Page 1810 - Sports
Joni and Sakshi run away with top honours in youth boxing
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 10 clashes in the 2nd Youth National Boxing Championship 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 girl 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 kg weight category, as ...
World Cup trophy to be showcased in 4 Argentine cities
The FIFA World Cup trophy arrived here as part of a 50-nation tour scheduled to culminate in Russia in time for the start of the 2018 football tournament on June 14.
Ghosh-less Indian TT squad leaves for Gold Coast
A nine-member table tennis squad, led by triple-gold medallist Sharath Kamal, today left for Gold Coast to take part in the Commonwealth Games beginning April 4. Men's coach Massimo Costantini and women's coach Soumyadeep Roy along with two support staff (a masseur and physio) are also part of the contingent. The team members, after arriving from their respective hometowns, headed straight to the send-off dinner organised in honour of the contingent. Key player Soumyajit Ghosh was dropped from the squad in the 11th hour after he was accused of raping an 18-year-old, a charge he has denied. Costantini however was still confident about India's chances. I am expecting the teams to win at least four medals. All players are in good shape which is an indication of the level of preparation. I am positive and so are the team members, said the coach. India had a poor outing in Glasgow four years ago when it returned with just one medal. Team members: Men: A. Sharath Kamal, G. Sathiyan, A. ...
Injured Mitchell Starc ruled out of IPL 2018
In a major blow to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been ruled out of the upcoming 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a stress fracture in his leg.The injury will also keep Starc out of Australia's fourth and final Test against South Africa in Johannesburg. He will be replaced by 31-year-old debutant Chadd Sayers in the national squad, cricket.com.au reported.Confirming the news, Cricket Australia (CA) took to their Twitter handle and wrote that the left-armer has sustained a 'tibial bone stress in his right leg' and that he would now head home after the series for further injury investigation and assessment."Mitchell Starc has a 'tibial bone stress in his right leg'. He will return home for further assessment after the Test and will miss the IPL," CA tweeted.Starc was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping Rs 9.4 crores at the IPL Player Auction in Bengaluru in January this year.The 11th edition of the IPL will start ..
Anil Kumar promoted to FIH Umpiring Promising List
Hockey India on Friday congratulated umpire Anil Kumar on being promoted to International Hockey Federation (FIH)'s Promising List for Outdoor Hockey.Anil Kumar, who hails from Sonepat, Haryana, was a former national-level hockey player. Though tough competition to make the Indian Team kept him from donning India colours, he saw an opportunity in umpiring - a livelihood he thoroughly cherishes today. He took up umpiring in the year 2009-10 and with constant support from Hockey India, the national governing body for the sport, he found umpiring opportunities not just in the domestic circuit but also internationally."After my hockey career ended, I took up umpiring and haven't looked back since. A busy domestic schedule with regular National Championships at different levels ensured I got a lot of exposure. I benefited from Hockey India's professional approach in promoting umpires across the country through development programmes for upcoming and currently registered umpires. Until ...
Messi returns to Barcelona training ahead of Sevilla encounter
In a major boost to Barcelona, star striker Lionel Messi has returned to training as the Spanish club step up their preparation for their this week's clash against Sevilla in La Liga.The 30-year-old was forced to miss two internationals friendlies over the last week because of a hamstring injury.Messi, however, engaged in training session between the national side's 2-0 triumph over Italy last Friday and their humiliating 1-6 defeat at the hands of Spain.Now, Barcelona took to their official Twitter handle to confirm that Messi is back in training and have joined his other team-mates back from the international duty."Training for the available players from the first team on the Tito Vilanova pitch. The rest of the internationals have returned, Messi is working with the group and Alena of @FCBarcelonaB also joined in," Barcelona tweeted.However, it is still far from certain whether Messi would play in Barcelona's clash against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on April ...
Gymnast Pranati looks to emulate Dipa Karmakar in CWG
Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak is aiming to emulate her inspiration, Dipa Karmakar, at the Commonwealth Games beginning in Gold Coast from April 4. Turning 23 on the day of the preliminary round, Pranati will look to make the finals and emulate Dipa, who won a historic bronze in Glasgow four years ago. A three-member women's artistic contingent led by Aruna Reddy hopes to fill in the void created by Dipa, who could not get fit in time for the Games. "I've been training with her for a long time. The way she puts in hard work is really inspiring. Who does not wish to be like Dipa didi? I hope my birthday turns out to be special," Pranati told PTI from New Delhi before leaving for Gold Coast. Are the nerves getting the better of her? "Nervous? Not at all, I've been training hard for this day. The first aim will be to secure a place for the finals," said Pranati. She finished fourth in the vault final at the Asian Gymnastics Championships in Bangkok in May last year. Pranati has been doing .
Starc ruled out of IPL with stress fracture
Australia's injury-prone fast bowler Mitchell Starc was today ruled out of the upcoming Indian Premier League due to a stress fracture in his right leg, dealing a blow to his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders' prospects. The pacer was also ruled out of the fourth and final Test against South Africa, which started in Johannesburg today. "Mitchell Starc has a 'tibial bone stress in his right leg'. He will return home for further assessment after the Test and will miss the IPL," Cricket Australia tweeted. The left-arm pacer was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 9.4 crore at the IPL auction in January, but will not take place in the lucrative tournament this season now. Starc was replaced for the final Test against South Africa by South Australias Chadd Sayers and will fly home after the series for further injury investigation and assessment.
'A bit of fun': Peaty lines up for Gold Coast gold
England's powerhouse Adam Peaty will expect to extend his winning streak and could even test his breaststroke world records when he stars alongside a strong Australian team at the Commonwealth Games. Peaty, 23, the Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth champion, headlines the swimming programme in the outdoor Southport Aquatic Centre, where he will put his near four-year unbeaten record on the line. The 50m and 100m breaststroke world record-holder will be the hot favourite to add to the two gold medals he won in Glasgow four years ago in his first major success. Peaty will also be attempting to become the first to go under the 57-second mark in the 100m after shattering his own world record with 57.13sec in winning Olympic gold at Rio two years ago. "Hopefully I will get near my world records but I won't be at a loss if I don't because the Europeans (championships) are around the corner as well," he said. "This will hopefully be my fourth year undefeated so it is something to ...
Riveting without Bolt? A Commonwealth Games conundrum
With Usain Bolt retired after almost a decade of freakish dominance, the Commonwealth Games looks to track and field's support cast to trigger public interest as Australian sport reels from a damaging cricket scandal. The stage had been set for triple Olympic sprint medallist Andre De Grasse to step out of the Jamaican's giant shadow in the April 8-15 athletics competition in Gold Coast. However, the Canadian, who took bronze and silver behind Bolt in the 100 and 200 metres at the 2016 Rio Games, pulled out of the Commonwealth Games to focus on his fitness after missing last year's world championships with a hamstring injury. In his absence, Yohan Blake -- himself a former world champion -- will look to fill the Bolt-sized hole left by his countryman's retirement by targeting a sprint double. "Usain Bolt has left his legacy for us to carry on and that's what we want to do," Blake told local media after arriving in Australia. "I don't have a Commonwealth medal. Usain told me 'if you ...
Ashwin laments as Smith cries, says world will 'live happily ever after'
"The world simply wants to see you cry, once you have cried they will feel satisfied and live happily ever after," lamented India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin while expressing solidarity with the disgraced Steve Smith and David Warner. Ashwin hoped the Australian cricketers can put the ball-tampering scandal behind them. "The world simply wants to see you cry, once you have cried they will feel satisfied and live happily ever after. If only Empathy was not just a Word and people still had it. God give @stevesmith49 and Bancroft all the strength to come out of this," tweeted Ashwin. "And @davidwarner31 will also need the strength to fight it out, hopefully their players union will provide them with all the support," he added. Smith broke down repeatedly at his arrival press conference in Sydney Airport and said he was "truly sorry" for his actions. Cricket Australia banned Warner and Smith for one year while Cameron Bancroft was handed a nine-month suspension after all three admitted to
Aditi lies tied-36th in ANA golf
India's Aditi Ashok, playing the seventh Major of her fledgling career, opened with a 1-under 71 to be tied-36th after the first round of the ANA Inspiration golf tournament here. Aditi had two birdies against one bogey, all on the front nine. She bogeyed the third but birdied the eighth and ninth and parred the entire back nine. Pernilla Lindberg, a 31-year-old, who has never won an LPGA event, grabbed the first-round lead with a seven-under par 65 in the first Major of 2018. One stroke back with rounds of 66 are Ayako Uehara, a 34-year-old from Japan, who has also never won on the LPGA, and Beatriz Recari, a 30-year-old Spaniard. Two strokes off the lead is Albane Valenzuela, a 20-year-old amateur from Switzerland who plays at Stanford University; Jessica Korda and Ha Na Jang. At four-under par is a star-studded group that includes Lexi Thompson, 40-year-old Cristie Kerr, a two-time major winner, Sung Hyun Park, last years Rolex Rookie of the Year and Co-Player of the Year; former ..
Disappointing start for Sharma in Houston
Shubhankar Sharma had a disappointing opening outing at the Houston Open, as he shot one-over 73 on a day when the scoring was rather low here. It was the late stages of his second nine, the front side of the course that brought the Indian youngster down. Starting from the tenth he was two-under through the opening nine but then bogeyed second and then had three in a row from fifth to seventh to fall to 2-over. A consolation birdie on 18th made it 1-over for the day. But he will need a solid second round to make the cut a week before the Masters at Augusta. Sharma was lying Tied-126 and the cut looked likely at 2-under or even 3-under. TOUR rookie Sam Ryder was 8-under through 15 holes and was on top of the leaderboard. Ryder holed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole to reach 8-under par before it was too dark to continue. The opening round was delayed by two hours because of more than two inches of overnight rain at the Golf Club of Houston. Lucas Glover and Kevin Tway each shot .
England face dominant Australia in women's tri-series final
Entering the final on the back of some dominating performances, Australia will fancy their chances when they take on England in the title clash of the women's T20 tri-series here tomorrow. The task gets even more difficult for England as they are coming off back-to-back reverses. England had started their campaign with two successive wins, which also included the highest chase in T20 internationals against India, but their batters have miserably failed in the previous two matches. England were outclassed by both Australia and India in their last two league games. Their players need to erase those memories as they get ready to take the field tomorrow. If England are to do well in batting, then their in-form opener Danielle Wyatt will have to again score heavily. But she will also need support from other batters like Natalie Sciver, Tamsim Beaumont and skipper Heather Knight on a track where the ball is expected to come nicely on to the bat. Sciver and Beaumont have been among the runs .
Bairstow salvages England after Southee, Boult strike
Jonny Bairstow was in sight of his fifth Test century after a late run spree with Mark Wood lifted England to 290 for eight at stumps on day one of the second Test here today. England had been in trouble at 164 for seven before Bairstow (not out 97) and Wood (52) put on 95 for the eighth wicket. Tim Southee and Trent Boult did all the damage for New Zealand with Southee taking five for 60, his seventh five-wicket bag while Trent Boult had three for 79 after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first. England were in danger of not reaching 200 until Wood joined Bairstow and the pair put on 95 for the eighth wicket before Wood fell to Southee for 52, his maiden Test half century. After being comprehensively beaten in the first Test, England strengthened their batting line up for Christchurch with the addition of James Vince while Wood and Jack Leach came in for bowlers Chris Woakes, Craig Overton and Moeen Ali. But apart from Wood and Bairstow there was little to enthuse about .
Bairstow takes England to 290/8 on Day 1
Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow's 97 not out powered England to 290 for eight on the first day of the second Test of the two-match series against New Zealand, here at the Hagley Oval on Friday.Bairstow and Mark Wood (52), who registered a maiden Test half-century, steadied their side's innings, after the visitors were reduced to 164 for seven, in what could have been yet another innings debacle.The English top-order collapsed yet again, with Alastair Cook, James Vince, and Dawid Malan falling for individual scores of 2, 18, and 0 respectively.Skipper Joe Root made 37 before being bowled by Tim Southee.Southee scalped five wickets, finishing the day with figures of five for 60.Trent Boult took three wickets for 79.New Zealand lead the two match series 1-0.
Kenya's Rudisha to launch season at Shanghai Diamond League
Olympic 800 metres champion David Rudisha of Kenya has confirmed he will launch his season at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting in China on May 12.
Flamengo sack coach Carpegiani
Brazilian football giants Flamengo have sacked coach Paulo Cesar Carpegiani after the team's elimination from the Rio de Janeiro state championship.
Uruguay has left-back 'problem' ahead of World Cup
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has admitted that the Celeste lack options on the left side of defence as he runs the rule over candidates for his World Cup squad.
Carreno says Miami Open audience helped him reach semis
Spanish tennis player Pablo Carreno said that the Miami Open audience "took him flying" to his second semi-final of a Masters 1,000 tournament, where he enjoyed a "very important" victory over South African Kevin Anderson, whom he had never defeated before.