Page 1507 - Sports
US football league hails selection of North America as host of 2026 World Cup
The United States' top football league said FIFA's decision on Wednesday to award the 2026 World Cup hosting rights to a combined bid from the US, Canada and Mexico was enormously important to efforts to promote the sport in that part of the world.
Achilles the cat predicts Russian victory at World Cup opening match
"Achilles," the feline resident mouse-catcher at St. Petersburg's Hermitage museum, was on Wednesday promoted to Soccer-oracle-in-chief stardom after predicting Russia's victory versus Saudi Arabia on the opening World Cup match that kicks off Thursday at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium.
Filippo Inzaghi named new coach of Bologna
Filippo Inzaghi has been appointed the new coach of Bologna after signing a contract for the next two football seasons, the Italian club confirmed on Wednesday.
Ali strikes as Australia slump to 214 all out against England
Moeen Ali took three wickets as number one-ranked England tried to put their shock six-run loss to Scotland behind them by dismissing Australia for just 214 in the first one-day international at The Oval here today. Off-spinner Ali took three wickets for 43 runs in 10 overs and leg-spinner Adil Rashid two for 36. This match had started with Australia, keen to show the more sporting side of their nature, shaking hands with their England counterparts -- a move instigated by new captain Tim Paine. But their familiar problems against spin, evident in warm-up wins over Sussex and Middlesex where they twice failed to post 300 batting first, resurfaced. Wickets fell steadily either side of a sixth-wicket stand of 84 between Glenn Maxwell (62) and Ashton Agar (40), the only two Australia batsmen to get beyond 24. This was Australia's first international series since their tour of South Africa saw former captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner -- two of the world's leading batsmen -- ..
Brazil, Argentina are favourite teams of Chennai fans
Brazil and Argentina are universal favourites when it comes to football and it is no different in Chennai. Soccer fans in the city are making plans to catch their preferred teams in action from the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Russia tomorrow. While several hotels here have planned screening of the matches, Goethe Institut, Germany's cultural Institute, plans to telecast the matches at its centre here. Also, some soccer clubs will be screening the matches for the public at their grounds. Slum Children Sports Talent and Education Development Society (SCSTEDS), which is into promoting football in the northern fringes of the city, plans to screen as many games as possible from the tournament as possible at a ground at Vysarpadi locality here. The club's office-bearers told PTI that they would screen some matches at the ground at Mullai Nagar. "There are hundreds of football lovers in the area. The passion for the game is immense and though they can't watch the matches
Arpit, Adarsh clinch gold on Day 1 of KSS Memorial Shooting meet
National team shooter Arpit Goel of Delhi bagged the top honours in the 25 metre Rapid Fire Pistol (senior) men category whereas in the junior category Adarsh Singh clinched the gold with a difference of just one point in the KSS Memorial Shooting Championship here on Wednesday.
Oly medalist Vijay Kumar wins bronze, team gold on the 1st day of KSS shooting
On a comeback trial, Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar won a bronze medal in his pet 25m rapid fire pistol event, besides accounting for a gold in the team event on the first day of the the 18th KSS Memorial Shooting Championship here today. While Vijay won the bronze, Arpit Goel of Delhi displayed his class to run away with the top honours in the 25m rapid fire pistol senior men's category. Arpit asserted his dominance from the initial phases and remained unchallenged with a score of 34 points. Five points behind him at 29, Shivam Shukla of the Air Force bagged the silver while 2012 Olympic Silver medallist Vijay shot 24 points to finish third. In the team event, Vijay led from the front as he notched up a score of 579 for Haryana. His teammates, Adarsh Singh and Harpreet Singh looked in great touch as the team scored a cumulative score of 1723 to annex the gold. The Army Markman Unit, comprising Gurmeet, Gurpreet Singh and Pemba Tamang, were not far behind with a score of 1711 to
Dhawan aborts practice session, raises injury concern
Senior opener Shikhar Dhawan's curtailed practice session today raised serious doubts about his participation in the historic one-off Test against Afghanistan, starting here tomorrow. Even though it still is not confirmed what actually happened to Dhawan, his unavailability tomorrow could possible open the door for Karun Nair in the middle-order. In case Dhawan is unable to play, KL Rahul is set to open the batting along side Murali Vijay and Nair is likely to find a place in middle-order. Unlike Vijay, who was rested for the optional practice session, Dhawan did turn up for training but was conspicuous by absence at the net session. Dhawan stated off by doing some running between the wickets drill but looked gingerly and clearly in some discomfort. He was then seen talking to Indian team fitness trainer Shankar Basu and physio Patrick Farhat and after that he didn't take part in the customary net session where Rahul spent extended time. All the bowlers (two frontline pacers Ishant ...
Afghan Chief Executive to watch India-Afghanistan test match tomorrow
Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah is scheduled to witness the historic moment when Afghanistan embarks on a new journey and makes its debut in test cricket at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru tomorrow. Sources said Abdullah will be the chief guest while Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will represent the government of India at the opening ceremony of the match. It will be Afghanistan's first test match after gaining the status of test playing nation last year. Officials said cricket has become a "unifying factor" in cementing ties between the two countries. India has been actively engaged in reconstruction activities in the war-ravaged country and has already spent around USD 2 billion in various projects and capacity building initiatives. Earlier this year, India had decided to undertake another batch of 108 community development projects in the war-torn country. India has also been associated with the development of cricket in Afghanistan since 2001 when ...
Fernando Hierro named Spain's manager for FIFA World Cup 2018
Former Real Madrid and Bolton Wanderers centre-back Fernando Hierro will take over as the manager of Spain for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.The decision follows the ousting of the team's former manager, Julen Lopetegui, on Wednesday.Hierro was previously the sporting director for the national team and has also served as the assistant manager at Real Madrid and Malaga's director of football. His only stint as manager of a club came in Spain's Segunda Division in the 2016-17 season, where he failed to achieve promotion and left by mutual consent.On Tuesday, Real Madrid had announced that Lopetegui was to take over from back-to-back-to-back Champions League winner Zinedine Zidane following the conclusion of the World Cup.However, the announcement was not well received by Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) officials.According to media reports, RFEF chief Luis Rubiales was left outraged by the timing of the announcement and the fact that they were not made aware of it earlier.Spain was one of ..
Fans arrive in Russia ahead of World Cup kick-off
Football fans from all corners of the globe began to arrive in Russia on Wednesday as World Cup fever got into full swing on the eve of the opening game, an epa-efe correspondent in the capital reported.
Kiwi teenager hits 232 not out, smashes women's ODI batting record
New Zealand's Amelia Kerr today shattered Belinda Clark's 21-year-old record for the highest score in women's ODI as she smashed 232 not out in a match against Ireland here. The 17-year-old Amelia, opening the New Zealand innings, hit a whopping 31 fours and two sixes in her 145-ball unbeaten knock that took her side to 440 for 3 after electing to bat first in the third ODI here. The earlier record of 229 not out in the name former Australian captain Belinda was set when Amelia was not even born. Belinda had made 229 not out against Denmark in Mumbai in December 1997. The Wellington-born Amelia, who made her debut in 2016 against Pakistan, has played 19 ODIs and nine T20Is before today's match. Before today, Amelia's highest score was 81 not out and that was her lone fifty-plus innings. She has also taken 31 ODI wickets.
Spain rocked by coach change; Hierro replaces Lopetegui (Roundup)
Spain's preparations for the FIFA World Cup have been hit hard a day before the tournament kicks off with the Spanish Football Federation, RFEF confirming on Wednesday that Fernando Hierro will be the head coach of the national team following the decision to sack Real Madrid-bound Julen Lopetegui earlier in the day.
USA, Mexico, Canada to jointly host FIFA World Cup 2026
In a first, The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.This comes after the trio's joint bid outperformed one placed by Morocco, thus helping the former secure the hosting rights for the mega event.The 2026 edition will be Canada's debut hosting the great event, the second for the United States (first in 1994) and third for Mexico (after 1970 and 1986).The 134 votes that the bid from the North Americans gathered in contrast to Morocco's 65 will have given the United States a much-needed boost with the disappointment of not having made it to Russia still hovering in their minds. Also, automatic qualification berths will mean they won't have to worry about it, reports Goal.Despite suggestions that Morroco might have been favoured due to the controversial figure that United States President Donald Trump is, the bid from the USA, Canada and Mexico was always considered as the favourite throughout, the report said.Morocco was also boosted by the .
Second season of Ultimate Table Tennis starts Thursday (Preview)
With the rest of the world gripped in football fever on the eve of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, fans in India will have the luxury to switch to some other action as well, as the second season of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) gets underway here from Thursday.
Fans flock to Germany's first World Cup training session
Germany got down to business in the defence of their World Cup title today with their first training session in Russia, which was open to the public. Around 400 spectators, who needed tickets to see the world champions in action, and 200 media saw head coach Joachim Loew put the German squad through their paces in a series of short matches. Dozens of ticketless locals had to wait outside as security was tight at the CSKA Moscow training complex near the Germany team hotel in Vatutinki, a 45-minute drive from Moscow. Captain Manuel Neuer looked sharp, making several saves even though the goalkeeper has only just returned from eight months sidelined by a fractured foot. Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan also impressed amid off-field rumblings after he and Mesut Ozil were criticised for posing alongside Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month. Defender Mats Hummels, plus wingers Marco Reus and Julian Brandt also stood out. Centre-back Jerome Boateng was lacking ...
Germany eye an encore as World Cup kicks off (Preview)
Germany will aim to be the third country to successfully defend their crown while other traditional powers Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France will also fancy their chances when the 2018 FIFA World Cup starts here on Thursday.
US, Mexico and Canada win race to host 2026 World Cup
The United States, Mexico and Canada will host the 2026 World Cup after a clear victory over underdogs Morocco in a vote by FIFA member nations today. The joint North American bid received 134 of the 203 votes, while Morocco polled 65 in the ballot at a FIFA Congress held in Moscow on the eve of the 2018 World Cup. It means global football's showpiece event will return to the North American continent for the first time since 1994 when the United States hosted the tournament. Bid leader Carlos Cordeiro said his team was "humbled by the trust our colleagues in the FIFA family have put in our bid". He said the tournament had an opportunity to put football "on a new and sustainable path for generations to come." It will be the first World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams, posing an enormous logistical challenge for the hosts, one of the issues that is thought to have undermined the Moroccan bid. US President Donald Trump tweeted: "The U.S., together with Mexico and Canada, just got the ...
Falcons begin title defence tomorrow
Falcons TTC are commencing their title defence in the second season of CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis here tomorrow against Maharashtra United. Falcons' top-ranked woman player Matilda Ekholm (World No. 30) was confident her team will start well. "We have a good chance of picking up points, she said, after her training session at the Balewadi sports complex. "We are a strong team and are all in good shape. I am confident of defending the title," added the Swede. Falcons camp had defeated Maharashtra United in both their ties last season. Sanil Shetty, Priyadarshini Das, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Englishman Liam Pitchford were part of the teams success story last year and they are all seeking to extend their fine showing. However, Falcons need to be wary of rival coach Franciso Santos, as the Portuguese would know their strengths and weaknesses, having been their own coach for Season 1and will also be aiming for a similar result with his new franchise. Maharashtra United's World
Aakansha holds fancied rival Anna
India's WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (ELO 2297) made a promising start by holding fancied IM Anna Zozulia (ELO 2314) of Belgium to a draw in the opening round of the SBI Life-AICF Women Grandmaster Chess Championship today. Playing on the third board, the Indian player put up a creditable performance against the higher ranked Belgian and forced a division of points in 40 moves at the Acres Club in suburban Chembur. On the top board, WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (ELO 2379) of Uzbekistan and Russias WIM Elena Tomilova (ELO 2334) also shared the honours after a tame draw. Vietnam's WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (ELO 2376), WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (ELO 2323) of Kazakhstan and favourite IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (ELO 2410) of Mongolia all had a successful first round, defeating their Indian opponents. Thi Kim Phung Vo defeated Divya Deshmukh (ELO 2138), Guliskhan tamed WIM Monnisha G K (ELO 2295) and Batkhuyag outwitted WIM Srija Seshadri (ELO 2207). The tournament is being jointly ...