Page 1847 - Sports

Yuki qualifies for Miami Masters

Yuki Bhambri made it to the Miami Masters, his second consecutive ATP 1000 series main draw, following a 7-5 6-2 win over Sweden's Elias Ymer in the second and final qualifying round. It was second meeting between the 25-year-old Indian and world number 133 Ymer, who had beaten Yuki in the first clash in 2015 at Aptos. The Indian Davis Cupper had qualified for the Indian Wells Masters and had shcoked world number 12 Lucas Pouille in the second round. In his first round, Yuki has drawn Lucky Loser Mirza Basic, the world number 75 from Bosnia. It will be second between the two players with Basic emerging winner in 2016 at the Sofia event. If Yuki crosses first hurdle, he will run into world number 11 and eighth seed American Jack Sock. Yuki, of late, has created excellent results against top players. Yuki is lone Indian in the singles draw with Ramkumar Ramanathan, In the doubles, Rohan Bopanna and his Edouard Vasselin have been pitted against Adrian Mannarino and Daniil Medvedev.

World Cup Qualifier: UAE's Naveed fined for showing dissent

United Arab Emirates fast bowler Mohammad Naveed has been fined 15 percent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.The incident happened at the end of the seventh over of his side's match against Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018, when Naveed questioned the umpire about his not-out decision.Naveed was found to have violated Article 2.1.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision during an international match".In addition to the fine, one demerit point has been added to Naveed's disciplinary record.After the match, Naveed admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, proposed by match referee David Jukes. As such, there was no need for a formal hearing.The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Gregory Brathwaite and Adrian Holdstock, and reserve umpire Joel Wilson.Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to replace injured Bisht in India Women's squad

Rajeshwari Gayakwad will replace injured left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht in India's squad for the Women's Twenty 20 tri-series starting here tomorrow. "Bisht has been advised rest for 10 days after suffering an injury to her left index finger during a caught and bowled attempt in the third ODI against Australia in Vadodara," a media release said. India will face Australia in the opening match of the tri-series that also includes England. India Women's T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Poonam Yadav, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Rumeli Dhar, Mona Meshram, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Elgar frustrated by 'silly, uncharacteristic 'dismissals

South African opener Dean Elgar has admitted that he is letting himself down with what he describes as "silly and uncharacteristic dismissals" so far in 2018 season.The 30-year-old was one of the star players for South Africa last year, ending 2017, with a total of 1,128 runs, including five centuries and four-half centuries, at an average of 53.71.However, Elgar failed to replicate his last year's good performance as he notched up seven, nine, 57 and five in the two Tests of the four-match series, which is currently levelled at 1-1.And Elgar admitted that he is quite frustrated by his stupid dismissals in this year so far."It's been a little bit frustrating. I actually feel that I'm batting nicely. I'm getting through all the tough parts and I'm letting myself down with silly, stupid and uncharacteristic kind of dismissals," ESPNcricinfo quoted Elgar, as saying.Elgar said, though it is difficult to follow up on a good year, he needs to work on his mistakes and try to get past ...

Lack of financial incentives concern for Kenyan athletes at CWG

Kenyan athletes will seek to find inspiration elsewhere as they wait for their allowances and bonuses ahead of the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Gold Coast, Australia from April 4-15.

Sudden doping inspection disrupts Russian football squad's training

The training session of the Russian football squad, which is set to play a friendly match here against Brazil, was disrupted on Wednesday morning due to a sudden doping control inspection, according to the national teams press service.

Djokovic feeling pain-free after years

Former world number one Novak Djokovic, who has been troubled by injury lately, has said that he is playing without pain after a long time.The Serbian tennis star is planning to return at the Miami Masters, after a six-month injury lay-off.The elbow injury sidelined him for six months after he was forced to retire at the quarter-finals of Wimbledon last year. He underwent a surgery for the same in February."The last few days have been the first days in long, long time that I could actually focus on the game rather than have something in my mind always worried whether I'm going to have pain or not, and usually it happened," Djokovic said ahead of his the Miami Open.He added, "It's quite refreshing because everything else was pain involved."The Serbian has played only five matches this season. He was earlier knocked out of the Indian Wells Masters and the Australian Open."This year is a special year for this tournament because it's the last year on Key Biscayne. So we're going to all ...

Smith critical of ICC's decision to overturn Rabada ban

Australian skipper Steve Smith has slammed the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to overturn the two-Test ban on Kagiso Rabada that will allow the South African star bowler to play in the third Test of the four-match series against Australia, beginning at Newlands on Thursday.The 22-year-old was initially deemed guilty of a Level 2 breach of the ICC code of conduct by match referee Jeff Crowe after an altercation with Australian skipper in the second Test at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth.He had received a fine of 50 percent of his match fee and three demerit points after a disciplinary hearing following his denial of the charge.However, Rabada was found not guilty of the charge of making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player following a hearing before the Right Honourable Michael Heron QC yesterday.Instead, Rabada was found guilty of conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game, an offence under Article 2.1.1 of the Code. As such, Heron ...

Mascherano thriving in midfield role with Hebei China Fortune

Argentine veteran Javier Mascherano is relishing his move to Hebei China Fortune after ending a seven-and-a half-year spell with FC Barcelona in January. The 33-year-old has thus far been deployed in midfield by Fortune coach Manuel Pellegrini, having been mostly used as a central defender during his time at Barcelona.

Australia captain Smith criticises Rabada ruling

Australian captain Steve Smith has criticised the decision to overturn a ban on South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada for making physical contact with him. Smith said ahead of today's pre-Test press conference that a "line in the sand" had been drawn regarding physical contact and said he was surprised he had not been asked his opinion during the appeal hearing. Having been banned for the remaining two Tests in the series for brushing against Smith's shoulder after taking his wicket in the second Test, Rabada was cleared to play in the third Test starting tomorrow after a successful appeal. Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon had said the team had "no dramas" with the decision, but Smith has told cricket.com.au website: "I certainly think he (Rabada) bumped me a little bit harder than it actually looked on the footage." Although Smith claimed "it didn't bother me too much," he went on to say, "they've obviously decided what's deliberate contact and what's not and apparently it ...

Better late than never for Spain debutant Marcos Alonso

Chelsea left back Marcos Alonso comes from a footballing family which has seen both his father and grandfather (both also called Marcos) play international football for Spain. Now, aged 27, Marcos Alonso junior has finally received a call up into the Spain squad for the forthcoming friendly matches against Germany and Argentina.

Injured Uruguay defender Caceres to miss China Cup

Lazio defender Martin Caceres has been removed from Uruguay's national squad for the China Cup due to injury.

Can't underestimate India in T20 format, says Lanning

They outclassed India in the preceding ODI series but Australia skipper Meg Lanning refused to underestimate the hosts in the Twenty20 tri-series, saying all sides are even in the shortest format. After thrashing India 3-0 in the ODI series, the Australians will take on the hosts in the lung-opener of the tri-series, which also includes England. "India are a very good team in this format, and so are England. So we know that we've got to play really well," Lanning said on the eve of clash against India. "We've definitely got some confidence in our group from the way we've played (in the ODIs). But we do understand that it's a different format and it's very close in T20 internationals," she added. The Aussie skipper said the series is even and it would be difficult to say which team is better than the other. "Even in the ODI series, they (India) were putting us under the pump. So it's a very even series. Very difficult to say that one team is ahead of the other two, which is great. By ..

We will give them a fight, says Harmanpreet ahead of T20 series

Hosts India may not have the experience but they won't be lacking in intensity during the Twenty20 tri-series against England and Australia starting here tomorrow, said women's T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. England and Australia have players, who compete in the Women's Big Bash League and Harmanpreet describes the two sides as good. "No doubt they (England and Australia players) have lot of experience, because they have played T20 format. We know we are not as powerful in our strength as compared to the foreign players. We are working on it daily," Harmanpreet said. "Right now, for us as a team it is a learning process and preparing for the World Cup and day by day we are taking the challenges. We know both the teams (Australia and England) are good in T20 and we will like to give them a fight," she added. India were whitewashed by Australia in the three-match ODI series at Vadodara and Harmanpreet said it was fielding that let them down. "In the T20 format, there are lot of areas ...

Satwik, Chirag eye history and medal at debut CWG

Expectations would be high from Indian badminton's star-studded singles line-up but away from the spotlight, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are aiming to end the country's men's doubles medal drought at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in just their debut appearance. At 17 and 20 respectively, Satwik and Chirag form a formidable pair that has proved its mettle in international badminton, often punching above their weight, only to fall short of podium finishes. "It was my father's dream to see me play at the Commonwealth Games and so when I heard I was selected for the event, it made me so happy. It's a dream for every sportsperson and I think we are pretty confident that we can win a medal, looking at the way we have been playing in the last six months," Satwik told PTI. Chirag added: "No Indian men's pair has won a medal at the CWG. If you look at the pool, Olympic silver and Olympic bronze medallist from Malaysia and England respectively are playing but we have been ..

Golubic beats Vinci at Miami Open

Italian Roberta Vinci, a former US Open finalist, was one of the highest profile casualties of the qualifying round for the women's draw at the Miami Open tennis tournament after she lost in straight sets to Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic.

Uncapped Ismaily replaces Sandro in Brazil squad

Brazil coach Tite has called up uncapped Shakhtar Donetsk left-back Ismaily for international friendlies against Russia and Germany.

Argentina striker Martinez close to joining Inter Milan

Argentina forward Lautaro Martinez confirmed on Wednesday that he is close to joining Italian Serie A club Inter Milan.

India women take on Australia in T20 tri-series opener

Whitewashed by Australia in the three-match ODI rubber, the Indian women cricketers would be hoping for a reversal of fortunes when they clash with the same rivals in the lung-opener of the T20 tri-series starting here tomorrow. England is the third team to figure in the tournament in which all matches will be played at the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium. The Indian women's team would take confidence from their 3-1 win against South Africa in the five-match T20 series held in the Rainbow Nation. But having surrendered the ODI series rather tamely to Australia, it will be an uphill ask for the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side to face the same opponents, although the format is different. With back-to-back half centuries, Smriti Mandhana was the top run-getter for Indian women during the ODI series against Australia and she would look to continue her good run. Among others, the batting would depend largely on the experienced duo of Kaur and Mithali Raj and the two players would need .

By Tapan Mohanta

Included in India's Commonwealth Games gymnastics squad after going to court, Rakesh Patra is desperate for a medal not just to prove his worth but also to become financially strong enough to change his family's fortunes. The 26-year-old artistic gymnast was included in India's CWG squad after he filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court when his name was initially omitted owing to a tussle between the Gymnastics federation and the Indian Olympic Association. Hailing from Odisha, the World Cup finalist has endured a tough journey so far, one that he hopes, will ease up with a good CWG showing. The many hardships of his life include surviving a fire tragedy that gutted his family's thatched hut at Hadagadia Sahi in Puri when he was "about five years old". But despite the challenges, his father Dayanidhi Patra, a primary school teacher in Brahmagiri School about 25 kilometres from Puri, ensured that he got all that was needed to shape into a decent athlete. "He would get about Rs ...