Page 1812 - Sports
Mandhana, bowlers guide India to consolation win
India women ended their triangular T20 tri-series with a bang, defeating England by eight wickets for their first win of the series at the Barbourne Stadium here on Thursday.
Messi participates in Barca training
Argentina football star Lionel Messi on Thursday participated in Barcelona's first training session for the upcoming La Liga match against Sevilla.
Former Italian football coach Mondonico dead
Former Italian football coach Emiliano Mondonico died on Thursday at age 71, his family said.
Buffon says he admires Ronaldo
Juventus captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on Thursday expressed his admiration for Real Madrid's Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, ahead of their clash in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
Australia cricket coach Lehmann to quit after South Africa series
A tearful Darren Lehmann said today he would quit as coach of the scandal-tainted Australia cricket team after the fourth and final Test of the ongoing series in South Africa. "This will be my last Test as head coach of the Australian cricket team," Lehmann told a press conference on the eve of the match. "Saying goodbye to the players was the toughest thing I have ever had to do. "After seeing events in the media today with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, the feeling is that Australian cricket needs to move forward and this is the right thing to do. "I really felt for Steve and, as you see, I'm crying in front of the media. All the players are really hurting." Speaking in Johannesburg soon after Lehmann's announcement, Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland said he wanted to pay tribute to the coach. "He provided fantastic service and has been part of a very successful team that has achieved a lot during his time. "I have seen first hand the pride in which he has ..
Rossi slams pressure on himself, Buffon to retire
Motorcycling ace Valentino Rossi has slammed critics of himself and fellow Italian Gianluigi Buffon who are defying the years in their sports. Rossi, 39, has signed a new two-year contract with Yahama and will now remain in the sport until at least 2020. His existing contract runs out at the end of 2018, his 23rd season. Goalkeeper Buffon has been criticised for performing a u-turn on his international retirement after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup and making himself available at the age of 40. "I feel I'm still at the top and this boosts me. I advise Buffon to follow my example. People enjoy saying we're finished," Rossi told Thusday's edition of Gazzetta dello Sport. "Buffon absolutely must continue, if he wants to. I think he knows if he can still be at the top. "It's easier to say that someone's finished, instead of recognising their balls and whether they still have them. "There are two types of people: those who appreciate and enjoy someone else's greatness, and ...
Racism scandal rocks run-up to Russia's World Cup
A new racism scandal has rocked Russian football in the run-up to the World Cup -- and anxious Moscow authorities are taking it seriously. The idea of fans targeting black players with monkey chants is haunting Russian football chiefs heading into the June 14 to July 15 celebration of the 'beautiful game'. But racism reared its ugly head on Tuesday when French players Ousmane Dembele and Paul Pogba were targeted during France's 3-1 friendly victory over Russia in Saint Petersburg. An AFP photographer heard imitation ape noises aimed at Barcelona forward Dembele, while internet users reported similar abuse from sections of the 50,000 crowd targeting Manchester United's star Pogba. Following calls from French sports minister Laura Flessel for "European and international" action, football's ruling body FIFA is now investigating. Although the Russian Football Union's initial response was sceptical -- its security council chief said his monitors "did not hear or record anything of the ...
Messi returns to training with Barcelona
Lionel Messi returned to training with Barcelona today to offer the Catalans a boost with less than a week to go before their Champions League clash against Roma. Messi missed Argentina's two internationals over the last week due to a hamstring strain, although he did train between the 2-0 win over Italy last Friday and Tuesday's 6-1 humiliation by Spain. "Messi took part in a part of training with the squad," said Barca on their Twitter account. The 30-year-old five-time world player of the year joined other Barca stars just back from international duty. With Barca enjoying an 11-point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, where they are unbeaten all season, Messi may be rested for Saturday's trip to Sevilla to give him more time to recover ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Roma on Tuesday. Yesterday, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde had said he was feeling "calm" with regards Messi's potentially availability. "He has a slight problem but we hope ...
Platini slams 'rubbish' FIFA and CAS judges: report
Disgraced former UEFA president Michel Platini has labelled the judges who banned him from office as "rubbish" and claims he will be "proved right". The former France and Juventus legend had his initial eight-year FIFA ban, for receiving an illegal payment of 2.0 million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros, USD 2 million) from former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, reduced by two years by judges from the European Court of Human Rights in January. But although it was reduced again by two years to four years following an appeal to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the 62-year-old maintains the ruling -- which prevents him from working in football until October 2019 -- remains unfair. "I can't accept losing when I've done nothing wrong. They've stopped me working in football for four years! Who are these clowns who've stopped me?" said Platini. "The rubbish judges from FIFA and CAS are not real judges." Platini's suspension scuppered his plans to succeed Blatter as head of FIFA,
Russell ties up with Bolt's sports therapist
Fresh from a training stint under Usain Bolt's sports therapist, Kolkata Knight Riders allrounder Andre Russell hopes to be as fit as his fellow Jamaican sprint legend. One of the most sought-after players in T20 leagues, a fit-again Russell joined the new-look Kolkata Knight Riders side today, and announced that Everald 'Eddie' Edwards will be his personal physio. "He is a good guy, Eddie. He used to be Usain Bolt's physio. We all know Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world, I am the second (laughs) so yeah like to be anywhere close to his fitness, you need guys like Edward around you. He is my personal physio," the Jamaican said in a post in KKR's official Facebook page. Everald 'Eddie' Edwards has worked side-by-side with the iconic Jamaican sprinter Bolt as his exclusive sports therapist since 2007, and has also worked with a large number of international sporting stars such as Britain's Mo Farah and cricketer Chris Gayle. The 29-year-old, who has been retained by KKR, missed .
IPL: Russell raring to go after training with Bolt's physio
Explosive Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell is raring to go in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) after training hard with iconic Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt's sports therapist Everald 'Eddie' Edwards, the West Indian said here on Thursday.
Haryana boy upsets World Youth Champion, books final spot
Haryana's Joni upset World Youth Championship gold medallist Ankushita Boro of Assam to book herself a berth in the finals of the 2nd Youth National Boxing Championship at the National Boxing Academy here. Joni (60 kg) came into the bout as an underdog. However, she was not short on confidence as she kept a safe distance from her opponent while landing her punches. The Assamese was startled by her opponent's quick movement inside the ring and had no answers to it. Although the bout lasted all three rounds, Joni had swept aside the challenge with a comprehensive 5-0 win. She will take on Hema Danu of Uttarakhand in the final clash tomorrow. Haryana's girls continued their dominating run in the semi-finals also as Sakshi (57 kg), Nitu (48 kg), Manisha (64 kg) and Anamika (51 kg) breezed past their respective opponents to fight for the coveted gold medal. Anamika left nothing to chance as she stepped on it from the word go. Her ferocious punches prompted the referee to halt the contest ..
Santosh Trophy: Bengal challenge for Karnataka; Mizoram up against Kerala (Preview)
Defending champions Bengal will be up against Karnataka while Kerala and Mizoram will clash in a battle of two in-form teams in the semi-finals of the national football championship for the 72nd Santosh Trophy here on Friday.
Bengal wary of Karnataka, Mizoram no pushovers against dominant Kerala
Defending champions Bengal will be up against 'surprise package' Karnataka, while Kerala and Mizoram will clash in a battle of two dominant sides in the semifinals of the national football championship for the 72nd Santosh Trophy here tomorrow. Karnataka, who won the Santosh Trophy last time in 1968-69, emerged as surprise group B toppers after beating teams such as Goa, Odisha and Mizoram. While Karnataka will be trying to continue their fairytale, coach P Muralidharan said they are "hungry" to win against Bengal at the Howrah Maidan Stadium. "We have young players hungry to play and keen to win. Now that we have reached the semifinals, anything can happen," Muralidharan said. Karnataka's success in the competition has been based on their dogged determination and defensive organisation, which make up for their lack of fire power upfront, and they will be up against a side that has been a record 32-time champions. Bengal have won without much fuss against Manipur, Maharashtra and ...
Ball-tampering: Smith, Warner, Bancroft apologise; Lehmann quits (Roundup)
The banned Australian trio of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft on Thursday issued apologies for their involvement in a ball tampering incident with the sacked captain taking full responsibility for it while head coach Darren Lehmann, cleared of any wrongdoing, surprisingly announced his resignation.
IPL won't suffer because of Smith, Warner's absence: Parthiv
The Indian Premier League (IPL) won't lose its sheen in the absence of star Australian cricketers Steve Smith and David Warner, feels wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel.
If you vote, democracy wins, says Dravid in message to Ktk
"If you all vote, democracy wins. In cricket, every player is important. Even in democracy, all are important. I vote. You also vote," says former Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid in video message to voters. State election officials, who had announced Dravid as the ambassador and icon for the May 12 Karnataka assembly polls to boost voter turnout, have released the 30-second video message. The former India captain says just as every player in cricket is important, every voter is important in democracy. "When everyone plays well, we can win the match. In cricket, every player is important. Even in democracy, all areimportant. I vote. You also vote," he adds. The video message will be telecast on television channels and spread through posters and hoardings that will be put up across state. Dravid also pitches for ethical voting by saying, "Together, let us play a fair game. Say yes to ethical elections." Dravid has also been an ambassador for Bengaluru traffic ...
ICC to review code of conduct post ball-tampering scandal
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has commissioned a wide-ranging review into player behaviour, the spirit in which the game is played and the Code of Conduct.The development comes following the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, which resulted in Cricket Australia handing out bans to Australian players Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.The review, which will be led by the ICC chief executive David Richardson, will consult widely with the sport in contemporising the standards expected of player behaviour and developing a culture of respect.It will focus on two things: firstly, the ICC Code of Conduct, reviewing the levels of offence based on seriousness, more clearly defining the conduct that will constitute each offence and reviewing the sanctions that should apply to the various offences.Secondly, the establishment of a 'spirit of cricket code' based on a culture of respect. This will define more clearly what it actually means to play the modern game and will ...
Ball tampering row won't affect brand IPL: Parthiv
The brand value of Indian Premier League will not get affected by the recent ball tampering scandal that rocked the cricketing world, feels Royal Challengers Bangalore wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. Australian captain Steven Smith and his deputy David Warner were involved in a pre-meditated plan to tamper with the ball on the third day of the Cape Town Test against South Africa and let Cameron Bancroft carry out the act. The scandal has generated widespread condemnation stretching beyond sport, including Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who said it "bitterly disappointed the whole nation". The row had its repercussion in IPL 2018 as well as the Aussie duo will not be allowed to play in the T20 franchise tournament because of their roles in ball tampering. "It's unfortunate. But IPL has been a very big brand. It's such a big tournament with a lot of young players and seniors have been around for years. A couple of incidents that has happened outside the IPL should not affect,"
FC Goa coach confident of team's chances in Super Cup
FC Goa coach Derrick Pereira is optimistic of his teams chances as they kick off their Super Cup campaign with a tough first-round fixture against two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions ATK on April 3.