Page 1864 - Sports
Wouldn't be easy to beat Chennaiyin: BFC Coach Albert Roca
Bengaluru FC head coach Albert Roca today said it won't be easy to beat Chennaiyin FC as they are a formidable side with a number of talented players, but they are prepared for the challenge. "Chennaiyin are a very big team, they have shown a lot of talent. Sure, it won't be easy but we are prepared for the challenge. It is going to be a tight game," he told reporters on the eve of Indian Super League finals. "Little details can make the difference. We have to keep in control our emotions. I don't expect an easy game, we have to score one more goal than them," he added. Replying to a query, Roca said his players would give 100 per cent to win the game despite losing Subashish Bose, who had picked up a yellow card each in two legs of the semifinal playoff against FC Pune City. Roca said his team had started off the campaign much earlier than any other team for this year's ISL, and knew from the beginning it was an uphill task to storm into summit clash. "I think we started in August, .
Rabada's appeal to be heard on Monday
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada's appeal against a Level 2 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct will be heard on Monday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday.
Chennaiyin coach Gregory eyes early goal against Bengaluru in ISL final
Chennaiyin FC head coach John Gregory today said he would be eyeing for an early goal to put Bengaluru FC on the backfoot in the summit clash of the fourth edition of Indian Super League here tomorrow. Gregory said Bengaluru FC were not unbeatable as his side had defeated them in Bengaluru in the league stage, which will boost the confidence of the visiting side. "It is a game where if we score first, they have a mountain to climb. There has got to be a winner on the day. Both teams probably have to be a little bit more attack-minded. With the quality of the two teams, I think we will have a winner (without extra time and penalties)," he told reporters on the eve of the final at the Kanteerava Stadium. "We are not the only team who have won there as well, so we know Bengaluru are not infallible. We have the utmost respect for them for what they have done this season, but we don't fear anybody," he said. Gregory said his striker Jeje Lalpekhlua would be a key man tomorrow as his ...
ISL final against Chennaiyin is most important game of my life: Chhetri
Bengaluru FC Captain Sunil Chhetri today said the ISL title-clash against Chennaiyin FC tomorrow is the most important game of his life. "For a club, which had won four trophies in four years, to come into a new league wasn't easy. Tomorrow, I don't know. It is the most important game of my life," Chhetri said with oozing enthusiasm. The hosts had lost to Chennaiyin in the league stage but Chhetri said it is not worth thinking about that match because they managed to come back strongly. Chhetri also lauded coach Albert Roca for showing tremendous trust in all players, which was quite evident in two different teams he fielded in the ISL and AFC Cup matches recently. "Roca has trust in every player. We treat AFC Cup very high. For us AFC Cup is very huge. For him to pick two different teams on March 11 and 14, that tells you how much the coach trusts them," he said. "Another good thing about Roca is he knows exactly what he wants. Even when we lost so many players in the draft, the ...
Ankita reaches first final of 2018 season in Gwalior
India's top singles player, Ankita Raina reached her first final of the 2018 season when her semi-final opponent Yana Sizikova retired from the contest of the USD 25,000 ITF event due to dizziness, here today. Ankita, ranked 255, was cruising 6-2 4-0 when the Russian threw in the towel, complaining of sickness. The 25-year-old Indian next faces second seed Amandine Hesse, who ousted Slovakia's Tereza Mihalikova 6-4 6-2. Ankita had lost to the Hesse in a close contest at USD 125K Mumbai Open last year. In the lop-sided match today, fourth seed Ankita dominated the proceedings, converting five of the nine breakpoints. Ankita had got a walkover from USA's Monica Robinson in the quarterfinal clash. Two easy days means, Ankita will be fresh for the title clash. However, she played down the fact. "When you reach the finals of a tournament, you are always fresh even if you have played three sets or have played an easy match," Ankita said. Talking about her next opponent, Ankita said,"Any ...
Moin slams foreign players refusing to travel to Pakistan for PSL
Former Pakistan Test captain, Moin Khan has lashed out at the overseas players, who refused to travel to Pakistan for the two playoffs and final match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The initial stages of the third edition of the Pakistan Super League was held in the UAE but the foreign players are now refusing to travel to Pakistan for the two playoff matches in Lahore and the final in Karachi. I blame the Pakistan Cricket Board for this sad situation.I know the board will not like my comments. But in future only those overseas players should be included in the player draft who commit to also play in Pakistan if required by their franchises, Moin, a veteran of 69 Tests and 219 ODIs, told the media in Sharjah. He said the overseas players who are now refusing to travel with their franchises for the playoffs cannot be seen as supportive of Pakistan cricket. The franchises pay them well to play in the PSL. But when they refuse to travel to Pakistan it upsets the balance of the ...
NRAI to help shooters in junior to senior transition
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has proposed an initiative under which the training and funding of promising shooters making the transition from junior to senior category will be taken care of. Morad Ali Khan, former India shooter and member of the selection committee, said: "What was happening earlier was when the juniors were moving into seniors there were a large number of shooters who were little uncomfortable transiting from juniors to seniors. So, for a two-year period we are trying to put them into a separate category and give them all the funding that is required for training and they will be coached by the senior coaches also. "That would make them comfortable and once they find that they are comfortable the next lot will come in. So it will be a continuous process. As of now it's 64 shooters but then events keep changing. There will be four shooters per event. This will be functional from next nationals," he added. Talking about the programme, Pistol coach ...
Boycott CWG, says Jaspal Rana on 2022 Games shooting snub
Amid speculations about shooting's future as a CWG sport, renowned pistol shooter Jaspal Rana today called for the country's boycott of the Commonwealth Games as a mark of protest . Despite concerns raised by shooters worldwide and national federations, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has made it clear that shooting is only an "optional sport", which will not feature in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. "The government has to fight for that, not us. Because if they keep moving the events in which we are good at, that is not good for the country. Boycott the competition, don't shoot in the Commonwealth Games, China did not shoot in four Olympics and when they came back they made a clean sweep," Rana, one of the finest exponents of pistol shooting in the country, said. He added, "The government now is doing a lot for the athletes in terms of funding and exposure. It's a very positive development and the sportspersons have benefitted." In a letter to the 2022 Games ...
Venus reaches first Indian Wells semis since 2001
American tennis star Venus Williams cemented her position in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters, after recording a straight-sets victory over Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain here on Friday.The 37-year-old needed just over an hour to clinch a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over Navarro in a one-sided quarter-final clash of the women's singles event.Ecstatic with her victory, Venis said that she was satisfied to play deep in such big tournament and earn a victory with huge margin."I'm definitely happy. You kind of hope for this kind of scoreline, but you never know if you're actually going to get it. I was happy with way I played.Playing deep in a big tournament is exciting, fantastic," the WTA quoted Venus, as saying.With the win, the former world number one has made it to her first semi-final of the Indian Wells in last 17 years.The seven-time Grand Slam champion last reached the last four at Indian Wells in 2001, when she withdrew from the tournament due to tendonitis and handled ...
Age no barrier for Japan's grandpa goaltender
At 61, Shinobu Fukushima is the oldest ice hockey player at the Winter Paralympics -- but the Japanese goaltender laughs off the suggestion that he might retire any time soon. Para-ice hockey sees players with leg impairments strapped into double-bladed sledges, and they then use two short sticks to zip around the rink and shoot. It is one of the toughest sports -- and most popular among spectators -- at the Paralympics, and players are kitted out in helmets and padding to avoid injury in clashes. But Fukushima, who is competing in his fourth Paralympics in Pyeongchang, shrugs off the suggestion that his age is an impediment to playing at the highest level. "I don't really think about it," he told AFP, after the Japan team lost 6-1 to Norway earlier this week. "I am just a player." He admitted however he tried to retire on one occasion in recent years. "I thought I wanted leave it to younger guys," he said. Ageing athletes often opt for slower-paced Paralympic sports, in particular ...
Nepal secure ODI status for first time
Nepal have grabbed ODI status for the first time in their cricket history by clinching a six-wicket win over Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the play-off match of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers at the Old Hararians Sports Club.On Thursday, Nepal bagged the final ODI spot until 2022 after setting up a seventh-eighth position play-off against the Netherlands, who defended a small total of 174 to beat Hong Kong by 44 runs.Irrespective of the outcome of the match between Netherlands and Nepal , the latter side have joined Scotland and the UAE as the three highest-ranked Associate Members after the Netherlands--who qualified last year for the new 13-team ODI League commencing in 2020 by winning the ICC World Cricket League Championship--which was the criteria to earn ODI status for the next four years.In contrast, Hong Kong and PNG have lost their ODI status and will be relegated to the ICC World Cricket League Division 2, but not before featuring in the 4000th ODI, which will be played at the Old
Germany's Tommy Haas retires from tennis
Former world No. 2 and German tennis star Tommy Haas announced his retirement from the ATP Tour during the ongoing BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.Haas announced his plan after world No 1 Roger Federer wins over Hyeon Chung in the quarterfinals of the tournaments."I consider myself extremely fortunate that I was able play professional tennis for a living for more than two decades," Haas said while calling curtains on his tennis career."The sport gave me cherished friendships, an ability to travel the world, and opportunities to create incredible memories. It also taught me a lot about what it means to face challenges, battle back, and overcome them," the 39-year-old added."To my parents, family, wife and children, thank you for all the love and support that you gave me over the years. And, to the fans, thank you for cheering me on throughout my career."Haas, also a tournament director at the event, has 15 career titles in his 28 final appearances, including one ...
SLC releases book on Dalmiya
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on the occasion of the 70th independence of the island nation, paid a glowing tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya by releasing a book, titled 'A Tribute to Jagu'. SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala lauded Dalmiya's role in strengthening the Asian Bloc. Thilanga termed Dalmiya as a 'hero' who had the guts to stand up for what was right and carry on in the face of unmatched adversity. They felicitated him posthumously as the greatest non-Sri Lankan contributor to their country's cricket. Dalmiya's son, Avishek, joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) was invited to receive the commemorative book. Also present at the ceremony were cricketers from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India apart from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan, former ICC President Ehsan Mani and other dignitaries. Mani said he and Dalmiya enjoyed a fruitful working relation and termed him as the man responsible for bringing the World Cup outside ..
Spinner Narine reported for suspect action in PSL
West Indian mystery spinner Sunil Narine has once again been reported for suspect bowling action, this time during the Pakistan Super League game between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators.
Roger Federer reaches Indian Wells semi-finals
World No 1 Roger Federer advanced to the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open here at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Friday.En route to his sixth Indian Wells title, 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer also matched his career best winning streak.The Swiss outplayed Hyeon Chung of South Korea 7-5, 6-1 to level his 16-match unbeaten streak, which he last achieved 12 years ago in 2006.This was Federer's second win against the Chung this season, after defeating the 21-year-old in the Australian Open semi-final."It's a great start. Hopefully I can do one more and beat my best streak on Saturday," Federer said post his win."I'm happy I found a way. Started off really well, struggled afterwards, found my game back again and was able to protect it, saving big break points early on in the second set. I think that was the key to the match, those 10, 15 minutes where I broke at the end of the first and then saved break points early in the second," he added.Federer will next face Croatian Coric
Tottenham can win without Kane, says Pochettino
Tottenham Hotspur's Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino said the English Premier League club had enough quality players to win matches, despite striker Harry Kane being injured.
3 arrested during Europa League game in Spain
Police in Spain's Basque Country arrested three fans of French football club Marseille for acts of hooliganism during the team's Europa League round-of-16, second-leg match against Athletic Bilbao here.
Kasatkina trounces Kerber to reach Indian Wells semis
Russia's Daria Kasatkina pulled off one of the biggest surprises of this year's BNP Paribas Open, brushing aside an out-of-sorts Angelique Kerber 6-0, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of this WTA hard-court tennis event here.
Arsenal dismiss AC Milan to advance to Europa quarters
English football giants Arsenal defeated AC Milan 3-1 here to win their Europa League round of 16 tie by a resounding 5-1 on aggregate and claim a berth in the quarter-finals.
Slow start for Lahiri; Woods thrills crowds at Palmer Invitational
Ace Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri, who needs nothing less than a win to get into the Masters, would have hoped for a better start as he opened the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a one-over 73 here today. Lahiri, playing in the morning wave, when all the focus was as usual on a resurgent Tiger Woods, even held sole lead at one point but finished lying T-69th. Woods finished at 4-under and was lying Tied-7th. Later in the afternoon, Henrik Stenson wielding a hot putter on Palmer's course with an 8-under 64 that put him on top of a star-studded field. Stenson was one clear of PGA TOUR rookies Aaron Wise and Talor Gooch, who each had 65 with the former missing a 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Lahiri had a frustrating start missing a 6-foot par putt on first and a 11-foot birdie putt on Par-5 fourth. On fifth he went into rear green side bunker and came out short and bogeyed once again. A fine bunker shot on sixth helped the Indian to a birdie on sixth, before he bogeyed Par-3 ...