Page 1554 - Sports
Chinese Taipei football coach lauds Sunil Chhetri post India drubbing
Chinese Taipei football team coach Gary White has said that his youngsters would look up to Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri someday.White's comments comes after Chhetri smashed a hat-trick to guide India to a thumping 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei in the opening match of the Intercontinental Cup at the Andheri Sports Complex on Friday."He showed to my young players how to deal with a senior level at the senior level. My players will definitely utilise the experience in a positive manner. Congratulations to Sunil for his wonderful career and the goals. The youngsters from my team will certainly look up to him someday," Chhetri said.Referring to Chinese Taipei fielding a young squad, White maintained that the "experience" would help them in the long run."Everything went right for us in terms of future. We had six U-23 players and two U-19 players on the pitch. In addition, we had four players who made their debut," Chinese Taipei coach Gary White said at the official post-match press ...
River Plate eye permanent deal for midfielder Quintero
River Plate are set to secure Colombia international midfielder Juan Quintero on a permanent deal, according to the Argentine football club's president.
Saha ruled out for Afghan Test, Karthik to replace him
India's wicket-batsman batsman Wriddhiman Saha was today ruled out of the historic one-off Test against Afghanistan after failing to recover from the thumb injury he suffered in this year's Indian Premier League. The BCCI today named Dinesh Karthik as Saha's replacement for Afghanistan's debut Test match to be held in Bengaluru starting June 14. "Mr Wriddhiman Saha has been ruled out of the one-off Paytm Test against Afghanistan to be held in Bengaluru from the 14th of June, 2018," BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement. "He was under observation by the medical staff of the BCCI and the management has decided to give him adequate rest before the start of the England Test series. Saha's recovery period is expected to be around five to six weeks," he added. The 33-year-old stumper suffered the injury to his right thumb while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 of the IPL against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 25 at the Eden Gardens. "The All-India Senior ...
Costa Rica keen to upset favourites at World Cup (Team Profile)
Four years after their stunning last eight finish at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Costa Rica will look forward to another trip to football's biggest stage.
Real Kashmir FC express happiness after being promoted to I-League
The players of the Real Kashmir FC have expressed their excitement after becoming the first Jammu and Kashmir football team to qualify for the I-League.The team also reflected on their four-month journey that eventually saw them clinching the second division League title.Talking to ANI, defender and vice-captain Muhammad Hammad said that it has been an incredible four-month journey together, adding that the hard work of the players had finally paid off."It was a great experience playing against them (Hindustan FC). Especially in the final match, it was a do-or-die match. By the grace of almighty, we qualified for the senior I-League. It was a memorable journey. It has been four months together. We spent a lot of time together. We worked really hard. That is why we are here today," Hammad said.He further said that his team would now look to replicate a similar kind of performance in the upcoming season of the I-League as they had been performing in the second division."It is the first .
World class Eriksen gives Denmark dynamite effect (Team Profile)
The past decade or so hasn't been the best of periods for Danish football. The national team missed out on qualifying for two of the past three FIFA World Cups and needed to beat Ireland in a playoff to book a ticket to this year's edition in Russia.
Tite revives Brazil's beautiful game (Team Profile)
Given their proud history and superb recent form, it comes as little surprise that Brazil will be among the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup when the tournament begins on June 14.
Jabra Ladies Open: Indian golfer Vani misses cut by two shots
Indian woman golfer Vani Kapoor shot a round of 4-over 71, for a total of 7-over 142 after two rounds, to miss the Jabra Ladies Open 2018 cut by a narrow two shots here on Saturday.The 23-year-old eventually finished at the 67th spot at the tournament, which is being played at the renowned Evian Resort Golf Course in Evian-les-Bains, France.Fifty six of the 120 players made the cut at the rain-affected tournament, which was taken at five over par.Finland's Ursula Wikstrom was leading the field at 6-under going into championship day, looking for a first Ladies European Tour (LET) win.This year India's representation at tournament has doubled with Vani making it by virtue of being able to maintain her LET card due to a stellar performance at the Women's Indian Open earlier in the year.Sharmilla Nicollette, the other Indian in the fray, is participating through a sponsor's quota.The winner of the Ladies Jabra Open gets a direct entry into the Ricoh Women's British Open.Two spots are ...
Peru gets out of jail to win prisoners 'World Cup'
It sounds like a punchline: how does a team of prisoners win the World Cup? On penalties! That's how Peru did it, getting out of jail to beat Russia in a tense final at the giant Lima Stadium last week. It wasn't the real thing -- that begins in Russia later this month -- but a deadly serious competition nevertheless that Peru's prison authorities are calling the first World Cup of prisons. Anticipation of the Andean nation's first appearance at a World Cup finals in 36 years has reached fever pitch, and for its chronically overcrowded prisons, the shadow prison tournament provided a rare, sweet breath of freedom. "At last I can breathe a little air," sighed Francis Valero, a tattooed 27-year-old locked up in Lima's Lurigancho jail for drug trafficking. "We are hoping this will help us get reintegrated into society for good conduct." Each of the 16 prisons included in the unique competition took the name, and the colors, of a country participating in the finals. All the matches ...
South Korea suffer confidence-jolting loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina
South Korea's national side lost 1-3 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a pre-World Cup friendly, a stinging defeat that comes less than two weeks before the start of the latest edition of football's premier event.
Tunisia, Turkey draw in friendly
Turkey and Tunisia battled to a 2-2 draw in an international friendly as the North African side continue their preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where they are drawn in Group G along with Belgium, England and Panama.
France look convincing in win over Italy
France prevailed 3-1 over Italy here in the hosts' penultimate international friendly before heading to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Disappointing for India as Vani, Sharmila miss cut in Evian
It was a disappointing day for Indians at the Jabra Ladies Open as both Vani Kapoor and Sharmila Nicollet missed the cut at the Evian Golf Resort in Evian France. Vani (74-75) finished tied 67th while Sharmila (75-76) was tied 86th yesterday. The leader is Finland's Ursula WIkstrom at six-under with 69-67, while Felicity Johnson (72-66) is second at six-under. Elsewhere at the Italian Open, India's SSP Chawrasia missed the cut with rounds 73-71, while Martin Kaymer (68-63) is the leader at 11-under. Rafa Cabrera-Bello (65-67) and Graeme Mcdowell are among five players in tied second place at 10-under. Robert Rock (63-70) and Li Haotong (68-65) are tied 7th at nine-under. At JGT Championships in Japan, Rahil Gangjee missed the cut at JGT Championships at Shishido Hills with rounds of 78-74. The leader is Ryuko Tokimatsu (67-67).
Lahiri misses putts but makes cut; Shubhankar exits from Memorial golf
Ace Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri overcame bad putting to compile a three-under 69 that allowed him to make the weekend cut comfortably at the Memorial Tournament here. Lahiri, who shot 71 in the first round, is now four-under 140 through 36 holes and is tied 35th, despite missing four putts inside 12 feet, one of them from five feet. However, Shubhankar Sharma, who was tied 20th at the Colonial a week earlier exited with an even par second round following a 76 in the first. Chilean teenager Joaquin Niemann (68), making only his fifth start as a pro, shared the lead with Kyle Stanley (66), but the talk of the day was Tiger Woods (67). Niemann and Stanley were 11-under 133 while An Byeong-Hun (68-67) was sole third at nine-under with five players including Hideki Matsuyama (65-71) and Jason Day (68-68) among five players in tied 4th at eight-under. Lahiri opened with a bogey on the first but made birdies on second, seventh and eighth without any further dropped shots as he turned in ...
French Open: Nadal, Halep eye pre-quarterfinal berths
World number one Rafael Nadal will aim to book his place in the fourth round of the French Open when he locks horns with 29th seed Richard Gasquet in the last-32 of the men's singles event here on Saturday.The Spanish tennis maestro had earlier continued his rich vein of form as he registered a comfortable 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 win over Argentina's Guido Pella in a one-sided second-round clash.Nadal, who is bidding to clinch his 11th French Open trophy, will match Margaret Court's all-time record for most singles titles at the same Grand Slam event if he lifts the title again.In women's singles clash, top-seed Simona Halep will also be looking for a pre-quarterfinal spot when she faces Andrea Petkovic of Germany in the third round at Roland Garros.Halep stormed into the last-32 of the tournament after easing past America's Taylor Townsend in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.Halep, who is currently ranked No. 1 in WTA ranking, is chasing her maiden Grand Slam title at the Roland Garros.The Romanian star
Afghans will understand rigors of Test cricket on June 14: Simmons
Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons says no amount of training can make his players fully ready for their inaugural Test against India and they will find out how tough five-day cricket is only after taking the field in Bengaluru on June 14. It is not the best preparation for the Afghans ahead of the historic Test but Simmons is working hard with the two squads simultaneously -- one that takes on Bangladesh in a three match T20 series starting here tomorrow and the other which will face a formidable India in the one-off game in Bengaluru. It has been difficult with the T20 and Test squads training at the same time. But it is getting a bit easier as we are coming up to the game. That is how tours are planned now. You usually have Test matches first and then limited over series or vice versa. We just have to work around that, said Simmons who has been overseeing joint preparations at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium for close to weeks. The team was earlier training in Greater Noida ...
With one eye on India Test, Afghans face Bangladesh in three T20s
Afghanistan will take on Bangladesh in a three-match T20 series starting here tomorrow, dividing their focus ahead of the historic Test debut against India in two weeks' time. While the dates of the Afghanistan's inaugural Test against India was announced back in January, the series against Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium was only confirmed last month. The scheduling has left Afghanistan with no choice other than to have joint preparations for the Test and T20s. The teams for contrasting formats have been training in batches with the five-day squad training in the morning and the T20 lot in the evening. Only five players - captain Asghar Stanikzai, Mohammad Shahzad, Rashid Khan, Mujeed Zadran and Mohammad Nabi -- figure in both the squads. Coach Phil Simmons said he would have liked more practice games ahead of the India challenge but with modern-day scheduling, he has to get the best out of what he has. It has been difficult with the T20 and Test squads ..
Everthing clicked for us against Chinese Taipei: Constantine
India blanked Chinese Taipei 5-0 and chief coach Stephen Constantine said everything clicked for the home team in the Intercontinental Cup opener here. Skipper Sunil Chhetri scored his third career hat-trick last night as India started their campaign on a rousing note but Constantine cautioned his players not to get carried away with the result as they will play much stronger opponents later in the tournament. "We have played well in quite a few games in the past three-and-half years. Today (last night) everything clicked and worked for us. The boys gave everything they had," Constantine told reporters at the post match press conference. "There were some very encouraging performances from the young players and I am very pleased," he added. India will next play Kenya on Monday which will be skipper Chhetri's 100th international appearance. "We had a good game but we cannot get carried away. We have much tougher games coming up against much stronger opponents. I am happy with the result
I don't celebrate outrageously, says Chhetri
Captain Sunil Chettri starred in India's 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei by registering his third career-hat-trick but the feat didn't invoke wild celebrations from the striker, who said that he is someone who doesn't like to "celebrate outrageously" on the field. The match against Chinese Taipei at the Mumbai Football Arena last night also marked 99th cap for Chhetri, who also scored his 59th international goal. "I am very happy when I score. I do not take it for granted. I am very fortunate to score so many goals for my club and country. I am very happy from inside. It's just that I don't celebrate outrageously like Robin Singh, Chhetri said at the post match press conference. Hosts India made a positive start to its campaign at the Intercontinental Cup with a rousing victory over Chinese Taipei. Admitting that he takes his goals very seriously, Chhetri said he would burst into wild celebrations if he could score against Bahrain in the AFC Asian Cup. A goal at the Asian Games, at the ...
Neymar fitness in the spotlight as Brazil face Croatia
Brazil will keep a close eye on the fitness of star striker Neymar when the World Cup contenders face Croatia in a friendly at Anfield tomorrow. Neymar, who scored four goals in the 2014 World Cup, has not played any form of football since February after breaking his foot. The 26-year-old Paris Saint Germain ace sat out training on Thursday as a precaution. But his Brazil team-mate Fernandinho has given a positive assessment of Neymar's condition just two weeks before the start of the World Cup on June 14. "By the movements and dribbles he has been doing in training, he has shown he is well," said the Manchester City midfielder. "He is confident which is important, he shows that he isn't scared of our defenders as he takes them on without fear. "This is the first steps to getting his confidence back to 100 per cent for the World Cup. "We also support his recovery because without a doubt he will be the difference for our team. "I've been in his position when I was younger, being ...