Page 1596 - Sports

Serie A goal leader Icardi cut from Argentina's World Cup squad

Mauro Icardi, who won the Serie A scoring crown with 29 goals for Inter Milan, was left out of the final 23-man World Cup roster announced by Argentina national coach Jorge Sampaoli.

Huesca clinch promotion to La Liga

SD Huesca defeated CD Lugo 2-0 here to assure themselves of promotion to the Spanish top-flight football for the first time in the club's history.

Wolfsburg survive relegation playoff to stay in Bundesliga

Wolfsburg are assured of another season in German top-flight football after defeating Holstein Kiel 1-0 here in the second leg of the relegation playoff to prevail 4-1 on aggregate.

Mexico's Lozano hopes to reach highest level at World Cup

Mexican forward Hirving Lozano, who currently plays with PSV Eindhoven, has said that he is focused on performing well with the national team in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and is not thinking about the possibility of emigrating to Everton and the English Premier League (EPL) in England.

Sevilla's Soria downplays talk of club's poor season

Sevilla goalkeeper David Soria said he would like for "all bad seasons to be like" the one that just ended, which saw the team reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey final.

Peru's group stage rivals appeal to FIFA to let Guerrero play at World Cup

The captains of the Australian, Danish and French national teams, Peru's rivals in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, have joined the international trade union of professional footballers (FIFPro) in calling on FIFA to allow Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero to play in the upcoming quadrennial tournament.

Manika, Mirabai sign up with IOS Sports

Commonwealth gold medal winning table tennis star Manika Batra and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu have signed multi-year agreements with sports management firm IOS. IOS will now manage their endorsements, appearances, brand profiling, patents, licensing and digital rights, images, and visibility on social networking sites, the company stated in a media release. With this deal, Manika and Mirabai join the likes of boxing stars MC Mary Kom, Vijender Singh and Saina Nehwal on the IOS roster. The 22-year-old Manika had bagged medals in four events, including an unprecedented gold in the women's singles and team championship, in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast. Commenting on this new association, Manika said "I am happy to be on board with IOS Sports & Entertainment. They have managed most of India's top sportspersons and I look forward to a great partnership with them." The 23-year-old Mirabai, on the other hand, became the first Indian in two decades to clinch a ..

Rajasthan have a mountain to climb against Kolkata in IPL Eliminator

With odds stacked against them, former champions Rajasthan Royals will look to go full throttle when they lock horns with two-time winners and overwhelming favourites Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL Eliminator T20 cricket fixture here tomorrow. The Knight Riders have outplayed Rajasthan both in the home and away games this season. If it was a seven-wicket win at Jaipur last month, Kolkata notched up a comprehensive six-wicket win over their rivals a week ago at Edens gardens en route to sealing their play-off berth. With three wins on the trot, Kolkata Knight Riders are on a roll as they clinched the last-four berth for a sixth time. From posting the highest total of the season to stunning table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last match, it has been a no-nonsense approach for the Dinesh Karthik-led side. To make it easier for them, Kolkata are the only team from the four qualifiers to get the home advantage in the Eliminator. The winner of tomorrow's match will face the loser ..

Izquierdo joins Colombia team, aims to share his EPL experience

Colombia's Jose Izquierdo, who plays as a left-winger for Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Premier League (EPL), has joined the Colombian national team with the experience gained in British football this season to seek one of the 23 places for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

IPL Qualifier 1: CSK to face SRH for final berth

In the first qualifier of the ongoing 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), two-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all set to lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad for a place in the finals at the Wankhede Stadium here on Tuesday.The two sides have had an excellent IPL campaign this year, with both Sunrisers and CSK winning nine out of 14 games they have played so far.However, the Kane Williamson-led side eventually got an edge over CSK to finish at the top spot based on the net run rate.While the winner of the two sides will reach the summit showdown, the losing side will get one more chance to make it to the title clash by playing Qualifier 2 in Kolkata on May 25.Despite being the first team to book their place in the playoffs with a victory over Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad had slumped to defeats in their last three matches.CSK, who made an impressive return to the IPL following their two-year suspension, made it to the playoffs after Mumbai Indians lost ..

IPL-Playoffs: Royals aim to upset favourites KKR in Eliminator (Preview)

Resurgent Rajasthan Royals will look to defy odds and upset 'home favourites' Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Eliminator here at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

Emery set to succeed Wenger as Arsenal boss - reports

Former Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery looks set to become Arsene Wenger's successor after 22 years as Arsenal manager, the BBC reported. Emery, 46, won Ligue 1 and four domestic cups in two seasons in the French capital before departing earlier this month. However, the Spaniard paid for his failure to get PSG beyond the last 16 of the Champions League in his two seasons at the Parc des Princes. "Emery emerged as the unanimous choice following a recruitment process in which all candidates were spoken to," said the BBC. PSG had previously reached four consecutive Champions League quarter-finals following the Qatari takeover of the club in 2011, but Emery oversaw a humiliating defeat to Barcelona in the last 16 a year ago, losing 6-1 at the Camp Nou after a 4-0 win in the first leg. The club then committed to spending 400 million euros ($483 million) on Neymar and Kylian Mbappe alone -- the two most expensive transfer deals in history -- last year, but Paris were eliminated in the .

Zverev main threat to Nadal, bids to end Germany's 81-year French Open drought

Alexander Zverev has emerged as the main threat to Rafael Nadal's French Open crown in recent weeks as he bids to end Germany's 81-year wait for a men's singles title at Roland Garros. The 21-year-old suffered his fifth defeat in five meetings with Nadal in Sunday's Italian Open final, but the way he fought back from losing the first set 6-1 only enhanced his already-burgeoning clay-court credentials. The rising star has never reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament, but he will be the second seed in Paris after winning his second Masters title on clay in Madrid, where he beat Nadal's conqueror Dominic Thiem in the final. A run of 13 wins in a row was only ended by 10-time French Open winner Nadal on Sunday, and Zverev is looking to continue his momentum. "I try to play the same way, play the same way over a longer period of time, which will be in Paris," he said. "Right now, the next few days, I won't even think about tennis. And then I'll go to Paris and do my best to .

True grit Sharapova back at French Open with point to prove

There will be questions about suspensions, favouritism and rivalries, and fashion, parties and candy lines. There will be accusations of slights -- real or imagined -- greeted either with a giggle, an icy stare or a pitch-perfect, withering put down. It can only mean one thing -- Maria Sharapova is about to play in a Grand Slam event. But not just any Grand Slam. This is the French Open where she has won two of her five career majors but where, 12 months ago, Roland Garros chiefs took to the moral high ground. From there, they told the Russian icon that she was not welcome, her recently-concluded 15-month doping ban considered too raw to allow her the convenience of a wildcard into the clay court showpiece. Injury then ruled her out of Wimbledon before she made a stunning Grand Slam return at the US Open under the lights of Arthur Ashe Court in August. "Behind this little black dress and the Swarovski crystals, there is a girl with a lot of grit and she's not going anywhere," said ...

Brazil begins training for World Cup

Brazil's national soccer team has arrived in Teresopolis town to prepare for next month's World Cup in Russia.

French Open Qualifiers: Prajnesh in 2nd round, Nagal, Ramkumar ousted

India's Prajnesh Gunnesweran won his encounter while Ramkumar Ramanathan and Sumit Nagal lost their respective men's singles opening round matches at the French Open Qualifiers. Gunnesweran beat Italian Salvatore Caruso in straight sets 6-4 6-4 to enter the second round in an otherwise disappointing day. The left-handed Prajnesh (world no 183) recently broke into top-200 after winning Kunming Open Challenger in Anning, China. However young Sumit Nagal frittered away a one-set advantage against 10th seed Slovakian Martin Klizan to lose his opening round encounter. Nagal was up against a player, who recently enjoyed a giant-killing spree at the Barcelona Open, defeating Novak Djokovic and Feliciano Lopez. World No 117 Klizan won 4-6 6-4 6-1 in just over two hours. Ramkumar, who was seeded 12th lost to world No 225 Jay Clarke 3-6 7-5 1-6 in an hour and 51 minutes. Yuki Bhambri has earned direct entry into the main draw after breaking into top-100.

Ganguly against toss abolition in Test matches: Ganguly

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today said he is not in favour of abolition of spin of coin in Test matches, which will come up for discussion at the ICC cricket committee meeting in Mumbai next week. "It remains to be seen whether it is implemented or not. Personally, I am not in favour of toss abolition," Ganguly told reporters at the Eden Gardens. The toss of coin has been a part of international cricket since the very first Test, between England and Australia in 1877. The coin is flipped by the home captain and the call is made by the visiting skipper. But its relevance has been questioned in recent past with critics saying that the practice was resulting in unfair advantage to host teams. If the home team loses the toss, the advantage does not stay, Ganguly pointed out.

Pakistani squash players don't get financial benefits: Jansher Khan

Squash legend Jansher Khan believes that until the financial health of squash players improve, Pakistan cannot hope to regain past glory in the sport. The downfall of squash is mainly due to the fact that our players don't get the required financial benefits from representing their country, Jansher told PTI in an interview on Monday. The champion from the small hamlet of Nawakheli on the outskirts of Peshawar ruled the squash world by winning the World Open title eight times and the prestigious British Open six times between 1987 and 96. Jansher and Jahangir Khan dominated world squad for nearly two decades with their rivalry becoming a folklore in squash. People ask me why have our squash standard dipped. The truth is Pakistan is struggling in every other sport other than cricket because there is no private sponsorship or government support for them, the 48-year old said. In no sport can we achieve good results until the government and private corporations get together to support the

Less than five percent chance of winning Champions Trophy: Oltmans

Pakistan hockey team's Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans made it clear that his team had less than five percent chance of winning Champions Trophy tournament, starting June 23 in Holland. Even if we can manage to beat India, it would be a good sign and step forward as we are going to face tough competition in the Champions Trophy, Oltmans said during a media interaction. Oltmans, who took over head coach before the Commonwealth Games in Australia in April, convinced the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to hire two new coaches a penalty corner specialist and goalkeeping expert to work with the team for the tournament. Accordingly, penalty corner specialist Bram Lomans and goalkeeper coach Dennis Federpaug have joined the team and will be there till World Cup. We need to bring about major improvements in these two areas if Pakistan is to surge ahead in the world rankings, he said. Talking about the fitness of the players he said that the players have become mentally and physically stronger .

Three names in fray for Pakistan fielding coach's job

The PCB has shortlisted three names for the the national team's fielding coach's position after Australian Steve Rixon decided against extending his contract. As per a PCB official current trainer Grant Ludon, former England wicketkeeper, James Foster and Australian Dean Woodward had been shortlisted to replace Rixon. Rixon decided all of a sudden that he wouldn't be able to continue due to personal reasons and family commitments, the source said. As a result the board now has to find a new fielding coach who can work with the team until next year's World Cup, he said. Rixon's association with the team will end after the T20 series in Scotland next month. Rixon, a former Australia wicketkeeper, came on board after Mickey Arthur took over as head coach in 2016. Unsder his guidance, Pakistani players showing considerable improvement in their fielding standards. The PCB source said the board would take a final decision after also consulting Arthur, who wanted to have Ludon as a trainer .