Page 1923 - Sports

India grouped with Belgium in hockey WC

The Indian men's hockey team is grouped along with 2016 Rio Olympic silver medalist Belgium for the 2018 World Cup scheduled to be played at home from November 28.The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced the pools and match schedule for the event on Wednesday.Over the course of the nineteen-day competition, sixteen teams will take the field at Odisha's Kalinga Stadium.The World Cup sees 15 qualifying nations to join hosts India in the race for the title. The host nation were joined by teams who qualified on the basis of their performances either at the last year's Hockey World League Semi-Finals competitions in London and Johannesburg or by being crowned as continental champions.The 16 teams have been split into four pools of four, with Rio 2016 Olympic champions Argentina competing in Pool A alongside New Zealand, Spain and France while reigning world champions Australia take on England, Ireland and China in Pool B.Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallists Belgium will compete ..

Unchanged Aussies to face Proteas in first Test

Australia will take on South Africa in the first Test of a four match series with the same playing XI that lifted the Ashes urn in Sydney, skipper Steve Smith confirmed."There's no doubt it's a tough tour. Conditions wise it's as similar as you get back home, but you're still away from home," ESPNcricinfo quoted Smith, as saying.Australia must be going into the series with confidence as they have never lost a series in South Africa and are also on the back of a 4-0 Ashes series win against England.They lost the three-match Test series 2-1 to the Proteas when latter toured Australia in 2016.Commenting about the loss, Smith said, "That wasn't a great time, it was a bit of a low point for Australian cricket, but, I think, since then, we've made some really good strides and the cricket we've been playing, particularly back home in the Ashes, was magnificent."The right-handed batsman added, "Now, it's about doing all those things we did well, the basic things, but doing them at another ...

Hritik, Jagdeep win on day 2 of MercedesTrophy Gurugram Leg

Hritik Gandhi Handicap Category A (0-17) and Jagdeep Rangar - Handicap Category B (18-24) qualified for the National Finals of MercedesTrophy on day 2 of the Gurugram leg qualifier at the Classic Golf and Country Resort here today. Hritik and Jagdeep clinched the two qualification spots available on Day 2 from the leg by carding a nett. score of 70.6 and 73 respectively. The MercedesTrophy 2018 has so far seen 35 qualifiers who will be competing in the National Finals to be played at the Oxford Golf Resort in Pune from April 4-6. Winner of CAT A Hritik said, I would like to thank MercedesTrophy 2018 for this amazing experience. I am really looking forward to playing at Pune in the National Finals and I hope I can give a good performance. Winner of CAT B Jagdeep said, I am really happy and I just cant get over the fact that I have actually won here. I had a great round of golf today and I am really very excited for the national finals. Monica Jajoo who won the Ballantines Long Drive ...

Pak's Mohammad Hafeez urges ICC to retain 'Doosra'

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to tweak its rule to ensure that 'Doosra'--a delivery which spins away from a general off-spin delivery--continues to be a part of cricket.The 37-year-old, who is currently facing a suspension from bowling in international cricket for the third time in three years due to illegal bowling action, called on the ICC to make the bowling rules a little accommodating to include the 'Doosra'."ICC should think about it. Bowling rules should be made a little accommodating to include the Doosra. We should remove it from the game completely," the Express Tribune quoted Hafeez, as saying.Hafeez also pointed out that off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, whose career was ended after he was asked to remold his bowling actions and bring the bend in his arm in the legal allowance of 15 degree, was crucial for the Pakistan team.Hafeez did not stop there and gave example of former Pakistan Test cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq, the ..

Super Cup may feature 2nd division teams also from next season

The AIFF wants to involve the second division sides in the Super Cup from next season, despite copping criticism from top I-League clubs for incorporating as many as 16 teams instead of the stated top four from each league, in the inaugural edition. Soon after the All India Football Federation announced the inaugural Super Cups final round schedule, I-League clubs such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Minerva Punjab FC lambasted the apex body over the tournaments format and schedule. Justifying the federations move, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar said, There was no such fixed plan that only the top four teams from ISL and I-League would play. We always wanted that all the teams of both the leagues participate either directly into the main round or through qualifiers. The AIFF had earlier this month announced that the qualifiers of the Super Cup are scheduled to take place between March 12 to March 31 and the final round to be held from March 31 to April 22 in a one-match format and not ...

We have to be careful about Bumrah's workload: MSK Prasad

Jasprit Bumrah's emergence as 'Test match bowler' was India's biggest gain during the recently concluded tour of South Africa and national selection committee chairman MSK Prasad made it clear that the Gujarat speedster's "workload management'' is paramount for him. Bumrah bowled a whopping 162.1 overs across three formats, including 112.1 overs during the the three-Test series in South Africa. "I am delighted with Jasprit's performance. We always had confidence in his abilities as he had done well for Gujarat in Ranji Trophy. But now our primary goal is to monitor his workload very carefully with so much international cricket ahead. We need to be careful that he is not over-used," Prasad told PTI during an exclusive interview. The chairman also indicated that Bumrah will be used only for the "important Test series" as his slinging action is one of the rarest of rare. "If you look at his action, it is a rare one and he can be prone to injuries. We need to use him for the important ...

India placed alongside Belgium and Canada in Hockey WC

In a favourable draw, hosts India were today clubbed in Pool C along side Olympics silver medallists Belgium, World No 11 Canada and African continental champions South Africa in the men's Hockey World Cup to be held in Bhubaneswar from November 28-December 16. According to the schedule announced by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) today, Asian champions India will open their campaign against South Africa on November 28 before taking on European giants Belgium on December 2 and Canada on December 8. Pool A, meanwhile, consists of Rio 2016 Olympic champions Argentina, New Zealand, Spain and France. There are a few marquee fixtures in the pool phase, including the mouth-watering Pool D meeting between two former world champions Germany and Pakistan on December 1. England will be aiming to upset the mighty Australians on December 4. The Pool stages will run from November 28 to December 9 and will be followed by the quarterfinals on December 12-13. A first place finish in each ..

Top golfers for Chennai Open championship

The country's top golfers will be seen in action in the Chennai Open golf championship 2018, which tees off at the Madras Gymkhana Club golf annexe here tomorrow. In addition to prominent Indian professionals, golfers from abroad including Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia will be participating in the second edition of the tournament, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) CEO Uttam Singh Mundy told reporters here. The top Indians in the field include Shamim Khan (2017 PGTI Order of Merit champion), defending champion Mukesh Kumar (winner of the 2016 edition); Syed Saqib Ahmed (2018 PGTI Order of Merit leader), Shankar Das, M Dharma, Harendra Gupta and Feroz Ali Mollah, among others. The foreign challenge will be led by the Sri Lankan quartet of Anura Rohana, Mithun Perera, N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran apart from Australia's Kunal Bhasin, Bangladesh golfer Md Zamal Hossain Mollah and South Africans Albie Hanekom and Romano Saincic, he said. The local ...

India placed in easy pool at Hockey World Cup

Hosts India have been grouped with Belgium, Canada and South Africa in an easy Pool C in the opening round of the Hockey World Cup, to be held in Bhubaneswar, India from November 28 to December 16, it was announced on Wednesday.

Now captain and coach also take pie of players' Davis Cup prize money

In a departure from the current formula for sharing the Davis Cup prize money, non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi and coach Zeeshan Ali were allowed by the AITA to claim a share from the players' prize purse from the Canada tie. Till the World Group Play-off tie against Canada last September, the prize money was distributed only among only six players including the two reserves while the support staff was paid directly by the All India Tennis Association (AITA). However, the prize purse for the Canada tie was distributed equally among six players along with the captain and the coach, which means the players' share was reduced. Each of the eight people got a little more than Rs one lakh. AITA secretary general Hironmoy Chatterjee confirmed the equal distribution and said it was done after Bhupathi put forth a proposal. "The distribution was done after the captain discussed with the players and took this call. So it was the players' call," Chatterjee told PTI. It is a move which hits ..

AIFF official Yadav praises Indian Arrows

Praising the Indian Arrows for their performance in the I-League, the AIFF's Director of National Teams Abhishek Yadav hoped that the youngsters will do well once they graduate to the senior level.

Kerala Blasters eye win over BFC to stay in hunt

Kerala Blasters will look to keep themselves in contention for a play-off berth when they take on table-toppers Bengaluru FC in their last league match of the Indian Super League here tomorrow. Currently, the Blasters are placed at fifth spot with 25 points after they managed only one point in their goal-less draw against Chennaiyin FC, which made things difficult for them. Even if Blasters register a win tomorrow, their qualification will depend on the result of the matches of other teams -- FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Chennayin FC. Blasters would also like to avoid playing Super-Cup qualifiers by finishing at least in top six. The visitors had a disappointing start to this ISL season and their chances of qualifying looked dismal but by appointing David James in place of Rene Meulensteen as head coach, the side seemed to have made a right call as the former managed to keep the team in the hunt. The presence of Lalruatthara, who has been a key performer, will boost Blasters' defence. ..

Not under pressure with Pandya comparison: Vijay Shankar

Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar, in the 15-member India squad for the upcoming Twenty20 cricket tri-series to be held in Sri Lanka, says he is under no pressure to fill in the shoes of Hardik Pandya who has been rested for the tour.

England beats New Zealand by 6 wickets in 2nd ODI

Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan made half centuries to guide England to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the second one-day international here today, leveling the five-match series at 1-1. Morgan made 62 and Stokes signalled his return to form after a five-month layoff with an unbeaten 63 as England surpassed New Zealand's total of 223 with more than 12 overs remaining. Stokes scored 12 and took 2-43 in the first match of the series, which was his first appearance for England since his arrest on Sept. 25 after a brawl outside a Bristol, Englnd nightclub. He had a more imposing influence on Wednesday's match, taking 2-42 from eight overs, contributing to a runout and reaching his a half century from 54 balls, his first 50 in ODIs since his 73 against the West Indies in Bristol on the day before his arrest. New Zealand's mediocre total seemed unlikely to challenge England and after it briefly slipped to 86-3 losing Jason Roy for 8, Joe Root for 9 and Jonny Bairstow for 37 Morgan and ...

Stokes powers England to 6-wicket win over Kiwis

All-rounder Ben Stokes played an unbeaten knock of 63 runs as England registered a six-wicket victory over New Zealand to level the five match ODI series at 1-1.Coming in to bat first, the hosts were bundled out on under-par score of 223 after Mitchell Santner scored his maiden ODI half-century. Martin Guptill also stuck a fifty.Chasing the total, England got off to a poor start as opener Jason Roy got out cheaply on eight to Trent Boult.In the ninth over, Joe Root was dismissed with Colin de Grandhomme taking a sensational one-hand diving catch off Boult, giving him his second wicket.Jonny Bairstow was caught out on 37 by third man off Lockie Ferguson.It was skipper Eoin Morgan and Stokes who then led the counterattack for England.Stokes put on 88 with Morgan who scored 62 before being dismissed by Colin Munro.Stokes and Jos Buttler remained unbeaten on 63 and 36 respectively to guide England to victory with 12.1 overs to spare.Stokes, who was playing in his second international ...

Javelin thrower Kang flunks dope test, stares at 4-year ban

Top Indian javelin thrower Davinder Singh Kang has been suspended provisionally by the world athletics governing body after he returned positive for a steroid in an out-of-competition test last week. The 29-year-old Kang's dope sample was taken by the officials of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the IAAF's new anti-doping body which started operations last year, four days ago in Patiala. It was found to contain a banned steroid and Kang now faces the prospect of being banned for four years. In that case, his career could well be over. The AIU officials tested Kang at a time prescribed by him under the "whereabouts" clause of the WADA Code as he is one of the five Indian athletes placed in the IAAF Registered Testing Pool. Kang's dope failure was intimated to the Athletics Federation of India by the IAAF yesterday and his name was immediately removed from the starting line-up of men's javelin throw at the Indian Grand Prix held at NIS Patiala. "The athlete gave the timing window of

Thingalaya to represent India at World Indoor Championship

Track and field athlete Siddhant Thingalaya will represent India at the World Indoor Championship 2018 starting in Birmingham from Friday. The 27-year-old specialises in 60 metre and 110 metre hurdles and is currently training in California, a media release said. Thingalayacu rrently holds the National Record in both 60m indoor hurdles with a timing of 7.70 seconds set at UW preview meet at Seattle in January last year and 110 m hurdles with a time of 13.48 seconds, set at Altis Invitational Meet in the United States held in June 2017.

Morgan, Stokes guide England to 6-wicket win over Kiwis

Batsmen Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes starred with the bat as England defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the second One-Day International (ODI) at the Bay Oval here on Wednesday.

'Confederations fatigue cost Chile chance to go to World Cup'

Chile's national coach Reinaldo Rueda has said the squad failed to qualify for the World Cup under predecessor Juan Antonio Pizzi because the starters were worn out from the Confederations Cup.

Argentina's Pella progresses to Brasil Open round-of-16

Sixth seed Guido Pella of Argentina recovered from a set down to defeat Frenchman Corentin Moutet at the Brasil Open.