Page 1894 - Sports

My planning was not up to the mark, says East Bengal coach Jamil

East Bengal coach Khalid Jamil on Thursday accepted full responsibility for the club's failure to capture the I-League title despite having it on a plate at one point, saying his planning was not up to the mark.

Neroca hold East Bengal, finish second in maiden I League season

Neroca FC wrapped up a memorable I-League debut season by finishing runners-up after holding heavyweights East Bengal to a 1-1 draw, here today. It was heartbreak for both the Kolkata heavyweights, as they failed to win the title with East Bengal finishing fourth in the table behind arch-rivals Mohun Bagan who also played a 1-1 draw with Gokulam Kerala FC. In quest for the elusive I-League title, East Bengal required to win the match and pray for a favourable result from other two matches. But with eventual champions Minerva Punjab winning 1-0 over Churchill Brothers at Panchkula, East Bengal fought a losing battle. The Khalid Jamil's men also had an uninspiring first-half that saw them squander at least four opportunities, and trail by Felix Chidi's 42nd minute goal. In the second-half, East Bengal showed some urgency and their Nigerian leading scorer Dudu Omagbemi, who missed at least three chances, finally found the net in the 73rd minute. But that was not enough, as Neroca FC put

AIFF congratulates Minerva Punjab FC for I-League victory

All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel on Thursday congratulated Minerva Punjab FC after the Chandigarh based Club were crowned Champions of the I-League.

AIFF President congratulates Minerva on I-League triumph

All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel today congratulated Minerva Punjab for becoming the Hero I-League champions, saying the side deserved the triumph after an exciting campaign. "Congratulations Minerva Punjab Football Club on winning the Hero I-League 2017-18 and gaining a spot in the ACL Qualifiers for the next season. The League has been a very competitive and exciting one and it was nice to see four teams having a chance to win it on the final day," Patel was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the All India Football Federation. Minerva defeated Churchill Brothers 1-0 in their final match in Panchkula today to finish on 35 points and emerge champions for the first time. AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das also congratulated Minerva on the achievement. "Well played Minerva Punjab Football Club, the deserving champions of the Hero I-League. The manner in which you sealed it is in itself a story. I trust the victory will encourage kids to follow and play ..

Zimbabwe seamer Vitori suspended for illegal action

Zimbabwe's left-arm seamer Brian Vitori was today suspended from bowling in international cricket after his action was found to be illegal by the ICC. The suspension is "with immediate effect" after the Event Panel of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Harare confirmed that the left-arm fast bowler has an illegal action. The 28-year-old was reported by the match officials following his sides non-broadcast match against Nepal on Sunday. "As per Article 3.6.2 of the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations, Vitori's bowling action was filmed in the next match he played after being reported, which was against Afghanistan on Tuesday, and the video footage of his bowling spells were provided to the Event Panel of Helen Bayne and Mark King, who are both members of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists, for analysis and assessment," the ICC said in a statement. The panel concluded that Vitori's action is illegal and, "in accordance with Article 6.5 of the regulations, he has been ...

Punjabi Tadka: Minerva script memorable I-League triumph

Minerva Punjab today triumphed against all odds less than a year after a miracle by another underdogs Aizawl FC, concluding an I-League season peppered with twists and turns never seen or felt before. The 2017-18 league was down to the most dramatic final day in the competition's history with as many as four teams, including old guards Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, gunning for the title. Debutants Neroca FC, surprisingly, were the other contenders. For a club that is only in its second season in top-flight, the title triumph would easily qualify as some achievement. In the process, they created history by becoming the first team from North India to win the Hero I-League. William Asiedu Opoku's goal was enough to seal the title for Minerva Punjab, who beat Churchill Brothers by a solitary goal. This is a landmark moment in Indian football where two relegation threatened teams have won back to back I-League titles. Last year it was Aizawl, this year it is Minerva Punjab from ...

I-League: Spirited Gokulam hold Mohun Bagan

Mohun Bagan were held 1-1 by a spirited Gokulam Kerala FC in an I-League match here on Thursday.

Minerva Punjab win I-League title

Minerva Punjab FC got the better of Churchill Brothers 1-0 to win the I-League title (2017-18) here today, concluding a season peppered with dramatic turns and unexpected twists. William Asiedu Opoku scored the game's only goal in the 15th minute off a Chencho Gyeltshen assist at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium. The club is only in its second season in top-flight football. Minerva Punjab entered the final day's game with 32 points from 17 matches, and they were closely followed by Neroca FC, Mohun Bagan and east Bengal. They are the second side from Punjab to win the top prize, the erstwhile JCT having won the inaugural National Football League in 1996-17. The loss also ensured Churchill Brothers' relegation to the second division.

FC Goa's attack best in ISL history

Exhibiting an exceptional show in the Indian Super League (ISL), FC Goa have scored at a rate of 2.33 goals a match to become the best attacking side in the ISL history.Sergio Lobera's men have scored 22 goals in their first nine matches, and then hit an unexplained bad patch but regained form in the last three matches to score 12 and concede only one.Last season's highest scoring team Delhi Dynamos struck 27 in 14 matches."I'm happy to be scoring at this rate because what it does is that it gratifies the type of football we are trying to showcase. When I first got here, I communicated that I wanted to play an offensive and attacking style of football and I think with us scoring goals, it shows that things are working and we are a team capable of scoring goals," Lobera said.Enjoying an incredible form, the duo of Ferran Corominas and Manuel Lanzarote has struck combined 30 goals.Lobera said,"I don't think any two players in this league can dictate the fortunes of an entire team. There

I-League: Neroca, East Bengal play out 1-1 draw

Manipur debutants Neroca FC held city football giants East Bengal to a 1-1 draw in a crunch last-round I-League match here as league leaders Minerva Punjab FC beat relegation-threatened Churchill Brothers to win the I-League title on Thursday in Panchkula.

Bhanwalas grateful after CBSE reschedules son's papers

If shooting at a senior world event at 15 is not enough, Anish Bhanwala will arrive from his maiden ISSF World Cup in Mexico at the dead of night and sit for a class X Board paper at the crack of dawn. In the six-day gap between his arrival from Guadalajara and departure for the Junior World Cup in Sydney, Anish will appear for two papers. "He is arriving at 2 in the morning and will be appearing for his paper early morning," Anish's father Jagpal told PTI. It is appropriate that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in an unprecedented move, agreed to reschedule three papers for the highly talented boy, and his father believes this should become a norm. "Isn't it unfortunate that children have to choose between studies and sports? We are grateful to the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, the national federation, CBSE and his school," Jagpal told PTI. Not long ago, Jagpal was knocking on the authorities' doors to help his son overcome the crisis. "I am really ...

Outgoing foreign coach slams unprofessional SRFI, unlikely to travel with team to CWG

Foreign coach Achraf El Karargui has slammed the high-handed and unprofessional approach of national squash federation SRFI and his return to India looks highly unlikely with less than three weeks to go for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. Speaking to PTI from his hometown Alexandria in Egypt, the coach claimed that that SRFI did not give him the treatment he deserved, forcing him to step down much before his contract expires in July 2019. Despite the growing differences with SRFI, the Egyptian had committed to stay till the April 4-15 Commonwealth Games for the sake of the players but a series of events which unfolded in the lead up to the Windy City Open in Chicago has made him rethink on his decision. The SRFI treated me unprofessionally and questioned my decision making more often than not. You cant expect anyone to operate as usual in such a scenario. I want to be there for the players at CWG but it is best for them to go ahead without me as there is too much distraction, an

Australia women's squad beats India A by seven wickets

The Australian women's team defeated India A by seven wickets today to clinch the second warm up game, which was played here. The Australia women's team, which had thrashed India A by 321 runs in the first warm up game on Tuesday, continued its winning streak. After electing to bat, the hosts were bundled out for a partly 170 as the Australian bowlers put up a dominant performance. Led by Amanda Jade Wellington (3-30), the visitors ran through the Indian batting line up. Jade was superbly aided by Ashleigh Gardner (2-32). For the hosts, skipper Anuja Patil top scored with 49 at the Mumbai Cricket Association Bandra Kurla complex facility. The visitors comfortably chased the target in 26 overs with their skipper Meg Lanning scoring 63 and she was brilliantly aided by Ellyse Perry (38). But both of them were retired out. Alyssa Healy chipped in with a valuable 31. Now the Australia Women engage in a three match ODI series versus India starting from March 12 at ...

Minerva Punjab win I-League title

Minerva Punjab FC beat Churchill Brothers FC 1-0 to win their maiden I-League title here on Thursday.

Jeje aims to end scoring drought in ISL semi-final

Despite a five-match scoring drought in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), Chennaiyin FC's star striker Jeje Lalpekhlua is calm and is resorting to hard work as they get ready to take on FC Goa in the first leg of the second semi-final away on Saturday.

Yuki beats Ramkumar to qualify for Indian Wells Masters

Yuki Bhambri outsmarted Ramkumar Ramanathan in the battle of top Indians to qualify for the Indian Wells ATP Masters event, his first 1000 series tournament in nine years. Yuki, seeded ninth in the qualifiers, prevailed 6-4 6-2 in the second and final qualifying round to make it to the season's first Master series event. Yuki now leads head-to-head record 3-1 against the 22-year-old Ramkumar. The last time 25-year-old Yuki played at a Masters event was in 2009 at Miami. In his opening round in the main draw, Yuki will fight it out with fellow qualifier Nicolas Mahut, ranked 101, and if he manages to cross the first hurdle he will be up against world number 12 Lucas Pouille from France.

'CWG 2018 to be most gender equal sport event'

To mark International Women's Day, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) on Thursday announced that the 21st edition of the Games will be the most gender equal in the multi-sport event history.For the first time ever, there will be an equal number of women and men's medal events at the Commonwealth Games.The federation approved seven additional women's event categories for the Gold Coast 2018 sports programme to ensure that men and women compete for an equal number of medals (133 women's events; 133 men's events; 9 mixed/open events).Louise Martin, President of the CGF said, "International Women's Day is the right time to reflect on how far we have come with gender equality and how far we still have to go to ensure real balance and fairness in both sport and society.""The Commonwealth Sports Movement is proud to be setting the pace for equal gender representation and opportunity in sport, by ensuring that an equal number of medals will be up for grabs at Gold Coast 2018 for women ...

Mcllroy invites Shubhankar for a practice round before Masters

Rising Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma continues to live a dream as four-time major champion and former world no 1 Rory Mcllroy has extended an invitation to him for a practice round at the Augusta National Golf Club before the Masters begins in April. When Shubhankar was informed about Mcllroy's invitation, the Indian smiled. "I got to know now, I am very happy. He is an ideal of me and I would love to play a practice round with him. Let's see when I get there. I have never met him but obviously have seen him, we have played in the same tournament in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and followed him for many many years so it would be nice," Shubhankar told PTI. Mcllroy, who is playing this week at Valspar Championships on the PGA Tour, said, "I've been able to watch a little bit of him on TV. Obviously he's won a couple times on the European Tour, had a good chance to win and played in the final group last Sunday with Phil Mickelson." "Playing in the Masters will be a great experience and my best

Ronald Das, Rajesh Sawhney qualify from Noida Leg on Day 2 of Mercedes Trophy

City golfers Ronald Das - Handicap Category A (0-16) and Rajesh Sawhney - Handicap Category B (17-24) qualified for the National Finals of Mercedes Trophy 2018 golf tournament on the second day of the Noida leg qualifier at the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort here today. Ronald and Rajesh clinched the two qualification spots available on Day 2 of the leg by carding a net score of 70 and 72 respectively. The Mercedes Trophy 2018 has so far seen 41 qualifiers, including those who will be competing in the National Finals to be played at the Oxford Golf Resort in Pune from April 4 to 6. Speaking on his win CAT A winner Ronald said, It feels ecstatic and it was an amazing experience. I really appreciate the effort of the entire Mercedes team. Commenting on the qualification CAT B winner Rajesh said, It was very exciting for me to win today for which I have been working very hard. Overall experience of the tournament was excellent in my view. The best gross winner of the day was Karan Dev Tayal ..

Golfers Ronald, Rajesh qualify for National finals

Ronald Das and Rajesh Sawhney qualified for the national finals of Mercedes Trophy golf meet, it was announced on Thursday.