Page 1546 - Sports
Serena, Sharapova ready to renew bad blood in Paris
Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova bring their career-long bitter feud to Roland Garros on Monday with the bad blood between the sport's two iconic stars threatening to boil over. Sharapova has not defeated her fellow former world number one since 2004 -- a streak of 18 matches -- the same year she made her global breakthrough at Wimbledon as a slender teenager prone to fits of giggles. The pair's eagerly-awaited showdown pushed Monday's other fourth round matches into the shade. World number one Simona Halep, twice a runner-up, needed less than an hour to make the last-eight in Paris for the third time with a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Belgium's Elise Mertens. "I was a little bit stronger in the important moments," said Halep. However, Australian Open champion and second seed Caroline Wozniacki was knocked out by Russia's Daria Kasatkina 7-6 (7/5), 6-3. The 22nd match of the one-sided Williams-Sharapova rivalry will once again be played out against a familiar soundtrack of suspicion and ...
Broad, Woakes move up in Test rankings post Headingley win
England pacers Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes have moved up the ICC Test Player Rankings after putting up a fine show that helped their side register a huge win by an innings and 55 runs over Pakistan in the second Test against England at Headingley to finish the two-match series at 1-1.Broad's figures of three for 38 and three for 28 have helped him gain two spots and move to 12th place, the position on which he had started the series while Woakes has gained one spot to reach 34th place after taking four wickets in the match.James Anderson's five wickets have helped him gain three points to reach within five points of top-ranked Kagiso Rabada (897 points).Among their batsmen, Jos Buttler is the biggest gainer, as his player of the match effort of 80 not out has lifted him 19 places to 63rd position.Opener Alastair Cook (up one place to 13th), Dawid Malan (up one place to 60th) and Dominic Bess (up 23 places to 92) are the others to gain.For Pakistan, Abbas and Amir have retained their
Australia's Cahill defiant as fourth World Cup looms
Australia's ageing talisman Tim Cahill has endured a rocky road to his fourth World Cup but insists "given the chance, I'll always produce when it counts". Cahill, 38, who has spent most of this season on the sidelines, will join exalted company if he can silence his doubters and find back of the net in Russia. Only three other players have scored at four World Cups -- Brazilian legend Pele and the Germans Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose. Cahill is the Socceroos' all-time top scorer, with 50 goals, and has 105 caps for Australia, a record for an outfield player. "He's a special case," Australia's Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said. "He's special in everything. He's 38 and maybe one of the best-ever players for Australia. He's a very good striker." In his pomp, Cahill carved up English Premier League defences for Everton and helped Australia reach the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup. He retains a knack for scoring crucial goals, including rescuing Australia's stuttering World Cup ...
Umtiti's new Barcelona contract has 500m euro buyout
The contract extension to 2023 that France defender Samuel Umtiti signed with Barcelona on Monday contains 500m euro (USD 586m) buyout clause said club president Josep Maria Bartomeu. "We think that with this clause, no one will dream of coming here" for him, Bartomeu said at a press conference at the Nou Camp immediately after Umtiti signed. "It's great news for Barcelona fans," said Bartomeu, who signed Umtiti for 25m from Lyon in 2016. "Without Samuel, this team would not be the same and we need him." Umtiti, who is 24 and has played 17 times for France, took a break from World Cup camp at Clairefontaine near Paris to travel to Barcelona. "I'm a little nervous because my dream here continues," Umtiti said. "From the first day here in Barcelona I felt at home and now I want to stay 15 years." Umititi's previous deal had a 60m euro buyout, but that had begun to look low after Liverpool paid 84m euros for Virgil van Dijk in December and Manchester City paid 70m euros for Aymeric ...
Mohamed Salah included in final Egypt World Cup squad
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah was included Monday in Egypt's 2018 World Cup squad despite still underdoing treatment for a shoulder injury he suffered in the Champions League final, the Egyptian Football Association said. Salah, who hit a stunning 44 goals for Liverpool last season in all competitions, was forced out of the final in tears last month clutching his left shoulder after being wrestled to the ground by Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. Salah has undergone treatment in Valencia, Spain, in the hope of playing a role in Egypt's first appearance in the World Cup since 1990. On Wednesday, the federation had said Salah would be out for "not more" than three weeks, meaning he could miss Egypt's opening World Cup Group A fixture against Uruguay on June 15. Egypt then face Russia on June 19 and Saudi Arabia on June 25.
Injured Kompany in Belgian World Cup '24'
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez delivered a 24-man World Cup squad on Monday with his iconic but often injured captain Vincent Kompany on the roster, accompanied by a potential replacement. The Manchester City central defender picked up an injury in a friendly with Portugal on Saturday and FIFA rules stipulate injured players can be replaced up to 24 hours before a nation's first group phase game. Belgium play a Group A game with Panama on June 18 in Sochi. If Kompany is unfit Martinez will drop him in favour of Laurent Ciman, who plays for Los Angeles in the MLS. "We are doing everything to give Vincent his chance but one thing is clear, if he's not fit in time he's not going to the World Cup," said Belgium's Spanish coach Roberto Martinez. Martinez proved his ruthless streak by earlier leaving Radja Nainggolan out of the 27-man provisional squad after a series of run ins with the Roma midfielder, including missing training. The three men trimmed from the Belgium squad were misfiring
After Chhetri's plea, tickets for India game sold out
In the wake of Sunil Chhetri's impassioned plea, fans are set to throng the Mumbai Football Arena here today, as tickets for India's Intercontinental Cup game against Kenya were sold out. On Saturday, India skipper Chhetri had posted an emotional video, urging fans to come and support the team for what will also be his 100th international match. "Yes, the tickets have been sold out for tonight's game," an official told PTI. Mumbai District Football Association president Aaditya Thackeray tweeted, "I'm glad that after @chetrisunil11's heartfelt appeal, so many of us have responded and got the seats to #BacktheBlue. This is only the beginning, let's make sure each game that @IndianFootball plays is houseful! They pour their heart out for us, least we can do is be there!!" Chhetri made the emotional appeal a day after slamming a hat-trick in India's 5-0 demolition of Chinese Taipei in the tournament opener, and he found instant support from the country's top cricketers, including current
ISL: Mumbai City FC rope in left-back Subhasish Bose
Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Mumbai City FC on Monday roped in India and Bengaluru FC fullback Subhasish Bose for the next two years.
Cleared Guerrero heads Peru's World Cup squad
Freed from his doping ban, Peru's captain and main goalscorer Paolo Guerrero was on Monday included in the country's pared-down World Cup squad at the expense of midfielder Sergio Pena. Pena signalled that he had been omitted with a post of his Instagram account on Sunday after playing as a second-half substitute as Peru beat Saudi Arabia, 3-0, in a World Cup warmup game. "Today I have lived through the hardest moment of my career," wrote Pena, who plays for Granada in Spain. "I feel that I did not do enough to be able play in the greatest tournament in the world and represent my country in the best way." Guerrero, freshly restored to the team, scored twice against the Saudis, in Saint Gallen, Switzerland, the first after 41 minutes. "Paolo's goal was very emotional," coach Ricardo Gareca was quoted as saying on the Peruvian football federation web site. "It made me very happy." Now 34, the talismanic captain, who has hit 34 goals for his country, was restored to the team after a ...
French Open: Halep sweeps past Mertens to enter quarters
World No. 1 Tennis player Simona Halep swept past Elise Mertens of Belgium with a rapid 6-2, 6-1 victory in the fourth round of the French Open to reach the quarterfinals.
Man United close to signing Brazilian Fred
Brazil midfielder Fred could be Manchester United's first summer signing, according to a report.
Warner to join Smith in Canadian T20 league
Tainted former Australia Vice captain David Warner will join his former captain Steve Smith at the Global T20 Canadian league later this month.
Umtiti renews contract at Barcelona
French center-back Samuel Umtiti reassured Barcelona football fans on Monday that despite receiving offers from other soccer clubs, he had never considered leaving the club.
Paes returns, Yuki gets exemption from Asian Games
The iconic Leander Paes today made a comeback to the Asian Games bound Indian squad while Yuki Bhambri was "exempted" as AITA threw its weight behind country's top singles player in his quest for Grand Slam glory. Paes, who has won eight medals at the previous editions of Asian Games, has not competed in the prestigious quadrennial event since winning the men's doubles gold with Mahesh Bhupathi and mixed doubles gold with Sania Mirza at the 2006 Doha Games. The AITA backed Yuki in skipping the Games in Indonesia, where tennis events will begin on August 19, saying there are not many Indians competing in the singles at Grand Slams, thus, "the boy must be supported." Yuki, ranked 94, is expected to make the cut for the US Open and since the tennis events in Indonesia will conclude only two days before the New York Grand Slam begins on August 27, he could not have possibly recovered for the marquee event. The selection committee chose to pick three singles specialists -- Ramkumar ...
Iceland: Will the 'Viking clap' shake the World Cup? (Team Profile)
After shocking the world by reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, the Iceland national football team continued their unexpectedly good form by qualifying for their first FIFA World Cup.
Women's Asia Cup: India beat Thailand by 66 runs
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's all-round show helped India notch up their second successive win in the women's Asia Cup as the women-in-blue defeated Thailand by 66 runs at the Royal Selangor Club here on Monday.
Injured Bendnter misses out as Denmark name World Cup 23
Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner, injured in a Norwegian league game, did not make the country's final 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia. Bendtner, 30, hobbled off the field in tears on May 27 after hurting a thigh playing for Rosenborg. Defender Andreas Bjelland, who plays for Brentford in the English Championship, also missed out because of an injury. "They resumed training with the squad but we do not think they will be back in shape for the first game," said coach Age Hareide, in a statement released by the Danish football federation. Denmark open their World Cup against Peru in Saransk on June 16. They then face Australia before finishing their Group C campaign against one of the favourites, France. "The match against Peru is very important," Hareide said. "We are presumably going to be fighting for second place in the group and for that we need to have fit players." After a goalless draw away to Sweden on Saturday the Danes have one more warmup game against Mexico in ...
Neuer is in Germany World Cup squad, Sane left out
Germany have included 2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in their final squad for the 2018 tournament, even though he has only just returned from a long-term absence through injury. But coach Joachim Loew omitted Manchester City striker Leroy Sane from his 23-player list despite a strong season with the Premier League champions. Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer made his first appearance since September in the 2-1 defeat by Austria in a friendly on Saturday. The 32-year-old who is considered key to Germany's hopes of retaining the title had been sidelined for eight months after fracturing a metatarsal in his left foot last September in a recurrence of the same injury he suffered earlier in 2017. Sane was cut from the squad with Timo Werner and the veteran Mario Gomez included as just two out-and-out strikers.
Tencent Games 'Arena of Valor' to feature in Asian Games 2018
Tencent Games' 'Arena of Valor', one of the most popular and addictive MOBA games (multiplayer online battle arena), will be featured in the upcoming 2018 Asian Games.The Asian esports Federation (AeSF) and the Olympic Council of Asia ("OCA") announced its selection of a total of six games that have been included for the multi-sport event in Jakarta later this year, including other popular games like Pro Evolution Soccer, League of Legends, Hearthstone, Starcraft II and Clash Royale. The 2018 edition of Asian Games will include esports titles for the first time, although they will be demonstration events and will not be included in the overall medals tally.A total of 45 nations will participate in the regional qualifiers of the esports category, out of which eight teams will be selected for the main rounds to be played in late August. Esports has been confirmed as a full medal event from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Each participating country's National Olympic Committee (NOC) will .
Intercontinental Cup: After Chhetri's plea, tickets sold out for India-Kenya clash
Hot on the heels of skipper Sunil Chhetri's emotional plea seeking support from fans, tickets for India's second Intercontinental Cup game against Kenya were sold out here.