Page 1490 - Sports
Sri Lanka skipper Chandimal charged over ball-tampering
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal was charged by the ICC on Sunday over ball-tampering in the second Test against the West Indies in St Lucia. Play started two hours late on Saturday after the Sri Lankans, led by Chandimal, refused to take the field following a decision by umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould to charge the tourists with altering the state of the ball during the latter stages of Friday's play. The International Cricket Council announced on Twitter that Chandimal had been charged for "breaching Level 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct". The rule cited deals with altering the state of the ball. Sri Lanka had already been handed five penalty runs on Saturday, although that relatively minor punishment was inconsequential compared to the Sri Lankans' obvious anger at being accused of what amounts to cheating. It appeared for some time on Saturday that the day's play at least -- and possibly the rest of the match -- might be in doubt. However, it was after these deliberations ...
Cardiff innings 'my favourite' so far: Jason
Cardiff England opener Jason Roy said that his innings against Australia in Cardiff is probably one of his favourites.The player smashed 120 off 108 balls helping England to put their highest ever total in one-day internationals."I had a long discussion with Thorpey [Graham Thorpe] after I got out and just said it was probably my favorite innings as far as how my tempo was throughout the innings," ESPNcricinfo quoted Jason Roy, as saying."Just the way I knuckled down early, it was quite difficult and I went through some difficult patches but then came out the other side," he added.Batting first, England put a mammoth total of 342 in reply to which Australia could only manage 304 runs.Shaun Marsh, who scored 131 in the match, said it's disappointing that despite scoring a century Australia could not win the match."I guess it's bittersweet. It's nice to get a few runs but, yeah, I was obviously disappointed with the result. We couldn't quite finish it off at the end there," ESPNcricinfo
India failed to emerge as football power by not quitting Commonwealth: Book
Parochialism has been affecting Indian football over the years but things might have been different had India left the Commonwealth in 1950 to join the soccer world full time, a new book claims. India won the Asian Games football gold in 1951, again in 1962 and came fourth in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. "Had soccer grabbed its chance, and Jawaharlal Nehru followed popular sentiment and left the Commonwealth, who is to say that today football, not cricket, would be the main sport of India," UK-based sports commentator Mihir Bose says. "Had India left the Commonwealth in 1950, making Indian cricket a world outcast, and the Indian football gone to Brazil to play in the World Cup the same year, that by itself would have made India a football nation like Saudi Arabia which does not see playing in the World Cup an impossible dream," he argues in his book "Game Changer". "Had India gone to the World Cup in 1950, it would have been playing the best of world football. In the 1950s, that ...
FIFA World Cup: Low-key England start as favourites against Tunisia (Preview)
Low on expectations after repeated failures at major football tournaments, a youthful England side will look to start their World Cup campaign on a winning note when they take on Tunisia in a Group G encounter here on Monday.
FIFA WC: Defending champions Germany to start their journey against Mexico today
The defending champions Germany are all set to start their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign today against the confident Mexican side at the Luzhniki stadium here.The German team has to shrug off a rocky World Cup build-up as they begin the defence of their title on Sunday against a vastly experienced Mexico side jolted by their own pre-tournament scandal.Germany are trying to become the first team in 56 years to successfully defend their title, after Brazil in 1962.The 2014 World Cup winners defeated Mexico 4-1 on the way to lifting last year's Confederations Cup trophy.Meanwhile, the underdog Mexican side is ready to cause a major upset and beat Germany for the first time in a tournament.At the same time, five-time World Cup winners Brazil are expecting to start their World Cup journey with a bang. They are all set to clash against the Swiss side at the Rostov Arena.All the eyes will be on Neymar Jr. as to how the Brazilian talisman will lead the team in the biggest football ...
Jayaram loses in semifinals of US Open
Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram suffered a straight-game loss to The Netherlands' Mark Caljouw in the semifinals of the USD 150,000 US Open BWF World Tour Super 300 tournament here. The 30-year-old Indian lost 13-21 21-23 to sixth seed Mark in the men's singles semifinals that lasted 36 minutes at the Fullerton Titan Gym. Jayaram, who had suffered a hamstring injury during the Senior Nationals Championship last year that saw him slip from world no 13 in September to current ranking of 134, was no match for Mark in the opening game. The Dutch shuttler quickly jumped to a 11-3 lead at the breather and kept his nose ahead after the break to pocket the first game. In the second game, Mark once again grabbed a 11-7 lead at the interval but Jayaram fought back to turn the tables at 13-12 and again held a slender 18-16 lead at one stage. However, Mark kept breathing down his neck and eventually sealed the contest to reach the finals.
Win puts pressure on Argentina: Croatia's Modric
Croatia midfielder Luka Modric feels his team's 2-0 triumph over Nigeria puts more pressure on Group D favourites Argentina.
Indian flavours spicing up World Cup in Moscow
Restaurateurs Prodyut and Sumana Mukherjee have not only brought Indian flavours to the ongoing World Cup here but also plan to dish out free dinner to countrymen if Argentina wins the trophy on July 15.
'Can't compare Messi and Ronaldo', says Portugal's Silva
Portugal's Adrien Silva refused to be drawn on comparisons between teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi after wildly contrasting fortunes for the global stars in their opening games at the World Cup. Ronaldo rescued Portugal with a hat-trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw with title contenders Spain, while Messi missed a penalty as Argentina were held 1-1 by tournament newcomers Iceland. "You can't compare Messi with Ronaldo," Leicester City midfielder Silva said Sunday. "We have a leader, he's with us and he must do what he must do. He has to help us as best as he can." "The result was positive," Silva added. "It wasn't the one that we expected though, but still we tried not to lose the game. That's what was most important for us. "We did our best at every moment. Spain tried to change the course of the game but we resisted well so we feel good about it." Ronaldo's treble was the 51st in World Cup history and saw him become just the fourth player to score at four ...
Focus is on fitness to win medal at Asian Games: Srikanth
The defence of four Super Series titles this season is not bothering Kidambi Srikanth as the ace shuttler is focussed on staying injury-free and winning a gold medal at the upcoming Asian Games. "The biggest challenge for me these days is to maintain my fitness. I actually have issues with both my ankles. After the Olympics I had issues with my right ankle but last year I hurt my left ankle at the Nationals. So I have to be more careful before I plan my tournaments. So staying away from injury, that is what I am trying to do," Srikanth told PTI. "Going forward there are 4-5 tournaments which are important this year, so the idea is to play at my 100 percent in all of them, without getting injured," added the 25-year-old, who clinched the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. Srikanth was in sensational form last season when he clinched four super series titles --- French Open, Denmark Open, Australian Open and Indonesian Open. "I am not worried about matching last year's performances
Studied Messi's penalties, says Iceland goalkeeper
Iceland's goalkeeper has said he had studied many of the Argentine superstar Lionel Messi's shots from the 12-yard mark, after stopping the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's second-half penalty attempt.
Indian women's team lose to Spain 1-4, trail 1-2 in five-match series
The Indian women's hockey team suffered a 1-4 defeat against hosts Spain in the fourth game to trail 1-2 in the five-match series. Lola Riera (10', 34') continued her fine form with a double strike while the other goals came 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 beat India 3-0 in the opener, the second game between the two sides finished with a 1-1 draw. The visitors bounced back with a 3-2 win in the third match before being outplayed in the fourth game played yesterday. Spain won two penalty corners within the first five minutes to put pressure on the away team. But the Indian team was up to the task and kept out the two tries from the world no 11 side. Spain looked in prime form during the opening 20 minutes of the match, which saw them score twice. After the early setback, it was India's turn to put pressure on the hosts. The visitors focused on their defending and built some momentum, ...
Defender Narayan Das joins Delhi Dynamos
ISL club Delhi Dynamos 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 (ISL). 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. 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 Tata Football ...
Beaten Felix eyes Tokyo Olympics and Bolt record
Allyson Felix, an 11-time world champion and six-time Olympic gold medallist, finished third over 400m at a meeting in Marseille on Saturday before insisting that she hasn't given up on matching Usain Bolt's record of eight Olympic titles in Tokyo in 2020. American star Felix was beaten on Saturday by Italy's Libiana Grenot, the European champion, with Drayton Shakes of Great Britain taking second place. "It wasn't a great evening for me. I hope to do better but this year is very different," said 32-year-old Felix, the most decorated female athlete with a total of nine Olympic medals and 16 at the worlds. "I'm a long way off my best form but I am going home now to work." Felix, the 200m champion at the 2012 Olympics in London and silver medallist over 400m in Rio in 2016, has her eyes set on another title when the 2020 Games roll around in Japan in two years' time. "In team but especially in the individual events, I hope to be a champion in Tokyo. "This year is important as ...
Belgium determined to live up to great expectations
Roberto Martinez can't wait to lead an outstanding Belgium side into the World Cup as they prepare to take on Panama in their opening game on Monday. A team who sit third in the FIFA rankings and who boast what is frequently labelled a golden generation featuring the likes of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne have come to Russia with a considerable weight of expectation on their shoulders. They are strongly fancied to progress to the knockout phase as winners of Group G, despite being drawn alongside England, and so it would be a major upset if they slipped up in Sochi against a side making their World Cup debut. "I would like to see that the team can play a game and not play the World Cup, to see a team where they enjoy the responsibility that they carry," Martinez said at the Fisht Stadium here on Saturday. "I'm excited. I see the players work, I see them in training, and they are just desperate to perform for the fans back in Belgium." Belgium's results under Martinez have been ...
Sex, drugs and... don't forget the football, Mexico
Between the orgy accusations and the drug-trafficking charges facing their veteran star, Mexico have had their share of distractions heading into their World Cup opener against Germany on Sunday. The headaches started last year when the US Treasury Department accused El Tri's longtime captain, Rafael Marquez, of being a "front person" for an international drug-trafficking organization. And they got worse on June 5, when gossip magazine TVNotas reported that nine members of Mexico's World Cup squad had an all-night party with a group of 30 prostitutes after their farewell home match that weekend. The Mexican Football Federation decided against punishing the players, because "they have not missed training" and "a free day is a free day," in the words of general secretary Guillermo Cantu. But the public condemnation and online mockery have been blistering. "The federation doesn't have to punish the party-boy players. The public and private ridicule will be more than enough," sports ...
Murray return, Djokovic woes hog spotlight at Queen's
Andy Murray will make his long awaited return from hip surgery at Queen's Club next week, while his old rival Novak Djokovic arrives at the Wimbledon warm-up hoping to end his wretched run. Murray has not played a competitive match since he was knocked out of the Wimbledon quarter-finals last July as a hip injury brought a painful end to his season. The former world number one underwent surgery in January after pulling out of the 2017 US Open and this year's Australian Open. Murray made a tentative commitment to appear in the grass-court tournament in Rosmalen this week, before again pulling out at the last minute to spark fresh fears that he wouldn't make it back in time for Wimbledon. But the two-time Wimbledon champion has been practising regularly for the past fortnight and a final workout on Friday at Queen's Club with fellow Briton Cameron Norrie convinced him to return. "I've been practising the last couple of weeks and obviously building up each day. I started playing sets ...
Ton-up Roy happy to 'knuckle down' for England
England's Jason Roy believes he is adding an extra dimension to his game by "knuckling down" at the start of an innings. The 27-year-old, long known as a brilliant ball-striker, made a polished 120 as England beat world champions Australia by 38 runs to win the second one-day international in Cardiff on Saturday and so take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Roy's innings and a typically quickfire 91 not out from stand-in captain Jos Buttler, deputising after regular skipper Eoin Morgan suffered a back spasm shortly before the toss, took England to a total of 342 for eight. Australia opener Shaun Marsh made 131 on his Glamorgan 'home' ground but the tourists were still bowled out for 304 with 17 balls to spare. Roy struck an England ODI record 180 against Australia in Melbourne in January this year. But, after talking with England batting coach Graham Thorpe. he rated Saturday's innings the best of his five ODI hundreds after his side were sent into bat in overcast conditions by ...
Phoney war won, real test begins for England's Southgate
Hailed for modern man-management, openness with a normally fiercely critical press and putting his faith in youth, Gareth Southgate has avoided many of the pre-tournament pitfalls that have undone his predecessors as England manager. However, the real test of Southgate's abilities to lead his country on the biggest stage will come when England face Tunisia in their World Cup opener in Volgograd on Monday. When Southgate was promoted from his role as under-21 manager in the wake of a scandal that saw Sam Allardyce sacked after just 67 days and one match in charge of Three Lions last September, the appointment was labelled by many as uninspiring and a safe option by the Football Association. Yet, Southgate's tenure has so far defied expectations. Joe Hart and Jack Wilshere were among the more experienced names jettisoned as he picked the third youngest squad on show in Russia. Off the field, he has fostered a relaxed atmosphere while also facing up to difficult issues such as fears over
FIFA World Cup: Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0, go top of Group D
Croatia went to the top of Group D in the FIFA World Cup following their 2-0 easy victory over Nigeria at the Kaliningrad Stadium here on Saturday.