Page 1678 - Sports
IPL: Kolkata to field against Bangalore
Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and opted to field against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match here on Sunday.
Caparros thrilled with return as Sevilla coach
Spanish coach Joaquin Caparros on Sunday said he was thrilled to return to La Liga club Sevilla during his presentation as the team's new head coach through the end of the season.
Gaurav Gill starts INRC campaign with victory in round one " "
Defending champion Gaurav Gill today won the MRF 40th South India Rally, the opening round of the MRF FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship 2018, at MMRT track at nearby Sriperumbudur. Veteran rallyist Vicky Chandhok, making a comeback after 18 years, took third spot in INRC 1 along with M Chandramouli. He was once again at his aggressive best as he conquered all five stages on day two to convert his first day"s advantage into a comfortable victory. The Team Mahindra Adventure driver, along with Musa Sherif as co-driver, bettered his own previous day"s performance by 27 seconds for an aggregate timing of 1 hour and 28:43.1 minutes to complete the total distance. Gill"s teammate Amittrajit Ghosh made up time in a dramatic fashion to finish second. With Ashwin Naik as co-driver, he went all out in the final three stages to jump from the third position to the second for a spectacular finish. Amittrajit,still recuperating from last season's nasty accident, looked fearless .
BAI recommends Sikki Reddy for Arjuna Award
Women's doubles shuttler N Sikki Reddy has been recommended for Arjuna Award by the Badminton Association of India (BAI). G Sudhakar Reddy, who coached Kidambi Srikanth in his early days, has been recommended for Dronacharya Award, according to BAI. "We have recommended Sikki and coach Sudhakar Reddy for Arjuna and Dronacharya this year. Sikki has regularly won awards for India, while Sudhakar has been coaching many Indian shuttlers, including K Srikanth. I hope they receive the awards," BAI general secretary Ajay Singhania told PTI. The 24-year-old Sikki had won the mixed team gold medal and the women's doubles bronze at the recent Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. Last year, BAI had also recommended Sikki Reddy and men's doubles player B Sumeeth Reddy for Arjuna awards. Sikki and her mixed doubles partner Pranaav Jerry Chopra had clinched the Syed Modi International Grand Prix Gold at Lucknow in January. In 2016, Sikki and Pranaav, who are currently ranked 21st in BWF ranking, had
Badminton Asian C'ships: Momota, Tai clinch singles titles
Japan's Kento Momota and Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei bagged the men's singles and women's singles titles respectively at the Badminton Asian Championships here on Sunday.
Nacho, Isco rejoin Real Madrid group training ahead of Bayern clash
Nacho Fernandez and Isco Alarcon returned to group training with Real Madrid on Sunday, two days before the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern Munich.
Turkey's Cakir to referee Real Madrid vs Bayern 2nd leg
Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir will officiate the upcoming second leg of the Champions League semi-finals between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced on Sunday.
Youngest CWG gold medalist delighted after PM Modi's praise
15-year-old shooter, Anish Bhanwala, who became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal for the country in the Commonwealth Games, expressed his jubilation on Sunday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded him for his feat in his radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat'."I am delighted after our Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji mentioned my name in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme," Bhanwala told ANI."In the Commonwealth Games 2018, our country has performed extremely well. Several athletes have won so many medals this year in Commonwealth Games. Our ranking has also improved compared to last time," he added.Expressing gratitude towards Prime Minister Modi and his government for promoting sports in the country, he said, "The Prime Minister has taken several initiatives for promoting sports in our nation. He started 'Khelo India' to motivate sportsperson like me and others. Along with the Sports Minister (Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore), is also doing a lot for sports in our country.""It gives ...
Saina on cloud nine after April blitz
India's veteran shuttler Saina Nehwal is basking in glory after winning three medals, including two gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships in April.
Wolff defends Hamilton over Ecclestone publicity 'grenade'
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff laughed off Bernie Ecclestone's suggestion that Lewis Hamilton is "a bit tired" of Formula One as nothing more than a publicity "hand grenade". While Hamilton declined to react to the former commercial supremo's comments, Wolff said he took them with a smile. "All of us very much respect Bernie, but we have also learned to take the comments with a smile," said Wolff. "Lewis is remarkably easy with these kinds of things - I think that he sees it pretty relaxed. "Bernie comes in and throws a hand grenade and it's in the papers - it's great. It's Bernie's way - he got all of you here (into F1) and me, and he made the sport big. "It's the off-track and on-track narrative and another thing to write about and talk about." Hamilton is still motivated, said Wolff, who added that there had been an overreaction to Mercedes failure to win any of the three season-opening races. "How the news is running these days, we are oscillating between exuberance and ...
Real's Isco, Nacho back training
Real Madrid midfielder Isco returned to training earlier than anticipated today 48 hours before the Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich. Defender Nacho, who had been out since the start of April with a thigh problem, also took part in the light session a day after Real beat Leganes in La Liga. Isco injured a shoulder in the first leg in Munich last Wednesday. On Friday, coach Zinedine Zidane said that the player would be out of the return leg on Tuesday. "There is nothing we can do, that is how it is," Zidane said. While Spanish media suggested that Isco could play with a pain-killing injection, Zidane insisted that he would not take risks with players who were not 100 percent. Real lead the tie, 2-1. While Zidane said on Saturday that picking Nacho would be "complicated" his return could offset the loss of Dani Carvajal who suffered a thigh injury in the first leg.
Momota magic: Japan ace stuns Chen for badminton title
Japan's Kento Momota shocked Olympic gold-medallist Chen Long to be crowned badminton's Asian champion in a stunning upset today. The world number 17 had never previously won a game against Chen, but he floored the strong Chinese favourite 21-17, 21-13 at the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan. Momota, a compact left-hander, had Chen firmly on the back foot as he reeled off seven straight points to clinch the title in one hour when the world number three netted. Momota clenched his fists in triumph and kissed the Japan badge on his singlet after his victory, which follows his straight-sets dismissal of Malaysian great Lee Chong Wei in the semi-finals. The 23-year-old's breakthrough follows a steady rise up the rankings, and comes after four previous defeats to Chen, a two-time world champion. Earlier, China's Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping beat Indonesian top seeds Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir 21-17, 21-17 in the mixed doubles final.
Ancelotti turns down Italy coaching job - reports
Carlo Ancelotti has turned down the offer to take over as Italy coach, according to press reports today. Italy have been without a permanent coach since Gian Piero Ventura was sacked after the four-time champions failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years after losing to Sweden in a two-legged playoff in November. Ancelotti, who was sacked by Bayern Munich last September, had met with Italian Football Federation (FIGC) officials in Rome last week. But Corriere dello Sport reported that despite the 58-year-old being offered the job he had decided to turn it down after taking a few days to consider his decision. Ancelotti has also been linked with taking over as Arsenal manager when Arsene Wenger steps down at the end of the season. The Italian coach, who has also managed Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus, Roma and Paris Saint-Germain, has three Champions League titles to his name as a coach. He has also won the league in Italy, France, Germany and ...
Mourinho wants to coach for as long as Wenger
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes he can emulate Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by coaching into his late 60s. Mourinho will face his old rival Wenger for the last time in an Arsenal match when the Gunners visit Old Trafford today. Mourinho's longest managerial stint at any club was his first spell at Chelsea, which lasted for three years and three months. He spent three years at Real Madrid and two years each at Porto, Inter Milan and in a second spell at Stamford Bridge. Wenger is 68 and will step down at the end of the season after almost 22 years with the Gunners. Asked if he could emulate the Frenchman's longevity, Mourinho said: "For sure. I will have to change clubs because you (media) don't allow me to stay here! "I would see myself doing it but the new concept of media, social media, the pundit industry, the way people can express and influence the opinion, it is too much pressure - not just for the manager - but also for the club. "It is impossible for someone to .
Rio medallist De Grasse fourth in return from injury
Canadian Andre De Grasse finished fourth in the men's 100m at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, in his return from a nine-month injury absence. De Grasse, whose three medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics included bronze in the 100m, made his first 100m start since July 2017, clocking 10.15sec with a favourable wind of 1.9 metres per second. American Isiah Young won in 10.02sec, followed by compatriot Mike Rogers (10.03) and Britain's CJ Ujah (10.13). De Grasse, who took silver in the Rio 200m, suffered a right hamstring injury last summer that forced him out of the 2017 World Championships in London. He was back in action on Saturday for the first time since winning a 200m in 20.03sec on July 16, 2017 in Rabat. De Grasse, a 23-year-old touted to emerge as a sprint star in the wake of Usain Bolt's retirement, resumed training in December. He was targeting a return in time for the Commonwealth Games in Australia in early April, but opted out as a precaution. "For me, it's all about ...
Hockey: Indian juniors pip Malaysia to win Youth Olympic Qualifiers
India's junior men's team held their nerves to beat Malaysia 2-1 in the shootout to win the Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers here on Saturday. The victory will give India a chance to participate in the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Buenos Aires in August. The tournament was played in new Hockey 5's format. In the women's final, India led bySalima Tete lost 1-4 to China as they ended their campaign as runners-up. In the men's final, India were locked 4-4 after regulation time. Malaysia made the first breakthrough after Mohamad Anuar scored in the 11th minute but India upped their ante in attack as they struck an equalizer in the 12th minute through Rahul Kumar Rajbhar. Later, skipper Vivek Sagar Prasad fetched India 2-1 lead with his scintillating goal in the 14th minute. Muhammad Moharam however equalized the score to 2-2 soon after in the 15th minute. India again scored in the 18th and 20th minute through Prasad and Rajbhar respectively taking 4-2 lead. However defensive lapses saw
Aditi Ashok in with a chance of Top-10 at LPGA
A brilliant streak of four birdies in five holes saw Aditi Ashok finish her third round at tied 10th at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship. Aditi, still looking for her first top-10 finish of the season is 4-under 212 with rounds of 73, 71 and 68. Her third round of 4-under 68 has been the best this week. Meanwhile, Lydia Ko will sleep on the 54-hole lead on the LPGA Tour for the first time in 658 days. Ko matched the low round of the third day with a 67 to lead by two at 11-under par, one ahead of Jessica Korda. Minjee Lee sits solo third at 8-under par. Mariajo Uribe, Ryann O'Toole, Moriya Jutanugarn and Charley Hull are T4 at 6-under par. In 2016, while at No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, Ko overhauled all aspects of her game. She split with her caddie, her instructor and changed equipment. Ko hoped the changes would improve the consistency in her ball striking and help her rediscover the excitement she used to feel as a rookie. When she didn't get the desired results in 2017, going ...
Gangjee slips on final day, finishes tied 57th
Rahil Gangjee slipped on the final day with a disastrous card of five-over 75, including a triple bogey on 15th as he finished tied 57th at the Japan Golf Tour's Crowns Tournament in Nagoya. The result came a week after his first ever Japan Tour victory at the Panasonic Open. Meanwhile, it was also a milestone day for 2009 PGA Champion, Y E Yang of Korea, who won his first title since 2010. Yang earned the right to play on the Japan Golf Tour after finishing as the leading qualifier at last year's Japan Tour School. Australia's Anthony Quayle, a Japan Tour rookie, finished tied second with with Korean Jung-Gon Hwan, with a final round of 67. The duo was four shots behind winner Yang. The Japan Tour has a one week break before the Japan PGA Championship in Chiba Prefecture starts.
Shubhankar finishes Tied-15 in China Open
Going on a birdie-spree towards the end, Shubhankar Sharma fired a 5-under 67, his best card of the week, to finish T-15th at the Volvo China Open here today. The 21-year-old finished at 12-under 276, best among all Indians in the fray. He had six birdies, three of them in last four holes, for a fine finish. Sharma, who leads the Asian Tour's Habitat for Humanity Rankings is also second behind Masters champion Patrick Reed on the Race to Dubai standings. Alexander Bjrk became the first Swede to lift the trophy after he closed with a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to win by one shot at the Topwin Golf and Country Club. Among other Indians, Arjun Atwal (71) was T-32nd, Gaganjeet Bhullar, who at one stage rose to T-2 earlier in the week, ended T-63, while Shiv Kapur (71) was T-66 and Khalin Joshi (79) was T-68. The week has been decent. It's not great but it's decent. I think I could have done a little bit better. I left a few shots out there but that's golf. I am happy that I finished in
Indian fencer wins silver medal at Reykjavik tourney
India's C A Bhavani Devi won a silver medal in the sabre event of the Tournoi World Cup Satellite Fencing Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland. The Tamil Nadu fencer went down 10-15 to USA's Alexis Browne in the final yesterday, according to a press note here. She had beaten Parede Torres 15-9 in the quarterfinal and followed it up by getting past Guila Arpino of Italy 15-10 in the semifinal. She posted a picture of herself with the medal on her Twitter feed. Bhavani Devi had won a gold medal at the Reykjavik tournament last year to become the first Indian win to do so in an international fencing event.