Page 168 - Sports
Dominic Thiem stuns Novak Djokovic, enters French Open finals
Dominic Thiem defeated Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-6, 7-5 in the semi-finals of the French Open on Saturday. As a result of this win, Thiem has entered the finals and now he will face Rafael Nadal.The semi-final match was played on Court Phillipe-Chatrier and the entire match lasted for four hours and 13 minutes.Djokovic and Thiem's match was scheduled out to be played on Friday, but halfway into the third set, the match had to be suspended due to the relentless rain.The Serbian was completely outplayed by Thiem in the first set on Friday. Djokovic looked completely out of sorts and he lost the first set 2-6.However, the world number one was able to bounce back in the second set, finding back his mojo and he won the set 6-3.Thiem was leading in the third set when the match had to be halted due to rain on Friday.When the match resumed on Saturday, Thiem looked in better touch and he was able to win the third set 6-5. In the third set, Djokovic was able to win some games but he ...
Roy leads show as England post 386 against Bangladesh
Doing the pitch report, former West Indies pacer Michael Holding and ex-India skipper Sourav Ganguly had spoken about how it was a bright and sunny morning at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
USA thrash Mexico 9-0 to secure 2nd win in FIH Series Finals
The United States continued its fine form and spanked Mexico 9-0 to register its second consecutive win at the FIH Series Finals hockey tournament here Saturday. In the Pool B match between world no. 25 USA and their neighbours, ranked 39th, Michael Jr Barminski (3rd, 53rd minutes) and Sean Cicchi (37th, 52nd) scored two goals each for the winners. Julian Croonenberghs (14th), Tyler Sundeen (30th), who replaced regular skipper Ajai Dhadwal, Alberto Montilla (39th), Christian de Angelis (42nd) and William Holt (60th) were the other goal getters for the Americans. USA had earlier stunned South Africa 2-0 in the tournament opener on Thursday, while Mexico had slumped to a 1-3 defeat against Asian Games champion Japan. The Americans will round off their pool engagements against Japan on June 10, while Mexico will take on South Africa.
Deepak Ravikumar upstages strong field; fluent win for Sarath
Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing) and Sankar Sarath Kumar (Idemitsu Honda Ten10 Racing) survived a day of drama and crashes to post wins in the Pro-Stock 301-400 cc and Pro-Stock 165 cc categories as the first round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2019 commenced at Kari Motor Speedway here on Saturday. Starting sixth, Ravikumar, nursing injuries suffered in last week's testing, overcame pain to score a deserved win in the premium Pro-Stock 301-400cc race after pole-sitter Prabhu Arunagiri (Team Alisha Abdullah) and Jagan Kumar (TVS Racing) crashed in the second lap of the 10-lap race. While Arunagiri retired, Jagan Kumar, who had started second from the grid, got up and continued to finish eighth. In second place behind Ravikumar was TVS Racing's K Y Ahamed, followed by Gusto Racings Satyanarayana Raju, who was nursing a collar-bone fracture. Earlier, the two outstanding riders in the Pro-Stock 165cc race were the eventual winner Sarath ...
Winning series in India was amazing for self-confidence: Aaron Finch
As Australia and India gear up to lock horns in a World Cup match on June 9, Aussie skipper Aaron Finch on Saturday said that winning the series against the Men in Blue in India was exceptional for their self-confidence."Winning three games in India was amazing for our self-confidence. It just comes down to taking key moments in matches. Whenever you play against India, you have to believe you can beat them," Finch told reporters at the pre-match conference.Finch said that both Australia and India have good bowlers and in the end it will come down to who executes their skills better."It's not just the pace bowling, both the sides have had good performances by the spinners as well. It's gonna come down to who executes their skills better. Both sides have world class bowlers. When you look at Bumrah, Bhuvi they are world class bowlers. It's just come down to early wickets," Finch said."Bumrah is a world-class bowler, you do your preparation against every bowler. He has had a good 12-18 .
Connected by Cricket! Modi gifts a Team India-signed bat to Solih
During his first overseas visit after being re-elected, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a cricket bat signed by the Indian team to "ardent cricket fan" and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday."Connected by cricket! My friend, President @ibusolih is an ardent cricket fan, so I presented him a cricket bat that has been signed by #TeamIndia playing at the #CWC19," PM Modi tweeted.This comes after Modi held delegation-level talks with Solih after touching down in the island-nation on Saturday afternoon. He was accorded a grand ceremonial welcome upon his arrival in the Maldives, which included a performance by a dance troupe donning the traditional Maldivian attire."Mutually beneficial partnership. Warm discussions marked the meeting between PM @narendramodi & President of Maldives @ibusolih. Focus on further deepening our special relationship by expanding cooperation across sectors," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.The two .
Roy, Buttler power England to 386-6 against Bangladesh
Opener Jason Roy smashed his way to a sensational 153 before Jos Buttler provided the late charge with a strokeful fifty as England posted a massive 386 for six against Bangladesh in their World Cup fixture here Saturday. Roy, who blasted five sixes and had 14 hits to the fence in his 121-ball innings, laid the foundation with two crucial partnerships -- 128 with opener Jonny Bairstow (51) and 77 with first-down Joe Root (21). Buttler then scored a 44-ball 64 laced with four sixes and two fours and added 95 with skipper Eoin Morgan (35) as England posted the first 350 plus total of the tournament. For Bangladesh, Mohammad Saifuddin (2/78) and Mehidy Hasan (2/67) picked two wickets each. Put into bat, England were off to a flying start as Roy and Bairstow scored 67 in the first powerplay and then brought up the hundred in 15 overs. A stunning catch by Mehidy Hasan at short cover finally ended Bairstow's innings as Bangladesh produced a much-needed breakthrough in the 20th over bowled ..
Rain rescues faltering Djokovic at Roland Garros
Rain came to the rescue of Novak Djokovic on Saturday as the world number one was staring at defeat against Dominic Thiem in the Roland Garros semi-finals. Djokovic, bidding to become just the second man in history to hold all Grand Slam titles at the same time twice, was trailing 1-4 in the final set and was 40-40 when play was halted. Thiem led 6-2, 3-6, 3-1 overnight when play was suspended due to rain and the threat of high winds, before claiming the third set on Saturday 7-5. Djokovic levelled the match by taking the fourth set 7-5. Organisers said the semi-final would not resume until 1300 GMT (15:00) at the earliest, which was the original scheduled time for the women's final between Ashleigh Barty and Marketa Vondrousova. The winner will face 11-time winner and defending champion Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final. Nadal made his 12th final in Paris on Friday with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win over old rival Roger Federer. It was Federer's worst loss at the Slams in 11 years. Nadal, 33, ...
Focus on cricket diplomacy as PM Modi gifts bat to Maldives prez Solih
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will help promote cricket in the Maldives and fulfil President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's mission to develop the sport in the country to consolidate people-to-people relations. Modi gifted a cricket bat to Solih signed by the Indian cricket team after holding bilateral talks. "Connected by cricket! My friend, President Solih is an ardent cricket fan, so I presented him a cricket bat that has been signed by Team India playing at the CWC2019," Modi said on Twitter. India is helping in training Maldivian cricket players and bringing it up to the requisite standard, the External Affairs Ministry said in New Delhi on Thursday. India is also looking into constructing a stadium in the Island nation which is another request made by it, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said. He said the ministry is working with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to train Maldivian cricketers. "A team from the BCCI visited the Maldives earlier in May for ...
Warner's drive hits Indian net bowler, training called off
A net bowler of Indian origin was hit on the head and stretchered off the ground during Australia's practice session ahead of their World Cup clash against India on Sunday.
NZ win toss, opt to bowl against Afghanistan
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl in their World Cup match against Afghanistan here Saturday. The Teams: New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wkt), Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult. Afghanistan: Gulbadin Naib (capt), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil (wkt), Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan.
New Zealand opt to bowl against Afghanistan (Toss)
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to field first against Afghanistan in their World Cup tie on Saturday.
India beat Thailand 1-0 in Stimac's first win in charge, ends 3rd in King's Cup
A new-look Indian football team beat hosts Thailand 1-0 to hand head coach Igor Stimac his first win and finish third in the King's Cup tournament here Saturday. Stimac made as many as eight changes from the starting eleven which lost to Curacao 1-3 in their previous match on Wednesday with key players like Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu sitting at the bench. Only Sandesh Jhingan, who led the side, Rahul Bheke and Subhasish Bose retained their places, but India still won the match through a 17th minute strike from midfielder Anirudh Thapa in the third-place match at the Thunder Castle stadium. This is India's second win over Thailand this year, having beaten the War Elephants in a group match of the AFC Asian Cup in the UAE in January. India had three players from that Asian Cup match in Jhingan, Subhasish Bose and Thapa while five Thai players -- Theerathon Bunmathan, Tristan Do, Thitiphan Puangchan, Jaided Supachai and captain Teerasil Dangda -- ...
Gambhir stands by Dhoni, says ICC should focus on cricket
Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir has come out in support of M.S. Dhoni in the gloves controversy, saying ICC's job is not to look at who is wearing what. This after the governing body turned down BCCI's request to allow the stumper to keep sporting the Army insignia at the World Cup.
Tablez launches sports superstore GO Sport in Bengaluru
Tablez, a leading organised retail group, has opened the first outlet of global sporting retailer, GO Sport, at the Forum Shantiniketan Mall on Saturday. The outlet was inaugurated by former shuttler Prakash Padukone. The brand was launched successfully in India last month, with its first superstore in Mumbai.
Net bowler hospitalised after getting hit on head by Warner shot
Australian team's practice session came to a temporary halt after a net bowler of Indian origin was hit on the head by a cracking drive from David Warner on the eve of their World Cup game against India. It was during the end of second hour when Jai Kishan, a British fast bowler of Indian origin was hit on the head trying to stop a David Warner shot. Jai Kishan winced in pain before collapsing to the ground and the medical staff was rushed onto the field. To everyone's relief, the player was responding as the entire Australian team stopped their session. A concerned Warner sat beside the player and subsequently called off his net session. The Australian team's support staff along with local staff then helped him to be stretchered off the ground and was taken to a nearby medical facility. "I have got a hit on the head. I am doing fine. My name is Jai Kishan and I am a fast bowler," the player said before being taken into the ambulance. It is expected that he would be under observation .
Indian boxers on exposure trips to Italy, Ireland and Korea
Indian boxers are currently on an exposure tour to Italy, Ireland and Korea as part of their preparation for the upcoming tournaments, including the World Championships to be held later in the year. A bilateral training camp and series of friendly matches were held against the Italian team, while top boxers are undergoing training in Belfast currently along with boxers from six top European nations as part of the 15-day long exposure trip which will end on June 12. The objective of this exposure camp is to help Indian boxers gain valuable experience as they spar with elite boxers from USA, Germany, Holland, Romania, Italy and host Ireland. Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal said: "We had a stint in Italy before coming here, in Belfast. Here, in the past couple of days, we had some great opportunity to study some of the top boxers of these elite teams and take stalk individually on the areas that we need to improve upon. "We are closely working with the coaches and working to ...
Second string India beat Thailand 1-0 in King's Cup
India beat Thailand 1-0 in their King's Cup clash on Saturday to secure a third place finish in the friendly tournament. Anirudh Thapa's strike in the 17th minute was the difference between the two sides as Indian coach Igor Stimac fielded a playing XI radically different from the one that lost 3-1 to Curacao in their previous game.
Indian boxers out on exposure trips to Italy, Ireland and Incheon
With a packed schedule coming up in July followed by the World Championships later in the year, Indian boxers are currently out on an exposure tour of Italy, Ireland and Korea as part of preparations for the upcoming tournaments.
King's Cup: India defeats Thailand 1-0
India defeated Thailand 1-0 in the King's Cup on Saturday at Chang Arena in Buriram in Thailand.This win is the Indian's new coach Igor Stimac's first win since his appointment. As a result of this win, the Blue Tigers finished third in the 2019 King's Cup. Thailand failed to avenge their 4-1 defeat from the Asian Cup and now have lost both games against India in 2019.The match got off to scratchy start from both the sides. Both the teams were looking to make the first move both defence of both India and Thailand was up to the mark.Finally, the deadlock was broken by India as Anirudh Thapa scored for the Blue Tigers in the 17th minute.In the 22nd minute, Teerasil Dangda scored for Thailand but the goal was disallowed by the match officials. Teerasil scored but the linesman raised the flag for offside.At the end of the half time, India was able to maintain a 1-0 lead over Thailand.As the action after first-half resumed, Thailand was seen looking for attacking moves to get the ...