Page 1704 - Sports
Pak cricketer Hasan Ali trolled for mocking BSF at Wagah Border
Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali got trolled on social media after a video surfaced wherein the player can be seen indulging in bizarre antics at the Attari-Wagah border during the traditional flag-lowering ceremony.In an undated circulated video on social media, the 24-year-old pacer could be seen mocking the Border Security Force (BSF) of India as he emulated the Ranger, patted his thigh and flexed his muscles at the Indian soldiers and spectators on the other side before doing his signature wicket-taking celebration step.It should be noted that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had also shared pictures of Ali and his teammates visiting the border to see the ceremonial lowering of the flag.Soon after the incident, cricket fans and internet trollers slammed Ali's antics during the beating retreat ceremony.One of them compared Hasan Ali with a cartoon character who was found at Wagah Border."A cartoon character missing from Cartoon Network found at wagah border#hasanali," he wrote.Another user ...
Napoli coach Sarri gives finger to 'spitting' Juve fans
Maurizo Sarri was unrepentant after he was spotted giving the middle finger to a group of Juventus fans. "I replied to a group of people who were spitting at the bus and insulting us for being Neapolitan," said Sarri after Napoli kept the Serie A title race alive with a 1-0 win over Juventus in Turin. "I would never make a gesture like that towards anyone for being a Juventus fan. "The vast majority of Juventus fans are wonderful people and there was one in our hotel who we had a good laugh and joke with. "I have no issue with Juventus fans. It was only with those who spat at us and insulted us for being Neapolitan." Napoli closed the gap at the top of the table to just one point with four games to play after Kalidou Koulibaly nodded in a Jose Callejon corner in the final minutes. "So far, I'm having fun," said Sarri as his side target a third title after 1987 and 1990. "We made our extraordinary fans happy, but Juventus remain ahead and therefore almost nothing has changed. We still .
Struggling MI take on SRH in a battle to re-discover winning touch
Under pressure after slumping to their fourth loss in five games, defending champions Mumbai Indians have the onerous task of re-discovering their winning touch when they lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL match here tomorrow. MI had started their campaign with three losses on the trot before a victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore arrested the streak, but the three-wicket defeat yesterday in Jaipur to Rajasthan Royals, their fourth last-over setback, has put them under tremendous pressure. With nine games left before the play-off stage, MI find themselves in a difficult situation to win at least seven of them to improve their chances. As such, a win over SRH tomorrow is imperative to keep them in the hunt. Sunrisers too have slipped from their earlier top perch after suffering back-to-back defeats, following three straight wins, and would be as keen to bounce back to winning ways. MI's campaign has been led from the front by local product Suryakumar Yadav who has been ..
Junior Men National C'ship: Hockey Karnataka beat Madhya Bharat 5-3
Karnataka kicked off their campaign at the 8th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2018 (B Division) on a promising note as they eased past Madhya Bharat 5-3 in their opening match here on Monday.Goals for the winning team were scored by BN Chelsea Medappa (19', 52'), Pavan Madiwalar (2'), skipper Harish Mutagar (21') and CS Shamanth (66') while Prateek Bhavsar (22'), Abhishek Yadav (43') and Shahnawaj Khan (68') scored for Madhya Bharat.In Pool E, Coorg beat Andhra Pradesh 5-2. Goals for Coorg were scored by BR Deepak Yadav (19'), F Noel Robinson (32'), Gaje (45'), MP Ashik Uthappa (59') and Paramjeet (70') while Sreenivasa Rao Thammisetty (34') and Siva Pramod Galla (53') scored for Andhra Pradesh.In Pool B, Bengal Hockey Association defeated Jammu and Kashmir 8-0. Suraj Yadav (11', 21', 66'), Lorik Pal (14', 60'), Kallu Ali (16'), Rahul Dev Shaw (29') and Sunil Rajbhar (35') scored the goals in the match.In Pool F, Bengaluru Hockey Association defeated Puducherry 4-1. ...
Gowtham knock was a life-time experience: Samson
Young Rajasthan Royals batsman Sanju Samson has heaped praise on Krishnappa Gowtham for his blinder of a knock but described their side's thrilling last-over win over Mumbai Indians in their IPL match as a team effort. Gowtham struck an unbeaten 33 from just 11 balls under pressure, hitting two sixes and four fours to seal a three-wicket win for his side after Samson (52) himself and Ben Stokes (40 off 27) had added 72 runs for the third wicket to lay the foundation for the victory last night. "Gowtham was amazing. It is a life time experience for him and also for us," Samson said at the post-match press conference. Rajasthan Royals' West Indian Jofra Archer was adjudged the man-of-the-match for his impressive bowling show of 3/22 which helped his side restrict Mumbai Indians to 167/7. Samson refused to comment on Archer being declared as man-of-the-match. "I also feel K Gowtham was man of the match but every one's contribution is important. Archer too had contributed by taking three .
Indian hockey teams leave for Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers
The junior Indian men and women's hockey teams have left for the Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers, which is to begin in Bangkok, Thailand on April 25.The five-day tournament is a qualifying event for Youth Olympic Games 2018 to be held at Buenos Aires, Argentina which will follow the futuristic Hockey 5's format.The nine-member junior Indian men's team led by Vivek Sagar Prasad, who was part of the Indian men's team at the Gold Coast XXI Commonwealth Games, with vice-captain Rabichandra Singh Moirang them is upbeat and ready for the challenge. They are grouped with Korea, Japan, Hong Kong China, and Thailand in Pool A and begin their campaign against Thailand on April 25."We have had good preparations in Agra where the team has worked really hard over the past month and a half. It is a fast-paced format, hence there was a lot of emphasis on improving reaction time of players. With solid ground work, I am hopeful of good results," Jude Felix, coach of the junior men's team ...
Last-gasp Koulibaly gives Napoli victory as Juve lead cut to one point
Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly's stunning last-gasp goal kept Napoli's title hopes alive with a 1-0 win at Juventus closing the gap to just one point on the Serie A champions. Koulibaly headed in the winner off a Jose Callejon corner in the final minute to give Napoli their first ever victory at the Allianz Stadium. Six-time defending champions Juventus's lead at the top of the table has been cut to just one point with four games left. It was just their third league defeat this season and a first since November 19. Juventus have 85 points from 34 games with Napoli, bidding for a third Scudetto after 1987 and 1990, on 84. "We knew it was a very difficult and important match, but we did everything to win, we did it and can be proud of ourselves," said 26-year-old Koulibaly. "The city fired us up over the last few days and when we see all those fans accompanying us to the airport, it makes us very happy. We want to thank them and the best way of doing that was to win the ...
Pogba insists: 'I have no problem with Mourinho'
Paul Pogba insisted that he has no problems with Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho despite a difficult season which has seen the French star dropped on several occasions. Pogba, who has even been linked with a summer move away from Old Trafford, said that he always accepts Mourinho's decisions and that the best response he can make to being snubbed is to improve on the pitch. "I have no problem with Mourinho," Pogba told Canal+ on Sunday. "I also believe that he has no problem with me. He is the coach, he makes the decisions. Me, I am a player, I accept it and I have to respond on the pitch, that's all." Midfield star Pogba revealed that Mourinho never explains why he is getting dropped or substituted in a match. "No, it all depends on the coach. There are some who like to talk to the players. Mourinho, when he makes a choice, you have to accept it." Pogba has been in and out of the United team as Mourinho sought to chase down rivals Manchester City, who ran away with the Premier ..
Improved Man City difficult to catch, admits Mourinho
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted his side have little chance of catching Premier League champions Manchester City next season unless the standards set by Pep Guardiola's side slip. Second-placed United trail City by 16 points with four games of the league season to go after Guardiola's men kept up their chase of a series of Premier League records by thrashing Swansea 5-0 yesterday. Mourinho believes United let crucial points slip away in defeats to West Brom, Huddersfield and Newcastle. However, the Portuguese coach reckons even if those errors are eradicated next season, it will be difficult to challenge for the title if free-spending City bolster their squad once more over the summer. "I think we should have eight, nine or 10 points more than we had," said Mourinho after reaching the FA Cup final by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Saturday. "It was not acceptable the last defeat (to West Brom), not acceptable the performance at Huddersfield, not acceptable the ...
Will take a call on my career after 2019 WC: Yuvraj
Flamboyant Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh, who played his last One Day International (ODI) for the country in June 2017, has said that he will take a call on his career after the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales."I am going to look to play till 2019, whatever cricket I get to play. I will take a call when that year is over," Singh told ANI.The 36-year-old all-rounder added that he has been playing for the country for nearly two decades and will have to retire someday."Everybody has to take a decision after a while. I have been playing international cricket since 2000, it has been almost 17-18 years on and off. So, I will definitely take a call after 2019," he added.Singh also spoke about his Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), adding that their immediate goal is to qualify for the semi-finals."We are looking ahead to first qualify in the last four and I think we have got a great team this year. We have got a very powerful batting attack, smart bowling attack, and .
India bags 10 gold medals in South Asian Judo C'ships
India has bagged a total of 10 gold medals in the ongoing South Asian Judo Championship, being held here.Out of the total 14 gold medals, India won 7 gold medals contested under women-single categories and the remaining 3 under men-single categories."I am very excited and am very happy because I have won the gold medal for India spreading the name of the country and I am very much overwhelmed with happiness," Jina Devi, the winner of the 78 kg category told ANI."I would dedicate this medal to my friends, my team who always supported me, my seniors and my coach who brought me here and my boss who taught me. I dedicate it to them because they supported me a lot and helped me during the practice," she added.Nepal and Pakistan won two gold medals each.India, in total, claimed over 13 medals with 10 gold and three bronze.Nepal claimed two gold, six silver and 13 bronze medals, with 21 medals in total.Pakistan standing third on the list won two gold, three silver and three bronze ...
IPL: Rajasthan overcome Mumbai by 3 wickets, jump to 5th spot
K. Gowthams quickfire 33 not out off 11 deliveries helped Rajasthan Royals overcome Mumbai Indians by three wickets here on Sunday as they ended their two-match losing streak in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Mithali Raj reflects on changing horizon of women's cricket
Indian captain Mithali Raj opened the second annual International Cricket Council (ICC) women's cricket forum, reflecting on how far the game has come in the last 12 months.Speaking in Kolkata on the opening day of a week of the ICC meetings, Raj painted a picture of the significant changes that women's cricket underwent in the last decade - from her not even knowing that there was an Indian women's team when she first started playing to not being able to walk down the street unrecognised."This is the beginning of good times for women's cricket, what happened in the World Cup and the way people now see women's cricket as a viable sport," she said.In front of an audience comprising ICC member CEOs, head of women's cricket, and other leaders in the game, Raj said that she hoped this was a turning point."There is no longer any ignorance about the women's game, cricket talk is not limited to the men's game or amongst men's fans. The reach is now there, so the common man can see women's ...
IPL '18: Gowtham's cameo stuns Mumbai Indians
Rajasthan Royals' (RR) batsman Krishnappa Gowtham played a blistering knock under pressure to hand his team a nail-biting three-wicket win over current defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Sunday.The 29-year-old all-rounder from Karnataka stunned the three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions with an unbeaten 33 of 11 balls, laced with four fours and two sixes.Needing 10 runs to win from the last over, MI bowler Hardik Pandya dismissed Royals' Jofra Archer in the first ball of the 19th over. However, Gowtham kept his cool and slammed a boundary and a six in the next three balls to give the 2008 champions a much-needed victory.Earlier, Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bat first on a slow track. Opener Evan Lewis was dismissed for a golden duck in the very first over of the game by Royals' Dhawal Kulkarni, before Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav stitched a 129-run partnership to keep the scoreboard ticking for Mumbai.The ...
Gotham sinks Mumbai Indians with fiery knock under pressure
Krishnappa Gowtham produced a blinder of a knock after Sanju Samson and Ben Stokes smartly negotiated a slow track as Rajasthan Royals pulled off a nail-biting three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match, here tonight. The pitch was not conducive for stroke-making but Samson (52) and Stokes (40 off 27) added 72 runs for the third wicket to push their side close to the finish line and the hosts eventually crossed it with two balls to spare. Gowtham conjured up an unbeaten 11-ball 33-run knock under pressure, hitting two sixes and four fours to seal a thrilling win for his side. It was not a big target on board as the hosts chased 168 but the wicket had slowed down considerably and required a lot of patience to score runs. Samson was in control of his innings but Jasprit Bumrah (2/28) dismissed him and Jos Buttler in successive balls in the 17th over to raise his side's hopes. When Samson got out, Royals required 43 runs from 22 balls. It became 28 from .
Rafael Nadal wins 31st Monte Carlo Masters Title
World Number one Rafael Nadal defeated Japan's Kei Nishikori by 6-3, 6-2 in the Monte Carlo Masters final won his 31st Masters title after beating Sunday.It is also Nadal's 11th Monte Carlo Masters title in 14 years.This is a significant win for the Spaniard as it will help him in retaining his world number one spot.World No. 36 Nishikori was chasing his first ever Masters title.The top-seeded Spaniard is now eyeing for his 11th title in the upcoming Barcelona open and then would focus his sights to win the 11th French Open title at Roland Garros.
Decision to drop Fawad Alam unanimous: Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed
Pakistani cricket team captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said the decision to drop left-handed batsman Fawad Alam for the upcoming England and Ireland tour was unanimous in nature.According to The Dawn, Fawad performed well in the national training camp but failed to make it to the national squad, for which fingers were pointed at chief selector Inzamam-Ul-Haq.The Dawn quoted ESPNcricinfo that Inzamam defended his decision that he "has seen better players than Fawad Alam in the last three years."Earlier, Alam refused to comment on the decision put forth by the chief selectors to keep him out of the team.Sarfaraz said there is always a difference of opinion while selecting a player."We have four selectors, a coach and a captain. Whenever a squad is being formed everyone offers their opinion and then the final side is picked with mutual understanding and cooperation. Squads aren't selected unilaterally or without consultation - it doesn't work that way."Dawn quoted Ahmed as saying.
Chelsea face Man Utd in FA Cup final as Giroud sinks Saints
Chelsea booked an FA Cup final showdown with Manchester United as Olivier Giroud tormented Southampton again with a sublime strike in today's 2-0 win at Wembley. Giroud has made a habit of scoring against Southampton and the France forward was their nemesis in a one-sided semi-final. Opting to select Giroud instead of Alvaro Morata proved a shrewd move by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as the former Arsenal star produced a tremendous piece of skill to break the deadlock early in the second half. Giroud has feasted on Southampton this season, scoring twice to spark Chelsea's 3-2 win last weekend and also netting a late equaliser against them for Arsenal in December. His fourth goal for Chelsea since his January signing was followed by a late header from substitute Morata, setting up a heavyweight final against United at Wembley on May 19. That will be Chelsea's last chance to win major silverware at the end of a troubled season. Chelsea's 13th FA Cup final appearance will be a repeat of
Wenger stepped aside to unite Arsenal fanbase
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he decided to bring his 22-year tenure to a close at the end of the season because he didn't like the image of a divided fanbase being sent around the world. Wenger won three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups during his time in charge. However, Arsenal haven't won the league for 14 years and languish in sixth in the Premier League, on course for their worst-ever finish under Wenger despite beating West Ham 4-1 on Sunday. "I was not tired," said the Frenchman, 68, of the decision he announced on Friday. "Personally I believe this club is respected all over the world, much more than in England. "The fans did not give me the image of unity I want all over the world and that was hurtful because I think the club is respected. "Overall, the image we gave is not what it is and not what I like." Fans have become increasingly frustrated with Wenger's inability to mould a side capable of matching the standards he set in his first decade in ...
Nadal swats aside Nishikori to seal 11th Monte Carlo crown
Rafael Nadal romped to a record-extending 11th Monte Carlo Masters title by brushing aside an outclassed Kei Nishikori in today's final to retain the world number one ranking. The 31-year-old saw off Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 to become the first man to win a single tournament 11 times in the Open era with his 76th ATP Tour title. Nadal's 31st Masters title is also an outright record, pulling him out of a tie with Novak Djokovic. "I know the day to say goodbye is closer than 10 years ago. Is something that I am not worried about, but it's a real thing," said Nadal, who was playing at his first ATP event since retiring from an Australian Open quarter-final against Marin Cilic with a hip injury in January. "So I'm just enjoying every day and trying to play with the best attitude possible, to keep being happy playing tennis." The 16-time Grand Slam champion's era of utter dominance on clay looks unlikely to end any time soon after Nadal took his run of consecutive sets won on the surface to ...