Page 1707 - Sports
Barça trounces Sevilla in Copa del Rey final
FC Barcelona saw stellar performances from superstar striker Lionel Messi and star midfielder Andres Iniesta in a 5-0 rout of Sevilla in the final of the Copa del Rey, Spain's annual football cup competition.
Aditi tied 9th at Los Angeles, eyes season's first top-10 finish
India's Aditi Ashok made a superb charge on the back nine with two birdies and an eagle 2 on a Par-4 at the Hugel-JTBC Los Angeles Open to close in on her first top-10 finish of the season. Aditi, playing her second season, shot 2-under 69 to move to T-9 after the third round yesterday. She had rounds of 68 and 73 on the first two days at the Wilshire Country Club. Aditi had a sedate start with just one bogey on the very first hole on the front nine and that brought her back from overnight 1-under to even par. She birdied the 10th, but gave that back on 11th. An eagle on par-4 14th set her up nicely and she added a birdie on par-4 16th and ended at 69 to be 3-under for the tournament. Moriya Jutanugarn (70) and Jin Young-Ko (66) were in shared lead at 9-under 204. Jutanugarn, the 36-hole leader, got off to a rough start with a double bogey at the first hole and she followed that with another bogey at the sixth. But Jutanugarn sister remained steady and bounced back with a birdie at ...
Lahiri slips back in third round at Texas Open
A day after making a great comeback in the second round, Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri slipped to tied 66th in the third round of the Valero Texas Open. Lahiri, now playing his third full season on the PGA Tour, shot 1-over 73 in the third round and was lying T-66 as compared to T-48 at the midway stage. Once again his problems were on the greens, where he missed at least two to three putts around 10 feet and another couple between 11 and 14 feet. He also took a penalty once and generally had a disappointing day. The 2008 and 2009 Valero Texas Open champion Zach Johnson maintained a share of the lead following a 4-under 68. At 13-under 203, he will enter the final round tied with Andrew Landry. Johnson is seeking to join Arnold Palmer (1960-62) and Justin Leonard (2000-01, 2007) as the only three-time winners of the Valero Texas Open. Johnson is also seeking his 13th PGA TOUR victory at the age of 42 years. Trey Mullinax didn't make the FedExCup Playoffs last season, does not have ...
Blind Cricket Match hosted by Australian High Commission
The Australian High Commission on April 20 hosted an Inclusive Blind Cricket Exhibition Match as part of its 'Development4All' campaign.The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Thawarchand Gehlot, flipped the coin to decide which team would play first. Australia's Deputy High Commissioner Chris Elstoft and the Minister also played a few balls before the play started.The two teams- Team A and Team B featured a mix of players from the Indian Blind Cricket team and diplomats from the Australian, British and New Zealand High Commissions.Team A chose to bat first and made a total of 99/5 in six overs. Chasing down their total, Team B could only make 82 in six overs.Team A, which was led by Ajay Kumar Reddy, captain of Indian national blind cricket team, won the match by 17 runs. Reddy was also judged man of the match for making an unbeaten 53 of 12 balls in the match.Amongst the spectators were Mahantesh GK, President, Cricket Association for the Blind in India, and ...
Women judokas win four gold medals at South Asian Championship
India reasserted their supremacy among its sub-continental neighbours winning four gold medals on the opening day of the 8th South Asian Judo Championship. India's L. Sushila Devi won the gold in the 48 kg category defeating Humaira Ashiq of Pakistan in the final. The second gold was won by Kalpana Devi Thoudam, who beat Maryam of Pakistan in the 52 kg category. In the 57 kg category, A Anita Chanu defeated local girl Lila Adhikari while H. Sunibala Devi defeated Phupu Lhamu Khatri of Nepal in the 63 kg category to win country's fourth yellow metal. India's men bagged two bronze medals.
Daredevils look for home comfort against table toppers KIXP
Bruised and battered after a string of defeats, Delhi Daredevils find themselves in an 'oh-so-familiar' situation as they seek home comfort against a Chris Gayle-inspired Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, here tomorrow. Without an iota of doubt, the Daredevils have been the least impressive of all teams in the past few seasons of the cash-rich extravaganza, only managing to finish at the bottom half of the pecking order. In the last two seasons, the Daredevils ended their campaign at sixth position, were a place down in 2015 and finished last the year before, in 2014. The story has been similar in the ongoing edition as they struggle with fours reverses from five outings to occupy the last place. They were done in by the versatile AB de Villiers' smashing knock last night and up next at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Daredevils will be up against the destructive Gayle, who has made a statement with two fifties and century, scoring those runs in his trademark style. Thanks to ...
Find shades of Yuvraj Singh in Rishabh's game: Mandeep
Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Mandeep Singh finds young Rishabh Pant's ability to hit sixes at will, strikingly similar to veteran Yuvraj Singh's best days. Pant's 48-ball-85 was played in a losing cause as RCB beat Delhi Daredevils by six wickets with AB de Villiers' 39-ball-90 overshadowing the Rourkee youngster's innings. "Rishabh is amazing. When we were growing up, we used to talk about Yuvraj Singh. Yuvi paa used to hit those big sixes more than anyone else. I think, in this generation, Rishabh is one name, who can smack sixes like him (Yuvraj) at will. He has immense ability," Mandeep replied to a PTI query here today. Asked about his teammate De Villiers, Mandeep replied: "What can I say about AB? AB is AB. He does something or the other. I am lucky and blessed to be playing with him and witnessed one of his best innings. That's all I can say." Mandeep reiterated that RCB is not just dependant on skipper Virat Kohli or De Villiers. "When you have two world's best batsmen
Nishikori believes 'there's a way' to deny Nadal in Monte Carlo
Kei Nishikori believes he can find a way to beat Rafael Nadal in Sunday's Monte Carlo Masters final, but admits that the 10-time champion looks in ominous form. World number one Nadal eased to a 6-4 6-1 semi-final victory over Grigor Dimitrov on Saturday, while Japan's Nishikori came back from a set down to beat third seed Alexander Zverev. Only three players have ever downed Nadal in Monte Carlo, where he has a 67-4 win-loss record. "I'm sure there is a way to beat him. But, you know, to see him this week, it looks a little bit difficult," admitted Nishikori. "I hope I can find, you know, the way to beat him. Yeah, especially on clay he's the king. So, yeah, I will discuss it with my coach tonight." Nadal is bidding to become the first man to win 11 titles at the same tournament in the Open era, extending his record after claiming his 10th triumphs in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and at the French Open last year. But he insisted he's not an automatic favourite on clay, despite having won ..
Guardiola tells City multiple English titles key to Champions League glory
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must secure more Premier League titles to earn the respect necessary to win the Champions League following their tame exit from Europe's leading club competition. City collected their third Premier League title in seven years last weekend, with a number of all-time domestic records still within their reach ahead of Sunday's match at home to Swansea. But that magnificent league form contrasted with the Champions League, in which City were emphatically beaten 5-1 on aggregate by rivals Liverpool in the quarter-finals, and their manager insisted his club was still some way from being able to compete for that prize. "I realised this season how difficult it will be to win the Champions League," said Guardiola, who lifted the European Cup as both a player and manager at Barcelona. "May be, I am wrong but before you win the Champions League as a club you have to win more Premier Leagues in a row first, to get respect in Europe that you are a top club. ..
Former Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar retires at Flamengo
Julio Cesar has retired from football after playing a last match for boyhood club Flamengo. The 38-year-old former Brazil, Inter Milan and Benfica goalkeeper kept a clean sheet Saturday night at the historic Maracana stadium as his team beat America 2-0 in the second round of the Brazilian championship. "I cried a lot during the week already," a tearful Cesar said at the end of the match. Cesar was a starter for Brazil in two of the last three World Cups. His accolades include five Italian titles and the 2010 Champions League title with Inter, three Portuguese titles with Benfica and the 2004 Copa America with Brazil. Cesar returned to Flamengo in January only to finish his career at the club he began his professional career in 1997.
Amir Khan wins first fight in 2 years in 39 seconds
Former world champion Amir Khan won his first fight in two years by stopping Phil Lo Greco in 39 seconds on Saturday. Fighting in a British home ring for the first time in five years, Khan sent Lo Greco to the canvas inside 30 seconds. Moments later, he pinned the Canadian against the ropes and forced the stoppage. Khan (32-4, 20 KOs) hadn't fought since he went up two weights and was knocked out by Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in May 2016. He held the WBA super lightweight title from 2009-12. Lo Greco (28-4) was knocked out for only the second time in his career. He and Khan fought at a catch weight super welterweight.
Central role lets Salah take centre-stage at Liverpool
Roma know the threat posed by Mohamed Salah more than most having sold the free-scoring Egyptian to Liverpool for an initial 42 million euros (USD 52 million) just 10 months ago. But that may not help the Italians much as they become the latest side to face the gauntlet of Anfield on a European night in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final, first leg as Salah has blossomed into a goal-scoring machine very few saw coming at the start of the season. Salah's then club record price tag was questioned at the time of the deal coming just two years after he failed to make an impression in the Premier League with Chelsea. Now, though, it looks like an incredible bargain as Salah has netted 41 goals in 46 games to take Liverpool back to the last four of Europe's premier club competition for the first time in a decade. "It wasn't like a lot of other teams than Liverpool were banging down the door," Roma's American co-owner James Pallotta told the BBC's World Football programme. "I think today .
Iniesta says 'emotional' final may be his last for Barca
Andres Iniesta hinted he may have played his last final for Barcelona after they crushed Sevilla 5-0 to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday. Barcelona captain Iniesta said he would reveal his future plans "this week" as the 33-year-old weighs up an offer from China that would take him away from his boyhood club. There was no sign of age catching up with the Spaniard at the Wanda Metropolitano where Iniesta capped a sublime performance by scoring Barca's fourth goal. He looked tearful as he departed to a standing ovation in the second half, from some Sevilla fans too, before hoisting the Copa del Rey trophy aloft. "This week I will make my decision (on my future) public but we will always have days like today," Iniesta said. "I will say what the decision is this week. I think it's a little clear but we will see." Asked if this was his last final with Barcelona, Iniesta added: "It's a possibility. In a few days I'll make it public and nothing more. Today is a very special and emotional ...
Barca hammer Sevilla to win 30th Copa del Rey
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez inspired Barcelona to what will surely be the first part of a domestic double this season as they thrashed Sevilla 5-0 on Saturday to win the Copa del Rey. Messi had scored once and Suarez twice before even the half-time whistle had blown at the Wanda Metropolitano, with the sublime Andres Iniesta and Philippe Coutinho later compounding Sevilla's humiliation. Barca's exhilarating display earns them their 30th triumph in this competition and fourth in a row, having reached the final in each of the last five years. But, despite hugs and high-fives at the end, the real celebrations will be put on ice until next Sunday, when victory over Deportivo La Coruna will confirm Ernesto Valverde's side as La Liga champions too. Even a clean sweep of the domestic trophies, perhaps polished by La Liga's first ever unbeaten season, will not eradicate the lingering disappointment from Barca's Champions League exit to Roma. But this performance, as easy on the eye as it was
Record numbers to run London Marathon
Record numbers are expected to start the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday after more than 41,000 has registered for the race, organisers said.
Man United prolongs FA Cup pain for Spurs by reaching final
A third cup final with Manchester United for Jose Mourinho. More FA Cup semifinal misery for Tottenham. While Mauricio Pochettino wins admiration for his style of football, the manager has yet to actually win a trophy in management. A 2-1 collapse to United at Wembley Stadium on Saturday left Tottenham reeling from an eighth successive loss in the FA Cup semifinals. Pochettino is responsible for two of the setbacks, having also fallen short against Chelsea last season, plus lost the League Cup final in 2015. "We can't keep doing this," Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli said. "We can't throw it away. We have got to improve." Alli's goal gave the 1991 FA Cup winners hope of turning around their miserable recent record in world football's oldest knockout competition. But Alexis Sanchez leveled in the 24th minute and Ander Herrera struck the winner in the second half. It ensured Mourinho, who won the League Cup and Europa League in his first season at United, has a chance to also end this ...
Manchester United beat Tottenham to reach FA Cup final
Ander Herrera scored the winner as Manchester United advanced into a record-equalling 20th FA Cup final at the expense of Tottenham at Wembley Stadium here.
De Villiers' 90* steers RCB to victory over DD
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batsman AB de Villiers produced a match-winning knock of 90* from 39 balls, helping his side to register a six-wicket-win over Delhi Daredevils (DD), here at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.De Villiers notched up ten fours and five sixes in his thumping knock. He was well-supported by skipper Virat Kohli who scored 30 from 26 deliveries.Earlier, DD led by Gautam Gambhir were put into bat and scored 174 for the loss of five wickets.Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer led the DD charge, scoring 85 and 52 respectively, to lift Daredevils from 58 for 2 to a respectable score.AB de Villiers was declared the man-of-the-match.With two victories from five games in their kitty this season, RCB are at the fifth position on the points table.Meanwhile, DD, with only one win from five games, is the last team on the table.Sunrisers Hyderabad (SH) will play Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will face Mumbai Indians (MI) in the two matches slated ..
AB always makes you smile, says Kohli
Relieved after Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Delhi Daredevils by six wickets to bring their IPL campaign back on track, skipper Virat Kohli credited AB de villiers for the turnaround saying the South African always give the team plenty of reasons to smile. "These 30 runs are bigger than the 90 odd in the last game. We won. We still have a few areas to correct, but when you have the brilliant AB in the team, he always makes you smile," Kohli said after de villiers blasted an unbeaten 39-ball 90 to single-handedly power RCB to a six-wicket win. "We understand our games very well and then he starts going off. And we know if we can get a 60-70 run partnership, we could win the game. Pity I couldn't stay till the end but Corey and Andy did well.
De Villiers gives RCB 6-wicket win over Delhi
A.B. de Villiers blasted 90 not out as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Delhi Daredevils (DD) by six wickets here on Saturday to end their two-match losing streak in the Indian Premier League (IPL).