Page 1889 - Sports
Winning CWG gold more important than being world No 1: Srikanth
India's top ranked shuttler Kidambi Srikanth said that remaining fit for upcoming Commonwealth Games gold medal has been a priority for him, a reason why he skipped a few tournaments last year, which could have helped him become world No 1. Srikkanth asserted that his aim is to become "world No 1 by winning tournaments" and not just reach quarters to earn ranking points. For me, winning a medal at the Commonwealth and Asian Games is more important. If I wanted to be World No 1 and not win tournaments (CWG or Asiad), I would have pushed myself to play China and Hong Kong Open last year after the French Open," said Srikanth, the current world No 3. "And the kind of form I was in, I would have managed to play quarter finals in both the events and I would have went on to become World No 1 but I wanted to win tournaments rather than think about rankings. So I opted out of those tournaments and gave my body extra time to recover from injury," Srikanth said at the India Today Conclave. "I .
BSF sends Kashmiri footballers on 'Bharat Darshan'
The Border Security Force (BSF) Kashmir Frontier sent fifty-eight members of four football teams for an educational-cum-motivational 'Bharat Darshan' tour to Kolkata on Friday.As a goodwill gesture, the BSF sent the winners and runners-up - Bakiakar Falcons Club and Dar Football Club of district Kupwara and Hashmee Football Club and Dachigam Football Club of district Bandipora - of the football tournaments organised by them for the tour.During the six-day tour, the teams will be provided with a distinctive opportunity to play friendly football matches with renowned football clubs of Kolkata.The young players will also pay a visit to Science City, National Museum, Birla Planetarium, Alipore Zoo, National Library and Victoria Memorial.The BSF stated that the main purpose of such tours was to acquaint the youths with various cultures and ethos of the country."The tours would help in motivating them to develop an adventurous spirit and aim higher in life. It will afford a chance to these .
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: India knocked out of medal contention
India's hopes for a medal contention in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup were dashed on Friday as they suffered a 3-2 defeat from Ireland.Goals from India's Ramandeep Singh (10') and Amit Rohidas (26') kept the hopes alive for the Indian fans but Ireland's Shane O'Donoghue (24'), Sean Murray (36') and Lee Cole(42') were on the mark.Ramandeep Singh from India was the first to register his name on the scorecard in the 10th minute.Ireland's strong forwards led a counter-attack and it was O'Donoghue who soon found the back of the net, levelling the scores.But two minutes later, India won their third penalty and Amit Rohidas did not the miss the given opportunity, taking the score to a 2-1 lead for India, after the first half.India seemed to drop their game slightly in the third quarter with Ireland scoring two back-to-back goals in the 36th and 42nd minute through Sean Murray and Lee Cole respectively.The Irish dominated with the ball possession, while their goalkeeper Jamie Carr came up with ...
Shubhankar races to 2nd, Grillo in lead after Day 2 of Indian Open
Pre-tournament favourite Shubhankar Sharma of India delivered a course-record score of eight-under 64 while Emiliano Grillo of Argentina carded a 68 to take the lead in round two of the Hero Indian Open here on Friday.
Blind cricket association awaits recognition from BCCI
Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) president GK Mahantesh on Friday said that he is eagerly waiting for the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) response to recognise the blind cricket body.After winning the Blind Cricket World Cup, CABI president GK Mahantesh and the players have asked the BCCI to recognise Blind Cricket Association.Talking to ANI, Mahantesh said, "We are eagerly waiting for a final update from them. They have said that they will support this, but in what manner and what extent they have not spelt out clearly. We had a good meeting with Rahul Johri [Chief Executive Officer, BCCI].""Couple of days ago we received a mail from the BCCI, asking us to submit certain documents to consider our pending grant of 2016-17 and also have asked to submit our plans for 2018-19," he said on the sidelines of the Blind Cricket Conclave.The Indian blind cricket team was formed in 1998 and is currently being managed by the CABI, an independent entity backed by ..
AIFF announces Super Cup qualifiers draw
Two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions ATK will take on I-League outfit Chennai City FC in one of the Super Cup qualifiers to be played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from next week.
Chennai City's Soosairaj signs two-year contract with Jamshedpur
I-League team Chennai City FC's Soosairaj M has signed a two-year contract with Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC. He signed the contract for an undisclosed amount with the Jamshedpur franchise following the agreement of transfer for the clubs for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 period, said a press note. The 23-year old Soosairaj, captain of Chennai City FC team, impressed during this year's I-League and scored three goals. The team finished eighth with 19 points with four wins, seven draws and seven losses from 18 games. Another Chennai City player Nandhakumar had signed for Delhi Dynamos earlier in the season. Soosairaj said he was grateful for the support extended by Chennai City FC and its president Rohit Ramesh. "I am extremely grateful to my team and Rohit sir for supporting me through this journey. This club has given me the recognition and support I needed. Feels good to be identified by ISL teams and especially Jamshedpur FC. I hope to learn a lot and move forward in my ...
JSW Sports to buy 50% stake in Delhi Daredevils from GMR
After venturing into football, wrestling and kabaddi, JSW Sports, a unit of Sajjan Jindal-owned JSW Group, today said it will acquire a 50 per cent stake in GMR Group-owned IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils for an undisclosed sum. The sale, according to a release, is subject to approval from BCCI and satisfaction of other customary conditions precedent. "GMR Group and JSW Sports have entered into an agreement for a 50-50 partnership in cricket franchise Delhi Daredevils owned by GMR Sports. On consummation of the transaction, JSW Sports will hold 50 per cent stake in GMR Sports," JSW said in a release. GMR Sports is owned by the promoters of the GMR Group. GMR Group had acquired the Delhi franchise in 2008 for USD 84 million. JSW Sports, which owns franchises in football (Bengaluru FC), pro wrestling (Bengaluru Yodhas) and pro kabaddi (Haryana Steelers), had in 2015 said it was keen to acquire an Indian Premiere League team. "The DD team will add to our existing portfolio ..
Barca visit bottom club Malaga with Chelsea firmly in mind
Barcelona enjoy breathing space again at the top of La Liga and Ernesto Valverde can afford to keep one eye on Chelsea when his side visit bottom club Malaga tomorrow. While the Catalans 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid last weekend extended the gap at the summit to eight points, their advantage over Chelsea in the Champions League is more precarious. Barca take a 1-1 draw, and an away goal, to the Camp Nou on Wednesday but Chelsea controlled much of the first leg in London and will fancy their chances of an upset. With Andres Iniesta already nursing a hamstring injury and Denis Suarez out with a groin strain, Valverde will be wary of further damage against a Malaga side without a victory in 15 attempts. It means key players are likely to be rested and others given the opportunity to stake a claim, particularly in attack, where the third spot next to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez is yet to be established. Ousmane Dembele has endured a difficult debut season, plagued by problems with ...
Trouble flares between police and PSG over 'pyrotechnic devices'
The Paris police made clear today how unhappy they were with the Paris Saint-Germain management after "pyrotechnic devices" twice interrupted the Champions League game against Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes. The Prefecture of Police (PP) said on Friday they had banned seven fans arrested in possession of flares from the stadium. During Tuesday's game "smoke bombs were let off in large numbers in the stands, nearly 150 were fired, causing the interruption of the game twice," the police said in a statement which went on to make clear that the club itself was also under scrutiny. "Despite police warnings on the duty of the club to prevent such incidents, which follow several similar and regrettable occurrences at the PSG-Nice game on 27 October 2017 and, more recently, the PSG-Marseille match on February 2018, it is not acceptable that the same things were allowed to happen in a match of such importance," said the police. The statement said that the police had sent a letter the day
Neymar wants Barcelona return - Spanish reports
Neymar already regrets moving to Paris Saint-Germain and is seeking a shock return to Barcelona, according to reports in the Spanish media today. In the same week that PSG crashed out of the Champions League, and only seven months after he joined the club for a world record 222 million euros (USD 264 million, Neymars future has become uncertain. Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo claims the Brazilian, recovering from surgery on a broken foot in Brazil, has made contact with Barca to ask how he can engineer a return. The article adds Neymar has explained he made a mistake in leaving the club, was wrong to want independence from Lionel Messi and has been disappointed by the standard of opposition in Ligue 1. Barca, however, is not the only club Neymar is reportedly targeting as a potential way out of PSG. Madrid-based newspaper AS reports Neymars father has met with Real Madrid, who are ready to pay 400million euros to sign the striker. Asked about the speculation on Friday, Real .
Super Shubhankar sets course record with 8-under 64
Rising Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma shattered the course record at the challenging DLF Golf course with a sensational eight-under 64 to surge to second place after the unfinished second round at the USD 1,750,000 Hero Indian Open here today. One-over after his first 18 holes yesterday, Shubhankar dropped just one shot at the seventh hole today and sank as many as nine birdies three on front nine and six on back nine -- to emerge as the best Indian in the field. He is just four strokes adrift of Argentina's Emiliano Grillo, who fired four-under 68 to go with his course-record equaling seven-under 65 in the opening round to keep his stranglehold on the leaderboard. Interestingly, Malaysian Gavin Green had set the course record last year here. Khalin Joshi, who secured his Asian tour card with a fifth place at Maybank Championship, brought home a flawless four-under 68 to move to tied 8th. However, two-time defending champion SSP Chawrasia, who also has four runners-up finish to his .
Warner makes 63 but Australia slips to 170-6 in 2nd Test
Under scrutiny following that unsavoury incident in the first game, David Warner made a half-century but Australia slipped in the second session against South Africa to go to tea on 170-6 on day one of the second Test here today. Warner was out for 63 as South Africa came back with five wickets in the afternoon following a solid opening session for the tourists. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was responsible for that big comeback, taking three wickets in the space of two overs just before tea. Rabada also may have further stoked the lingering animosity between the teams after appearing to intentionally bump into Steve Smith in his follow-through after dismissing the Australia captain. Warner and Cameron Bancroft put on 98 for the first wicket after Australia chose to bat first in Port Elizabeth. Bancroft fell on the brink of lunch for 38. Usman Khawaja (4), Warner, Smith (25), Shaun Marsh (24) and Mitchell Marsh (4) were out after lunch to turn the tide in South Africa's favor. Rabada ...
Vengsarkar appointed as chief mentor of T20 Mumbai League
Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar was today appointed as the chief mentor of the T20 Mumbai League, which will be played here between March 11-21. The announcement was made by the Mumbai Cricket Association andProbability Sports India Private Limited (PSIPL). Vengsarkar, fondly called 'colonel', represented Mumbai and later India and also served as the Chairman of the Selection Committee. On his appointment, Vengsarkarsaid, "As the Chief Mentor, I aim to encourage and nurture young cricketers for successful performanceson home turf. This is a great platform for Mumbai cricketers to shine and make a markearly on intheir careers, leading to a promising future." Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has been appointed as the ambassador of the League while legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar will be the League Commissioner.
Confident Goa to face Chennaiyin in ISL semis (Preview)
After braving the odds to qualify for the Indian Super League (ISL) semi-finals, FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC are all set to do battle for a place in the final, the first leg of which will take place here on Saturday.
Bedi urges BCCI to take visually challenged cricketers under its fold
Former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi and wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani urged the BCCI to take the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) under its aegis, which will be a big boost for India's visually challenged cricketers. Both Bedi and Kirmani were present during the IndusInd Bank Blind Cricket Conclave 2018, where the victorious national team which won the World Cup for the Blind, last year, were also present. Bedi in fact gave them the example of Tiger Pataudi, who played his entire international cricket after losing an eye due to a car accident. "Tiger lost eyesight before he made his Test debut. He hated if anyone sympathised with him. He never considered it as a physical disability and went on to become India's finest captain. He was a Nawab but never behaved like one," Bedi said during the event. "You all are inspiration for millions. I would expect the BCCI to take CABI under its fold and give all the assistance they require. You all have shown that even if you don't
Kimmich extends contract with Bayern until 2023
Bayern Munich's right-back Joshua Kimmich on Friday extended his contract for three seasons, meaning he is to stay with the record German football champions until 2023.
JSW now has 50 percent stakes in Delhi Daredevils
The GMR Group -- owners of Delhi Daredevils today inked a packed with JSW Sports for equal partnership in their IPL franchise, subject to approval from the Indian cricket board. JSW group owns top football club Bengaluru FC apart from supporting elite Olympic sportspersons. The matter will be placed before the IPL Governing Council on March 16 but it seems a done deal as BCCI mandarins are already in the loop. It will be a mere formality. It will be interesting to see whether there is a change in management structure of the Daredevils. It is expected that the current set-up will remain intact for this year's IPL as the tournament is set to start in less than a month's time. However both parties remained tightlipped about the valuation of the 50 percent stake. "GMR Group today announced that it has entered into an agreement with JSW Sports for a 50:50 partnership in GMR Group's Cricket franchisee DD owned by GMR Sports Private Limited (GSPL). GSPL is owned by the Promoters of the GMR ..
JioTV launches interactive sports experience for consumers
India's popular Live TV App JioTV on Friday announced that it has introduced India's first interactive sports experience for consumers watching the ongoing tri-nation Nidahas trophy which is being shown exclusively on JioTV in India.
Chennaiyin hunt as a unit: Striker Jeje
Chennaiyin FC star striker Jeje lalpekhlua on Friday said unlike other teams in the Indian Super League (ISL), where you have only two or three players making the mark, the Chennai-based club has many goal-scorers and the team is playing collectively.