Page 1854 - Sports
Bayern, Leverkusen lose in Bundesliga
Leipzig came from behind to beat runaway leaders Bayern Munich 2-1 while bottom side Cologne upset Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at the closer of the 27th round of Bundesliga football action.
Del Potro crowned at BNP Paribas Open
Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro captured his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells, becoming the 2018 BNP Paribas Open men's singles champion with a victory over No.1 Roger Federer.
Olivier, Morris added to Proteas Test squad against Aussies
Seamer Duanne Olivier and bowling all-rounder Chris Morris have been added to the 17-man South Africa squad for the remaining two Tests of the four-match series against Australia.The decision to boost the bowling resources in the squad comes in the wake of two-match suspension on star speedster Kagiso Rabada, whose participation in the rest of the series is hinging on whether he succeeds in his appeal against a Level 2 sanction later today.Reflecting on the same, Cricket South Africa (CSA) National Selection Panel Convener Linda Zondi said that the circumstances have forced them to name expanded squad, while also confirming that they have retained all the 15 players who had helped in levelling the series."Circumstances have forced us to name a large squad at this stage so that we can cover all possible options.We have retained the 15 players who produced an excellent performance to level the Test series in Port Elizabeth," ESPNcricinfo quoted Zondi, as saying.Zondi said that while ...
Indian Wells: Del Potro stuns Federer to lift first Masters title
Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro produced a spirited performance as he bounced back from a set down to beat world number one Roger Federer and clinch the title at the Indian Wells Masters in California on Monday.Del Potro rallied from three match points down in the third set to clinch a 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-6(2) win over Federer in a thrilling summit showdown clash that lasted two hours and 41 minutes.Following the win, Del Potro said that he played quite well in the tie-breaker, adding that it was like a dream to win the title after all his problems and surgeries."I'm still shaking, I'm so nervous.I was thinking [about missing match points]. I played really well in the [third set] tiebreak ... It's like a dream after all my problems and surgeries. I'm excited to keep surprising the Tour," the Guardian quoted Federer, as saying.With the win, Del Potro bagged his maiden Masters 1000 title while ending the Swiss star's 17 match winning streak in 2018--the best start of Federer's career.Del ..
Aggression's fine, we don't want robots says Aussie Lee
Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee says emotion and aggression are part of the game and doesn't want to see robots on the field, but he warned against behaviour "crossing the line". The ongoing Australia tour of South Africa has been marred by on-field altercations with South African speedster Kagiso Rabada appealing against a two-Test ban for a shoulder barge on Aussie skipper Steve Smith in the second Test. The 41-year-old Lee, a fearsome fast bowler during a sparkling career for Australia from 1999 to 2012, told AFP that controlled aggression is good for the sport. "The thing that I will say about that, in all honesty, is we don't want robots on the field," he told AFP ahead of the T20 tri-series final between India and Bangladesh in Colombo on Sunday. "Of course, there is a line that the players should not cross," Lee added, without offering any judgement on the incident involving Rabada, whose appeal is due to be heard by the International Cricket Council later on ...
Whatever situation comes, Karthik's ready: Rohit
Dinesh Karthik is always ready to deliver whatever the situation may be and his experience and repertoire of strokes make him a suitable candidate to provide the final flourish for India at the death overs, skipper Rohit Sharma said. Wicket-keeper batsman Karthik (29 of 8 balls), who has made sporadic international appearances, produced a last-ball six as India pulled off an incredible chase beating Bangladesh by four wickets in the Nidhas T20 Tri-series final, here last night. "He was with us on the previous tour in South Africa and didn't get much game time. To do what he did today will give him a lot of confidence going forward," Rohit told reporters. "Most important thing he has is belief in himself. Whatever situation comes, he's ready - whether he bats up the order or down the order. That's the kind of guy we need in our team." Rohit revealed Karthik was not happy that he was not batting higher in the order but the Indian skipper defended his decision of sending him at number 7
Sr. Men Hockey C'ship: CAG play out 1-1 draw against Chandigarh
Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) settled for a 1-1 draw against Hockey Chandigarh in their Pool D clash of the 8th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2018 (A Division) here at the Padma Shri Mohammad Shahid Synthetic Hockey Stadium.In the opening match of the fourth day, Chandigarh took the lead in the eighth minute through Balwinder Singh but Comptroller & Auditor General of India made a comeback in the third quarter as they found the equaliser through Md Naeemuddin in the 42nd minute to stay in the hunt of topping the Pool with a tally of five points.In another Pool D match, it was Namdhari XI who won their second match of the competition as they beat Association of Indian Universities 2-0.Goals for Namdhari XI were scored in the first two quarters by Sher Singh (4') and Navdeep Singh (24') and were enough for them to secure the victory as they take their tally to six points from three matches, topping the Pool.In a Pool B match, it was Air India ...
Messi takes Barcelona 11 points clear, Ronaldo hits four
Lionel Messi delivered another masterful performance as Barcelona sailed past Athletic Bilbao 2-0 to take an 11-point lead over nearest rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga. After putting Chelsea to the sword in the Champions League midweek, Messi scored for the sixth game in a row against Athletic at the Camp Nou to propel Barca closer to the domestic title. "Every day he discovers something new, something different, he's very aware of what he has to do, what the team needs from him at each moment," Barca coach Erneste Valverde said of Messi, the Spanish league's leading scorer this season with 25 goals. "Many times it seems that the coach has to teach the players, but what the coach really does is learn alongside them as things go on. We hope to keep on learning together." Not to be outdone by his greatest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo then hit four goals as Real Madrid downed Girona 6-3 to move into third place, albeit still 15 points off Barcelona. A dominant start from Barca yielded the .
Lin Dan stunned by Shi in All England Open final
Chinese star Lin Dan was denied a seventh All-England Open title as his young compatriot Shi Yuqi clinched a shock victory in Sunday's final. Seventh seeded Shi profited from Lin's lacklustre play to win 21-19, 16-21, 21-9 in Birmingham. The surprising absence of Lin's famed attacking skills helped Shi to grow in confidence. The 22-year-old was able to utilise his speed and hard-to-read overhead attacks without inhibition against one of the sport's all-time greats. "I was more patient and controlled my pace, which helped me get the match back," said Shi, who admitted he was relieved to erase the memory of last year's final loss to Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei. Lin would have been the oldest player in 63 years to win the All-England men's singles title had he prevailed. But just when he had levelled the match with a burst of delicate drops and sliced smashes, he suddenly lost his rhythm. "To (still) play at this level is good," said Lin, 34. Lin became the first player ever to play in 10 ..
Usain Bolt to attend Commonwealth Games - as a spectator
Sprint legend Usain Bolt will attend next month's Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast to watch the 100-metres final, former Jamaican world champion Yohan Blake has revealed. Bolt, 31, who retired from athletics after August's World Championships in London, has been busy preparing for a tilt at football and has also worked with Australia's cricketers to boost their running between the wickets. Blake, one of the track stars at the April 4-15 Games, arrived in Australia on Sunday and told reporters the eight-time Olympic champion and world record holder in the 100m and 200m was "coming to watch the 100m final". "(He) was at the track in Jamaica before I left. He said, 'When I come to Australia, if you don't win there is going to be problems'," Blake told Brisbane's Courier Mail late Sunday. "I don't have a Commonwealth medal. It's very important for me to have one in my trophy case. Usain Bolt has left his legacy for us to carry on and that's what we want to do," said Blake of ..
Del Potro surprises himself with back-to-back titles
Juan Martin Del Potro, once one of tennis' hottest young talents before his career was derailed by injuries, won the Indian Wells Masters two years after almost quitting in frustration. "I couldn't imagine this moment. I mean, everybody knows I was really close to quitting tennis before my third surgery on my left wrist," said Del Potro after upsetting world No. 1 Roger Federer 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/2) in Sunday's championship match. "I made a big effort to come back. I have everything what I want, and I want to keep improving my game to see what can I do. "I had very bad moments a few years ago and I don't want to think about that anymore. I am just enjoying my life and playing around the world. I am exited to see what is next." World number eight Del Potro is back in the top ten rankings this season for the first time since 2014. He dropped to No. 1,045 before beginning his comeback from the left wrist surgeries in 2016. The 29-year-old from Argentina says he is not thinking about
CK Khanna is all praise for India over Nidahas Trophy win
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acting president CK Khanna congratulated the Indian team for an "amazing" four-wicket victory in the final of the Nidahas Trophy here on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium.Khanna told media, "What an amazing win. Shows the strength of our good domestic cricket. I congratulate everyone for this victory as it shows the hard work done by every individual involved in BCCI."The BCCI acting president also applauded Dinesh Karthik's cameo that helped India register a four-wicket win against Bangladesh."Dinesh Karthik played very well under pressure," he said.Karthik, who remained unbeaten at 29, clinched the match on the final delivery, sending a flat six over the covers. His eight-ball knock included two fours and three sixes and he was adjudged Man of the Match.Moreover, congratulatory messages poured in from all corners as cricket stars took to Twitter to applaud India's resounding win.Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tweeted, ...
T20 Mumbai League: Bandra Blasters, Sobo Supersonics win
Shreyas Iyer and Eknath Kerkar made a mockery of a listless North Mumbai Panthers bowling attack as NaMo Bandra Blasters thrashed them by 10 wickets in a T20 Mumbai League encounter here today. Chasing a modest 125, Iyer, who also plays for India, took the opposition bowlers to task. He was ably supported by Kerkar, who plays Ranji for Mumbai. Bandra join Triumph Knights Mumbai North East in the play-offs, which begin from tomorrow. While Iyer remained unbeaten on 71 off 34 balls, Kerkar was not out on 50 off 36 balls as the two took the side home without much fuss and with 8.3 overs to spare. Iyer, who notched up his 50 in 28 balls, took the bowlers to task at the Wankhede Stadium and smashed three consecutive sixes off Dinesh Salunkhe in the 11th over. He hit hit eight fours and three sixes. Kerkar, too, freed his arms as he struck four boundaries and three sixes in his knock. Earlier, electing to bat, North Mumbai Panthers managed to post a paltry 125/9 on the board ...
I have been practising these shots, says Karthik
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who on Sunday, handed India a nail-biting four wicket victory over Bangladesh in the final of the Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-series with a six off the final ball, said he has been practising these types of shots.
India clinches Nidahas Trophy in last-ball thriller
A Dinesh Karthik cameo ensured a thumping four-wicket victory for India in the final of the Nidahas Trophy on Sunday, here at the R Premadasa Stadium.Karthik, who remained unbeaten at 29, clinched the match on the final delivery, sending a flat six over the covers. His eight ball knock included two fours and three sixes and he was adjudged Man of the Match.Having won the toss, and electing to field first, the Indian team managed to restrict Bangladesh to 166 for the loss of eight wickets.Yuzvendra Chahal claimed three while Jaydev Unadkat picked up two wickets.The Indian team looked in good touch, with opener and stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma scoring 56 off 42 deliveries.However, wickets fell in quick succession, with the total being reduced to 98 for four.Lokesh Rahul (24), Manish Pandey (28), and Vijay Shankar (17) chipped in with significant contributions, lower down the order.Rubel Hossain picked up two wickets for Bangladesh, while Shakib Al Hasan, Nazmul Islam, Mustafizur ...
Karthik stars as India beat Bangladesh in Nidahas Trophy final
Wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Karthik (29 runs off eight balls) played a brilliant cameo towards the end as India beat Bangladesh by four wickets in the final of the Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-series at the R.Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday.
Late Alves goal gives PSG win at Nice
With Paris Saint-Germain struggling to find inspiration, veteran defender Dani Alves did a surprising impersonation of injured compatriot Neymar to score the winner in Nice today. With eight minutes left and after better-known attacking talents had squandered a string of chances, Alves, who is just 1.72 metres (5-foot-6) ghosted into the centre forward position and outleaped the defence to head in a cross from Adrien Rabiot to seal a 2-1 victory. A rare Sunday lunchtime kick-off was part of the developing French league strategy of emulating more succesful European leagues and targeting Chinese viewers. The two teams provided a lively spectacle which ended with PSG stretching their lead to 17 points over Monaco. Allan Saint-Maximin gave the home team the lead after 17 minutes with a deft finish which was just the fifth touch of a breathtaking move that began on the Nice goal line. Angel di Maria quickly replied, speeding through a suddenly uncertain Nice defence and swerving in a shot .
Magic Batshuayi strike seals Dortmund win
A superb goal off the outside of his boot by Michy Batshuayi gave Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 win over Hanover today and kept them third in the Bundesliga. Batshuayi, on loan from Chelsea for the rest of the season, gave Dortmund the three points at home with a wonderful piece of individual skill midway through the first-half. The Belgian international claimed arguably the best of his eight goals in just 12 games for Dortmund by flicking the ball into the net from a corner. Having hit the post after just 35 seconds, Batshuayi has his back on goal when he stabbed at Andre Schuerrle's cross on 24 minutes and his effort sailed past Hanover's goalkeeper. It was his sixth German league goal in seven Bundesliga games with Dortmund after spending the first half of the season stuck on Chelsea's bench. Hanover had their chance to equalise on 81 minutes when Jonathas headed on from a free-kick and the ball was poked over the line, but the goal was ruled offside. Just before the final whistle, ...
Tributes to 'inspiration' Hawking as curtain falls on Paralympics
The Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics closed today with a dazzling ceremony featuring light shows, dancing and music, as well as tributes to late wheelchair-bound British physicist Stephen Hawking as an "inspiration". Nine days of sporting action ended earlier in the day with a flurry of events, including victory for the United States in a hard-fought sledge hockey final, helping them to top the medals table with 36 overall. North Korea's athletes, who made their country's Winter Paralympics debut in Pyeongchang, were absent from the closing ceremony after heading home early, but it was a minor sticking point after the rapid inter-Korean thaw of recent weeks. With thousands packing out the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons used his closing address to pay tribute to Hawking, who died last week aged 76. The scientist is seen as an inspiration by Paralympians. He never let his acute physical disability stop him from pursuing his ...
Icardi hits four to break 100-goal mark as Inter join top four
Captain Mauro Icardi scored four goals to break through the 100-goal mark in Serie A as Inter Milan returned to the top four with a 5-0 rout of Sampdoria today. The 25-year-old Argentina international, who had been sidelined for a month with injury, broke the century after scoring his first goals since January. His four-goal haul included three in 14 minutes against his former club. Icardi now has 103 goals in Serie A -- 93 with Inter and ten with Sampdoria. "I really wanted to reach 100 goals and then I just kept going," said Icardi. "It was a fine performance from the whole team and we got three very important points, which are more important than the goals." After holding title-chasing Napoli to a goalless draw, Luciano Spalletti's side showed they were back in the race for a Champions League spot. But Lazio could move back into fourth place, the final spot for elite European football next season, when they host Bologna later today. "It was very important to get points," said ...