys were available online for roughly 30 minutes after he made his announcement of his joining the Lakers.
Croatia beat Russia on penalties to set up World Cup semi against England
Croatia beat Russia 4-3 on penalties to set up a World Cup semi-final against England after a dramatic match full of twists and turns. The game finished 2-2 after extra-time following a late equaliser by Russia's Mario Fernandes. Denis Cheryshev struck a stunning opener from distance to give the hosts the lead in the 31st minute but Croatia equalised through Andrej Kramaric just eight minutes later. Croatia's Domagoj Vida broke the deadlock in extra-time, getting his head to the ball from a corner to score in the 101st minute but Fernandes headed home from a free-kick just five minutes before the end in Sochi.
Nadal defeats De Minaur in Wimbledon 3rd round
Australia's Alex de Minaur, world number 80, was no match for Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal, the world number 1, who defeated him 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in Wimbledon's third round on Saturday.