Page 1867 - Sports
Irani Cup: Jaffer double ton puts Vidarbha in commanding position
Vidarbha rode on veteran opener Wasim Jaffer's unbeaten 285 to post a mammoth 589/3 against a hapless Rest of India (ROI) attack on the second day of the Irani Cup at the VCA Stadium here on Thursday.
Bangladesh bowling lacks consistency, says coach Walsh
Bangladesh interim coach Courtney Walsh today urged his bowlers to bring consistency to a must-win Twenty20 showdown against Sri Lanka that will book the victors a berth in the tri-series final. The T20 minnows have triumphed in just one of their matches in Colombo, with their bowlers struggling in batting-friendly conditions throughout the tournament at R. Premadasa Stadium. Rubel Hossain has displayed the most consistency with four wickets but paceman Mustafizur Rahman has proved costly with an economy rate of close to 10. The winner of Friday's final league match will book a title clash with powerhouse India, and Walsh expects the best from his wards. "The bowlers have not bowled consistently as we would have liked but that does not mean they are bad bowlers overnight," Walsh told reporters in Colombo. "The improvement is coming but probably not quick as we would have liked. "It is different conditions and they are trying to get it right." The West Indian great said he hoped ...
No early lifting of Russia ban, says Paralympics chief
The Olympic movement may have lifted its ban on drug-tainted Russia, but there is no prospect of the Paralympics following suit until strict criteria are met, the body's president told AFP today. Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, said Russia, which was allowed to send 30 athletes to compete as neutrals at the Pyeongchang Winter Games, "had progressed a lot". But he said the IPC wouldn't budge on its stance with the Russian Paralympic Committee, which was banned in 2016 following revelations of a mass, allegedly state-sponsored, doping programme. "The situation is very clear, because we have agreed reinstatement criteria with the Russian Paralympic Committee," Parsons told AFP in an interview in Pyeongchang. "We cannot right after these Games, for example, lift the suspension -- they have to meet these criteria," he added. The International Olympic Committee banned Russia in December -- more than a year after the Paralympic body -- after its ...
Pato in public bid to woo 'most beautiful' Chinese actress
Brazilian football star Alexandre Pato celebrated Tianjin Quanjian's victory in the AFC Champions League with a very public attempt at wooing the Chinese actress Dilraba Dilmurat. The 28-year-old Pato and his team-mates held up a poster showing two pictures -- one of him and one of Dilmurat -- as Tianjin supporters chanted her name following Wednesday's 4-2 home victory over Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea. The poster -- it was unclear who made it -- had a message on it imploring Pato to play well because "Dilraba is watching the live broadcast". Tianjin fans then bombarded Dilmurat with messages on Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter and where she has nearly 40 million followers, urging her to reciprocate Pato's interest. Dilmurat, 25, a popular television and film actress, did not respond and reports say that she is yet to cave in to Pato's overtures. Last week, Pato, a former AC Milan star who has rejuvenated his career in China, posted a message on Weibo to Dilmurat saying in ...
Oltmans eyes revival of Pakistan hockey
Pakistan's new head coach, Roelant Oltmans believes that the experience he gained by working with the Indian hockey team will help him reverse the fortunes of Pakistan hockey in the next two years. Talking to PTI, the Dutch coach said that since joining the Pakistan camp in Karachi he could safely say that Pakistani players had the enthusiasm and talent to learn and get back to the top. I have gained a lot after working in Indian hockey since 2013. I have a better insight into how the mind of Asian players works. About their skills and ability to learn quickly the finer points of the game. I think I am in a very good position now to deliver for Pakistan hockey, he said. Oltmans who worked for a short period with Pakistan in 2003-04, said his second tenure with Pakistan hockey would be more productive. I have always seen working with Pakistan or Indian hockey as a challenge. Because these countries have ruled the hockey world and they have the ability to dominate again despite the ...
Supersonics outclass Blasters with fine all-round display
Putting up an impressive all-round display, Sobo Supersonics drubbed Namo Bandra Blasters by 50 runs to score their second win in three outings in the T20 Mumbai League today. Put in to bat in the rain-shortened match (18 overs), the Supersonics, from South Mumbai, ran up a challenging total of 149 for 6, on the back of a whirlwind knock of 83 in 53 balls by two-down batsman Prasad Pawar. Then Supersonics' bowlers led by Rohan Raje got into the act and reduced Blasters to 37 for 6 inside ten overs, including the prize scalp of captain and India T20 International Shreyas Iyer (25), to take firm control of the game. Blasters ended up with a tally of 99 for 9 in 20 overs, to suffer their first loss in three games and, along with the Supersonics, are on top of the league table with four points apiece. Raje picked up his first two wickets in his opening two overs before ending up with a haul of 3 for 24. Skipper Abhishek Nayar, who did not contribute much with the bat, ...
Samson eager to perform for Rajasthan Royals, keen to meet Warne (IANS Interview)
The youngest cricketer to captain a Ranji Trophy side Sanju Samson has many firsts to his credit in domestic cricket.
Gnanasekaran, Sharath, Manika to lead Indian pool in upcoming UTT
World No.8 and France's top player Simon Gauzy, Chinese Taipei's legendary Chih Yuan Chuang and ITTF Europe's Top 16 women's winner Bernadette Szocs will be the top draws in a star-studded field for the second edition of the Ultimate Table Tennis, starting on June 14 here.
Jaffer the Gaffer: Vidarbha reach 598/3 riding on Mumbaikar's 285 no
Wasim Jaffer defied age and modern fitness norms to flay a young Rest of India attack throughout the second day of Irani Cup as Vidarbha reached a mammoth 589 for three, riding on Mumbai maestro's unbeaten 285. At 40, with no worries of clearing 'Yo-Yo' tests, Jaffer batted with composure, bleeding a young bowling attack with thousand cuts, en route his unbeaten knock on a shirtfront of a track at the VCA Stadium. It was a lovely sight when young Prithvi Shaw, who now opens for Mumbai, was seen clapping after Jaffer reached his eighth career double hundred. Eighteen seasons back when Jaffer had made his debut for India, Prithvi was only three months old. The Mumbai maestro wasn't troubled one bit by an attack that had current India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (1/123 in 43 overs) and the discarded Jayant Yadav (1/149 in 38 overs) in their ranks. Both of them also had 'centuries' in their names which they would like to forget quickly. He started the day on 113 and added 172 runs ...
IPL: Mumbai Indians start ticket sales
Defending champions Mumbai Indians have started their online ticket sales for the Indian Premier League, which commences on April 7. Mumbai Indians, who defeated Rising Pune Supergiant to lift the title last year, start their campaign against Chennai Super Kings, who are returning to the IPL after serving a two-year ban, at the Wankhede stadium here on April 7. Tickets can be purchased through www.mumbaiindians.com, a media release issued here today said. The tickets are priced between Rs 800 to Rs 8,000 and people can purchase tickets for all Mumbai Indians home games barring the one against Delhi Daredevils on April 14 as it has been reserved for under privileged children under the Reliance Foundation's social cause Education and Sports For All (ESA), the release said.
12 more track and field athletes leave for Aus ahead of CWG
Another batch of 12 Indian track and field athletes today left the country for Australia to get acclimatised to the conditions there ahead of next month's Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. With four athletes, including star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, having left for Australia yesterday, the total number of Indians from track and field to reach Australia well in advance of the CWG has risen to 16. The team that departed the country today included quartermilers Dharun Ayyasamy, Muhammed Anas, Amoj Jacob, Kunhu Mohammed, Arokia Rajiv, Santosh Kumar, Hima Das, MR Poovamma, Sarita Gayakwad and Sonia Baishya, and discus thrower Navjeet Kaur Dhillon and heptathlete Purnima Hembram. The Indian team will attend a two-week acclimatisation camp at Gold Coast's Sports Super Center before the Games. Besides Chopra, triple jumper Arpinder Singh and long jumpers Nayana James and Neena Varakil were the athletes who left for Australia yesterday. The Athletics Federation of India had named 31 track
Shubhankar, Lahiri will be in focus during run up to 2019 Presidents Cup
India's rising golf star Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri are expected to be in race to claim a spot in the International team for the Presidents Cup, to be held at the historic Royal Melbourne Golf Club in December 2019. Earlier this week, Ernie Els, a member of the International team when it scored its lone win in 1998, and Tiger Woods were announced as the captains. Both were vice captains for their respective teams in 2017. While the 21-year-old Shubhankar has emerged as one of the biggest potentials on Asian and European Tours, where he leads both Order of Merits, Lahiri is the only Indian to have figured in a Presidents Cup team having played in both 2015 and 2017. Putting focus on India and China, the PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said, If you look at what's happening in the game right now internationally, you've got HaoTong Li inside the top-40 in the world from China, (and) Shubhankar Sharma from India who has played exceedingly well, Soon after the announcement of ...
IPL: Defending champs Mumbai Indians start ticket sales
Three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions and holders Mumbai Indians on Thursday commenced online ticket sales for the upcoming season's opening match against Chennai Super Kings to be played at Wankhede stadium on April 7.
Chennaiyin coach Gregory has high hopes from Jeje
Chennaiyin FC's head coach John Gregory today said that he always knew his striker Jeje Lalpekhlua would come good at some stage of the ongoing Indian Super League after his goal drought in the initial matches. Jeje struggled initially but made amends at the later stages of the ISL by scoring nine goals so far in this edition. "If you continue to support him, you know he will get something. I told Jeje he would get two goals, and he did get it in the second leg ISL semifinals against FC Goa," Gregory said here. Jeje's double strike had helped Chennaiyin FC beat FC Goa 3-0 (4-1 aggregate) in the semifinals. Except for Sunil Chhetri, no Indian striker has been as good as Jeje. He has scored nine goals this ISL after a harrowing time he had in the first three games where he failed to score any goal. Gregory said Jeje has the mental makeup to face odds if given full support. "In Goa, even in the humidity, Jeje ran himself to the ground. During the second semis at home, he cramped because .
Simon Gauzy, Chih Yuan Chuang top draws for UTT 2
France's top player Simon Gauzy, the world no. 8, Chinese Taipeis Chih Yuan Chuang and ITTF Europe's Top 16 women's winner Bernadette Szocs are the top draws in a for the second edition of CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league starting on June 14. The Indian pool, comprising a total of the 28 best players in the country, will be led by world no. 49 Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, winner of the ITTF Challenger Spanish Open, and 8-time national champion Sharath Kamal, the organisers of the league, 11Sports, announced today. "We are very excited to sign up Simon Gauzy. Some of the best players in the world will be seen in action during the tournament," Vita Dani, chairperson of 11Sports, said. Gauzy has been in tremendous form all through the season gone by, finishing second at the ITTF World Tour Australia Open -and picking up a bronze medal at the ITTF Europes Top 16 event. He even beat current World no. 1 Timo Boll on his way to the medal to underline his rising stature in the .
Australian women crush India, seal series
The Southern Stars from Australia reasserted their supremacy with a comprehensive 60-run victory against Indian women as they sealed the three-match series by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, here today. After cruising to an eight-wicket victory in the opening game, India were outplayed in all departments as Australia scored a healthy 287 for 9 and then bowled out Mithali Raj's brigade for 227 in 49.2 overs. Indian team never appeared to be competitive with batters letting the team down on both occasion. A target of 288 in women's cricket is a tall order but pint-sized opener Punam Raut's lack of power hurt the Indian team badly as she undid all the hardwork done by her opening partner Smriti Mandhana (67 off 53 balls). While Mandhana hit 12 boundaries and a straight six, Raut was not even able to rotate the strike. Her 27 off 61 balls was a major factor in India losing the match. Her ultra defensive batting put so much pressure on Mandhana, that her attempted slog sweep off left-arm
Sanjeevani wins bronze in Asian cross country race
India's promising long distance runner Sanjeevani Jadhav clinched a bronze in women's 8km cross country race while the country also collected another medal of same colour in the team event here today. The 20-year-old Sanjeevani clocked 28 minute 19 seconds to cover the 8km distance, behind Li Dan (28:03) of China and Abe Yukari (28:06) of Japan in the 14th Asian Cross Country Championship. The Indian women's team of Sanjeevani, Swati Gadhave, Jhuma Khatun and Lalita Babar also won a bronze. The performance of three best finishers of a country in the individual race is considered for the team medal. Gadhave (30:18) finished 11th in the individual race while Khatun (32:14) was 14th. Babar, who reached the final round of the 3000m steeplechase event in the 2016 Rio Olympics, finished last in the 15-athlete individual race in 32:53. She was taking part in an international event for the first time after her marriage last year. In a cross country race, the participants run on open-air ...
Networking with Fitness - Success Script for Media Mantra
Media Mantra, one of the fastest growing Indian PR firms, has continued their tryst on creating a positive momentum in the PR sector, and their recently concluded inter-client Cricket Tournament cements the cause. The eponymous organization had hosted the league on 10th and 11th of March, 2018 at the Drona Sports Village, Sector 64, Gurugram, amongst fanfare. 8 strong and decisive teams - Swaran Soft, HDFC Life, Deal Kya Hai, AVS Realty, Envent, CFF, Trove Skills + HashTagg and Media Mantra, battled it out amongst food, fun and frolic.The March heat, paired up with a promising premise of pairing competition with fun, had egged the players to perform to their optimal level. What was even more bracing was the participation of a women sports person from HDFC Life in the match, creating a platform where people surge to perform, free from gender-bias or age disparity.This event was conceptualized by Media Mantra, with an eminent need to couple the cause of fitness and networking, on a ...
ATK & Chennai City aim to start afresh at Super Cup
Their Indian Super League campaign having ended in a disaster, ATK would look to start afresh when they take on Chennai City FC in a qualifying round match of the Super Cup football tournament here tomorrow. The ATK, two-time champions of ISL, finished ninth in the 10-team league this year, picking up just four wins out of 18 matches while losing 10 games. But, the Kolkata based side would look to assert that they are still a competitive side with a good show in the inaugural Super Cup being held at Kalinga Stadium. Chennai City, on the other hand, had finished eighth out of 10 teams in the I-League. They would want to prove that their stunning wins over eventual I-League champions Minerva Punjab FC and Mohun Bagan were no fluke. "Chennai City FC have shown their capability on the field and we have to be very cautious. Otherwise, we might have to bow out of the tournament on the first day itself," ATK assistant coach Bastab Ray said at the pre-match press conference. Winger Jayesh ...
Super Cup: Indian Arrows to face Mumbai City FC (Preview)
The All India Football Federation's developmental side Indian Arrows will look to punch above their weight when they face Mumbai City FC in the third qualifier match of the Super Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here on Friday.