Page 1489 - Sports
Yo-Yo fitness test is haunting Indian cricketers (Column: Just Sport)
Ireland and Afghanistan played their first-ever Test matches a month apart to take the number of Test-playing nations to a dozen. It is only natural to compare the performances of the two new entrants.
Russia's Dzagoev to miss remaining Group A matches
Russias attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev has said that he wont have enough time to recover from a thigh injury and will have to miss the remaining FIFA World Cup Group A matches against Egypt and Uruguay.
Russia see Egypt as biggest World Cup threat
One of the architects of Russia's World Cup bid thinks the host nation's upcoming clash against Mohamed Salah's Egypt will be their most important of the group stage. Russia are coming off a rousing 5-0 opening match win over Saudi Arabia and are in prime position to qualify for the last 16 of a World Cup for the first time since the Soviet Union's collapse. Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko told reporters after attending Sunday's training sessions that players knew the importance of Tuesday's showdown with the Pharaohs in Saint Petersburg. "The second game will be our most important one in the group stage," said Mutko. "In the first match, everyone saw how much the players cared," he said. "If we play up to our level, I don't see any problems." Mutko is the most powerful official in Russian football and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. He oversaw a budget of more than $13 billion (11.2 billion euros) while spearheading preparations for Russia's first World Cup at home. But
Federer wins 98th ATP title in Stuttgart ahead of return to No 1-
Roger Federer claimed his 98th ATP title on Sunday and re-established his unrivalled superiority on grass with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Milos Raonic in the Stuttgart Cup final. Top-seeded Swiss beat his Canadian opponent for the 11th time in 14 meetings while winning a first Stuttgart title. Federer, who will be chasing a ninth Wimbledon triumph next month, finally came good on the German grass on his third attempt after losing a semi-final in 2016 to Dominic Thiem and falling in the first round here a year ago to good friend Tommy Haas. The 36-year-old will regain the world number one ranking on Monday and is playing next week as top seed in Halle. "It's a great comeback for me," Federer said after completing his 78-minute win. "I'm so happy to win this tournament in my third attempt. We'll see if being number one again will probably give me a boost." Federer made a return to the top ATP ranking for a sixth time through his semi-final victory on Saturday over Australian Nick ...
Neymar to make World Cup bow as Germany launch campaign
Neymar makes his World Cup bow on Sunday as five-time winners Brazil kick off their quest for redemption while defending champions Germany launch their bid for back-to-back titles. Four years after injury cut short his World Cup and Brazil went on to suffer a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany without him, Neymar is once again spearheading his country's hopes. The Paris Saint-Germain striker's participation at the finals in Russia had been cast into doubt after he suffered a broken bone in his right foot in late February. However, the 26-year-old forward has shown few signs of rust since returning for Brazil, scoring in consecutive friendlies on the eve of the finals. That could spell trouble for Switzerland as they take on Brazil in Group E on Sunday. Brazil coach Tite, who masterminded a dominant qualifying campaign that saw the "Selecao" finish 10 points clear of their rivals, said Neymar was "not 100 percent". "But he has exceptional physical qualities, his speed in ...
Morocco winger Nordin Amrabat set to miss Portugal match
Morocco said on Sunday that winger Nordin Amrabat will miss the FIFA World Cup Group B clash against Portugal though he has been allowed out of hospital after suffering concussion during their opening game against Iran on Friday.
England coach Southgate looks to ease pressure ahead of World Cup opener
England head coach Gareth Southgate says he has told the footballers in his squad who will be in the starting XI when his side kicks off its World Cup campaign against Tunisia in Volgograd on Monday.
Defender Narayan Das joins Delhi Dynamos F.C.
Delhi Dynamos F.C. today completed the signing of left-back Narayan Das from FC Goa on a long-term deal. Narayan becomes the fifth Indian signing by the club ahead of the 5th edition of the Indian Super League. The 24-year old left back joins after a promising season with FC Goa where he made 19 appearances and helped the side reach the play-off spots. Narayan started his career with Pailan Arrows back in 2012, before moving onto represent the likes of Dempo and East Bengal in the I-League. The India international has also starred for FC Pune City in ISL Season 3. "I am really looking forward to this new challenge in my career. Dynamos have built a promising squad this season and we are all geared up," Narayan said upon signing for the club. Narayan joins Bikramjit Singh, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Siam Hanghal and Rana Gharami as the new additions in the squad. His signing will also see Dynamos boast both the National Team full-backs as he joins Pritam Kotal in defense. A product of the ...
Paine calls on struggling Australia to deliver 'complete package'
Australia captain Tim Paine has said his side must deliver a "complete package" if they are to fight their way back into the one-day international series against England. Yesterday's 38-run loss in the second ODI in Cardiff left Australia 2-0 down in a five-match campaign against England, the world's number one-ranked side in this format. It was also world champions Australia's sixth defeat in seven ODIs against England this year, a sequence that includes a 4-1 series loss Down Under in January. Overall, it also represented a 13th loss from their last 15 matches at this level that have produced a result. Australia arrived for this series against 2019 World Cup hosts England without several first-choice players. Not only were former captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner, two of the world's leading batsmen, ruled out with year-long bans imposed for their roles in the Cape Town ball-tampering fiasco in March, but Australia were also missing their injured Ashes-winning ...
Maradona responds to report of racist gesture to Asian fan
Diego Maradona has given his version of an exchange with an Asian fan at a World Cup game in Moscow that witnesses perceived as racist. British television staff working in Spartak Stadium during Argentina's 1-1 draw with Iceland yesterday reported seeing Maradona respond to South Korea fans calling his name. Maradona "obliged with a smile, kiss and wave. Then pulled his eyes to the side in a clearly racist gesture," broadcaster Jacqui Oatley posted on Twitter. A second British broadcaster wrote she also saw the incident. The Argentina great is an official FIFA ambassador and attended the game in a VIP section as part of a group of former players branded as "FIFA Legends." On Maradona's Facebook account , a message was posted early today in Spanish, English and Italian seeking to explain the incident, which seemed to break FIFA anti-discrimination rules. "I understand better than anyone that in the World Cup people are looking for news everywhere," Maradona wrote, adding that he saw ...
Poland, Senegal return to World Cup with Lewandowski, Mane
For unfashionable teams, Poland and Senegal feature quite glamorous stars. Poland captain Robert Lewandowski led European qualifying with 16 goals, one more than Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, and scored five goals in a nine-minute span for Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg in February. Senegal's Sadio Mane scored 20 goals this season for Liverpool, including 10 in the Champions League, and had the fastest hat trick in Premier League history when he got three goals in a 176-second span for Southampton against Aston Villa in May 2015. Led by dynamic attackers in their prime, both nations return to the World Cup on Tuesday night after lengthy absences. A winner would have a good chance to advance from a group that includes Colombia and Japan. Under coach Adam Nawalka, who played for his nation at the 1982 World Cup, Poland has improved from 76th in the FIFA rankings in 2013 to eighth - one shy of the nation's high set last year. Poland finished third in the 1974 World Cup with Grzegorz ...
Sweden coach apologizes over 'spying' squabble with Koreans
Sweden coach Janne Andersson says one of his staff got into a closed South Korea training session and was asked to leave, leading to a squabble between the teams over spying ahead of their World Cup game tomorrow. Andersson says the staffer, who is entrusted with scouting the opposition, thought the practice session at South Korea's pre-World Cup training camp in Austria was open. Andersson says the coach left when asked and "watched from more of a distance." The incident has created a frosty atmosphere between the teams ahead of their game in Nizhny Novgorod. Andersson says his team analyzes all opponents and the incident has been overblown, but adds "it's very important that we show respect for opponents ... If it has been perceived in another way, we apologize.
FIFA World Cup: South Korea looking to upset Sweden (Preview)
South Korea will try to create an upset when they face higher-ranked Sweden in their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group F opening match at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium here on Monday.
Indian football team gets official clearance to play in Asian Games, women wait
The Indian men's football team has got the official confirmation to participate in the upcoming Asian Games in Jakarta, days after national coach Stephen Constantine appealed to the government to send a team for the mega sporting event. "The official confirmation has come to the All India Football Federation. The men's team is going for sure but the women's team's faith still hangs in balance as they are yet to get the green light," a well-placed source close to the AIFF said. Constantine had made an appeal to the government during the Intercontinental Cup earlier this month to let the team participate in the competition. "We need more games and if the government is listening, send us to the Asian games. It's an U-23 event and we have 11 players in this squad who are below 23. The benefits the players will gain from the Asian Games will be huge," Constantine had said. In his second stint with the Indian team, Constantine oversaw skipper Sunil Chhetri-inspired India's triumphant ...
Mickelson hits moving ball with putter - sextuple bogey
Phil Mickelson insisted he meant no disrespect when he opted to putt a moving ball in the third round of the US Open -- swallowing a sextuple bogey at the 13th hole. Mickelson's bogey putt at Shinnecock Hills' par-four 13th skated past the cup and was heading down a slope when he trotted after it and batted it back toward the hole with his putter. He needed eight strokes to get the ball in the hole and with a two-stroke penalty walked off with a sextuple bogey 10 on the way to his highest ever round in 27 US Open appearances of 11-over 81. Playing partner Andrew Johnston called it "a moment of madness". But Mickelson said the incident wasn't a childish display of frustration from a five-time major champion celebrating his 48th birthday. Instead, he said, he decided the two-stroke penalty he knew he would receive would be preferable to letting the ball escape off the green. "Look, I don't mean disrespect to anybody," he said. "I know it's a two-shot penalty. At that time, I just didn't
FIFA: Belgium not willing to take minnows Panama lightly (Preview)
A strong Belgium side boasting of some of the big names in the business will be expected to run riot against proverbial minnows Panama in a Group G World Cup clash here on Monday.
Griezmann 'must do more', says France coach Deschamps
France coach Didier Deschamps said today his key forward Antoine Griezmann "must do more", after a disappointing performance in their opening 2-1 World Cup win against Australia. The Atletico Madrid star was well marshalled by the Socceroos' defence for long periods yesterday. He won and scored the penalty that gave France the lead -- the first goal ever awarded at a World Cup with the help of video technology -- but he appeared upset to be replaced by Olivier Giroud with about 20 minutes to go. "Antoine is Antoine, he's our attacking leader and will remain so. Maybe he was a little less good," Deschamps told French TV channel TF1. "That someone is disappointed when he goes off... it was a one-off decision for this match." The 27-year-old Griezmann has scored 21 international goals, including five during France's run to the Euro 2016 final. "It's true that he was a little angry, that's normal. He's a very ambitious player but in the locker room, the (team) bus and the base camp, he ...
Stuttgart Open: Federer to face Raonic in finals
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer is all set to face Milos Raonic in the championship match of Stuttgart Open. Federer defeated Australian Nick Kyrgios in the semi-final to book his place in the decider.The semi-final clash with Kygrios was an absolute thriller which went on to the tie-breaker. After an intense battle, Federer defeated the Australian in straight sets, 6-7 (2-7),6-2,7-6 (7/5).Swiss tennis maestro, with his semi-final win, dethroned the long-time rival Rafael Nadal and regained the top spot in the ATP rankings for the sixth time in his career.The shuffling in ATP rankings will be a huge confidence booster for the Swiss player ahead of Wimbledon who skipped the French Open this year to stay fresh for the grass-court season.Federer started off his tennis season on a winning note by bagging the Australian Open title and now he will be looking forward to putting his hands on Wimbledon trophy for the ninth time in his career.Sunday's battle for Stuttgart Cup will
World Cup return to conflict zone for Sweden's Svensson
Four years ago Sweden's Gustav Svensson, then on the books of Ukrainian club Tavriya Simferopol, fled the country after Russia invaded the Crimea peninsula in 2014. Now, the midfielder is back in the region at Sweden's World Cup training base in Gelendzhik, less than 200 kilometres (124 miles) along the Black Sea coast from the region annexed by Russia. "I'm very close to where I used to be," Svensson, 31, told reporters as the Nordic side prepared for their World Cup opener against South Korea Monday. "Some memories are coming back, but not all bad ones, I mostly remember the positive ones from there," he said. The former IFK Goteborg and Bursaspor stalwart signed for Tavriya Simferopol in 2012 and played 21 times for the club. Then in February 2014, pro-Russian militia suddenly appeared in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, taking over the airport and other strategic locations in the city. By April, Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered military units to enter the peninsula, .
CWG star Manika stuns World No. 18 in UTT
Table tennis sensation Manika Batra today shocked World No. 18 Sofia Polcanova in a thrilling duel to give Dabang Smashers TTC an early lead against Warriors TTC in the Ceat Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) here today. The sizeable weekend crowd that had turned up at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi to cheer the CWG star got their money's worth as the 23-year-old upstaged the Austrian, ranked 62 spots higher 2-1 (11-10, 5-11, 11-10). Two of the three games were decided by the golden point' with the 80th-ranked Indian serving on both occasions to squeeze in the winners. She served well and was quite effective with her backhand that earned her five points. In all, she gained 14 points on serve to unsettle her left-handed rival. Manika had won a record four medals at the Gold Coast Games including two gold. Another crowd favourite Sharath Kamal, however, failed to get past Japanese Yoshida Masaki (World No. 27) with the Warriors captain going down 1-2 (11-7, 8-11, 8-11) in a ...