Page 1486 - Sports
Mexico focus on next match after stunning Germany
The Mexican players maintained their calm despite stunning holders Germany 1-0 at the start of their World Cup campaign here.
Far from madding crowd, Dhoni trains alone at NCA
The best in the business prepare quietly for tougher battles and Mahendra Singh Dhoni is no exception as he went through a rigorous net session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), far from public gaze, ahead of England tour. Legends at the business end of their careers prepare and follow a customised blue-print to increase their longevity. Sachin Tendulkar during his last few years in international cricket would train all by himself at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai and Dhoni's training session at NCA today looked similar. He faced hundreds of deliveries with 70 percent being throw-downs. Dhoni, who took the YoYo test on June 15 with other limited overs specialist, had stayed back and perhaps waited for the hullabaloo around the team to die down before taking the field. On what would have been the fifth day of the Afghanistan Test match (had it not finished in two days), Dhoni walked inside the National Cricket Academy nets team's throw-down expert Raghu and speedster Shardul ..
Costa Rican media pessimistic after loss to Serbia
Costa Rican media and fans have expressed pessimism on their football team's chances at the World Cup following the 0-1 defeat to Serbia.
England seek World Cup exorcism as Belgium expects
England open their World Cup campaign on Monday with manager Gareth Southgate seeking to banish memories of dismal recent finals performances while Belgium's "Golden Generation" kick off as dark horse challengers. England, winners on football's biggest stage more than half a century ago, crashed out without a win four years in Brazil, and haven't won a knock-out match in any tournament since 2006. Southgate's young charges however come to Russia quietly confident after a solid qualifying campaign and encouraging friendly results against the likes of Brazil, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. They play Tunisia in the historic city of Volgograd on Monday evening knowing anything other than a win would scatter pre-tournament plans, with Belgium looming later in Group G. Southgate's lack of experience was much fretted over when appointed but the former Under 21s coach has cultivated an atmosphere of unity and a determination to bury past failures. "This team shouldn't be burdened with ...
Pressure got to us against Switzerland: Brazil coach
Brazil football team coach Tite thought the pressure had got to his players after watching his side kick off their 2018 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland here.
Mexicans hail win over Germany in World Cup
Mexico's 1-0 victory over reigning World Cup champions Germany in their FIFA World Cup opener sent the country into a frenzy, with many fans now certain that their team can make it further than ever before in Russia.
Spain starts training for World Cup clash vs Iran without Reina
Spain's national football team has resumed training after a few hours of rest with an eye on their next 2018 FIFA World Cup clash with Iran, albeit without goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who is struggling with neck discomfort.
Brazilian media disappointed over Brazil-Switzerland match result
Media outlets in Brazil expressed their disappointment over the national team's opening match in the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Switzerland that ended in a 1-1 tie, and questioned the performance of the match's referee.
Proud Serb Djokovic would happily miss World Cup final for Wimbledon glory
Novak Djokovic insists he would happily miss a first appearance for Serbia in the World Cup final if it means he is back in the Wimbledon title match. Djokovic is an avid fan of the Serbian national team, who kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica in Russia on Sunday. Celebrating wildly after his friend Aleksandar Kolarov bagged Serbia's winner with a superb free-kick, Djokovic watched the match from in a raucous players' lounge at Queen's Club in west London, where he is preparing for the start of the Wimbledon warm-up event next week. But the 31-year-old was surprised when he was told he would likely miss out on watching Serbia if they make a surprise appearance in the World Cup final. That is because the showpiece in Moscow is scheduled to kick off just hours after the Wimbledon men's final begins at the All England Club on July 15. In truth, unfancied Serbia -- who are competing at their first major tournament since 2010 -- are far less likely to make ..
Indian hockey eves look to level series against Spain
The Indian women's hockey team will look to level the ongoing five-match series against Spain when they take on the hosts in the fifth and final match here at the Consejo Superior de Deportes Hockey Stadium on Monday.Yesterday, the Rani Rampal-led side slumped to a 1-4 defeat against home side Spain in the fourth game.Lola Riera (10', 34') continued her fine form as she scored twice in her team's victory and was helped by goals from Lucia Jimenez (19') and Carmen Cano (37'). India's only goal of the match was scored by Udita in the 22nd minute.While Spain thrashed India 3-0 in the opening match, the second game between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw.India, however, bounced back to register their first win of the Spain Tour when they edged past the hosts 3-2 in their third game before being later outplayed in the fourth game.India, who are currently trailing 1-2 in the series, will now look to end their Spain tour on a winning note when they head into the final clash later today.
India A begin UK tour with big win over ECB XI
India A began their UK tour on a promising note, thrashing England Cricket Board XI by 125 runs following half centuries from captain Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan. The trio of Shaw (70 off 61), Iyer (54 off 45) and Kishan (50 off 46) helped India A amass 328 for eight before the bowlers dismissed ECB XI for 203 in 36.5 overs. Pacer Deepak Chahar (3/48) was the pick of the bowlers. This was the visitors' first game of the tour ahead of the 50-over tri-series, involving England Lions and West Indies, from June 22. India A will also play two unofficial Tests against West Indies A and one against England Lions in July. In the game played yesterday, India A batsmen spent substantial time in the middle after ECB XI opted to bowl. Mayank Agarwal (4) departed cheaply but his opening partner Shaw was in good touch, collecting seven fours and three sixes. Iyer and Kishan then shared a 99-run stand before medium pacer Ryan Higgins removed them off successive balls in the 39th ...
2 Koreas discuss how to cooperate in Asian Games
Sports officials from the rival Koreas are meeting at a border village to discuss how to cooperate in the Asian Games being held in Indonesia in August. A flurry of inter-Korean talks are underway after last week's landmark summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un extended a temporary detente on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea's Sports Ministry says Monday's talks will focus on whether to conduct a joint march and field joint teams in certain events in the Asian Games. The ministry says holding friendly inter-Korean basketball matches will also be discussed. The two Koreas had their athletes parade together during the opening ceremony of February's Winter Olympics in South Korea and form a combined Olympic team in women's hockey.
Seoul, Pyongyang meet to discuss sports collaboration
Representatives from South Korea and North Korea on Monday discussed sports collaboration between the two neighbours at a meeting held in the truce village of Pan
All India Senior Tournament: Shuttlers Sourabh, Uttejitha emerge winners
2016 Chinese Taipei Masters winner Sourabh Verma registered a stunning comeback victory over top seeded Pratul Joshi to win the All India Senior Ranking Tournament played here last evening.Sourabh went down 17-21 in the opening game but came back strong in the second game to win 21-14.With the match tied 1-1, Sourabh brought all his experience into play and won the decider 21-18 to seal the match in one hour and 12 minutes.Second seeded Sai Uttejitha Rao recorded a scintillating upset victory over multiple BWF Challenge series winner Rituparna Das to emerge winner in the women's singles competition.Sai won the opening game 21-15 but was completely outclassed in the second game as she lost 7-21. But the Andhra girl held on to her nerves in the final game and outplayed Rituparna 21-15 to win the title.Earlier, Dhruv Kapila and Meghana Jakkampudi got the better of the pair of Arun George and Arathi Sara Sunil 19-21, 21-14, 21-18 in 50 minutes to win the mixed doubles ...
German media sound alarm after shock World Cup defeat
Germany's media reacted with concern and worry to the World Cup holder's shock 1-0 defeat against Mexico on Sunday. Hirving Lozano hit the winning goal after 35 minutes in Moscow when the German defence was caught napping. This was the first time Germany have lost an opening game at a World Cup finals since going down 2-1 to Algeria when Spain hosted the 1982 tournament. Top-selling German daily Bild declared on their website: "Embarrassing performance against Mexico: this crash causes us World Cup worry". Munich-based newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung agreed with "There are reasons to worry" over a picture of the dejected German team, who need to beat Sweden and South Korea to be sure of going through. The Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper went for "Fiesta Mexicana: False start for Germany". Magazine Sports Bild commented "There were no world champions to be seen on the pitch" in a damning verdict on the below-par performance.
Mexico quakes with joy over World Cup upset win
Thousands of jubilant Mexico supporters partied in the streets of the capital Sunday after their team's shock 1-0 victory over World Cup holders Germany -- singing, dancing, blaring car horns and cheering El Tri. The earth literally moved in quake-prone Mexico City when Hirving "Chucky" Lozano smashed home the game-winning goal in the 35th minute at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium -- a football "earthquake of joy." Seismologists said that they had detected an "artificial" rumbling, possibly caused by "widespread jumping" when the goal was scored. Fans crammed into the Zocalo, the city's main square, to celebrate. "What happened today was an earthquake of joy for us -- just imagine, we beat the world champions!" said Laura Villegas, a 45-year-old merchant who downed her beer with tequila in one gulp. "What happened hey, what happened hey, to the Germany that was going to beat us today?" the crowd chanted. President Enrique Pena Nieto joined the party, saying on Twitter: "Confirmed: Mexico ...
Lewandowski v Sane as Poland brace for Senegal test
Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane face off in a mouthwatering World Cup shootout between two of European football's most lethal forwards on Tuesday as Poland take on Senegal. Bayern Munich's Lewandowski finished the season as the Bundesliga's top scorer for the third time with 29 goals, netting 41 times in all competitions. Mane scored 10 Champions League goals -- including one in the final in Kiev -- forming a devastating strike force at Liverpool alongside Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino of Brazil. "I believe Sadio can be one of the stars of the tournament," said former Senegal player El Hadji Diouf, who played in Japan and South Korea in 2002, the only previous time the country has reached the World Cup. Poland go into the Group H match at Moscow's Spartak Stadium as favourites and are expected to emerge from a section also featuring Colombia and Japan. Ranked eighth in the world, it is Poland's eighth appearance at the World Cup, with coach Adam Nawalka's side desperate .
Colombia fret over James as embattled Japan loom at World Cup
Despite sacking their coach just 71 days before the World Cup, Japan will attempt to prove their doubters wrong on Tuesday against a Colombia side sweating on the fitness of star midfielder James Rodriguez. The top scorer at Brazil 2014 is a doubt for the Group H opener at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk after struggling with a strain in his left calf, which also flared up last February. The Bayern Munich attacking midfielder is key to Colombia's chances of repeating their run to the quarter-finals four years ago in Brazil. James, 26, netted six goals and created four assists to help Colombia qualify for Russia, while midfielder Wilmar Barrios is also battling to be fit. However, the South Americans face a Japan side who would struggle to avoid an early World Cup exit even if they were under Jose Mourinho, according to former coach Philippe Troussier. In a recent AFP interview, Troussier suggested Japan have "no chance" of reaching the knockout stage after sacking Vahid Halilhodzic in ..
Salah return stands in Russia's road to last 16
Mohamed Salah is a looming obstacle as Russia attempt to virtually secure their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. Fears that poor performances from the home side could dampen enthusiasm in the host nation were blown away by a 5-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia in the opening game. The seven-time African champions will pose a much tougher task, but a lot will depend upon Salah's fitness. Liverpool star Salah has not featured since leaving the field in tears early in the Champions League final just over three weeks ago after landing heavily on his left shoulder and had to watch from the bench as Egypt lost 1-0 to Uruguay in their opening game. Salah has been declared 100 percent fit by Egypt's team doctor and his agent, leaving little doubt he will be thrown back into action in the Pharaohs' hour of need. However, as he returned to training on Saturday, Salah was seen by AFP reporters at Egypt's training camp in Grozny needing help from teammates .
Chandimal denies 'sweet in pocket' ball tampering as Sri Lanka pile on runs
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal denied tampering with the ball by using a sweet in his pocket before his team raced into a substantial 287-run lead on the fourth day of the second Test against the West Indies. Following the controversy of day three, when the start of play was delayed by two hours with the Sri Lankan captain refusing to lead his team onto the field for the continuation of the West Indies first innings, the International Cricket Council confirmed a charge of "altering the condition of the ball" -- effectively ball tampering -- against Chandimal. Match officials charged Chandimal after television footage from the final session's play on Friday appeared to show the captain taking sweets out from his left pocket and putting them in his mouth, before applying the artificial substance to the ball which the umpires viewed as an attempt to change its condition. Chandimal will face a hearing at the end of the Test. If found guilty, he could be suspended from the third and ...