Page 1402 - Sports
Wimbledon: Nadal beats Kukushkin in second round
World number one Rafael Nadal on Thursday defeated Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of Wimbledon campaign.Kukushkin, 30, put forth a good effort against Nadal. He recovered from a 0-3 deficit in the first set with aggressive, flat groundstrokes. The World No. 77 even captured a 3-1 lead in the third set, but Nadal's unrelenting focus was too much for him to handle.Nadal, 32, won just 64 per cent of his first-serve points in the match, with Kukushkin preventing him from consistently stepping well into the court, but Nadal did well to claim 71 per cent of his second-serve points.Nadal will next play against Australian player Alex de Minaur, who is into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time.If Nadal beats Minaur, he will retain his number one ranking.However, if Minaur springs the upset on the hallowed grass, and Swiss star Roger Federer goes on to win his ninth Wimbledon crown, Nadal will come down to the second rank."He's (Minaur) good. He's
Sharan, Sitak advance to 2nd round at Wimbledon; Jeevan exits
India's Divij Sharan and his New Zealand partner Artem Sitak made a winning start at the Wimbledon Championships as they prevailed over Radu Albot and Malek Jaziri here today. Sharan and Sitak eked out a 7-6(4) 6-7(8) 6-3 6-2 win in two hours and 41 minutes to book a second round berth. Sharan and Sitak remained solid on their service games as they faced only one break point, which they saved. They broke their opponents thrice in the contest. However, it was curtains for Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and his American partner Austin Krajicek as the duo lost 6-7 6-7 6-7 to the Dutch pair of Sander Arends and Matwe Middelkoop in the men's doubles first round match.
Pella upsets Cilic in Wimbledon 2nd round
Argentina's Guido Pella on Thursday rallied from two sets down to pull off a big upset, defeating Marin Cilic of Croatia, the third seed, 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 in a rain-interrupted second-round match at Wimbledon.
Cavani returns to practice alone after injury ahead of quarterfinal match
Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani on Thursday trained apart from his teammates and touched the ball for the first time since he was injured, less than 24 hours before the quarterfinal match against France as the last eight teams battled it out in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Brathwaite century helps Windies turn the screw
Kraigg Brathwaite completed a seventh Test century as the West Indies turned the screws on Bangladesh on the second day of the first Test in Antigua on Thursday. The Windies reached 271 for three in reply to the tourists' first innings total of 43 at lunch at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. They resume in the afternoon session with the phlegmatic opener unbeaten on 121 in partnership with Shai Hope (14 not out) and the home side already ahead by 128 runs with eight first innings wickets in hand. Under no pressure to accelerate the game after Kemar Roach had led the pacers' demolition of the tourists for their lowest Test innings total ever on day one, Brathwaite progressed at a snail's pace on the second morning. He added 33 runs in two hours' play with the West Indies advancing overall by 70 runs from their overnight position of 201 for two. Nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo was the lone casualty for the hosts as he was bowled by Kamrul Islam for 19 after yet again making an important ..
Maradona apologises over Colombia-England referee slur
Diego Maradona has apologised for questioning the impartiality of the referee in charge of England's last-16 penalty shootout win over Colombia. The Argentina legend had landed himself in hot water with FIFA over his outburst at US official Mark Geiger when he described England's win on Tuesday as a "monumental robbery". But after a firm rebuke by football's governing body the 1986 World Cup winner issued a mea culpa on Instagram. "Caught up by the excitement and support for Colombia the other day, I said some things that, I admit, are unacceptable. "My apologies to FIFA and its president (Gianni Infantino): even if sometimes my opinions are different to those of the referees I have total respect for their work." He admitted that "although I sometimes have opinions contrary to those of referees, I have absolute respect for the work -- not easy -- which (FIFA) and the referees do." Maradona, who had come out in support of Colombia following Argentina's premature elimination, blamed ...
Ambris, Brooks help West Indies A take 250-run lead
Sunil Ambris struck a fine hundred while Shamarh Brooks made a gritty 91 to steer the West Indies A to 383 and earn a 250-run first innings lead against India A on day two of the first unofficial Test here. India A, after a forgettable day with the bat yesterday when they were bundled out for 133, had the West Indies A at an uncomfortable 82 for three in the 24th over. However, a solid 152-run stand for the fourth wicket between Brooks and Ambris took the game away from India A. Brooks' 177-ball effort comprised 16 fours and a six while Ambris hit 20 boundaries in his 165-ball knock. While Brook was amongst the runs in the preceding one-day tri-series, Ambris endured a lean patch. When India A were finally able to dismiss the settled duo, Raymon Reifer frustrated them with a 52 off 100 balls, taking his team well beyond 350. Ankit Rajpoot was the pick of the bowlers for India, finishing with four wickets at an economy rate of 3. His new ball partner Navdeep Saini picked up a couple of
Bajrang cliams gold at Tbilisi Grand Prix, Deepak wins bronze
Bajrang Punia emerged champion at the Tbilisi Grand Prix in the 65kg category after outplaying Iranian wrestler Mehran Nasiri in the final in Georgia today. The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist recorded a comfortable 9-3 win over the Iranian, whom he had beaten at the 2017 Asian Championship in New Delhi as well. The win shows that Bajrang will be a serious medal contender at the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia. He will represent India in the 65kg after Wrestling Federation of India handed him exemption from trials. Meanwhile in the 86kg category, Deepak Punia clinched a bronze with a 5-3 win over Osman Gosen of Turkey. For ace Indian grappler Sushil Kumar, it was a forgettable outing as he suffered his first defeat in more than four years to crash out of 74kg category yesterday.
Bajrang cliams gold at Tbilisi Grand Prix
Bajrang Punia emerged champion at the Tbilisi Grand Prix in the 65kg category after outplaying Iranian wrestler Mehran Nasiri in the final in Georgia today. The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist recorded a comfortable 9-3 win over the Iranian, whom he had beaten at the 2017 Asian Championship in New Delhi as well. The win shows that Bajrang will be a serious medal contender at the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia. He will represent India in the 65kg after Wrestling Federation of India handed him exemption from trials. Meanwhile in the 86kg category, Deepak Punia will fight for bronze against Osman Gosen of Turkey. For ace Indian grappler Sushil Kumar, it was a forgettable outing as he suffered his first defeat in more than four years to crash out of 74kg category yesterday.
MCA to include Kiran Mokashi in CIC
Former Mumbai off-spinner Kiran Mokashi is set to be included in the Mumbai Cricket Association's Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC). Mokashi played 47 first-class matches grabbing 146 wickets. The cricket body had already strengthened its CIC by including former India pacers Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Karsan Ghavri and Raju Kulkarni, as well as former Mumbai batsman Sahil Kukreja. The two existing members - former India skipper Ajit Wadekar and ex-Mumbai captain Amol Mazumdar - will remain in the CIC, it is understood. "Mokashi will be included to the CIC as an additional member. We have sent a letter to him in this regard," MCA official Unmesh Khanwilkar told PTI today. He said the CIC will meet tomorrow at 11 AM. "It is a chance for me to bring Mumbai cricket on track," Mokashi said. It is also learnt that the interviews for the position of coach for the Mumbai Ranji and U19 teams, which were scheduled to be held tomorrow, are now unlikely to happen.
Brazil aim to beat Belgium over 90 minutes in World Cup quarters: Tite
Brazil coach Tite said he is desperate to avoid the "horror" lottery of penalties as he handed World Cup quarter-final opponents Belgium a frightening list of obstacles to overcome on Friday. Bidding for a record-extending sixth World Cup in Russia, Brazil were one of five sides to qualify for the last eight without requiring extra-time and penalties, after outclassing Mexico 2-0 in Samara. Although Tite expects Belgium to provide his team with a stiff challenge on Friday in Kazan, he is adamant the cool-headed Brazilians can secure their semi-final spot over the 90 minutes. "A football match should never be settled with the horror of penalties. I don't see that as a valid result," Tite told a packed press conference on Thursday. "For me, there has to be another way." A Belgium team starring Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City and Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku, were tipped by many pundits as outsiders to win their first-ever World Cup. Those ...
Asish stuns top seed Puneet to enter final of tennis meet
A dream run for local wild card Asish Sen continued as he brushed top seed Puneet Kumar Gupta aside to enter the final of the men's singles at the Calcutta South Club Senior ITF Tennis Championship at the red clay courts of the Calcutta South Club on Thursday.
East Bengal rope in Quess as title sponsor
City football giants East Bengal on Thursday roped in Quess, one of India's leading business services providers, as its title sponsor.
England's Stones happy to send 'dirtiest team' Colombia home from World Cup
John Stones says Colombia were the "dirtiest team" he has ever faced and is glad England's new-found streetwise streak helped knock the South Americans out of the World Cup. A bad-tempered last-16 clash ended 1-1 in Moscow on Tuesday before England won on penalties for the first time ever at a World Cup to reach the quarter-finals. Harry Kane opened the scoring with his sixth goal of the tournament from the penalty spot but England were furious that American referee Mark Geiger only showed a yellow card for a first-half headbutt by Wilmar Barrios on Jordan Henderson. "Probably the dirtiest team I've ever come up against," Stones said of Colombia on Thursday. "When we won the penalty, they were surrounding the referee, pushing the referee, the headbutt that you've all seen, scuffing the penalty spot, a lot of off-the-ball things you probably haven't heard about. All the sort of things that you don't really hear in a football match. "I think on our behalf, we showed massive character ..
Nadal, Djokovic through as Cilic crashes at Wimbledon
Former champions Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic battled into the Wimbledon third round on Thursday but third seed and 2017 runner-up Marin Cilic crashed out. World number one Nadal defeated Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 and will next face Australian teenager Alex de Minaur. Djokovic, the three-time champion, needed treatment on his left thigh on Court Two but still had too many weapons for Argentina's Horacio Zeballos, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. Djokovic has now made the third round for 10 consecutive years and will face either British 21st seed Kyle Edmund or US qualifier Bradley Klahn. Cilic blew a two-set lead in his 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 loss to Argentina's Guido Pella, ranked at 82. When rain forced the tie to be postponed on Wednesday, Cilic was leading by two sets against an opponent who had never won a match at Wimbledon before this year. But the Croatian collapsed once the match resumed on Court One on Thursday and Pella took full advantage to set up a ...
No outstation players in TNPL: COA
The Committee of Administrators today instructed Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) to withdraw 16 outstation players who were set to take part in the third edition of Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). The COA also threatened to term TNPL as an "unapproved tournament" if outstation players participate and asked the organisers to seek permission from BCCI by July 6. While many in BCCI termed this diktat bizarre, it seems the likes of former India A players like Unmukt Chand, Sheldon Jackson will not be able to take part in the cash rich state T20 league starting July 11. Current India A player Hanuma Vihari, who is in England with national team, was also supposed to play in TNPL. According to a COA's mail to all state associations, a copy of which is in possession of PTI, TNCA has been hauled up as no prior permission was taken before including outstation players in the league. The COA letter states that TNCA has violated the 28(b) of the existing Memorandum of Rules. As per rule 28
MRF slick tyres receives favourable response from bike racers
MRF's slick tyre received appreciation from all riders who used it during the free practice session as the second round of the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship, commenced at the MMRT circuit here on Thursday.
Belgium's 'golden generation' have task cut out against Brazil (Preview)
Dubbed as a 'golden generation', a talented Belgium squad will be keen to re-create history while perennial title contenders Brazil will aim to avoid yet another upset when the two teams meet in the quarter-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup here on Friday.
Kerber advances to Wimbledon's 3rd round
Germany's Angelique Kerber, the No. 11 seed, on Thursday booked a place to Wimbledon's third round for the seventh time in her career after knocking out United States' qualifier Claire Liu 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
England practice with spin-bowling machine to counter Kuldeep threat
England all-rounder Chris Jordan has insisted that his team doesn't have issues facing quality spin despite being foxed by Indian chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in the first T20 International of the three-match series. The second of the three-match series will be played in Cardiff on Friday, with the Men in Blue looking to wrap up the series by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. We've been on a high in white-ball cricket for a while now. One game, one defeat, shouldn't change our confidence whatsoever. You still want to be on the front foot, and still want to play positive cricket. It was a good spell from Kuldeep Yadav, first of all, and then a very good innings from KL Rahul. They thoroughly deserved the win," said Jordan today. The big question ahead of the game is how England will contend with wrist spinners Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. We are not at all worried (about playing spin). We've got some very experienced players in our dressing room some very, very good players of spin. I think ..