Page 1515 - Sports
Afghanistan gear up for first Men's Test
The newest Test nation Afghanistan is all set to take on India in its debut in Bengaluru from Thursday.Afghanistan, who have fast established themselves as a force to reckon with in the shorter formats, will become the 12th side to figure in men's Test cricket after Ireland debuted against Pakistan last month. Both Ireland and Afghanistan were granted Full Member and Test status last June.The one-off Test against India will be Afghanistan's first step towards being ranked on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings and a chance for their gifted players to enter the individual rankings after making a mark in limited-overs cricket.India stand to lose three points if they lose this match but their number-one position is under no threat, thanks to a 13-point lead over South Africa."It's a great moment for us as we embark on our Test journey. To be playing our first Test against India is a great honour and we hope to give a good account of ourselves," said Afghanistan captain Asghar ...
Vieira appointed head coach of OGC Nice
Former France captain Patrick Vieira has been appointed the head coach of OGC Nice, the French football club announced on Monday, without revealing further details.
600 sports nurseries to be opened in Haryana
Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij today said 600 sports nurseries would be opened to boost sports in the state. About 440 nurseries are already functioning in the state. In these nurseries, school students would be imparted training and equipped to bring laurels to the country. Players, who regularly practice in these nurseries, are paid stipend of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per month so that they can meet their requirements and do not pose any additional burden on their parents. He said on the demand of players, foreign coaches would be provided to enable them to prepare themselves for the Olympics Games. So far, 400 Vyavamshalas and Yogshalas have been opened and more are being set up in villages. The recruitment process for recruiting Yoga trainers for the Yogshalas is under way, he added.
Paris honours Nadal after his 11th French Open victory
The city of Paris paid tribute to Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal on Monday, a day after he won his record-extending 11th French Open title.
Hamilton remains confident despite problems
Lewis Hamilton may have lost his lead in the world drivers' championship, but he is confident he and Mercedes will recover after a tough weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix. While rival four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari rejoiced in their first Montreal win since 2004, which ended Hamilton and Mercedes' three-year supremacy at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the defending champion Briton was hit by engine problem and finished fifth. "Straight from the start, the power started dropping out," said Hamilton, whose Mercedes engine was in its seventh race this season, while other teams introduced new upgraded power units. "There were lots of hesitations, engine dropping in power, so I thought the engine was going to blow. We don't have a problem with cooling, we just had something fail that sent temperatures up. "It was an unforeseen issue and that was losing us power. We were operating far below our power target. "The whole race, 70 laps, I thought the engine was going ..
'Moaning won't help' - Germany head to isolated World Cup base
After the tropical tranquility of their base at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, reigning champions Germany fly into Russia tomorrow hoping the rain stays away from their isolated base outside Moscow. Campo Bahia, the sun-drenched luxury hotel surrounded by palm trees on Brazil's Atlantic coast and specially constructed to be their headquarters, was credited by the Germans as a key part of their 2014 success. For their Russia 2018 campaign, the Vatutinki Hotel Spa Complex, 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of the Russian capital and surrounded by forest, has been selected as Germany's World Cup haven -- complete with a thick concrete wall to thwart prying eyes. After the tropical temperatures of Campo Bahia, which was also isolated, the Germans expect wetter climes in the sparsely populated district far from the distractions of Moscow. "Campo Bahia was great, an oasis of calm," Germany coach Joachim Loew said last week. "Now we have different conditions. We hope that it does not rain ...
Watford bag Barca's Deulofeu
Barcelona today said they have sold Spanish striker Gerard Deulofeu to English Premier League side Watford, where he had been on loan since January, for 13 million euros (dollars). "FC Barcelona and Watford FC have reached agreement on the transfer of Gerard Deulofeu to the English club," a Barca statement said. Watford said the 24-year-old, who did not make the Spanish squad but has won four caps, had signed a five-year deal. Barca said the total value of the deal was 17 million euros including four in add-ons for the graduate of its famed Masia youth academy who scored one goal in seven games for the Hornets last season.
Federer eyes top spot return in Stuttgart
Roger Federer said today his motivation is sky-high as he bids for a possible return to the number one ranking if he reaches the final at the Stuttgart Cup. The 36-year-old Swiss, second in the ATP standings behind 11-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, has it all to play for this week at the hilltop Weissenhof club, where he lost a year ago in the first round to longtime friend and rival Tommy Haas. After sitting out the clay season to fully rest and prepare for the grass and last playing match in Miami on March 24, the 20-time grand slam winner is quietly confident that all is falling into place as he mounts his quest for a ninth Wimbledon trophy next month. "There are a lot of things at stake," the Swiss, who enjoys a first round bye, said. "I expected Rafa to win the French -- not taking anything away from him. "But that creates a situation I was expecting. I know I have to reach the final here to get back to No. 1, that's an extra motivation. "But I'm taking one thing at a ..
Women's hockey: India begin 5-match series against Spain (Preview)
The Indian women's hockey team will start its five-match bilateral series against Spain on Tuesday at the Consejo Superior de Deportes Hockey Stadium.
Brazilian legend Ronaldo to feature in World Cup opening ceremony
Brazilian football great Ronaldo and British pop star Robbie Williams will participate in Thursday's World Cup opening ceremony before the first match between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia, FIFA announced on Monday.
Spain's Rodrigo allays fears over Pique's knee
Spanish footballer Rodrigo Moreno on Monday played down concerns about the fitness of Gerard Pique, who was forced to exit team training earlier with apparent pain in his left knee just four days before the squad's Group B opener against next-door neighbours Portugal.
Two Indians enter final, Gaurav settles for bronze in Russian boxing tourney
Two Indian boxers advanced to the finals but Gaurav Bidhuri (56kg) settled for a bronze medal after going down in the last-four stage of the Umakhanov Memorial Tournament in Kaspiysk, Russia today. World Championships bronze-medalist Bidhuri lost to Kazakhstan's Siroshiddin Abdullayev in a split 2-3 decision, rounding off a fine campaign in his comeback tournament after being out due to a back injury. Advancing to the final were Brijesh Yadav (81kg) and Virender Kumar (91kg). While Yadav out-punched local favourite Abdulla Nazhmudinov, Kumar got the better of Azerbaijan's Gulguseyn Agazade to make the summit clashes scheduled for tomorrow. Among the Indian women, only Saweety Boora (75kg) has made the final. World youth champion Shashi Chopra (57kg), former Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Pinki Jangra (51kg) and Pavitra (60kg) had lost their respective semifinal bouts to settle for bronze medals.
Keeper Romero expects to be back for Argentina after World Cup
Argentinean goalkeeper Sergio Romero is confident he will be back for the national football team after missing out on the FIFA World Cup due to a long-standing injury.
I get emotional whenever I think of Gambhir's role in my career: Saini
Navdeep Saini had never bowled with a red leather ball until one fine day he got a chance to bowl during Delhi Ranji team's net session at the Roshanara cricket ground on a pleasant December morning in 2013. Till then, Saini had only played tennis ball tournaments to earn a pocket money ranging from a meagre Rs 250 to Rs 500 per match. He didn't have an idea what he should be doing with the Red SG Test ball but Gautam Gambhir came to his rescue. "Gautam bhaiya told me "Jaise tennis ball se dalta hai, waise hi dal. Koi tension nahi. Baaki sab theek ho jayega (Just bowl like you bowl with a tennis ball. Everything will fall in place). I did what he told me and today I am here because of him. I don't know whenever I speak about Gautam Gambhir, I get emotional," an elated Saini told PTI after receiving his maiden call-up to the Indian senior team for the Afghanistan Test. Saini had managed to impress the key Delhi players and sneaked into the Delhi Ranji team despite initial resistance ...
Spain's Rodrigo praises Ronaldo ahead of World Cup clash
Spain's Rodrigo Moreno, best known as Rodrigo, on Monday praised Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their clash in the first match of the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Spain game vital for Portugal, says Manuel Fernandes
Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Manuel Fernandes today underlined the importance of Portugal's opening World Cup group game against Spain in an early heavyweight clash in Russia. The European champions face 2010 World Cup winners Spain in their first Group B fixture in Sochi on June 15, the winner of which will be in pole position to finish top of a section that includes Morocco and Iran. "It's a very important game for all of us, we're a strong team now and will be playing a very strong team too, one of the top contenders," Fernandes told reporters at Portugal's training base in Kratovo, southeast of Moscow. "We shouldn't be underestimating the other two teams but Spain is one of the favourites. We also have respect for Iran and Morocco and will not take them lightly." "Of course we came here to win all our matches in our group, we can't think about anything else," he added. "Our main goal is to go as far as we can." The 32-year-old Fernandes, who won the first of his 14 caps as a ...
It's a privilege to play Afghanistan in their first Test: Rahane
India captain Ajinkya Rahane today termed it is a "privilege" to be a part of a historic first Test match against Afghanistan. It's a privilege to be playing in Afghanistan's first Test match. It's a historic moment for them and an opportunity for us to be part of the occasion," Rahane was quoted as saying in an ICC release. They have a fine team and some talented players, who have proved themselves in shorter formats. I am sure they are looking forward to do the same in Test cricket. On behalf of the Indian team, I wish them all the best. World's top-ranked team, India are without regular captain and second-ranked Virat Kohli for this Test but the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara (sixth), Rahane (18th) and opener Lokesh Rahul (19th) in batting and former top-ranked spinners Ravindra Jadeja (fourth) and Ravichandran Ashwin (fifth) among bowlers will be looking to improve their positions on the ICC Test Player Rankings. Afghanistan, who have fast established themselves as a force to reckon ..
Portugal's Fernandes says his squad can beat Spain in World Cup
Portugal midfielder Manuel Fernandes said on Monday that his national team is looking to claim the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and can defeat Spain, although the Spanish side is one of the favourites to win the trophy.
Paddler Sathiyan to lead Dabang Smashers in UTT
Dabang Smashers on Monday unveiled India's highest world ranked men's player Sathiyan Gnanasekaran as their captain for the 2018 Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) season, starting here Thursday.
Saini replaces unfit Shami for Afghan Test
Delhi medium pacer Navdeep Saini on Monday earned a call-up to the national side as replacement for Mohammed Shami, who according to a BCCI statement has failed to clear the fitness test at the National Cricket Academy here.