Page 1561 - Sports
India seek winning start in Intercontinental Cup against Chinese Taipei
A fairly impressive AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign being the confidence-booster, the Indian football team begins its preparations for the continental showpiece by taking on Chinese Taipei in the lung-opener of the Intercontinental Cup here tomorrow. The four-nation tournament, with teams from three separate continents -- Chinese Taipei, Kenya and New Zealand -- apart from the hosts, was conceptualised to test the Indian team ahead of the Asian Cup to be held in the four cities of the UAE from January 5 and February 1. The Stephen Constantine-coached side has come into this tournament after a 13-match unbeaten streak from June 2016 to March this year. The team booked a berth for the Asian Cup in October 2017 with two matches left to be played. A 1-2 loss to Kyrgyzstan in the last match of the Asian Cup qualifying campaign in Bishkek in March snapped the 13-match streak but that match has been rendered inconsequential by then. India will enter tomorrow's match with a psychological ...
Sreejesh to lead 18-member Indian team for Champions Trophy
Seasoned goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh will lead an 18-member Indian hockey team in the final edition of the Champions Trophy at Breda in the Netherlands from June 23.
PokerStars India announce details to participate in GPL India
PokerStars India Pro and the country's first sponsored female poker player, Muskan Sethi, on Thursday announced the details of the Global Poker League India (GPL India).
Serena keeps 'Black Panther' catsuit despite questions
Serena Williams will continue to wear her striking, all-black catsuit in her French Open second round clash on Thursday despite questions raised over whether or not it breaks the rules over appropriate on-court playing gear. The 36-year-old American dominated the headlines at Roland Garros on Tuesday when she made her return to Grand Slam tennis after giving birth to her daughter last year. However, it wasn't her straight sets win over Kristyna Pliskova which got people talking -- it was her catsuit which she said made her feel like a "super hero" and a "warrior princess" with a nod to it being inspired by the "Black Panther" movie blockbuster. "She will wear this outfit for her second match," said a spokeswoman for manufacturer Nike on Thursday. Czech world number 70 Pliskova questioned the legality of the Williams outfit when she talked with Czech media after the first round match. "I was wondering if it was in the rules," the Czech said. "I don't even know what material it is, it ..
Teams touring India will play practice games against Afghans: BCCI
All international teams touring India will now play one practice game against Afghanistan, an arrangement which will constantly provide international exposure to the team from strife-torn nation. The announcement was made by BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary during his visit here, according to Afghanistan Cricket Board. Choudhary is in Afghanistan capital to discuss the bilateral cricketing relation between the two countries. India will host Afghanistan in their historic first-ever Test match in Bengaluru from June 14-18. Choudhary said it will be a vital addition as it will help increase the morale and also upgrade the skills of players. ACB chairman Atif Mashal said: Afghanistan is now a full member of ICC and we also enjoy cordial relations with BCCI which will be further strengthened as we strive to work together to further develop the game in the country. Choudhary said: It is an honour to be here in Kabul being invited by Mr. President (Mashal). It is a privilege for us to
Peru cut defender Abram from World Cup squad
Peru coach Ricardo Gareca has confirmed his 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Russia, leaving out Velez Sarsfield centre-back Luis Abram.
Souza fires Sao Paulo to top of Brazilian Serie A
Former Brazil international striker Diego Souza struck his fourth goal in five matches as Sao Paulo moved to the top of the Brazilian Serie a standings with a 3-2 victory over Botafogo.
French Open: Bopanna-Vasselin eye pre-quarters berth
Indian tennis ace Rohan Bopanna and his French partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin will look to secure their place in the pre-quarterfinals of the French Open when they play their second round of the men's doubles event here on Thursday.The 13th seeded Indo-French pair will face France's Benjamin Bonzi and Gregoire Jacq in their last-32 clash at Roland-Garros.Earlier, Bopanna and Roger-Vasselin barely broke a sweat as they brushed aside the American team of Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-1 in a one-sided opening-round clash.The Indian tennis star, who continued to lead for India in rankings for men's doubles at the 19th place, had earlier won his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open last year in the mixed doubles with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski.
Honda riders head to Japan for Round 3 of Asia Road Racing Championship
After a phenomenal performance by rookie Anish Shetty in the second round of the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) in Australia, the Honda Indian team bolstered by the return of experienced Rajiv Sethu, is all charged up to battle it out with Asia's best racers this weekend at the historic Suzuka Circuit here.
Tokyo 2020 marathon, race walking routes announced
The organising committee of the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 on Thursday announced the routes for its marathon, and 20km and 50km race walk events, which are set to pass through some of the iconic landmarks of the Japanese capital.
Indian basketball coaches are improving: BWB Asia camp director Hunt (IANS Interview)
Patrick Hunt, the World Association of Basketball Coaches President and camp director of the 10th Basketball without Borders (BWB) Asia camp, has praised Indian coaches, saying with time they are getting better.
Bhogle, Sehwag on top in fan survey
The most experienced author turned cricket commentator, Harsha Bhogle topped fan choice as the numero uno sportscaster followed by former New Zealand fast bowler Danny Morrison and Indian opener Aakash Chopra.
French Open: Nadal, Serena to play their second round
World number one Rafael Nadal will look to continue his rich vein of form when he squares off with Guido Pella of Argentina in the second round of the men's singles event of the French Open here on Thursday.Earlier, Nadal kicked off his campaign at the Roland Garros with a convincing 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) win over Simone Bolelli of Italy in a rain-delayed opening-round clash of the second major of the season.The Spanish tennis maestro, 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.Pella, on the other hand, eased past Portugal player Joao Sousa 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to storm into the second round at the Roland Garros.It should be noted that top-ranked Nadal has not lost a Grand Slam match to a player ranked as low as world number 78 Pella since his defeat to No. 102 Dustin Brown of Germany in the second round of 2015 Wimbledon.Elsewhere, fifth-seed Juan Martin del
High on confidence after scoring points, Shetty heads to Japan for ARRC
Rookie Anish Shetty would take confidence from the good work done in the previous round while Rajiv Sethu makes a comeback to Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) for Honda Racing when Round 3 of the series begins tomorrow at the Suzuka Circuit. Shetty, who finished 15th in both the races in Australia to score his first points, is all fired up to battle it out with Asia's best racers. Scoring my first international points in Australia on Race 1 and repeating the performance the next day has been a huge morale booster for me. I am now familiar with the bike and have started to get a hang of the pressure of performing amongst the best racers of Asia," said Shetty who competes in in the Asia Production 250 class. "Suzuka has many fast corners which allow a lot of overtaking opportunities. I would like to thank Honda 2Wheelers India for making this dream ride possible and will be trying to score more points this weekend, he said. Honda's second rider Rajiv Sethu will make a comeback ...
Lampard gets 1st managerial job at 2nd-division club
Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is taking over as manager of second-division club Derby. The English team says the 39-year-old Lampard has signed a three-year contract. The former England international says "I know it won't be easy - managing a football team never is - but I'm really looking forward to the challenge ahead." In his time at Chelsea from 2001-14, Lampard became the club's record scorer with 211 goals, made 649 appearances and was the heartbeat of teams that won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League in 2012. Lampard started out at West Ham before finishing his career with short stints at Manchester City and then New York City FC in Major League Soccer before retiring last year.
Tokyo Olympic marathon starts and finishes at new stadium
The men's and women's marathon for Tokyo's Olympics in 2020 will start and finish in the new Olympic stadium, which organizers say last happened in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. The organizing committee announced the course layout on Thursday. It's a flat route with an uphill finish leading to the new stadium that is still under construction. Organizers said the original bid had the marathon scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. to avoid Tokyo's summer heat and humidity. Tokyo spokesman Masa Takaya said a confirmed starting time was expected to be announced in July at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee's executive board. The course includes many traditional parts of the city including the Ginza shopping area, the Imperial palace - the primary residence of the emperor of Japan - and Nihonbashi, the historic center of the city. The race walk events will take place in the outer gardens of the Imperial Palace. A 1-kilometer loop will be set up for 20-kilometer events, and a ...
Star-studded France hope to relive World Cup glory after two decades (Team Profile)
Two decades after lifting the World Cup on home soil, France is ready to relive the glory with one of the most talented teams they have had in recent memory.
Want to make Kashmir paradise for football: Real Kashmir FC owner
They didn't just dribble past opponents but also the many off-the-pitch obstructions to become Jammu and Kashmir's first football team in I-League and Real Kashmir FC co-owner Sandeep Chattoo today said his side is now on a mission to make the 'paradise on earth' a paradise for the beautiful game. The Srinagar-based outfit yesterday became the first club from the Kashmir valley to qualify for the top tier after winning the second division league by beating Delhi's Hindustan FC 3-2 in Bengaluru. The feat of the two-year-old club, coached by former former Scotland international and Glasgow Rangers legend David Robertson, is remarkable given that football infrastructure is not exactly the best in the state. They will play in the I-League 2018-19 season starting September, rubbing shoulders with heavyweights such as Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who are also expected to turn up in Srinagar. Chattoo co-owns the club with his business associate Shamim Meraj. "Considering that there is no ...
Japan coach Nishino turns to old guard for World Cup
Japan will hope star power can reverse their flagging fortunes after new coach Akira Nishino named his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia on Thursday. The former JFA technical director, who took charge after Vahid Halilhodzic was fired last month, signalled his intentions by turning to his old guard, including talismanic forward Keisuke Honda and playmaker Shinji Kagawa. Japan, beaten 2-0 by Ghana on Wednesday in Nishino's first game as coach, face Colombia, Senegal and Poland in Group H at the World Cup. Squad (teams Japanese unless stated otherwise): Goalkeepers -- Eiji Kawashima (Metz/FRA), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Kosuke Nakamura (Kashiwa). Defenders -- Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray/TUR), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa), Wataru Endo (Urawa), Maya Yoshida (Southampton/ENG), Hiroki Sakai (Marseille/FRA), Gotoku Sakai (Hamburg/GER), Gen Shoji, Naomichi Ueda (Kashima).
Russia lose to Austria in World Cup tune-up
Russia's defensive weakness was on display as the 2018 FIFA World Cup hosts fell 1-0 to Austria, who failed to qualify for the tournament.