Page 1496 - Sports
Belgium can cope with absence of key defensive duo, says Alderweireld
Belgium have the depth to cover for the likely absence of injured centre-backs Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen in their opening FIFA World Cup match against Panama on Monday, defender Toby Alderweireld said on Friday.
Midfielder Godoy missing from Panama practice
Panama's football squad completed its seventh day of training on Friday without midfielder Anibal Godoy, who arrived at the training field of the Saransk Olympic Center with regular shoes instead of his football cleats and remained on the bench while his teammates began practice.
FIFA probing empty seats for Uruguay-Egypt World Cup duel
World football's governing body FIFA has launched an investigation to determine why there were thousands of empty seats for the World Cup match between Egypt and Uruguay in Yekaterinburg on Friday.
Iran grab late World Cup victory against Morocco
Iran were gifted a late 1-0 victory over Morocco in their opening World Cup match today when Aziz Bouhaddouz headed into his own net five minutes into injury time. The Group match B in Saint Petersburg had been heading for a goalless draw until Bouhaddouz's unfortunate intervention as he tried to clear Ehsan Haji Safi's cross but only directed it past his own goalkeeper.
FIFA World Cup: Iran pip Morocco in Group B
Iran claimed their only second win in FIFA World Cup history as a late own goal upset Morocco 1-0 in a Group B clash here on Friday.
Santos confirms transfer of Rodrygo to Real Madrid in record deal
Brazilian football club Santos confirmed Friday that it had reached a deal to send 17-year-old star forward Rodrygo to Real Madrid for a record transfer fee.
Table Tennis: Mavericks thrash Empowerji Challengers 5-2 in UTT
Indias young paddlers Manav Thakkar and Ayhika Mukherjee created a big flutter by stunning much higher-ranked players in CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) as RP-SG Mavericks beat last year's finalists Empowerji Challengers 5-2 at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here on Friday.
Partying like it's 2010 - Vuvuzela returns in Russia
The constant din that accompanied the 2010 World Cup in South Africa returned for football's showpiece event eight years on as Morocco and Iran clashed in Saint Petersburg to the noise of screeching vuvuzelas. The two-foot long tube with a plastic horn at the end became a global phenomenon in 2010 and divided opinion as the instrument, widely used at games in Africa, wasn't popular with television viewers despite adding to the atmosphere. The noise of their return reverberated around the 65,000 capacity Saint Petersburg stadium with both sets of fans enthusiastically blowing vuvuzelas at every attack. Posters on social media were largely unhappy with the development, including former England great Gary Lineker. There was also concern by animal rights campaigners on Thursday when a video of a bear in the back of a truck playing a vuvuzela in the aftermath of Russia's 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Moscow was widely shared on social media platforms.
Rajitha makes Sri Lanka breakthrough as Windies toil
Debutant Kasun Rajitha got the breakthrough just before lunch as the West Indies reached the interval at 65 for one in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings 253 on the second day of the second Test here today. One of four changes to the Sri Lankan side that lost the first Test in Trinidad by 226 runs, Rajitha benefited from Kraigg Brathwaite's continuing indecisiveness outside the off-stump. Twice dismissed at the Queen's Park Oval via an outside edge to the wicketkeeper, the West Indies vice-captain was again snared by Niroshan Dickwella as Rajitha, the 25-year-old fast-medium bowler, exploited the home vice-captain's area of vulnerability. Brathwaite's contribution to a painstaking opening stand off 59 was 22 off 79 deliveries. After his double-failure in the first Test, Devon Smith played with similar caution against tight, disciplined Sri Lankan bowling in overcast conditions. He will resume in the afternoon session on 29 off 80 deliveries alongside Kieran Powell. Smith's only ...
Jose Gimenez's late header helps Uruguay beat Egypt 1-0
Two-time winners Uruguay defeated Egypt 1-0 in their opening Group A game of the FIFA World Cup here at the Ekaterinburg Arena on Friday.However, before this win, Uruguay had failed to win any of their opening games at the last six World Cups they played in, while Egypt's two previous opening games were also winless.Jose Gimenez scored the winning goal for Uruguay with a brilliant header in 89th minute of the match.Egypt suffered a major blow as their talismanic striker Mohamed Salah was not included in starting line-up following his shoulder injury.Salah sustained a shoulder injury during his club Liverpool's 1-3 defeat to Real Madrid in the finals of the Champions League last month.The Uruguay, who were competing in their 13th World Cup, had not won their opening game at a World Cup since 1970.Uruguay appeared in their third consecutive World Cup, having also made an impressive fourth-place finish at the 2010 World Cup, while the Egyptians featured in their first World Cup match ...
Manav, Ayhika steal limelight at table tennis meet
India's young paddlers Manav Thakkar and Ayhika Mukherjee stunned much higher-ranked players in the CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) League here today. In the end, RP-SG Mavericks proved to be the superior side of the day, beating last years finalists Empowerji Challengers 5-2 to earn 13 points while yielding just 8 in the seven-match encounter. Ayhika began the march for the Mavericks, upsetting World No. 20 Lee Ho Ching and giving them an unexpected 2-1 lead. But Thakkar, who is also the Under-18 World No. 2, sprung a turnaround for Challengers by shocking World No. 33 Kou Lei. Ranked 104 spots below her opponent from Hong Kong, Ayhika overcame her first game loss to win 2-1 (4-11, 11-2, 11-5, defending smartly to unsettle Lee Ho Ching. Challengers' Thakkar then attacked with confidence to gain maximum points (17) on his serve to upstage his Ukrainian rival, ranked 213 places above him. He won 2-1 (11-4, 11-7, 10-11) to tie the score 3-3. Mavericks, however, surged ...
Salah unused against Uruguay to ensure he plays against Russia: Coach
Egypt's star striker Mohamed Salah was left on the bench during the team's 1-0 defeat by Uruguay in their first match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup to ensure that he plays against Russia in their next match, head coach Hector Cuper said on Friday.
Lorenzo sets pace on Day 1 of free practice for Catalonia MotoGP
Spain's Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati) on Friday set the pace on the first day of free practice for the Catalonia MotoGP, which saw Marc Marquez crashing and ending up on the ground.
Bhanwala bags three medals at shooting meet
Shooter Muskan Bhanwala backed up her prodigious run at the ISSF Junior World Cup with two gold medals in the 25m Pistol Junior Women (Individual) and senior team category and a silver in the senior women category, at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting range here on Friday.
Manav, Ayhika stun higher-ranked foreign rivals in UTT
India's young paddlers Manav Thakkar and Ayhika Mukherjee created a flutter at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here, stunning much higher-ranked players in the CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT). In the end, RP-SG Mavericks proved to be the superior side of the day beating last year's finalists Empowerji Challengers 5-2. They picked up 13 points in the process while yielding just 8 in the seven-match encounter. Ayhika began the march for the Mavericks, upsetting World No. 20 Lee Ho Ching and giving them an unexpected 2-1 lead; but India's teen sensation Thakkar, who is also the Under-18 World No. 2, sprung a turnaround for Challengers by shocking World No. 33 Kou Lei. Ranked 104 spots below her opponent from Hong Kong, Ayhika overcame her first game loss to win 2-1 (4-11, 11-2, 11-5). She defended smartly to unsettle Lee Ho Ching and kept her calm all through the match for an important victory. Challengers' Thakkar then attacked with confidence to gain maximum points (17) on serve ..
James a worry for Colombia ahead of Japan World Cup opener
James Rodriguez -- the top scorer at Brazil 2014 -- remains a doubt for Colombia's World Cup opener against Japan after missing training today due to muscle fatigue. The Bayern Munich star helped steer Colombia to their best-ever finish at a World Cup four years ago before they were ousted in the quarter-finals by hosts Brazil. Expected to lead his nation's challenge in Russia, James has been plagued by discomfort in his left calf since last week, when Jose Pekerman's side left Milan following a 16-day spell in the Italian city. James, who had a hand in nearly half of Colombia's goals (six goals, four assists) during qualifying for Russia 2018, was absent from a training session that was open to the public in the Sviyaga stadium, west of Kazan. Striker Carlos Bacca, who plays for Villarreal, played down fears over James and midfielder Wilmar Barrios ahead of Tuesday's match. "Both have a little muscle fatigue but that's normal with the amount of work that has been done since we left ..
Egypt did not want to 'risk' Salah, says coach Cuper
Mohamed Salah was kept on the bench in Egypt's opening World Cup defeat against Uruguay on Friday because the team did not want to risk further injury to the Liverpool star. Salah, who turned 26 on Friday, injured his shoulder three weeks ago in Liverpool's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid. On the eve of the Uruguay match in Yekaterinburg, which the South Americans won 1-0, Egypt coach Hector Cuper said Salah was fit, raising the Pharoahs' hopes that he would start the Group A clash. "He's certainly important, nobody can deny that, but you need a good team too -- and we are a good team," said Cuper. "If Mo had been on the pitch it may have been different but we can't know that." "He did not play today because we wanted to avoid risk or danger but I think that he will be fine for the next match," said the coach. "Yesterday we were quite certain that he would play. At the end of training he was examined in depth and there was some doubt if he fell or was hit by another ...
France coach welcomes Griezmann decision to stay at Atletico
France's coach Didier Deschamps on Friday welcomed the decision of forward Antoine Griezmann to stay at Atletico Madrid, noting that the step is great news for both the La Liga side and the French national football team.
Federer into Stuttgart semis, closes on No.1 spot
Roger Federer edged closer to displacing Rafael Nadal at the top of the world rankings as he hammered Guido Pella 6-4, 6-4 on Friday at the Stuttgart Cup. The Swiss top seed needs to win one more match against either Australian fourth seed Nick Kyrgios or 2017 finalist Feliciano Lopez to return to the No.1 spot for the second time this season. The quarter-final victory in 55 minutes, which ended on a backhand, featured two breaks of serve for the Swiss, who executed well in his second match in three months after skipping the clay season and last playing in March. Federer is aiming for a first title in Stuttgart after losing in the 2016 semis to Dominic Thiem and going out in an opening match a year ago to longtime friend Tommy Haas. The 36-year-old won his 19th match from 21 played this season as his Wimbledon buildup continues on track. At the All England club next month, the 20-time Grand Slam champion will be seeking a ninth title at the grass-court major. At the bottom of the ...
Muskan bags three medals in KSS Memorial Shooting
National team shooter Muskan Bhanwala stole the limelight by clinching three medals, including two golds in the women's 25m pistol junior and senior individual categories besides a silver in the senior team event at the 18th KSS Memorial Shooting Championship, here today. 2015 Asian Air Gun Championship medalist Shreya Gawande of Maharashtra ruled the roost in the senior women category as she emerged triumphant with a score of 35. Haryana's Muskan kept the competition evenly contested but had to settle for a silver with a score of 30. Another lass from Haryana, Anisa Sayyed, was right behind her teammate with a score of 23 to settle for bronze. In the team competition, Muskan partnered World University Shooting Championship gold medalist Gauri Sheoran and Anisa Sayyed to clinch the gold medal for Haryana. ISSF Junior World Cup gold medalist Devanshi Rana, Asian Games medalist Shweta Singh and Shilpi Bisht led ONGC to a silver. CRPF's Pushpanjali Rana, Rachna Devi and Sarvesh Tomar ...