Page 1669 - Sports
England pip India to become top ODI side
England leapfrogged India to gain the No.1 spot in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) One-Day International (ODI) rankings after the annual update which saw the men-in-blue losing a point to be positioned at second in the latest rankings released here on Wednesday.
Roma vs Liverpool: CL Semi-Final Second Leg Preview
Faced with the daunting prospect of having to overcome a three-goal deficit yet again,AS Roma will have to rediscover the grit and determination that helped them dispatch the mighty Barcelona in the quarters; when Liverpool come knocking at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals.It will be no mean feat, however, as this Liverpool side, at their rampant best, have the capacity to completely obliterate any team. With that said, one should also be aware of The Reds' defensive shortcomings, as a collapse at the back is never off the cards with Liverpool.Their attacking prowess and their defensive frailties are best displayed in the 3-3 draw with Arsenal and the 4-3 win over Manchester City earlier in the Premier League, where they outplayed their opponents in the earlier stages to establish a lead and almost went on to lose both games.Also, Eusebio Di Francesco's side will come into this match with a lot of faith in themselves, as they
Sunita Lakra to captain Indian women's team in ACT hockey
Experienced defender Sunita Lakra will lead defending champions India at the Asian Champions Trophy women's hockey tournament, beginning at Donghae City, Korea on May 13. Sunita was handed the leadership responsibility of the 18-member side in the absence of regular skipper Rani Rampal, who has been rested for the tournament. Goalkeeper Savita will be the vice-captain. Experienced Deepika, Deep Grace Ekka, Suman Devi Thoudam and Gurjit Kaur, who doubles up as a drag-flicker, will man the defensive line while the midfield will feature Monika, Namita Toppo, Nikki Pradhan, Neha Goyal, Lilima Minz, Navjot Kaur and Udita. India's forwardline will be led by Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur and Anupa Barla. The team will be hoping to ride on the good show at the recently-concluded Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where it entered the semifinals after 12 years, eventually finishing fourth. In 2016, the Indian team had defeated China in the final to win the previous edition of Asian ..
England overtake India to reclaim top spot in ICC ODI rankings
England have overtaken India to seize the top spot in the ICC ODI team rankings following the annual update. England's rise up the table is largely because of a forgettable 2014-15 season which saw them winning only seven out of 25 ODIs against other Full Members. The 2014-15 season has been dropped from the latest calculations while those from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons are weighted at 50 per cent. England, who last topped the ODI rankings in January 2013, have gained eight points and moved to 125 points. India, who were at the top before the update, have lost a solitary point and are in second place with a total of 122 points. South Africa, who were second, have dropped down to third place after losing four points, from 117 to 113, leaving them nine points adrift of India and only one point ahead of fourth- placed New Zealand. The remaining places remain unchanged, meaning that the current top-10 ranked sides are the ones who will be playing in the 2019 World Cup. However, ...
Copa Libertadores: Defending champions Gremio thrash Cerro Porteno
Defending champions Gremio moved to the top of their group in the Copa Libertadores football tournament with a 5-0 rout of Cerro Porteno.
Asian Games will be tougher than CWG: Neeraj
The Commonwealth Games gold has given him the confidence and star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is now aiming to grab another yellow metal at the upcoming Asian Games, which he admitted will be tougher than the Gold Coast CWG. Neeraj became the first Indian javelin thrower to win a gold at the CWG at Gold Coast last month with a throw of 86.47m but he said that effort will not be enough for a gold in the Jakarta Asian Games in August. "Winning a gold in CWG with a very good effort early in the season is a big confidence-booster going ahead in the year. Not only the gold but the performance has made me assured that I can do better. Winning an Asian Games gold is my next target," the 20-year-old Haryana athlete told PTI. "I worked hard to win the CWG gold and I will have to work even harder for the Asian Games. The Asian Games will be tougher (than the CWG) and I have to do better than my personal best (of 86.48m) if I have to win a gold in Jakarta," he added. At Gold Coast, going into .
Rampaging CSK look to spoil KKR's homecoming
On song after making a superb comeback to the league, table toppers Chennai Super Kings would look to continue its winning momentum and spoil Kolkata Knight Riders' homecoming in an IPL match, here tomorrow. Written off at the start with critics branding it's dugout as an 'old-age home', CSK, on the field, never looked like a side which is making its comeback to the tournament after serving a two-year suspension. With a vintage Mahendra Singh Dhoni in centre of the team's batting might, CSK have started looking ominous and would look to make a firm grip of their lead atop the standings as the tournament heads to the business end. CSK are currently leading the eight-team table with 12 points from six wins out of eight games. Both the teams are here on the back of two morale boosting wins against Delhi Daredevils with KKR successfully chasing a modest 176 in Delhi, while CSK reigning supreme at their adopted home in Pune. Half-centuries from Shane Watson and Dhoni blasted CSK to its ...
Crucial win over MI birthday gift to Anushka: Kohli
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has dedicated his side's much-needed win over Mumbai Indians in their last IPL game to his actress wife Anushka Sharma, who celebrated her 30th birthday yesterday. RCB beat three-time champions and title holders Mumbai Indians by 14 runs here last night to keep itself afloat in the ongoing IPL by climbing up to fifth position in the eight-team competition. And Kohli said the win was a birthday gift for his wife Anushka, who was present in the stands to root for him and his team. "We needed that win. It is a very important win at such an important stage of the tournament. Tonight was an occasion we needed those two points. This is the push we needed," Kohli said after the win. "We should take this confidence forward. My wife is here and it's her birthday. This was a little gift for her. It was very important to achieve these two points in front of her," he added.
IPL-2018: Table-toppers CSK hot favourites against KKR (Preview)
Table-toppers Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have looked a class apart so far, will start as hot favourites against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday.
Hafeez to resume bowling following green-light from ICC
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday announced that following remedial work and re-assessments, the bowling action of Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez has been found to be legal, with the off-spinner now cleared to resume bowling in international cricket.Hafeez rectified his bowling action at the Loughborough University in Leicestershire to within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations.Match officials, however, will remain to be at liberty to report Hafeez of any future infractions. They will also be provided with images and video footages of the bowler's remodelled legal bowling action as a reference.Hafeez was first suspended from bowling in December 2014 after being reported for an illegal bowling action during the Test series against New Zealand in November. Following remedial work, he was re-assessed and permitted to resume bowling in April 2015.Following his second suspension in two years in July 2015, he returned to action ..
Optimistic Bond says Mumbai can still turn things around
Defending champions Mumbai Indians are standing at the threshold of an early exit from the ongoing IPL, but an optimistic bowling coach Shane Bond feels the team has enough arsenal at its disposal to turn things turnaround in its must-win remaining six games. With just two wins from eight matches, Mumbai Indians are currently languishing at the second last position in the eight-team IPL. Three-time champions Mumbai Indians however have six more games remaining and Bond said they still can turnaround the script, just like 2015 when they went on to win their second IPL crown. "We have six games left and we have to win them all. That is what we have to do. I still believe when you look at our squad, we have key players who can win us six games in a row. We have done it in the past (in 2015) and I believe we can do it again," Bond said after Mumbai lost by 14 runs against Royal Challengers Bangalore here last night. "We just have to take one game at a time and hopefully we can do ...
Real Madrid enter Champions League final
A brace by Karim Benzema was enough for Real Madrid to hold FC Bayern Munich 2-2 in the second leg of their Champions League semi final and win 4-3 on aggregate.
Australia chief sees way back for disgraced Warner
Disgraced David Warner still has a future in Australian cricket, the sport's chief executive James Sutherland says, handing the explosive opener a lifeline after a cheating scandal. Warner was identified as the mastermind behind the plan to use sandpaper to tamper with the ball during the third Test in South Africa this year that shocked the sport. While former skipper Steve Smith was charged with knowledge of the plot, Warner was charged with developing it and instructing Cameron Bancroft to carry it out. Smith and then vice-captain Warner were banned for 12 months while Bancroft was exiled for nine months. All three held emotional press conferences to apologise, with public sympathy for a contrite Smith and Bancroft. Warner, who was also banned from ever holding a leadership role again in Australian cricket, admitted he was "resigned to the fact" he may never play for his country again. But Sutherland said the door remained open. "I think everyone deserves their chance and their own
Azhar Mahmood adamant Pakistan 'want more' from Amir
Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood "wants more" from Mohammad Amir, a challenge he believes the paceman will rise to in upcoming Test matches against Ireland and England. Amir was the hottest property in world cricket after bursting on the scene as a teenager in 2009. He was soon earning comparisons with fellow Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram, with Wasim himself declaring Amir a better bowler than he had been at the same age. At 18, Amir was the youngest bowler to have reached the landmark of 50 Test wickets. His first 14 matches in the five-day game saw him take 51 wickets at just a fraction over 23 apiece -- figures that had Amir on course to be an all-time great. But Amir's world was turned upside down in 2010 when he and Mohammad Asif became involved in a spot-fixing scandal after deliberately bowling no-balls during the Lord's Test against England at the behest of then Pakistan captain Salman Butt. In 2011 Amir was given a five-year ban by the International Cricket ...
USA Gymnastics star coaches Karolyis sued over Nassar sex abuse
A champion American gymnast has filed suit against her sport's star coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi for failing to protect her from convicted serial sex abuser Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor. Sabrina Vega yesterday also sued Nassar, USA Gymnastics -- the governing body for her sport -- and the US Olympic Committee (USOC), claiming Nassar molested her hundreds of times starting when she was 12 years old. The 22-year-old alleges some of the abuse took place at the Karolyis' remote Texas ranch, which USA Gymnastics sanctioned as an elite training center for national and Olympic athletes. At least 265 female athletes -- including several Olympic gold medal-winning gymnasts -- have said they were abused by Nassar over a two-decade period, in the guise of medical treatment. The scandal is the biggest in US Olympic history and has had far-reaching ripple effects -- ending careers at USA Gymnastics, the Olympic committee and at Michigan State University, where Nassar ...
Real Madrid reaches 3rd straight Champions League final
Last time, it was a late penalty. This time, a goalkeeping blunder. Real Madrid keeps finding ways to get out of trouble in the Champions League. Madrid conceded early again at home and barely held on for a draw 2-2 against Bayern in yesterday's semifinal match, advancing 4-3 on aggregate to stay on track for a third consecutive European title. But with Cristiano Ronaldo held scoreless for the second time in as many games, Madrid needed a blunder from Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich to gift them their second and crucial goal on the night. "It's a Champions League semifinal. You will always suffer," Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. "Nothing is easy. Football is like that, you have to suffer. And when you win, it feels even better, although it's not too good for your heart." Joshua Kimmich scored for Bayern in the third minute to set the stage for another comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu, like the one Juventus nearly pulled off in the quarterfinals before Ronaldo converted an ...
IPL 2018: RCB beat MI by 14 runs
A fine and disciplined bowling display by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) helped them to eke out a 14-run win against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday.Virat Kohli led RCB lost the toss and were asked to bat by MI.RCB posted a total of 167 in 20 overs while MI were restricted to 153-7.With a win over MI, RCB halted their two-match losing streak and the result took them to fifth position in the eight-team standings.With this result, the defending champions MI have only two wins from 8 matches.As Mumbai Indians emerged on the losing end, they will now have to win virtually every remaining game to have any chance of making it to the play-offs of the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL).Today, Delhi Daredevils will take on Rajasthan Royals at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi.
Team Kochi wins Third Edition of National Blind Football Tournament
The Academy Team Kochi has won the Third edition of National Blind Football Tournament conducted by Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF) here, beating KWAB Bengaluru 1-0 in a closely fought final played at the Jogo Football Arena.The team was dominant from the first minute with India international Gabriel Nongrum scoring the only goal of the finals finishing a fluent field goal move.Another international Klingson Marak played a consistent game to win the best player of the finals, while Gabriel won the golden boot and the best player of the tournament with a total tally of 10 goals in the tournament.DCP Kochi Kuruppasamy IPS was the chief guest, who was extremely pleased to watch the game with some of the other dignitaries from IBSA Delhi who had come for the game too.The IBFF Academy is India's first and only academy offering Blind Football Training and vocational skills training to a chosen set of the talented blind footballers from across the country.The aim of IBFF is to ...
Bangalore edge out Mumbai in IPL tie
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pulled off an excellent bowling performance to defeat Mumbai Indians by 14 runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday.
RCB pacers deliver in crunch situation to eke out 14-run win over MI
Royal Challengers Banaglore pacers blew away the Mumbai Indians' top order before shining in the death overs to set up a much-needed 14-run win, which kept them alive in the IPL Play-offs race, here tonight. Mumbai Indians bowlers had also exploited a difficult batting track but leaked a few runs towards to end to allow the hosts post 167 for seven, which was a fighting total under challenging conditions. Captain Virat Kohli (32) and Brendon McCullum (37) added 60 quick runs in the middle overs to help RCB recover from a slow start and Colin de Grandhomme (23 from 10) hit three sixes in the last over, bowled by fellow New Zealander Mitchell McClenaghan, to provide a flourishing finish to the RCB innings. Opener Manan Vohra (45) played a useful knock at the top before being trapped by Mayank Markande. MI all-rounder Hardik Pandya (3/28) scalped three batsmen and effected a run out to stop the hosts from running away with a big total but it proved enough in the end as all Mumbai Indians