Page 1927 - Sports
I was born as an athlete after 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in India: Semenya
The double Olympic gold medals and three world championship titles have already made Caster Semenya a legend in world athletics, but the South African middle distance runner rates the yellow metal won at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune higher in her achievements list. Semenya is the two-time reigning Olympic champion in womens 800m besides winning three world championship titles in 2009 Berlin, 2011 Daegu and 2017 London. But the lanky runner, who hails from a small village of South Africa's northern Limpopo province, considers the gold in Pune as most memorable as it gave her the confidence to take on the best in the business. When I became an Olympic champion it was a great achievement. When I combine them all, Berlin is my first major world title but the one that I will never forget is when for the first time I won any gold medal and that was in India -- the Commonwealth Youth Games, Semeya told a select group of Indian journalist at the sidelines of the Laureus World ...
'Morne Morkel most underrated bowler'
Former Australian Test skipper Steve Waugh believes that South African speedster Morne Morkel is one of the most underrated bowlers in world cricket.A shocked Waugh said Morkel's decision to bid adieu to all forms of international cricket is a good news for batters around the world."That's good news for a lot of batsmen around the world. He's been terrorising batsmen for a long time," Sport24 quoted Waugh as saying.Apart from calling Morkel a 'fantastic bowler', Waugh also acknowledged him as a 'humble person'."I didn't play against him, but I just like the way he plays the game. He just tears in every ball and gives it everything," the Australian said."He's one of the most underrated players in the world."The right-arm fast bowler will play his last Test series against Australia.Morkel, 33, has played 83 Tests, 117 ODIs and 44 T20Is in a successful career spanning 12 years and has an impressive tally of 529 wickets in all.He has taken 294 Test wickets - including seven five-fors - ...
Angelo Mathews to miss Nidahas Trophy
Sri Lanka ODI skipper Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of next week's Nidahas Trophy tri-nation series owing to a injury.In Mathews' absence, Test captain Dinesh Chandimal is expected to lead the charge in the tri-nation series featuring Bangladesh and India, reports the ESPNcricinfo.Chandimal had earlier led the side to series wins in Bangladesh in ODIs and T20Is.Mathews, on the other hand, has been continually troubled by injuries and has played just one game since being named as Sri Lanka's limited-over captain in January.According to reports, the 30-year-old was under rehabilitation in Colombo to get fit, but sustained a calf injury during training ahead of the tri-series.Mathews has missed 60% in the international fixtures. Since late 2016, he has been absent in eight out of 18 Tests, 24 of 40 ODIs, and 14 of 19 T20s.The 2018 Nidahas Trophy is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka from March 6.
Bahutule named Rajasthan Royals' spin bowling coach
Former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule was today named as the spin bowling coach of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, who are making a come back to the League after serving a two-year ban. Bahutule played 188 first class games for Mumbai and picked up 630 wickets at an average of 26 apart from scoring 6,176 runs with nine centuries at an average of 31.83. Bahutule also played two Test matches and picked up three wickets for India and represented the country in eight One Day internationals. Bahutule has been the coach of Bengal Ranji side for three years now. It is a privilege to be part of Rajasthan Royals coaching staff. I am excited to be part of a team that has legendary Shane Warne as mentor. I am looking forward to work with the players and share my knowledge, guide them through as we prepare for the gruelling season, Bahutule was quoted as saying in a press release. Rajasthan Royals had appointed Shane Warne as team's mentor and Australia batsman Steve Smith as the skipper.
Amit, Shekhar qualify on Day 1 of MercedesTrophy Gurugram Leg
Former Asian Games Gold Medalist Amit Luthra and Shekhar Aggarwal qualified for the National Finals of MercedesTrophy on day one of the Gurugram leg qualifier at the Classic Golf and Country Resort here today. Amit with Handicap Category A (0-17) and Shekhar with Handicap Category B (18-24) clinched the first two qualification spots available from the leg by carding a nett. score of 70 and 70.2 respectively. The MercedesTrophy has so far seen 33 qualifiers who will be competing in the National Finals to be played at the Oxford Golf Resort in Pune from April 4 to 6. Winner of CAT A Amit Luthra said, After having played for India for over 20 years and winning the Asian games gold medal qualifying for the MercedesTrophy finals was a different experience. I am looking forward to Pune and hopefully I can make it to Stuttgart and represent India. Winner of CAT B Shekhar Aggarwal said, I am extremely delighted to qualify for the National Finals and it is a beautiful golf course. The best ...
It's time we pushed for a third World Cup: WI captain Holder
The rigours of having to go through a qualifying tournament to even take part in the 2019 cricket World Cup notwithstanding, West Indies captain Jason Holder urged supporters to back the team as they begin their campaign to earn a place in the ICC event.
Rajasthan Royals appoint Bahutule as spin bowling coach
Rajasthan Royals has appointed former Indian Test spinner Sairaj Bahutule as their spin bowling coach, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise announced on Tuesday.
Rashid Khan set to become youngest captain in international cricket
At 19 years of age, highly-rated Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan is set to become the youngest captain in the history of international cricket.
Amit, Shekhar qualify for National finals
Amit Luthra and Shekhar Aggarwal have qualified for the National finals of Mercedes Trophy golf meet, it was announced on Tuesday.
PSG confirm Neymar's injury status
Brazilian superstar Neymar has a twisted right ankle and a hairline fracture on the fifth metatarsal bone, Paris Saint-Germain confirmed on Tuesday through an official statement about the world's most expensive player.Although an estimated return was not confirmed by the club, doctors believe a metatarsal fracture usually takes around six weeks to completely heal from. This will come as a huge blow to the French giants as they will now have to overturn the 1-3 reverse to Real Madrid in the Champions League without the mercurial forward.The ex-Barcelona and Santos man, who became the most expensive player in the world (222 million Euros) following an unexpected switch to the French capital side in the summer transfer window last year, landed awkwardly following a clash with Marseille forward Bouna Sarr in their Ligue 1 encounter on Sunday, and sustained injuries in the process. He was seen in tears as he was being stretchered off the pitch.Marseille seemed to target PSG's star man ...
It was safe to assume Ankita won't make it to Tokyo Games: Somdev
Tennis' national observer Somdev Devvarman insists that he has nothing "personal" against Ankita Raina and his decision to exclude her from the TOPS was based on his assumption that she would not make it to the Tokyo Olympics in 2022. In a surprise decision, Ankita was left out of the financial assistance scheme despite being India's top-ranked player. The Sports Ministry included second-highest ranked player Karman Kaur Thandi and Prarthana Thombare apart from seasoned Sania Mirza for Rs 50,000 monthly allowance. Four male players were also selected for the stipend. Realising that a mistake has been made by leaving out Ankita, the AITA had later requested Sports Ministry to include Ankita and Divij Sharan, who is the highest ranked Indian in doubles after Rohan Bopanna, in the TOPS. Somdev perhaps forgot that the monthly allowance, announced by the Ministry, was not only for the Tokyo Games preparations but also for athletes who would compete in the Asian Games and the Commonwealth ..
Nadal unfazed by rankings race ahead of injury return
Spanish tennis maestro Rafael Nadal, who is all set to make a return at this week's Mexico Open after recovering from a thigh injury, has insisted that he is no longer concerned with the world rankings.Last week, Nadal was dethroned by his long-time rival Roger Federer at the top of the ATP rankings, after the latter became the oldest player to claim the numero-uno spot en route to winning his 97th title at the Rotterdam Open title.While a victory in Mexico would not be enough for Nadal to retain the pinnacle spot in the men's rankings, the current world number two could replace Federer at Indian Wells or Miami next month.However, Nadal was no longer concerned about rankings as he said that 'being number one, three or five hardly make any difference'."I've been in the top 2 for many years. Being No 1, 3, 5 doesn't make much difference," Sport24 quoted Nadal, as saying.Insisting that he is not motivated by a desire to reclaim the position from his long-time rival, the 31-year-old said .
Federer didn't need No.1 spot to show his potential:Nadal
Spanish tennis maestro Rafael Nadal congratulated long-time rival Roger Federer for dethroning him and reclaiming the world number one spot, however, adding that the world rankings are no longer a priority for the 20-time Grand Slam champion.Nadal, who is all set to make a return from a thigh injury at this week's Mexico Open in Acapulco, said that Federer doesn't require the numero-uno spot to show his potential."He didn't need to return to No 1 to show who he is in tennis. What he's achieved is very difficult and you can only congratulate him," Sport24 quoted Nadal, as saying.The 31-year-old admitted that his great rival Federer performed a bit better than him in last one year."Rankings don't lie, he did a little bit better than me in the last 12 months," he added.Last week, Federer returned to the top of the ATP Rankings for his fourth stint at the pinnacle of men's professional tennis, more than 14 years after he first became number one.Federer surpassed eight-time Grand Slam ...
N.Korea to send athletes to PyeongChang Paralympics
North Korea will send athletes next week to take part in the PyeongChang Paralympics, which will be held in South Korea in March, Seoul's Unification Ministry said on Tuesday.
Underdogs making I-League title race exciting: Vijayan
Former Indian footballer IM Vijayan feels the emergence of underdogs like Minerva FC and NEROCA as title-contenders has made the I-League more exciting than before. The Hero I-League is very unpredictable and that is what the last season taught us. This season, it is even more unpredictable and volatile than before as now you have two underdogs gunning for the title, said Vijayan. When darkhorse Aizawl FC scripted a scintillating story by winning the last edition of I-League there was a certain shift of power in the national domestic league from the usual contenders to the underdogs. Little did anyone expect the same story would be re-written again this season. But as the I-League comes to its end the underdogs might very well once again triumph over the usual contenders. The emergence of Minerva Punjab FC and NEROCA to the top tier of the Hero I-League table has not only shook the structure in the domestic league for this season but captured the essence of sports - the underdog ...
This I-League season proving to be a cracker, feels Vijayan
Hailing the unpredictable nature of the I-League with Minerva Punjab FC and Neroca FC competing for the crown, Indian football icon I.M. Vijayan said this is what draws the fans and players alike and is very encouraging.
Mithali to lead Indian eves in ODI series against Aussies
Veteran batsman Mithali Raj will lead the 15-member Indian women's squad in next month's three-match ODI series against Australia which is scheduled to be held at home.Meanwhile, all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur will serve as Mithali's deputy in the upcoming ODI series.Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami, who recently became the first female cricketer to claim 200 ODI wickets, will not be a part of the team due to a heel injury.The Indian women's team are fresh from their victory against South Africa, where they scripted history by clinching a double series win in a single tour for the first time ever.Under Mithali Raj, India won the three-match ODI series, 2-1 before the Haramanpreet Kaur-led side clinched the five-match T20I series, 3-1 against Soutrh Africa.The upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, which will be held in Vadodara, is a part of the ICC Women's Championship (2017-2020).The ODI series will begin from March 12 and will be followed by the T20I tri-series. The squad for
Mithali to lead hosts India in ODI series against Australia
Opener Mithali Raj will lead a 15-member Indian women's team in the three-match ??ODI series against Australia to be held at Vadodara from March 12-18, BCCI said today. "The All-India Women's Selection Committee has named the India Women's squad for the Paytm ODI series against Australia Women. The three-match series that will be held in Vadodara is part of the ICC Womens Championship (2017-2020)," BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said. The Indian women's team had a highly successful tour of South Africa as Mithali led the ODI side to a 2-1 win, while Harmanpreet Kaur guided a young squad to an emphatic 3-1 victory in a five-match T20 International series to complete a rare double. India will start the three-match series with the first one-dayer on March 12, followed by the second and third game on March 15 and Match 18 respectively at Vadodara. "The ODI series will be followed by the T20I tri-series and the squad for the same will be named later," BCCI said in a release. India
Women's ODI squad named for Australia series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced the women's squad for the One-Day International series against Australia next month.
NFL likely to fine Dallas Cowboys owner
National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he is prepared to fine Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for conduct inimical to the league.The New York Times quoted NFL officials, as saying that Jones tried to derail the extension of Goodell's five-year contract arguing that Goodell is being overpaid. He also charged Goodell with defending suspended running back Ezekiel Elliott in spite of the latter being charged with domestic assault.The proposed fine is expected to be imposed on Jones in the coming weeks.The NFL Commissioner is under pressure from several team owners to impose penalties on the Cowboys owner for crossing the line.Jones is required to pay all legal expenses that the compensation committee suffered while defending itself and the amount the NFL paid to defend its decision to suspend Elliott.