Page 1809 - Sports
Working on specific skills after talking to coach Shastri: Pant
Rishabh Pant may have had modest returns from the Nidahas T20 Tri-series in Sri Lanka but his real gain has been an interaction with Indian team's head coach Ravi Shastri, who gave him tips to work on specific skill sets ahead of the 11th edition of Indian Premier League. Pant had scores of 23 and 7 in the two T20 matches in Sri Lanka before being dropped and with Dinesh Karthik's unforgettable 8-ball-29 in the final against Bangladesh, the young man from Rourkee has certainly slipped in the pecking order. "I am working on certain skills and also fitness with my coach Tarak Sinha (Sonnet coach). While returning from Sri Lanka, I had an interaction with Ravi Shastri. He told me to work on certain skills and I am trying to implement it in my game," Pant told reporters on the sidelines of Delhi Daredevils' training session. Asked about the specifics of his interaction with Shastri, Pant replied:"It's between the coach and his player. I can't disclose that. It was a good interaction. The .
Ramos, Isco absent from Real Madrid training, to miss Las Palmas clash
Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos and Isco Alarcon were absent on Friday from the final training session before a La Liga clash with Las Palmas, which they are due to miss due to injuries, coach Zinedine Zidane said.
Juventus' Chiellini, Cuadrado ready for Milan clash
Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri on Friday said defender Giorgio Chiellini and winger Juan Guillermo Cuadrado had both recovered from their injuries and were available for the club's Serie A clash against Milan.
Coach Zidane keen to stay at Real Madrid
Real Madrid French coach Zinedine Zidane on Friday expressed his desire to stay at the Spanish club during the next season.
Russia's World Cup team told to avoid 'exotic tea'
Russia's World Cup team was told to stay away from "exotic teas" and foreign medicine to avoid testing positive for doping during this year's final. The Russian Football Union issued the recommendations in a series of tweets that also included instructions to be careful with meat from Latin America and China. "We are proud that Russian football players did not test positive once in the past four years," the RFU said. "It is very important to stay completely clean." It was not immediately clear why the football federation was using Twitter to publish rules meant to keep players from being banned for cheating. Russia will host the World Cup for the first time from June 14 to July 15. Its preparations have been shadowed by a doping scandal that resulted in Russians competing under the Olympic flag at this year's Winter Games in South Korea. Russia has furiously denied charges of running a state programme that helped athletes stay clean before and during the 2014 Winter Games in ...
My wish is to stay at Real - Zidane
Zinedine Zidane indicated today that he wants to stay at Real Madrid next season. But Reals coach admitted his future will depend on results, with his team sitting third in La Liga, 15 points adrift of Barcelona, and relying on the Champions League for a major trophy this term. Zidane had previously stayed guarded over his desire to remain at the club but appears now to have declared his hand. Real travel to Las Palmas in the league on Saturday. "Yes, I would still like to stay as coach of Real Madrid," Zidane said. "Here we depend on the results, it has not changed, it will not change, it is the requirement of this club and I accept it. "I've been here 18 years, I how Real Madrid functions," said Zidane, who arrived at the club in the summer of 2001. "I do what I like doing, I do it thoroughly and if the question is, do you want to continue? Then yes I will continue. I do not feel tired, not at all." Despite winning the Champions League in each of his two seasons in charge at Real, ..
Markram hits second century of series for S.Africa
Aiden Markram made his second century of the series as South Africa built a strong position today on the first day of the fourth and final Test against an Australia team reeling from the ball-tampering scandal. South Africa were 177 for two at tea, with Markram on 111 not out, after winning the toss and batting at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. It was Markram's fourth century in ten Tests in what has been a remarkable debut season for the 23-year-old opening batsman. He again showed sound technique and good temperament allied with clean drives off front and back foot and some strong pull shots. There were 11 fours and a straight six off Nathan Lyon as he reached his hundred off 152 balls. In what appeared to be a public commitment to play in a spirit of sportsmanship after a tumultuous week, the teams lined up to shake hands with their opponents after the national anthems, while captains Faf du Plessis and Tim Paine -- who replaced the banned Steve Smith -- had a warm ...
Pakistan revival strengthens with T20 series at home against West Indies
Pakistan will take another significant step towards the revival of international cricket as World Twenty20 champions the West Indies feature in three back-to-back Twenty20 internationals in Karachi from Sunday. The Pakistan Cricket Board have put in place stringent security arrangements for the West Indies team, with 8,000 policemen and paramilitary personnel guarding the visitors in and around the hotel and stadium. The International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee David Boon will supervise the series while ICC general manager cricket Geoff Allardice and umpires' manager Adrian Griffith will also attend the matches to oversee arrangements. The series comes as Pakistan is enjoying guarded optimism over the return of international cricket, driven from the country after a deadly militant attack targeting the Sri Lanka team in 2009. Earlier this month Karachi successfully hosted the final of the popular Pakistan Super League (PSL), becoming the second major venue to host ...
Super Cup: ISL champs Chennaiyin favourites against Aizawl (Preview)
Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory feels that the recently crowned Indian Super League (ISL) champions have come to Bhubaneswar with nothing but the 'intention of winning' ahead of the Chennai-based outfit's Super Cup campaign opener against Aizawl FC here on Saturday.
CWG 2018: Sharath-led TT squad leaves for Gold Coast
A nine-member Indian table tennis squad, led by triple-gold medallist Achanta Sharath Kamal, coaches Massimo Costantini and Soumyadeep Roy along with two support staff (a masseur and physio) left on Friday morning for Gold Coast to participate in the Commonwealth Games, beginning on April 4.
Bengal face Kerala in Santosh Trophy final
Defending champions Bengal will vie for a record 33rd title after setting up a summit clash with Kerala, following their 2-0 win over Karnataka in the semifinals of the 72nd Santosh Trophy, here today. Captain Jiten Murmu and Tirthankar Sarakar's second-half goals helped Bengal beat Karnataka at the Howrah Maidan Stadium here. Murmu broke the deadlock on the 57th minute while Sarakar made sure of a Bengal win in the second minute (90+2') of stoppage time, converting a free-kick that was won by the captain. In the second semifinal at Mohun Bagan ground, five-time champions Kerala rode on a 54th minute strike by Addams VK to oust Mizoram 1-0. The last time Bengal and Kerala faced off in the final was in 1993-94, with the former winning 5-3 on penalties in Cuttack, after the score was tied 2-2 at regulation time. Kerala last won the title in 2004-05 when they defeated Punjab 3-2 in New Delhi while this is their first final appearance since 2012-13 when they lost to Services on penalties .
We should win a medal in all five events, says Kashyap
The excitement was palpable in his voice as reigning men's singles champion Parupalli Kashyap predicted the Indian badminton team's best-ever haul, including a medal in each event, at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Four years ago, Kashyap had broken a 32-year-old record when he won India's third men's singles gold at CWG, emulating Prakash Padukone (1978) and Syed Modi (1982). His exploits helped India bring home four medals from the discipline at the Glasgow Games -- one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Since that day when he stood with the tri-colour draping him, Kashyap's life took a massive turn as multiple injuries, including a calf muscle tear and a knee surgery coupled with poor form, saw his ranking dip and he eventually missed the bus for the Gold Coast Games. "I would have loved to play again but if I were the team selectors, I wouldn't put myself in the team because Prannoy and Srikanth have done exceptionally well," the former world number 6 told PTI. "We have a .
After ISL triumph, Chennaiyin eye Super Cup success
Eyeing a domestic double, reigning Indian Super League winners Chennaiyin FC will leave nothing to chance when they face Aizawl FC in their Super Cup campaign opener here tomorrow. Having upset Bengaluru FC in the ISL title clash earlier this month, Chennaiyin will be high on confidence, as they kick off the inaugural tournament's pre-quarterfinals stage along with the former I-League champions at the Kalinga Stadium. Chennaiyin coach John Gregory is likely to test a few fringe players while resting some after a hectic ISL season. The southern team has registered only four foreigners for the tournament -- Mailson Alves, Jaime Gavilan, Jude Nworuh and Raphael Augusto. Mailson, who plays in a defensive role, paved the way for Chennaiyin's come-from-behind win in the ISL final with two brilliant headers, which found the back of the net. For Aizawl FC, the Brazilian could be the man to watch out for alongside Raphael Augusto. Keenan Almeida is expected to take the place of Inigo Calderon .
Anderson crashes out in Miami Open quarters
South Africa's Kevin Anderson once again failed to reach the last four of the Miami Open as he suffered a three-set defeat from Pablo Carreno Busta here on Friday.The Spanish world number 19 prevailed over the South African 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 in a match which lasted for over two hours and 45 minutes.The South African tennis ace and the current world No 8 was taking the Miami hardcourt for the 10th time but yet again failed to make it to the semi-finals of the event.It was Anderson and Busta's third meeting recently after the former defeated Busta in a final set tie-breaker earlier this month in Indian Wells and the US Open semi-finals last year."It was an amazing match, no? I lost to him, 7-6 in the third set [at Indian Wells]. And today, well, at the beginning of the match I started playing really good, returning good, serving good, being very aggressive," Carreno Busta said post his win.He added, "I am very happy with the victory because it's very important to me... and also to be in the
Youth National Boxing: Haryana's Joni, Sakshi run away with top honours
Women boxers from Haryana made it six out of six gold medals whereas in the men's department, boxers from the SSCB stable reigned supreme winning nine out of their ten clashes in the 2nd Youth National Boxing Championship at the National Boxing Academy here.Haryana's Joni (57-60 kg), having missed out on the yellow metal last year, stepped into the ring with immense confidence and landed her vicious combinations to romp past her opponent with ease as she won with a comprehensive 5-0 score.After having missed out on a spot in the World Youth Championships (WYC) in 2017, the lass from Haryana feels this may help her get selected for international tournaments in the future."I had missed out on the WYC as I lost in the finals last year. This year, I did not want a repeat and worked double as hard to emerge as the national champion. I have done my bit and hopefully I will get selected for international tournaments in the future," the soft-spoken Joni said after winning the crown.In the 57 .
Good to pick brains of Hussey, Dhoni: Jagadeesan
CSK's young wicketkeeper-batsman N Jagadeesan has said he is learning a new set of tricks from legendary captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the team's batting coach Michael Hussey. "It's always a special feeling when you have a cricket chat with Mr Hussey. He is someone who has proved himself across formats and is called Mr Cricket for a reason. It's always good to pick his brains and learn a new sets of tricks," he was quoted as saying on chennaisuperkings.com. The 22-year old cricketer from Coimbatore also said he sought to find out from Hussey how to go about attacking a bowler. "I asked him the way he would go about playing a bowler, especially when he wants to attack him. There are so many players like me who are not able to clear the boundary line at will. I have been working on that and I am looking to get a similar mentality of how he approached it," he added. The Tamil Nadu 'keeper-batsman, who was picked up by CSK at his base price of Rs 20 lakh, also said he ...
IPL: Refurbished Mumbai Indians aim to defend crown (Team Profile)
(ATTN Editors: From Friday, IANS is beginning a series of profiles of the eight teams in the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League)
'Desperately sorry for Smith': Arthur backs Aussie to come back stronger
Former Australia coach Mickey Arthur said he expected Steve Smith to recover from the ball-tampering scandal which has left him with a lengthy ban -- but added that he wasn't so sure about co-conspirator David Warner. Arthur, now coach of Pakistan, also told AFP that behaviour had sunk to "abysmal" levels in world cricket and needed rapid improvement, after a series of flare-ups in recent months. Smith and Warner, Australia's captain and vice-captain, were banned for 12 months for a ball-tampering incident in South Africa also involving Cameron Bancroft, who was suspended for nine months. It has been a dramatic fall for Smith, 28, who was being compared with the legendary Donald Bradman just a few months ago but who broke down in tears during an apology yesterday. "I feel desperately sorry for Smith. I know he eats, sleeps and drinks cricket," said Arthur. "He loves cricket and everything he did. He loved the job, he was passionate about the job. I think he was a very good leader and .
South Africa make steady start as focus returns to cricket
Aiden Markram made an unbeaten half-century to give South Africa a steady start against Australia in the fourth and final Test as action on the field took centre stage after the ball-tampering scandal. South Africa were 88 for one at lunch, with Markram on 53 not out, after winning the toss and batting on an overcast morning at Wanderers Stadium here. In what appeared to be a public commitment to play in a spirit of sportsmanship after a tumultuous week, the teams lined up to shake hands with their opponents after the national anthems, while captains Faf du Plessis and Tim Paine -- named to replace the banned Steve Smith -- had a warm conversation before the toss. The South African fans could not resist poking fun at the Australians' attempts to alter the condition of the ball during the third Test. One banner in the crowd read: "Sandpaper Special, Only R10 (10 Rand)". The pitch had less green grass than usual, although batting conditions remained challenging, with the fast bowlers ...
Kashyap, Sameer in quarters of Orleans Open
Indian shuttlers P Kashyap and Sameer Verma entered the quarterfinals of the Orleans Open World Super 100 tournament with straight game wins in the men's singles competition here. Fifth seed Kashyap, who clinched the Austrian Open last month, defeated Ireland's Joshua Magee 21-11 21-14, while Swiss Open champion and top seed Sameer beat local hope Thomas Rouxel 21-16 21-15 in another match played yesterday. Kashyap, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, will face Denmark's third seed Rasmus Gemke, while Sameer takes on another local player Lucas Corvee, seeded eighth. Kashyap, who was handed a bye in the opener, brushed aside Croatia's Zvonimir Durkinjak 21-16 21-7. Sameer, who also got a bye in the opening round, defeated Russia's Sergey Sirant in the second round. Men's doubles pair of Francis Alwin and K Nandagopal, seeded sixth, prevailed over Poland combo of Milosz Bochat and Adam Cwalina 15-21 21-17 21-17 to also advance to the quarterfinals. The Indian duo will face third seeded