Page 1587 - Sports
Mary Pierce hails exceptional qualities of Federer and Serena
Modern-time great Roger Federer has an exceptional mind for game's analysis and Serena Williams is born with a burning desire to succeed and that sets them apart from other players, says two-time singles Grand Slam winner Mary Pierce. Pierce, who won Australian Open (1995) and French Open (2000), said Federer has an array of shots which can't be taught. "What I think of Roger is that the shots he plays cannot be taught by anyone. It is almost like he is born to do that," Mary, who is now retired, told PTI on the sidelines of TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2018 here. "Why he is so good is that the love and passion he has for tennis. He practises hours together. And he passionately watches any match if he happens to see it on television or in the stadium. His coach tells me he has not seen any player talking so much about tennis and always analysing," she added. Apart from two singles majors, Pierce also win women's doubles French Open with Martina Hingis (2000) and mixed doubles at Wimbledon .
Skipper Henderson confident of Liverpool's chances
Admitting that Real Madrid are the overwhelming favourites for this season's Champions League final, Liverpool FC captain Jordan Henderson asserted that his teammates may upset the defending champions if they play to their full potential.
Price hikes spell misery for fans at Champions League
Liverpool have complained to the "highest levels" of European football governing body UEFA as spiralling accommodation and travel costs threaten to turn the Champions League final against Real Madrid into a nightmare for fans. Thousands of supporters from England and Spain will converge on Kiev for Saturday's showpiece between two of the giants of European football. But while excitement levels are mounting, fans are being forced to pay extortionate prices after hotels in the Ukrainian capital began charging up to 100 times their standard rates and some supporters found their early reservations had been cancelled. Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore said the Ukrainian capital, which hosted the Euro 2012 final, was not fit for purpose, highlighting difficulties with flights and accommodation. "They just don't have the airport infrastructure and the hotel capacity to cope with an event of this size and there isn't another major city within real hitting distance of it," he told the ...
Neck injury shelves Kohli's county stint
Virat Kohli's much-hyped stint for English county side Surrey has been shelved after the India skipper suffered a neck injury and will subsequently undergo a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru on June 15.
Online tickets sale for Hero Intercontinental Cup starts
The sale of online tickets for the forthcoming Hero Intercontinental Cup which kicks-off at the Mumbai Football Arena from June 1 has started, All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Thursday.
ICC World Cup 2019: BBC confirmed as official radio broadcaster
BBC Test Match Special has secured rights to broadcast ball-by-ball coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, which is to be held in England and Wales next year.Test Match Special will be broadcast to fans on multiple platforms across the United Kingdom, including on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra, Radio 4 Long Wave and the BBC Sport website.The broadcast of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is part of a long-term deal with Channel 2 Group Corporation, ICC's Global Audio Rights Partner, who hold exclusive rights to sub-license audio rights to ICC events until 2023.The deal will ensure that TMS covers all the ICC's major events through to the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India - including the Women's World Cup in New Zealand in 2021 and the men's and women's ICC World Twenty20 events.ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said, "Next year is going to be as big as it gets as fans look forward to the ICC Cricket World Cup with anticipation. That the ball-by-ball coverage of the tournament will .
Iniesta signs for J-League's Vissel Kobe
Spanish international Andres Iniesta on Thursday signed a contract with Japanese football club Vissel Kobe here.
BBC is official radio broadcaster for ICC World Cup
BBC Test Match Special has secured rights to broadcast ball-by-ball coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, to be held in England and Wales next year.
Injured Kohli ruled out of Surrey county stint
Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been ruled out of his much-anticipated first English county stint due to a neck injury.Confirming the news, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the 29-year-old sustained the injury during his franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) Indian Premier League penultimate clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru."Team India Captain Virat Kohli suffered a neck injury while fielding during Match 51 of the IPL between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad on 17th May 2018 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru," a statement from the BCCI read."Kohli, who was scheduled to play for Surrey CCC in the month of June, has been ruled out from participating," the statement added.The country's cricket board further confirmed that Kohli would remain in India to undergo a period of rehabilitation before he would have a fitness test in Bengaluru on June 15 ahead of series against England."The BCCI Medical ..
U16 Tennis: Vipasha powers past 4th seed Sanya into semis
VipashaMehra of Maharashtra put up a gallant display to knock aside fourth-seeded Sanya Singh in a marathon girls' singles quarter-final match of the MSLTA- Yonex Sunrise 12th Ramesh Desai Memorial CCI All India Nationals Under-16 (boys & girls) Tennis Tournament. Ranked 63rdon the AITA ranking list, Pune-based Vipasha, who had defeated eighth seed Gargi Pawar in the previous round, produced another gutsy performance against Sanya in three sets, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5) in a little over four hours, at CCI here, a media release said. Meanwhile, second seeds Udit Gogoi of Assam and Prerna Vichare of Maharashtra smoothly progressed to the boys and girls' singles semi-finals, respectively, it added. The Assam youngster, Udit, number five on the AITA ranking list, charged past his 99thranked opponent Nishant Dabas of Delhi, winning 6-1, 6-3. In the girls' singles quarter-final encounter, the AITA third rank, Prerna, dropped just one game as she went on to record a ...
Top teams for all-India basketball tournament in city
Top teams from across the country will be taking part in the 53rd All-India Basketball tournament for men, beginning here on May 26. The women's tournament for the 17th CRI Pumps Trophy will also be held along with this six-day championship, Coimbatore District Basketball Association (CBDA) President C Palanisamy told reporters today. Punjab Police, Punjab, Indian Air Force, Delhi, Customs (Chennai), Arise Steel (Chennai), Indian Railway, Delhi, ASC Bengaluru, Income Tax, Delhi and CBDA will vie for honours in the men's event for the Nachimuthu Gounder Cup, he said. In the women's category, Eastern Railway, Kolkata, Kerala Police, Thiruvananthapuram, South-West Railway, Hubli, Arise steel, Chennai, Sports Hostel, Mysuru, KSEB, Thiruvananthapuram, Tamil Nadu juniors and CBDA are participating, Palanisamy said. The tournament will be played on a league-cum-knockout basis, he said adding the semi-finals and finals will be held on May 30 and 31 respectively. The winners in .
South Korea's Hyeon Chung out of French Open
South Korea's Australian Open semi-finalist Hyeon Chung has pulled out of the French Open citing a long-standing ankle injury. Chung, 21, announced the Roland Garros pullout in a tweet late yesterday, saying he had been forced to withdraw from a French Open warmup tournament in Lyon due to the injury. "Unfortunately I had to withdraw from Lyon yesterday and now Roland Garros," he tweeted. "I have been struggling with an ankle injury during the entire clay season." He said tests had revealed he had a build-up of fluid on the joint which might require "a small procedure" followed by rest. "Thanks to everyone for all the support. Hope to see you soon and be back to full strength," Chung said. Chung made a Grand Slam breakthrough when he reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January but had to retire in his match with Roger Federer because of a foot blister.
Kohli's county stint likely to be curtailed with injury
Indian skipper Virat Kohli's much-anticipated stint with English county is likely to be cut short after he suffered a neck sprain, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources.The top BCCI source told ANI that Kohli had met orthopaedic doctor and that the 29-year-old has been advised to take rest.He might now miss some of the matches for his county side Surrey.Earlier this month, Kohli had signed a deal with top English county side Surrey ahead of England Test tour later this summer and was all set to miss his country's inaugural Test match against Afghanistan, starting in Bengaluru on 14 June.Virat Kohli will play English domestic cricket in the lead-up to India's five-match Test series against England, beginning at Edgbaston on August 1.Kohli will become the fourth Indian Test player in English county cricket this season, with Ishant Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara preparing for the series against England at Sussex and Yorkshire respectively, while Varun Aaron,
Santa Fe hammers Emelec 3-0, qualifies for Copa Sudamericana
Colombia's Santa Fe qualified for the Copa Sudamericana tournament after beating Ecuador's Emelec 3-0.
Indian defender Jerry feels 'extra-motivated' playing against foreign players
Indian defender Jerry Lalrinzuala had caught the eye of all since his U-16 days when he was an AIFF Academy cadet.Since his stunning strike in the SAFF U-16 final which helped India beat Nepal in front of a hostile 22,000 plus crowd in Kathmandu hasn't allowed the early adulation to get to his head."It was in 2012 that I was chosen for the AIFF Academy camp in Kolkata. I was chosen for the U-16 National Team next year and was called up for the SAFF Championship. The goal in the final was something which set the tone of my football career," the 19-year-old recollects."Until I joined the AIFF Academy, I couldn't afford to foresee a career in football but it all changed after that.""I feel extra-motivated while playing against physically superior foreign players. I never buy the idea that how massive he is physically or how talented he may be on the field he can get past me. I always get that that extra bit of adrenalin rush to steal the ball from him," he saidon the side-lines of the ...
No county action for injured Virat, fitness test on June 15
India captain Virat Kohli's much-hyped participation in English County Championship was today ruled out due to a neck injury, throwing his meticulously planned build-up for the tour of UK into disarray. Kohli will require a three-week rehabilitation to recover from the injury, the BCCI said. The 29-year-old will undergo a fitness test on June 15, which will confirm his availability for the initial phase of the UK limited-overs tour starting with the two T20 Internationals against Ireland in last week of June. India will begin the series against England with T20Is in early July. "Team India Captain Mr Virat Kohli suffered a neck injury while fielding during Match 51 of the VIVO IPL between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad on 17th May 2018 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru," BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a press release. "Kohli, who was scheduled to play for Surrey CCC in the month of June, has been ruled out from participating. This decision was .
66 players to participate in 10th edition of Basketball Without Borders
The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) have announced the top 66 boys and girls from 16 countries and territories who will participate in the 10th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia.The Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia 2018 will be held from May 30 to June 2 at the NBA Academy India in New Delhi.It will be the second time that the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach programme will be held in India.Corey Brewer (Oklahoma City Thunder; U.S.), Caris LeVert (Brooklyn Nets; U.S.), Kelly Olynyk (Miami Heat; Canada; BWB Americas 2009), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks; Canada), two-time WNBA Champion Ruth Riley, and former WNBA player Ebony Hoffman will coach the top high school age campers from throughout the Asia-Pacific region.BWB Asia 2018 will feature two current prospects from NBA Academies, the league's signature elite player development ...
Paraguay to bid farewell to keeper Villar
Paraguay's June 12 friendly against Japan will be veteran goalkeeper Justo Villar's final appearance for the national side, coach Gustavo Morinigo has said.
IPL: Buoyant KKR pose tough challenge for heavyweights Hyderabad (Preview)
Despite their dominance throughout the league stages, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will have to bring their best to the table when they take on buoyant Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Qualifier 2 here on Friday.
Can't give excuses: Rahane on batting failure in IPL Eliminator
Rajasthan Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane was critical of his team's batting performance in the lost IPL Eliminator against Kolkata Knight Riders, saying the line-up could not handle the pressure. Chasing 170, Rajasthan Royals looked good when Sanju Samson (50) and Rahane (46) were in the middle for a fifty-plus partnership. They needed 61 runs from six overs with nine wickets in hand but eventually fell short by 25 runs after the duo's dismissal. The team seemed to have sorely missed the star English duo of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes who were recalled for national duty. But Rahane disagreed. "We can't give any excuses. They are important and experienced players but we did well (without them) to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in our last match," Rahane explained. Kolkata smashed 55 runs in the last five overs with Andre Russell's unbeaten 49 from 25 balls but in the same period while chasing, Rajasthan managed just 33 runs. "We backed our batting unit to get the total. We did not get .