Page 1417 - Sports
Salah hints at continuing with Egypt
Egypt and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah will continue playing for his country, the striker indicated in a message on Monday.
Halep maintains No. 1 spot in WTA rankings
Romania's Simona Halep remained on top of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings released on Monday, ahead of Wimbledon's first round.
'Not the end of world for Murray,' says Federer
Roger Federer believes Andy Murray made the right decision to withdraw from Wimbledon, insisting it's "not the end of the world" for the two-time winner. Murray, 31, pulled out on Sunday, less than 24 hours before the start of the tournament, fearing that his long-standing hip injury would not cope with the rigours of two weeks of five-set tennis. "It must be a tough decision but one he's taking for his career, and his life as well," said eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer. "I think it's probably a wise decision. He would give everything to play here and that's why it hurts." Murray, the 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon winner, had only just returned to action after 11 months on the sidelines due to a hip injury that needed surgery in January. He originally suffered the setback in a five-set loss to Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals at the All England Club last July. "It's with regret I'm withdrawing from Wimbledon," Murray, who played just three matches in his comeback, said in a ...
ITTF to launch new tournament platform in 2021
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced here on Monday that it has signed an agreement with Sportsmaster, a sports marketing agency, to set up a new professional tournament platform in 2021 with an integrated commercial programme that will take the sport to the next level.
Tournament fears as Australia backs new ATP World Cup
Australian tennis chiefs welcomed today the announcement of a new ATP World Team Cup tournament amid fears over the future of some of the country's top events. The Association of Tennis Professionals, which runs the men's game, voted in London on Sunday to award the tournament to Australia. It will be played in January from 2020. The event is returning to the global calendar for the first time since taking place in Dusseldorf from 1978 to 2012 and will feature 24 teams with US$15 million in prize money at stake, along with ATP rankings points. More details on the format and precise dates will be released later. The decision puts the ATP, which operates the Sydney and Brisbane Internationals in January, in direct competition with tennis' governing body the International Tennis Federation (ITF), which runs the Hopman Cup in Perth and the four Grand Slams including the season-opening Australian Open. Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said the decision meant the world's top ...
Salah's new contract shows belief in Liverpool: Klopp
Egyptian international Mohamed Salah's stunning first season with English Premier League side Liverpool earned him a long-term contract with the club today. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the fact the 26-year-old striker -- who scored 44 goals in just 52 appearances last season -- signed such a deal reflected his belief the club were on course for a successful era. Salah's goals played a large part in Liverpool reaching the Champions League final against Real Madrid. However, that proved a rare sour note for the player as Salah was slammed to the turf by Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, causing a painful separation of his left shoulder. Salah returned to action for the first time in three weeks against Russia at the World Cup in their group match last month but was a shadow of the player that had dazzled for Liverpool and earned him the Africa player of the year award. The new contract "demonstrates two things very clearly -- his belief in Liverpool and our belief in him," Klopp told .
Mohamed Salah inks contract extension with Liverpool
Egypt's star footballer Mohamed Salah has signed a long-term contract extension with Liverpool FC, the Premier League club announced on Monday.
Nadal maintains top spot in ATP ranking
Spain's Rafael Nadal continued to lead the men's Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) world singles ranking released on Monday, just 50 points ahead of Switzerland's Roger Federer.
Title holder Srikanth faces Momota test at Indonesia Open
Defending champion Kidambi Srikanth will look to find a chink in Kento Momota's armour when he locks horns with the in-form Japanese in the opening match of the USD 1,250,000 Indonesia Open World Tour Super 1000 badminton tournament starting here tomorrow. Two days ago, Srikanth was outwitted by the 22-year-old Momota en route to his final appearance at the Malaysian Open and the Indian will have to produce his top game to trouble the former world number 2 rival, who has been in sensational form since making a comeback after serving a one-year ban on charges of illegal gambling. Momota, whose run of 21 successive wins was cut short by Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei in the finals yesterday, has defeated Srikanth six times in nine meetings, a statistic which the Indian will be keen to change. Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu, who also reached the semifinals last week, will look to continue her consistent performance when she opens the proceedings against Thailand's Pornpawee ...
Algeria considers submitting joint bid with Morocco, Tunisia for World Cup 2030
Algerian Youth and Sport Minister Mohamd Hattab has said his country is considering submitting a joint bid with neighbouring Morocco and Tunisia for World Cup 2030, the local media reported.
We have to do more against Russia: Croatia coach
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said his team has to do more when they face hosts Russia in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Proud of team despite World Cup exit: Denmark goalkeeper
Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel says he is proud of his team despite their failure to reach the World Cup quarterfinals after a disappointing loss to Croatia.
New battle in Old Blighty: Upbeat India gear up for tough English test
Their supremacy in shorter formats is redoubtable but India will have their task cut out against a vastly improved England in the opening T20 International in what will be a defining summer for Virat Kohli and his team. While India has been a consistent limited overs side during the past decade, England have finally found their mojo in ODIs and T20s, courtesy a group of fantastic limited overs players like Jos Buttler, Jason Roy and Ben Stokes. With the 2019 ODI World Cup less than 12 months away, there is more than bragging rights at stake as both sides look to fine-tune preparations against an opposition of note. India are coming into the series with two facile victories over Ireland -- by 72 and 143 runs respectively but Kohli knows too well that England will be a different proposition. What will give him confidence though is the fact that India have won 15 of their last 20 T20 Internationals including the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka and the bilateral away series against South ...
Indian Army organizes volleyball tournament in J-K
The Indian Army organized a friendly volleyball tournament for the youth here at District Sports Stadium on Sunday.A total of 12 teams from all over the district participated in the event.Reflecting on the same, the players participated in the tournament thanked the Indian Army for their initiative and hoped that this would continue in the future as well."I would like to thank the Indian Army for organizing the tournament. They should come up with such activities- Football, Cricket, Hockey, more often. It will help to eradicate the evil of drug addiction from the society," Muzzamil Hussain, one of the players, said.Meanwhile, one of the players insisted that the youth of the valley are very talented and that they are in search of opportunities to flourish."We have talent, we need to flourish it. Our players are playing IPL (Indian Premier League), Football, Volleyball etc. parents also need to push their children towards sports if they want to have a bright future for their kids," the
Paddler Batra working on adding new weapons ahead of Asiad (IANS Interview)
Ahead of the Asian Games, star paddler Manika Batra is working on a few new skills to bamboozle her rivals as she feels her game with the long-pimpled backhand is no longer a threat for her opponents.
Dipsan to lead India U-23 men's hockey team for 6-Nations Tourney in Belgium
Defender Dipsan Tirkey will lead an 18-member India U-23 men's hockey team for a six-nation tournament in Belgium from July 14-21. Apart from India and hosts Belgium, the other participating nations are Great Britain, Ireland, Malaysia and the Netherlands. The Indian team will play their opening match against Ireland on July 14. The top two teams at the end of the round-robin matches will face each other in the Final on July 21 whereas the remaining teams will play classification matches. Apart from Tirkey, Hardik Singh has been named vice-captain. The U-23 Six Nations Tournament in Belgium will prove to be a good test for our younger players of the Core Group. We will be playing against some of the best youth teams from around the world, which will help in giving our players the exposure they require," said David John, Director, High Performance. "This tour will also help in developing our team that will take part in the 8th Sultan of Johor Cup 2018 to be held in October later this ..
LeBron seals $154 million deal with Los Angeles Lakers
The NBA star LeBron James has agreed to a four-year, $154 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to his sports management agency, Klutch Sports Group.James, who is four-time NBA MVP and three-time NBA Finals MVP, is moving from the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Lakers."LeBron James, four time NBA MVP, three-time NBA finals MVP, 14-time NBA All-Star, and two-time Olympic gold medallist, has agreed to a four-year $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers," Klutch Sports Group said in a statement.This is the third time in eight years when the 33-year-old has changed teams. James who returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 after four seasons in Miami had previously said he wanted to finish his career in Ohio, and although he's leaving home again.James, NBA's best all-around player led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, but lost to the Golden State Warriors. Still, he led the Cavs to its first-ever NBA championship two years prior and again to the finals in 2017.Meanwhile, ..
Own goal? Japan coach say team hasn't practised penalties
Japan's Blue Samurai have defied expectations at this year's World Cup, but coach Akira Nishino admits there's one thing the team hasn't practised: penalties. That's despite both Russia and Croatia relying on heart stopping spot-kicks to secure their places in the quarterfinals on Sunday. "We've never practised penalty kicks as a team," Nishino told reporters on Sunday in Russia, the Sankei Shimbun daily said. "I don't think it is really useful to practise for a penalty shootout," he added, saying it was impossible to recreate the pressure players would feel in a real penalty situation. "Individual players who wanted to be ready trained on their own, but not as a team." After a poor run-up to the tournament, few people expected Japan to get very far, with most predicting they would not make it out of their group. But despite the team's success, Nishino has endured stinging criticism for instructing players to run down the clock and settle for a 1-0 defeat against Poland, knowing it ...
Croatians hail goalkeeper Subasic after World Cup heroics
Thousands of Croatians celebrated their team's dramatic win against Denmark on penalties to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic was the hero, saving three spot-kicks after the match finished 1-1 following extra time. "Croatia in a crazy drama broke Denmark with penalties and progressed to the quarter-finals, Subasic hero of the match!" said the Tportal website. "Subasic, who saved three penalties, was a hero, while Ivan Rakitic scored the decisive penalty," said the Vecernji List daily paper. Fans watched the match live on giant screens throughout the country and celebrated the 3-2 win on penalties. "Subasic saved us! He was an absolute hero of this tough match!" Fran Peric, 20, who watched the match in Zagreb, told AFP. Fans, many of whom were dressed in Croatia's red-and-white shirts, were singing patriotic songs, lighting flares and waving Croatian flags. "Subasic defends three penalties and leads 'Fiery Ones'," said the Sportske Novosti ...
Hierro dodges questions on future after Spain World Cup defeat
Spain coach Fernando Hierro said it was not the right time to contemplate his future after his team crashed out to World Cup hosts Russia on penalties in the last 16. Koke and Iago Aspas saw their spot-kicks saved by Igor Akinfeev as Russia prevailed 4-3 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw in Moscow. Hierro was drafted in as coach on the eve of the tournament when Julen Lopetegui was sacked after it was announced he would take over the Real Madrid job next season. "That doesn't not worry me, I don't think it's something for right now," said Hierro when asked about his future in the role. "Now we need to share this difficult moment. We all wanted to great things at this tournament. We're talking about a generation of extraordinary players and we haven't been performing at the level we expect in the World Cup." Hierro rejected any suggestion the team would have fared better had the Spanish federation not decided to axe Lopetegui after arriving in Russia. "We had opportunities to win this