Page 1930 - Sports
Arrows look to sign off I-League campaign on a positive note
Indian Arrows would look to finish their I-League campaign on a high when they take on heavyweights Mohun Bagan at the Tilak Maidan here tomorrow. The youngsters are coming into the game on the back of a 0-3 defeat which coincidentally was their heaviest defeat of the campaign as no team had beaten them by more than two goals until that point. On the other hand, Mohun Bagan are lying at the fourth spot on the table with 24 points from 15 matches. However, the general impression is that these under-18 players have punched above their weight, especially with other teams fielding quality foreign players. There is no relegation for Indian Arrows, the developmental side of the All India Football Federation. "When I analyse the season, I am very satisfied with the performance of the players of the Indian Arrows. Fifteen points with a team with average age of 16.9 is very unique," Indian Arrows coach Luis Norton De Matos said. "I never knew a team of 16 years old in the professional league ..
Sony starts promotional campaign for CWG
With just over one month to go for the Commonwealth Games, Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) on Monday launched its promotional campaign, 'Rang De Tiranga.
Asensio looks ready as Real Madrid wraps up preparation for Espanyol
Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Marco Asensio on Monday seemed ready to compete as the team finished their final training session ahead of the La Liga match against Espanyol.
Edelweiss ties up with IOA to sponsor CWG, Asiad, 2020 Olympics
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday named Edelweiss Financial Services Limited as sponsor of the Indian contingent for this year's Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and National Games 2018 and 2019.
I-League: Minerva jump to top spot with 2-0 win over Aizawl
Minerva Punjab FC jumped to the top of the I-League table with a clinical 2-0 victory over reigning champions Aizawl FC in a crucial encounter at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here on Monday.
Tite's Corinthians connections makes Brazil strong unit: Villas-Boas
Former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas feels that Brazilian manager Tite's stint with the Corinthians will come in handy during World Cup in Russia as most national team players were at one point in time associated with country's top football club. Talking about World Cup, Villas-Boas termed Germany and Brzil are the two teams to watch out for while Argentina's consistency is a problem for him. I will put my money on Germany and Brazil. Brazil now have a group of players who played under Tite in Corinthians. They look really strong. Then in group of outsiders are Portugal, France, Belgium and Spain. They look to threaten these two gig teams. In the knock-outs, we can see some surprises, the 40-year-old Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs manager told PTI during an interview on the sidelines of the Laureus Sports Awards. Argentina, I dont really see the consistency needed to win a World Cup. They changed to Jorge Sampaoli, a very attacking coach but still a lot of work to do in terms of ..
Morne Morkel to retire from int'l cricket post Australia Tests
South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel has announced that he would bid adieu to all forms of international cricket following the conclusion of the four-match Test series against Australia, beginning Thursday in Durban.The 33-year-old said that though it was an extremely tough decision, he believes that it is a right time to quit cricket and focus on his other commitments."It was an extremely tough decision but I feel the time is right to start a new chapter. I have a young family and a foreign wife, and the current demanding international schedule has put a lot of strain us. I have to put them first and this decision will only benefit us going forward," he said.Thanking the Cricket South Africa (CSA) and his family for the faith they had put in him over the years, Morkel insisted that he had enjoyed every minute that he had played in the South Africa jersey."I have loved every minute that I have played in the Proteas jersey, and I am incredibly grateful to my teammates, Cricket South ..
Want to make India sports equipment manufacturing hub: Rathore
Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today said making India a manufacturing hub of sports equipment is one of his primary targets. "...we plan to hold a summit of the best sports goods manufacturers of India and the world to deliberate on how and what we need to do to change the policies of the country to make India a manufacturing hub of sports equipment, Rathore said at SportEX.Asia 2018. Rathore stressed on the need for private sector to play an active role in improving sports infrastructure in the country. "We plan to make India a force to reckon with in the field of sports and need support from private sector. Currently we are focused on two programs -- excellence in sports through our Target Olympic Podium scheme and broadbasing of sport through the largest schools games competition- Khelo India," he said. The Minister proclaimed Year 2018 as the year of sports in India. "We intend to change the mindset of people towards sport. For that the environment around sport needs .
Morkel announces int'l retirement, says family life strained by schedule
South African pacer Morne Morkel has decided to bid adieu to international cricket after the home Test series against Australia next month, saying that the "demanding" schedule has put a lot of strain on his family life". The 33-year-old bowler, who was part of South African squad during the just-concluded home series against India, said it was not an easy decision to take. "It was an extremely tough decision but I feel the time is right to start a new chapter," he stated in a Cricket South Africa (CSA) release. "I have a young family and a foreign wife, and the current demanding international schedule has put a lot of strain us. I have to put them first and this decision will only benefit us going forward," he added. Morkel, who made his international Test debut against India back in 2006, has played 83 matches in longest format so far, taking 294 wickets, making him the fifth highest wicket-taker for South Africa in the format. "I have loved every minute that I have played in the ...
ISL: Mumbai face Delhi in must-win game (Preview)
In their bid to make the play-offs, Mumbai City FC will look to ensure they do their bit by winning against the out-of-contention Delhi Dynamos FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash here on Tuesday.
Mumbai City wary of confident Delhi
Mumbai City FC will put their best foot forward and try to register a win against Delhi Dynamos FC here tomorrow, even though that may still not assure them a place in the play-offs of the Indian Super League. Placed seventh with 23 points from 16 matches, Mumbai City need to win both their remaining matches against Delhi at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium tomorrow, and the concluding league clash against Chennaiyin FC in Chennai on Saturday. Wins in both these games will take them to 29 points which could be the bare minimum needed to qualify. However, even if Mumbai win both the games, they still need other results to go their way. The visitors are encouraged by their fantastic last-gasp winner against NorthEast United FC in their previous game and coach Alexandre Guimaraes has asked his team to keep fighting till the end. "When you win these kind of games, the confidence is high. Everybody believes that; they know we are back (in contention) and now there is a possibility that we can .
We are good enough to beat any top hockey side in world: Manpreet
Ace mid-fielder Manpreet Singh asserted that Indian team is capable of beating any top side in the world and promised to deliver at least a medal, if not gold, at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The 25-year-old Manpreet said the CWG hockey competition is of high standard with several top teams and his side would have to play their best to win a medal. He said Indian team has improved vastly since winning a silver at the Glasgow edition. "We cannot underestimate any team in the CWG where the competition is tough. There is Australia, Great Britain, Pakistan, South Africa and others. Last time, we lost to Australia and won a silver. This time we will do our best and hopefully will win a medal," "In the last four years since Glasgow (2014 CWG), we have improved a lot. We have beaten all the top sides in the world, we can beat any team anyday," said Manpreet, refusing to talk about the colour of the medal. Australia have won all the gold medals in men's hockey since its introduction in ...
Durham sign Proteas' Markram as overseas player
South African opener Aiden Markram has been roped in by English side Durham as an overseas player for the early part of the upcoming County Championship season.Having recently led the national side in the six-match ODI series against India in the absence of injured Faf du Plessis, the 22-year-old will join Durham ahead of the opening match of the season against Kent in April and will continue to stay on until the middle of May.After Markram leaves, New Zealand batsman Tom Latham will take over as the overseas player.Commenting on Markram's appointment, England legend and current Durham chairman, Ian Botham, said that the South Africa batsman would offer confidence and maturity at the top of the batting order."Aiden offers confidence and maturity at the top of the batting order and despite being just 23 years old, he has already been recognised by South Africa as a leader in the dressing room,"Sport24 quoted Botham as saying.Durham will be without their star players Tom Latham, Ben ...
Scribes boycott Minerva Punjab press conference
A handful of scribes from Chandigarh today boycotted Minerva Punjabs post-match press conference, protesting the I-League team management's move to ban a correspondent from covering the pre-game address briefing due to "provocative" reportage. The club yesterday issued a gag order that prevented the said reporter from attending the pre-match conference on the eve of the club's crucial match against reigning champions Aizawl FC. Minerva Punjab won the game 2-0 and jumped to the top of the standings with 32 points from 16 outings, leapfrogging challengers Neroca FC and East Bengal. Minerva Punjab management was apparently upset with a news report published on February 21, which highlighted how a man armed with a gun had roamed around on the stadium premises on February 20 during a match between Minerva and Gokulam Kerala FC at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium. The gun-toting man turned out to be a personal security officer of one of the directors of the club and the act was in violation of FIFA
IPL 2018:Ravichandran Ashwin to lead Kings XI Punjab
Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has been named as the captain of Kings XI Punjab for the upcoming 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).The 31-year-old spinner will lead the pride of Punjab into battle in the hopes of getting them to their maiden title triumph.Ashwin was a leading candidate for the position ever since he was bought by Kings XI for a whopping Rs 7.60 crore in the IPL player's auction at the ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru in February.Though Ashwin had never captained in the IPL before, he has frequently led his state Tamil Nadu in various domestic competitions.He,however,has been a part of the IPL winning team twice in the past, and this season, he will be hungrier than ever to add a third title to the list.Ecstatic with his appointment, Ashwin promised fans that with him at the helm, the Sher-e-Punjab would dish out a brand of cricket that both, players and fans, would be proud of."I feel honoured to be trusted with the responsibility of leading such a ...
IPL: Ashwin named KXIP captain
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was named the captain of the Kings XI Punjab for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Minerva Punjab regain top spot with 2-0 defeat of Aizawl
Minerva Punjab renewed their title chase with a convincing 2-0 defeat of reigning champions Aizawl FC, the result breaking a run of successive home reverses and helping them regain pole position in the I-League, here today. Akash Sangwan broke the deadlock in the 50th minute while Ivory Coast import Bazie Armand, who replaced Bhutanese Chencho Gyeltshen moments before the final whistle, added another in the injury time (90+5). Minerva Punjab, who finished second last the previous season, led the standings with 32 points from 16 matches, leapfrogging Neroca FC and East Bengal with two more games to play. Minerva is the father of football, the home fans yelled in chorus throughout as their team secured full three points at a crucial juncture of the league. When winger Sangwan headed the ball in off a rebound, Minerva Punjabs passionate owner Ranjit Bajaj broke into celebration, and so did the raucous crowd that gathered at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium. Minerva Punjab completed the game with
Will try to keep shooting in CWG, assures IOA
Concerned over the possibility that shooting may be scrapped from the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG), Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Secretary General Rajeev Mehta on Monday said he will strive to ensure that the sport is retained in the quadrennial multi-discipline event.
IOA enters partnership with Edelweiss Group for 2018 CWG, Asian Games, 2020 Olympic Games
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today announced its partnership with Edelweiss Financial Services Limited as sponsor of the Indian contingent for 2018 Commonwealth Games, the 2018 Asian Games and the 2020 Olympic Games, besides the National Games 2018 and 2019.IOA also announced Raymond as its official styling partner and Shiv Naresh Sports as its official sports apparel partner for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Gold Coast from April 4 to 15, 2018.The official ceremonial attire and sports apparel of the athletes was revealed by Minster of Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, President IOA Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra and Secretary General IOA Mr. Rajeev Mehta.Reaffirming this long-term partnership, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, has offered a life Insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh for all athletes representing India at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Edelweiss had in 2016 announced a Rs. 1 crore cover for athletes representing India at the Rio Olympics.The ...
Dipa rues missing out on CWG, vows to win medal at Asian Games
India's top gymnast Dipa Karmakar today rued missing out on the upcoming Commonwealth Games due to injury but vowed to win a medal at the Asian Games later in the year. The 24-year-old Karmakar was forced out of the Gold Coast CWG (April 4-15) owing to a knee injury she picked up last year. She underwent an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery in April last year. Karmakar, the first Indian female gymnast to compete in the Olympics where she finished a historic fourth in the women's vault at the 2016 Rio Games, said she has completed her rehabilitation and started training. "I am very sad that I am not going for the Commonwealth Games. Last time in the 2014 CWG in Glasgow, I won a bronze medal. If this injury did not happen, I would have taken part in Gold Coast also. Our (gymnastic team) performance would have been better this time," she said on the sidelines of a sponsorship announcement event of the Indian Olympic Association for the Gold Coast CWG. "But injury happens in a ...