Page 1823 - Sports
Balanced perspective needed in condemnation: Steve Waugh
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh urged everyone to have a "focused and balanced perspective" in ongoing ball tampering scandal that has rocked Australian cricket with their current captain Steve Smith facing a hefty suspension from the Cricket Board. Waugh, who captained one of the finest Australian sides during the late 90's till early part of new millennium termed the Australian's team dishonest approach as an "error of judgement" and called them to revisit the 'Spirit of Cricket' manual which they had customised from the original MCC manual. A focused and balanced perspective is needed in the condemnation on those involved in this, with a clear and critical consideration to the social impact and mental health of all players," Waugh wrote on his official Facebook page, which was also uploaded by Cricket Australia. I will support all positive action to ensure an outcome for the betterment of the game, regaining the trust and faith of every fan of cricket, he added. He didn't ...
Matt Renshaw to join Test squad in Joburg
Queensland opener Matthew Renshaw appears to be in line for a recall to Australia's Test side with the batsman set to fly to South Africa immediately after the Sheffield Shield final in Brisbane. According to cricket.com.au: "Renshaw will fly to Johannesburg this evening to join the under-siege tourists ahead of Friday's final Test against South Africa in the wake of the Cape Town ball-tampering crisis." Test captain Steve Smith has been suspended by the ICC for the fourth Test and Cameron Bancroft copped three demerit points and a 75 per cent match fee deduction. Further sanctions from Cricket Australia could follow pending the outcome of an investigation led by Iain Roy, CA's head of integrity. Smith and vice-captain David Warner were stood down from their leadership roles before day four of the third Test. Renshaw warmed up with the Bulls at AB Field on Tuesday and took to the field in the morning session, stationed at first slip and then the boundary as Tasmania raced to 0-166 ...
Bhaker-Anmol wins air pistol mixed gold
The duo of Manu Bhaker and Anmol secured India's seventh gold medal in the ISSF junior World Cup by winning the mixed 10m air pistol event with a qualification world record here today. Genemat Sekhon bagged an individual bronze medal in the junior women's skeet, shooting a 36 in the final. Bhaker and Anmol dominated the event from the very start and enter the final with the highest qualification score and a new junior qualification world record. They finished with a 5.6 advantage on their closest rivals, China's Liu Jinyao and Li Xue. The two Indian youngsters dominated the final match since its very first series, progressively building a gap between them and their closest rivals. They eventually finished with 478.9 points, just 1.8 points away from the current world record. Previously, Anmol and Bhaker also set a new Junior Qualification World Record with 770 points. The silver and bronze medals were both awarded to China, as Liu Jinyao (20) and Li Xue (18) finished in second ...
Venus Williams marches into Miami Open quarters
American tennis star Venus Williams booked her place in the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters after battling past last year's winner Johanna Konta of Australia in a three-set thriller here on Tuesday.After dropping a grueling first set, Venus bounced back strongly to register a 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory over her Australian opponent in a thrilling last-16 clash that lasted for more than two hours.Reflecting on the match, the three-time Miami Open champion said that though Konta came up with some really good shots to break her in the opening set, she somehow managed to prevail her Australian opponent eventually."The first set was definitely all her, and she came up with some amazing shots to break me at 5-5.There was not much I could do there, except just hope I could keep up in the second and third sets," the WTA quoted Venus, as saying.It was Venus' 64th Miami Open triumph, a run which dated back to her first appearance in the tournament in 1997. She has bagged the title thrice - in ...
Brazilian female sports reporters speaks about sexual harassment
Female Brazilian sports reporters have come together to speak out about the sexual harassment they suffer in the course of their work, the media reported on Tuesday.
Santosh Trophy: Goa thump Odisha to keep semi-final hopes alive
A hat-trick of goals as well as assists from Victorino Fernandes helped Goa register a thumping 6-1 win over Odisha at the Mohun Bagan ground in the ongoing 72nd Santosh Trophy.The Goan skipper scored the first hat-trick of the tournament to keep his team in the race for a semi-final spot.Goa dominated proceedings and were hungry for goals right from the beginning. Victorino scored the opening goal of the match in the 15th minute. Mackroy Peixeto curled a corner inside the box which was headed in by the veteran striker.Odisha came back with a prompt reply as they equalised within a minute of Goa's goal. Arbin Lakra floated a cross inside the box which was kept in play by Bhabagrahi Padhihary, Sunil Sardar received the ball and found the back of the net.Odisha came back strongly after scoring the equaliser and were attacking in numbers. They created several chances and were in control of the game. But Goa came back at the stroke of half-time as Victorino netted the ball in from Nestor .
Stephens downs Muguruza as seeds tumble in Miami
Sloane Stephens powered past world number three Garbine Muguruza as the seeds continued to fall at the Miami Open on Monday. US Open champion Stephens dominated Spain's reigning Wimbledon champion Muguruza to record a 6-3 6-4 win and advance to the quarter-finals. Stephens, the world number 12, will face Germany's Angelique Kerber for a place in the semi-finals. Muguruza had been the highest ranked player left in the women's draw following the early exits of world number one Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki in the earlier rounds. Meanwhile former world number one Kerber was made to sweat in her gruelling clash with China's Wang Yafan before prevailing 6-7 (1/7) 7-6 (7/5) 6-3. Kerber's victory continues a remarkable run of results since the turn of the year. The world number 10 has played six tournaments in 2018 and reached the quarter-finals or better in each event. Earlier Monday, Czech fifth seed Karolina Pliskova booked her place in the last eight after opponent Zarina Diyas ...
Dutch give Koeman first win by cruising past Portugal
Ronald Koeman claimed his first win in charge of the Netherlands national team as the Dutch cruised to a comfortable 3-0 friendly victory over an uninspired Portugal in Geneva on Monday. The three-time World Cup runners-up have failed to qualify for this year's finals in Russia, but Koeman's second game at the helm saw goals from Memphis Depay, Ryan Babel and Virgil van Dijk seal an impressive win. It was a disappointing evening for European champions Portugal ahead of the World Cup, as talisman Cristiano Ronaldo cut an isolated figure just three days after his late brace had seen off Egypt 2-1. "They had four chances and scored three times, they deserved their victory," said Portugal coach Fernando Santos. "Two years ago, before the Euros, we lost at home against Bulgaria. I don't think we have lost confidence, I still believe in these players for the future." The Netherlands, who lost 1-0 to England in Amsterdam on Friday, opened the scoring in the 11th minute as Depay grabbed the ..
Argentina have a 'debt' to settle at World Cup: Messi
Argentina captain Lionel Messi admitted Monday that his generation has a score to settle at the World Cup in Russia after a series of agonising near misses in major tournaments. "The debt we owe is to ourselves, not to the people. We always give our all, we reached three finals. We haven't been far off," Messi said in an interview with Fox Sports. Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany 1-0 after extra time and then finished runners-up at successive Copa America tournaments, losing to Chile on penalties in both 2015 and 2016. "We always take each World Cup as a big opportunity, and now more than ever because an important generation will move on, several players will change," Messi said, ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Spain in Madrid. Vice-captain Javier Mascherano has already announced he will retire from international duty after the World Cup, while Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain will all be 30 come the finals. Messi will turn 31 during the ...
Axe looms for Lehmann and Smith as CA hold crisis talks
The axe was hanging over the head of Australian coach Darren Lehmann and skipper Steve Smith Tuesday with cricket chiefs holding crisis talks in South Africa to deal with an escalating cheating scandal. Cricket Australia (CA) boss James Sutherland, under mounting pressure to come down hard on what Australian media has dubbed a "rotten" team culture, was due in Johannesburg Tuesday where he will meet up with the body's head of integrity, Iain Roy. They are expected to update a shocked Australian public on Wednesday morning, with reports saying they could throw the book at Smith and his vice-captain David Warner by banning both for 12 months and sending them home in disgrace. Smith has already been suspended for one Test and docked his entire match fee by the International Cricket Council for his role in a plot that saw teammate Cameron Bancroft tamper with the ball during the third Test against South Africa on Saturday. It means he will miss the fourth and final Test in Johannesburg ...
Retired cricket stars to meet in Kenya in July
Retired world cricket stars will return to the Nairobi Gymkhana cricket pitch to relive their flashy heyday when they meet in Nairobi for the inaugural Legends Cup scheduled to take place from July 19 to July 28.
Indian special athletes prepare to face global competition
As much as 410 athletes and 129 coaches from 27 states of India will be participating in the first preparatory camp for the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2019.Camps for athletes participating in various sports including, badminton aquatics, basketball, golf, handball, judo, roller skating, table tennis and volley ball among others, will be held across different venues in Gurugram from March 24 to 28.India will be participating in over 14 out of 24 sports featuring in the games. The Camp will be in continuation to the camp held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh from March 5 to 10.Alongside Sports practices, 300-400 athletes will be screened across two medical disciplines- Special Olympics Opening eyes (eye check-up) and Special Olympics Fun-fitness (mobility, flexibility, balance etc examination).The 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates from March 14 to 21.Abu Dhabi is the first place in the Middle East-North Africa Region to host
Russia captain Akinfeev seeks World Cup redemption
Igor Akinfeev, Russia's top goalkeeper of his generation and elder statesman, will be seeking redemption when he plays at home in what may be his last World Cup. The Moscow native is the venerable captain of a ragtag team decimated by injuries and looking for guidance ahead of the June 14 kickoff. He is an engaging 31-year-old with a winning smile who would seem to be the calming presence Russia need. Akinfeev helped Moscow's once middling CSKA club win six league titles and a UEFA Cup trophy in 2005. His commanding presence saved Russia from added humiliation in a 3-0 World Cup warmup loss to Brazil on Friday. And his cat-like reflexes have added confidence to a group that has little experience of going up against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But Akinfeev is still haunted by a speculative shot that softly hit his palms and slowly arched in over his head in Russia's 2014 World Cup opener against South Korea. "What in earth is going on," the stunned Russian TV ...
ICC missed chance to lead over ball-tampering scandal - Graeme Smith
Former South African captain Graeme Smith has hit out at the International Cricket Council, saying the sport's governing body missed a chance to show leadership over the Australian ball-tampering controversy. Speaking to South Africa's Independent Media, Smith said: "I think the ICC missed an opportunity to really handle this properly and lead our game. They haven't done that. You have had two players, who have admitted guilt for cheating. I think that's huge." Graeme Smith said the punishment of a one-match ban for his namesake, Australian captain Steve Smith, and three demerit points for Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on camera trying to tamper with the ball, was inadequate. "I can't remember ever seeing a foreign object (on the field) to change the ball. The pictures are damning. I mean it shouldn't be that Cricket Australia are setting the example. The ICC should be setting the example. I don't know what the right ban is, but it shouldn't be just one Test match," said ...
Russia, France set for friendly match as part of World Cup preparations
Russia's national football team players took part in a training session here on Monday ahead of their friendly match against France.
What Smith did was 'absolute stupidity': Ganguly
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today slammed Australian cricket team's "win at all cost" attitude and said that the ball tampering plot hatched by Steven Smith and his players in the Test against South Africa was an act of sheer stupidity. "Steven Smith need not have to do it (ball tampering). I think what Smith did or David Warner did or Bancroft did was absolute stupidity," Ganguly said at a panel discussion on 'India Today' channel. Smith has been banned for one Test by the International Cricket Council for his role in a plot that saw team-mate Cameron Bancroft tamper with the ball by using yellow sticky tape during the third Test against South Africa in Newlands. Bancroft escaped with a fine of 75 per cent match fee and three demerit points. "Actually, I think he (Smith) had a brain fade. I thought it was for the sake of just saying when he last said in India that he had a brain fade. But after this incident I thought he actually had a brain fade," said the former India ...
Juventus's Allegri wins best Serie A coach for 2016-17 season
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri on Monday won the Golden Bench trophy for best Serie A coach in the 2016-17 season, awarded by the Italian football federation for his role in leading his team to its sixth straight Serie A title.
Portugal gear up for friendly vs Dutch
The coach of the Portuguese national football team warned that despite their recent slump in form, the Netherlands remain a dangerous team ahead of their friendly match in Geneva on Tuesday.
Council of Europe to aid Qatar with security for 2022 World Cup
The Council of Europe and Qatar on Monday signed a technical cooperation agreement to secure Qatari stadiums hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with a budget of 600,000 euros ($744,546), and to comply with an European convention on sporting event security enacted last year.
Egypt's Elneny extends contract with Arsenal
Arsenal announced on Monday that Egypt international midfielder Mohamed Elneny had signed a long-term contract with the English football club.