Page 1647 - Sports
Karun Nair replaces Kohli for Afghanistan Test, Kaul in T20 squad
Karnataka middle-order batsman Karun Nair today replaced skipper Virat Kohli for the one-off Test against Afghanistan from June 14-18 in Bengaluru, making an unexpected comeback to the squad. Ajinkya Rahane will be leading India in the historic one-off Test with almost all the Test team specialists being a part of the 15-member squad. The 26-year-old Nair is India's second triple centurion in Test cricket after Virender Sehwag. He has scored 612 runs for his state this Ranji season. Kohli would be busy playing county cricket for Surrey when the match takes place here to prepare for the tour of England starting in July. The batting star will, however, play in the two T20 Internationals against Ireland in Dublin where pacer Siddarth Kaul might get his maiden call-up in the shortest format after a string good performances in the ongoing IPL. The Squads: India Squad for one-off Test against Afghanistan: Ajinkya Rahane (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun ...
India can finish among top two in group in Asian Cup: Bhutia
Indian football great Bhaichung Bhutia says the country can not just qualify for the knockouts but also finish among the top two in the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup next year. India have been clubbed with Thailand, Bahrain and hosts UAE in Group A. Two teams will qualify for the knockout stages with the four best third-placed teams from six groups also making the cut. "I am very happy with the group which we have drawn. I feel we have been extremely lucky as we didn't draw any Asian Superpower - Iran, Japan, Australia and the Korea Republic -- in our group. "Every pot had six teams and from Pot A we avoided all the teams who have qualified for the 2018 World Cup," Bhutia said today. The only Indian footballer to have played over 100 international matches, Bhutia said India can make it to the round of 16 with a bit of luck. "I feel that we can finish among the top two from our group and qualify to the Round of 16. I understand it's not that easy but it's also not impossible. With a
Manav books Youth Olympics berth
Indian paddler Manav Thakkar booked his ticket to the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics by defeating Singapore's Shao Josh Chua 4-0 here today. The Indian ranked World No 2 beat Chua 11-4, 11-7, 11-2, 11-9 in the final of the Road To Buenos Aires 2018 YOG Series (Asia). However, Archana Girish Kamath, missed the bus for third time when she bowed out in the quarterfinals to Hungarian Fanni Harasztovich 3-4, said a Table tennis Federation of India media release. The top-seeded Thakkar accounted for Jacobo Vahnish of Panama 4-0 in the quarterfinals after his first-round bye and went onto defeat Jordan's Khaled Khader, also with the same margin, to enter the final. With two easy wins to bank on, the Surat boy exploded when he took on the Singaporean and except for the second game, where he allowed the liberty of a few extra points to his opponent, the Indian played to a plan to book his Youth Olympics berth. A big monkey off my back. I had missed the bus on two earlier occasions but was ...
India can qualify to knockout stage of AFC Asian Cup: Bhutia
After India were drawn in Group A of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, legendary Indian footballer and former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia has expressed optimism that the national side could finish among the top two in the group and qualify to the round of 16.India have been clubbed with hosts United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Bahrain in Group A of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, the official draw for which was held at the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai on Friday.Bhutia, the sole Indian footballer till date to have played in over 100 international matches, said that he feels extremely lucky to have not been drawn against any Asian country."I am very happy with the group which we have drawn. I feel we have been extremely lucky as we didn't draw any Asian Superpower - Iran, Japan, Australia and the Korea Republic -- in our group. Every pot had six teams and from Pot A we avoided all the teams who have qualified for the 2018 World Cup," he said.When asked about his side's chances in the ...
Javelin thrower Yego targets top form to conquer Africa
Olympic javelin champion Julius Yego of Kenya believes he can regain his top form and go on to reclaim the gold medal at the Africa Athletics Championships in Assaba, Nigeria in August.
Cricket Australia names Paine, Finch as limited overs captains
In the aftermath of the infamous ball-tampering saga that rocked Australian cricket, including the suspensions of Steve Smith, David Warner and young Cameron Bancroft, the country's cricket board on Tuesday named Tim Paine and Aaron Finch as captains in the limited overs formats.
S. Korean TT teams return home with bronze medals
South Korea's men's and women's table tennis teams returned home on Tuesday after picking up bronze medals at the world championships in Sweden.
World Champions Kamworor, Gudeta head TCS World 10K elite field
World Champions Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya and Ethiopian Netsanet Gudeta will head the mens and womens elite fields respectively in the TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2018 on May 27, the race promoters Procam International announced on Tuesday.
India can make it to Asian Cup knockouts with bit of luck: Bhutia
Former Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia feels the AFC Asian Cup draw has been favourable to India and with a bit of luck, Sunil Chhetri and Co. can make it to the round of 16 next year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
After BCCI's refusal, Australia to host Sri Lanka in D/N Test
A day after the BCCI poured cold water on their tradition of hosting a day/night Test at Adelaide, Cricket Australia on Tuesday confirmed playing Sri Lanka in a pink ball match at the Gabba in Brisbane early next year.
Hertha Berlin sign defender Kluenter from Cologne
Hertha Berlin have completed their second transfer for the upcoming football season after signing defender Lukas Kluenter from relegated side Cologne.
Pliskova reaches 3rd round of Madrid Open
Sixth-ranked Karolina Pliskova defeated Belarusian Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 here to advance to the third round of the Madrid Open tennis championships for the first time in her career.
Playing 11 of the best potential is my focus: Rohit Sharma (IANS Interview)
He has been a successful captain of the Mumbai Indians since 2013 and has lifted three Indian Premier League (IPL) titles in the past. With two back-to-back wins against Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders, batsman Rohit Sharma says he is looking at a good campaign in the Twenty20 cricket championship this time too, especially with the "mixed bag" of veterans and young blood.
Sociedad's Carlos Martinez hopes to say his goodbyes on the pitch
With Real Sociedad set to cut him loose next month, injury-plagued defender Carlos Martinez is hoping to be fit for the Spanish football club's upcoming home match against Leganes so he can bid farewell to the fans from the pitch.
Uruguay captain Godin ready for 'biggest World Cup' of career
Uruguay captain Diego Godin is expecting the "biggest World Cup" of his career when football's flagship tournament kicks off in Russia next month.
Levante beat Leganes 3-0 to extend winning streak
Levante defeated a somewhat ragged Leganes side 3-0 here to extend their winning streak to four matches and climb to 16th place in the La Liga football championship.
You will do well if you have strong characters: Kohli
A dejected RCB captain Virat Kohli said that his team "deserved to lose" its do-or-die IPL game against Sunrisers Hyderabad as players didn't show the kind of strong character that is crucial to winning crunch games. "We were not good enough and not up to the mark. We deserve to lose this game. We didn't show enough application. The kind of shots we played were not on at that stage. This has been the story of our season," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. The Indian captain lauded Sunrisers Hyderabad for defending 25 runs from 18 balls with Siddarth Kaul and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling brilliantly to win the match by five runs. "If you have strong characters, you will always do well. SRH had a few guys who did well under pressure, that's been the story of their season. They understand strengths, know their limitations. That's why they've been successful," Kohli said. Asked if Kane Williamson's team are the best, Kohli observed that CSK or Kings XI Punjab look more ...
Chinese club denies move for Barca star Iniesta
China's Chongqing Lifan denied making a big-money move for Andres Iniesta as Spanish media said the Barcelona captain could now be headed for Japan or Australia. Reports in China and Spain have linked Chongqing with the 33-year-old Spanish World Cup-winner, who is leaving Barcelona after two decades of phenomenal success. Chongqing said Iniesta wouldn't be joining "as a player" but left the door open to future cooperation with the midfielder, who has promotional and marketing links with the city. Chongqing added that they wanted to support the "healthy development of Chinese football" -- a reference to China's clampdown on heavy transfer spending and focus on homegrown talent. "Our club will never violate the development prospects of Chinese football and we are determined to make due contributions to the healthy development of Chinese football," a statement said. It added: "The other sports industry sections of our club's controlling shareholder have in-depth cooperation with Mr. ...
'Devastated' Koscielny ruled out of World Cup
Veteran French defender Laurent Koscielny is "devastated" at missing out on this year's World Cup finals after undergoing surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. The 32-year-old central defender is set to be sidelined for six months according to Wenger, bringing a sad end to his international career as he had planned to retire after the finals in Russia. Koscielny, capped over 50 times and a member of the France side that lost to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final, was carried off 12 minutes into Arsenal's Europa League semi-final second-leg defeat by Atletico Madrid last Thursday. "He is of course devastated. He will be out for six months. You will not see him before the beginning of December at best," said Wenger. Koscielny revealed to the Evening Standard in May last year he would require daily treatment on an Achilles injury for the rest of his career. According to the newspaper he was diagnosed with chronic tendonitis in both feet by the French ...
England trio to officiate Ireland's inaugural Test
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named three former England players who will officiate Ireland's inaugural Test match to be held against Pakistan.Former opener Chris Broad, former spinner Richard Illingworth and former first-class cricketer Nigel Llong have been roped in as on-field umpires for the historic Test match.Broad--one of the senior most match referees-- was selected at the post by the world's cricket governing body in 2003 and, now he will be officiating his 94th Test in the forthcoming match.Illingworth, the last player to be dismissed when England won the 1992 World Cup final match against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), will take charge of his 33rd Test during Ireland's inaugural Test.Meanwhile, Llong will be supervising for the 52nd time, the Dawn reported.The ICC, however, has not appointed any TV umpire from its panels, with senior Irish umpire Mark Hawthorne likely to be called in by home board - Cricket Ireland.Ireland are slated to play ..