Page 1946 - Sports

Arsenal advance to Europa League last 16 despite Ostersunds scare

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said his side were complacent as they survived a huge scare against Swedish minnows Ostersunds FK to claim a place in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Strandja Boxing Tournament: Mary Kom advances to semis

Five-time world champion MC Mary Kom(48 kg) advanced to the semifinals of the 69th Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament for men and women by defeating Steluta Duta of Romania in Bulgaria yesterday.In her quarterfinal match in Sofia, the 35-year-old counted on her sharper reflex to outplay Steluta, who is a three-time silver medallist in world championships.Interestingly, Mary Kom has earlier defeated Steluta in three world championship in the finals (2006, 2008 and 2010).With her entry, India is now assured of four medals on the part of the women boxers in the tournament since Saweety Boora (75kg) and Mena Kumari Devi (54kg) have won their quarterfinals while Seema Punia (+81kg) Bhagyabati Kachari (81kg) got byes.Meanwhile, India's Dheeraj Rangi bowed out of the tournament after he lost his opening bout to Louis Colin Richarno in the men's competition.

ISL: Mumbai keep playoffs hopes alive with 3-2 win over NorthEast

Mumbai FC kept their slim chances of making the playoffs alive with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over bottom-placed NorthEast United FC in a thrilling Indian Super League (ISL) encounter here at the Mumbai Football Arena on Thursday.

Cricket Canada delighted with ICC approval for Global T20

Canada's very own first franchise-based Twenty20 league, Global T20 Canada, was announced in the Indian National capital on Thursday.The tournament is conceptualised, designed and managed by Mercuri Group with Cricket Canada, the official governing body for the sport in the country.The league has also gained official sanction of the International Cricket Council (ICC).With this announcement, Cricket Canada becomes the first Associate member of the ICC to set in motion a Twenty20 franchise league in the lucrative North America market.Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in the final leg of his official Indian trip, participated in a promotional cricket event at a school in the Indian capital on Thursday.Prime Minister Trudeau signed a bat wishing the Global T20 Canada all the luck on the sidelines of his visit to the school.The Global T20 Canada will kick-off in July and will be played at three venues - Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, Sunnybrook Park and Maple Leaf Cricket ..

Winter Olympics: Russia curler stripped of medal for doping

Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky, who won bronze at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, has been stripped of his medal after being found guilty of doping.Alexander won his Olympic medal with his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova in the mixed doubles event.Russia was banned from competing at the Winter Olympics because of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Games in Sochi.However, 168 Russian athletes are allowed to compete in the Games under a neutral flag.The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an official statement said that said the Russian admitted the anti-doping violation.CAS said, "The athlete has accepted a provisional suspension beyond the period of the Games and reserved his rights to seek the elimination or reduction of any period of ineligibility based on 'no fault or negligence' following the conclusion of the Games."With Krushelnitsky and Bryzgalova's third-place annulled, the bronze medal will be awarded to the Norway pair of Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten, who ..

Mary, Sarita, 2 others in semis of Strandja Memorial boxing

The seasoned duo of M C Mary Kom (48kg) and L Sarita Devi (60kg) were assured of their third successive international medals after they entered the semifinals, along with two male boxers, in the 69th Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament here today. The 35-year-old Mary Kom, who came here on the back of gold medals at the Asian Championships and the India Open, defeated old nemesis Steluta Duta of Romania in her quarterfinal contest. Sarita, a bronze and silver winner at the Asian Championships and India Open respectively, got the better of China's Qi Yawen in her last-eight stage bout. In the men's draw, India Open gold-medallist Amit Panghal (49kg) also made the semifinal stage along with last edition's silver-medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg). Amit defeated China's Zhonglin Wu in a draining contest, while Hussamuddin pulled off a comprehensive triumph over American Raymond Ford during the evening session. Mary Kom relied on her sharper reflexes to outwit Steluta, who is a ...

Goain hands Mumbai last-minute winner over North East United

Captain Lucian Goian scored a last minute winner to guide Mumbai City FC to a thrilling 3-2 victory over North East United FC and keep alive their play-off hopes in the Indian Super League football tournament, here today. Romanian Goian, who was the villain in the first half after conceding an own goal to allow North East take a 2-1 half-time lead, finally made amends in brilliant fashion to sweep home a chip into the box sent by Raju Gaekwad in the 90th minute and provide a great finish for the home team when the match looked headed towards a draw. Mumbai, who needed to win all three remaining matches to have a realistic chance of making the four-team play-offs, took an early lead but fell behind 1-2 before half- time. They equalised early in the second half but could not break open the North East defense till Goian applied the finishing touch to a fine chip to the far post by Gaekwad. The victory also halted the hosts four-game losing streak at the Mumbai Football Arena and helped ..

I-League: Match dates of three title contenders changed

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Thursday made changes in the dates of three crucial I-League matches involving championship contenders Minerva Punjab FC, East Bengal and Neroca FC.

Kerber stuns Pliskova, reaches Dubai semis

Germany's Angelique Kerber on Thursday defeated Karolína Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3 to book a place in the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a hard-court WTA event here.

Guru, Sameer reach quarters of Swiss Open

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist RMV Gurusaidutt and Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold winner Sameer Verma entered the quarterfinals of the Swiss Open World Super 300 tournament after registering contrasting wins in men's singles, here today. On a comeback trail after recovering from an ankle injury, Gurusaidutt defeated compatriot Sourabh Verma 21-18 21-14, while second seed Sameer eked out a 11-21 21-18 21-16 win over Japan's Yu Igarashi in another match. Guru faces Thailand's Kantaphon Wangcharoen, while Sameer takes on Japan's Kento Momota next. Sai Uttejitha Rao Chukka, however, suffered a 8-21 13-21 loss to second seeded Japanese Minatsu Mitani. Last night, men's doubles pair of Arjun MR and Ramchandran Shlok defeated Chinese Taipei's Po Li-Wei and Yang Ming-Tse 21-17 14-21 21-15 to reach the second round. But Anura Prabhudesai lost 12-21 12-21 to top seeded Japanese Sayaka Takahashi to bow out.

New world record as China's Wu grabs short track gold

China's Wu Dajing set a new world record as he won the men's 500m short track speed skating at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics today. The silver medallist from Sochi 2014 set the fastest ever time in his quarter-final, and bettered that clocking 39.584sec in the final. South Korea's Hwang Daeheon finished second, with his compatriot Lim Hyojun taking bronze.

Vasco da Gama advance in Copa Libertadores

Brazil's Vasco da Gama defeated Bolivia's Jorge Wilstermann 4-0 to advance to Group 5 of the Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club football competition.

Alexis Sanchez will help United's CL campaign: Vidic

Former Manchester United stopper Nemanja Vidic is of the opinion that club's latest acquisition Alexis Sanchez will play a vital role in club's Champions League campaign. During January, Snchez completed a transfer to Manchester United, in a swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move to Arsenal. There are reports that United will be paying the Chilean winger 350,000 pounds per week. United played out a goalless draw with Sevilla in a round of 16 first leg clash of the Champions League yesterday. "I think he (Sanchez) is a top-player with a lot of quality. He has made a difference in the Premier League over the past few years. Personally, I would have loved for him to join earlier, to travel with the team during pre-season with the club," Vidic told reporters on the sidelines of the The Football Movement hosted by Premier League and India On Track. "But we did sign him in January, and he will surely contribute towards fighting for trophies, including the Champions League this season,

T20 Mumbai League to be a platform for flourishing cricketers: Tendulkar

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday said that the upcoming T20 Mumbai League would provide the aspiring cricketers an opportunity to express their talent.Speaking at an event here, Tendulkar said, "Every aspiring child needs to have a platform to express his talent and this league is going to provide that opportunity."Recently, Tendulkar was named the brand ambassador for the T20 Mumbai League - an intra-city cricket tournament organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association."All the youngsters are excited about it. I am extremely delighted that I am standing here as the ambassador of T20 Mumbai League," the former cricketer said.The 44-year-old added, "I firmly believe that something like this was needed for Mumbai cricket. Mumbai cricket has always led Indian cricket and the numbers are the biggest proof."The league will begin from March 11 at the icon Wankhede Stadium and six teams will be competing in it.Representing the city pockets, the teams are - Mumbai North, .

ICC gives go ahead to Global T20 Canada

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has granted official sanction to Global T20 Canada, the first franchise-based Twenty20 league to be held in the north American country, it was announced here on Thursday.

Brazil's Gremio clinch Recopa Sudamericana

Brazil's Gremio, the defending Copa Libertadores champion, defeated Argentina's Independiente, the South American champion, 5-4 on penalty kicks to take the Recopa Sudamericana.

World class football academy in Manipur under consideration: Rathore

Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today said his ministry is actively considering setting up a world class football academy in Manipur in collaboration with the state government. Rathore said this while interacting with a group of students from Manipur aged between 11 and 16 years who are currently on a National Integration Tour organised by Assam Rifles. The minister noted the remarkable presence of eight players from Manipur in the Indian squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and asked the students to prepare hard in the sport of their choice so that they can participate in future editions of Khelo India School Games. "A group of 20 students along with their teachers from Chandel district of Manipur here called on Minister of State (I/C) of Youth Affairs & sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore. Col. Rathore asked the students about their hobbies, studies and their interest in sports," a release from the ministry said. "He (Rathore) said his ministry is actively considering for .

AIFF changes I-League match dates involving three titles contenders

With the I-League title race going down the wire, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has made changes in the dates of three crucial matches involving championship contenders Minerva Punjab FC, East Bengal and Neroca FC. According to the original schedule, I-League debutants Neroca FC, who are currently leading the points table, were to play their last match on February 27 against East Bengal in Kolkata but that game has now been postponed to March 8. Minerva Punjab's last match against Churchill Brothers at Panchkula will be played on March 8, the same day and the same time as that of East Bengal and Neroca FC. The last day of the I-League will see the three title contenders playing at same time so as to avoid any chances of possible result manipulation. In the third change of the fixture, East Bengal's penultimate round match against Shillong Lajong in Shillong has been pushed back by one day to March 5 from original March 4 and the timing of the match has also changed from 2pm

Deep aims double crown at Sunfeast Junior Open

Deep Munim of Madhya Pradesh today lined himself up for a double crown at the Sunfeast AITA Super Series Junior Tennis tournament, here today. Deep faced a stiff resistance from Anmay Yogesh Devaraj of Karnataka before prevailing 6-4 3-6 6-2 in the Under-14 boys singles semifinal. Deep will take on Arjun Gohad of Maharashtra in the final. The Madhya Pradesh boy also set up a U-16 title clash against Dhanya Shah of Gujarat after defeating Kritanta Sarma of Assam 2-6 6-0 6-3. In the girls section, Sanya Singh of Maharashtra defeated Renee Singh of Rajasthan 6-4 6-2 in the U-16 category. Renee, however, advanced into the final of the U-14 section pipping Harshita Bangera of Maharashtra 7-6 (2) 6-3. Renee will face Karthika Vijay of Tamil Nadu in the final of the U-14 girls section.

Mary, Sarita in semis of Strandja Memorial boxing

The seasoned duo of M C Mary Kom (48kg) and L Sarita Devi (60kg) were assured of their third successive international medals after they entered the semifinals of the 69th Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament for men and women, here today. The 35-year-old Mary Kom, who came here on the back of gold medals at the Asian Championships and the India Open, defeated old nemesis Steluta Duta of Romania in her quarterfinal contest. Sarita, a bronze and silver winner at the Asian Championships and India Open respectively, got the better of China's Qi Yawen in her last-eight stage bout. Mary Kom relied on her sharp reflexes to outwit Steluta, who is a three-time world championships silver-medallist and a four-time gold medal winner at the European Championships. Interestingly, all of Stelutas world championship silver medals are courtesy losses to Mary Kom in the finals (2006, 2008 and 2010). Clashing after a considerable gap, the two boxers were locked in a fierce exchange of blows, but Mary Kom