Page 1959 - Sports
Chinese club Beijing Guoan signs Las Palmas' Jonathan Viera
Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan on Monday reached an agreement with Las Palmas to sign Spaniard Jonathan Viera, the La Liga club announced on its website.
Arsenal signs record 5-year sponsorship deal with Emirates airline
Arsenal signed a record sponsorship deal for another five years with their current partner Emirates airline, the English Premier League club announced on Monday.
Sarita wins opening bout, enters quarters at Strandja Memorial
The seasoned L Sarita Devi advanced to the quarterfinals on a mixed opening day for India at the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament for men and women here. Sarita (60kg), a former world and Asian champion who fetched a silver at last month's India Open, defeated Italian Manchese Conceha in a split 3-2 verdict to enter the quarterfinals. However, Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Pinki Jangra (51kg), who won a gold at the India Open, went out with a first-round loss. Pinki was beaten by Romanian Maria Claudia Nechita in a split 2-3 verdict. "Pinki fought exceptionally well and to my mind, she should have been the winner," Indian women's boxing's High Performance Director Raffaele Bergamasco told PTI. India were assured of a medal at the draws today when Seema Punia (+81kg) got a direct entry into the semifinals due to the presence of just three boxers in her weight category.
'Khelo India School Games' attracts over 100 mn viewers
Khelo India School Games (KISG) drew a remarkable viewership for the inaugural edition of the tournament by attracting over 102 million viewers on television.Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the response the games received shows the potential of sports in the country.He said, "I am delighted with the kind of response Khelo India School Games has evoked from sports fans all over India.""The quality broadcast and the viewership that we have garnered for the inaugural edition is a proof to the kind of potential that we see in sports to shape India's future champions. The broadcaster is working hand-in-hand with the team to help us realise the dream of India becoming a global sporting powerhouse," the Olympian added.Star Sports was the broadcaster of the first edition of the games.Sanjay Gupta, MD, Star India said that it was an honour to produce the event and reach out to millions.The 'Khelo India' has been introduced by the Sports Ministry .
Bengaluru FC look to seal AFC Cup berth (Preview)
Boosted by three away goals, Bengaluru FC will look to seal qualification in the group stages of the AFC Cup when they take on Maldivian side TC Sports Club at the Kanteerava Stadium here on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe cricket board approaches ICC for loan
Zimbabwe Cricket Union has approached the International Cricket Council for a loan to bail the board out of a financial crisis, which has also put the Pakistan teams tour to that country in serious doubt. PCB chairman Najam Sethi told the Dawn newspaper that the tour was still on as Zimbabwe Cricket Union had approached the ICC for a loan. "They have asked us to wait until April for the final decision on the tour as they are expecting support from the ICC," he said. The tour is scheduled for August. Sethi said if Zimbabwe Cricket fails to host Pakistan in August than the PCB would look at alternate options for its team, but Pakistan would not host the series at home as it was not cost-effective. Zimbabwe Cricket is also trying to convince Australia to take part in a triangular one-day cup in August with Pakistan. Zimbabwe cricket has been facing financial problems for a while now and insiders say the change in the country's political landscape has made things worse for the ZCU. Last ..
Will give my best to improve cricket structure: Akhtar
Pakistan's former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is relishing the prospect of playing a role in improving the country's cricket structure. After the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that chairman Najam Sethi had appointed Akhtar his advisor on cricket affairs and brand ambassador, the pacer said he would do his best. "I am really happy to be given this position because I have always wanted to do something for Pakistan cricket. We have great talent but a structure that needs improvement," he said. The PCB chief is also expected to announce former captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, as another advisor on cricket. Akhtar said that he had accepted the position because he felt that Sethi sincerely wanted to do good for Pakistan cricket and the success of the Pakistan Super League was proof of this. Akhtar, who has been a staunch critic of the cricket structure, said it was good if former players were involved in helping the board improve the system. Sethi, while announcing Akhtar's appointment said he had .
Hockey chief wants joint Korean team at Beijing 2022
The unified Korean women's hockey team would be welcome at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as a "message of peace", the head of the International Ice Hockey Federation said today. The team was hastily assembled following a landmark deal between the two Koreas only a few weeks before the Pyeongchang Games, and has 12 North Koreans on its roster. They have found little success, having shipped 22 goals and scoring only once in four games. But they have been hailed as a potent symbol of the "Peace Olympics" in Pyeongchang. "We are thinking about this, whether we should continue. I say, Why not?" IIHF chief Rene Fasel told a press conference at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. "I think that would be a very good operation to do it in 2022 to still keep the joint team in Beijing and have this unified team as a message of peace," Fasel added. Lee Hee-beom, head of the Pyeongchang organising committee, said the joint team was a "proud" achievement for the Games. "Putting athletes from South and ..
Alonso rejoins Chelsea training for Barca tie
Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso and midfielder Ross Barkley on Monday took part in a training session after having missed the past three matches, while David Luiz and Tiemoue Bakayoko were absent in the run-up to the Champions League game against Barcelona.
Lorentzen breaks Olympic record to take 500m speed skating gold
Norway's Havard Lorentzen broke an Olympic record to take gold in the men's 500m speed skating at the PyeongChang Winter Games on Monday.
Three-putts derail Lahiri, Bubba ends title drought
A series of three-putts came in the way of a strong final round for India's Anirban Lahiri, who slipped to tied 26th on the final day of the Genesis Open golf tournament. The Indian ace, who is trying to get into the worlds top-50 and earn a berth into the Masters, shot three-over 74 and slipped from tied 13th to tied 26th. Lahiri, who had holed a whole lot of long and crucial putts on Saturday, bore the brunt of the firm Sunday greens at the Riviera, and it cost him dearly. He had four birdies but also gave away seven bogeys, many of them with three-putts. Looking for a strong finish, Lahiri began well with birdies on first and third holes at which point a Top-10 finish looked realistic. Then came a series of three putts and he dropped bogeys on sixth, seventh and eighth. He turned in 1-over 36. Things were even rougher on back nine, as he bogeyed four times against two birdies, both of which came on par-5s. At the top, Bubba Watson ended his two-year title drought with his third win
Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty's Viaan Industries announces launch of 2nd season of Match IPL
Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty Kundra's Viaan Industries Ltd., a popular licensing, entertainment and wellness company are proud to announce the Match Indian Poker League (Match IPL) Season 2 to be held on 31st March, 2018 in Kolkata. This was after a very positive results of the firm announced last week.After the success of the inaugural Match Indian Poker League season, where seven teams had competed against each another for a total prize pool of Rs. 2.5 crores, Viaan Industries Ltd. has added three more franchisees to their league and the winner would represent Team India at the Match Poker Asian Nations Cup to be held later this year.The ten teams to fights for the title are Ahmedabad Hearts, Bangalore Royals, Delhi Aces, Goa Lions, Haryana Hawks, Jaipur Jewels, Kolkata Diamonds, Mumbai All Stars, Pune Kings and UP Indians. The prize money would be 1st Place: Rs. 40,00,000, 2nd Place: Rs. 25,00,000, 3rd Place: Rs. 20,00,000 and 4th Place: Rs. 15,00,000.Raj Kundra, Chairman and ...
Russian Winter Olympics medallist charged with doping
Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky, who won bronze at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, has been charged with doping offence after testing positive for a banned substance, confirms the Court of Arbitration for Sport.The Russian is now likely to be stripped of his Olympic medal which he won with his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova in mixed doubles event last week.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.According to The Guardian, Krushelnitsky has alleged that a team-mate, who was not selected for the Winter Olympics, spiked his drink with Meldonium during training before he travelled to Pyeongchang.Russian Curling Federation president Dmitry Svishchev expressed shock over the news and said curlers had already been tested on January 22 before flying out to South Korea and all tests were found to be negative."Only a crazy person .
Ashwin and Gibbs in Twitter spat
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs got involved in a Twitter spat on Monday, but the war of words took an ugly turn when the former recalled the latter's match-fixing episode.The Twitter conversation started when Ashwin posted a video promoting a shoe brand, to which Gibbs replied by saying that, hopefully the new shoes will make the off-spinner run faster.Gibbs' joke did not go down well with Ashwin as he brought up the former Proteas cricketer's involvement in the infamous match-fixing saga in 2000.The bowler replied to Gibbs', saying, "Surely not as fast you did mate, unfortunately, I wasn't as blessed as you were. But I was blessed with a wonderfully ethical mind not to fix games which put food on my plate."In an attempt to pacify the situation, Ashwin invited Gibbs on a dinner and also pulled down his 'fixing scandal' tweet.Gibbs was involved in match fixing affair with former captain Hansie Cronje in 2000.
Barcelona aim to stay unbeaten in difficult Chelsea test (Preview)
Catalan football powerhouse FC Barcelona aim to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they face a difficult trip to play Chelsea in the first leg of their last 16 UEFA Champions League tie on Tuesday night.
BPGC emerge inter-club champs
Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC) golfers produced another good collective performance on day two and emerged champions in the 22nd edition of the Grover Zampa Vineyard Inter-Club Golf Championship, at the Poona Golf Club. BPGC thus regained the crown they had previously won in 2014, a media release said today. BPGC, who trailed three-time winners and defending champions US Club, also of Mumbai, by one point (20-21) at the end of the first day, scored 20 points on the second day and finished the two-day event with a total 40 points to claim the top position. US Club, who were aiming to win their fourth successive title, started the second day with a slender advantage, but they could score only 14.5 points, for an overall score of 35.5 points and had to settle for second best. Hosts Poona Golf Club, who had lost just once in their own backyard, managed to finish third with 19.5 points despite being at the bottom position on day one. Willingdon S C, of Mumbai, finished .
Inaugural Super Cup's final round from Mar 31-Apr 22: AIFF
The inaugural Super Cup's final round will be held from March 31 to April 22, but a consensus on the number of foreigners will be arrived at after another round of discussion with stakeholders, the All India Football Federation said today. "The number of foreign players to be registered for the Super Cup was discussed and a final decision will be taken after a discussion with all stakeholders" the AIFF said in a statement after an I-League Committee meeting here. The qualifiers for the Super Cup are to be played between March 12 and March 31. The schedule will be finalised keeping in mind the AFC Cup commitments of Aizawl FC and JSW Bengaluru FC (subject to their qualification to the group stages of the continental tournament) and the venue is to be decided between Cuttack and Kochi after AIFF inspections. The tournament will be played on a knock-out basis among 16 teams. The top six teams of the I-League and the Indian Super League would be granted a direct entry into the round of ...
Happy to be bowling to Dhoni in CSK nets than in a match, says Santner
Fully aware of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's big-hitting abilities, Kiwi left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, today said he is happy top be bowling to the former India skipper in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) nets rather than in a match situation in the upcoming Indian Premier League. Santner has been bought by Dhoni-led CSK for the forthcoming edition of the IPL. "I'm happy I'll be bowling to (MS) Dhoni in the nets rather than in a match like I have been," said Santner, who was picked up by CSK for Rs 50 lakh in the auctions last month. The Kiwi said he was looking forward to joining the team and playing alongside experienced players like Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and others. "I'm definitely looking forward to joining the culture at CSK, talking to and playing alongside experienced players such as skipper Dhoni, (Suresh) Raina and (Ravindra) Jadeja in a great team environment," the 26-year-old Santner said. "I'm very excited to be a part of this year's IPL and looking forward to ...
'Moondancer' wins main race
Favourite 'Moondancer', ably ridden Suraj Narredu, won the Delhi Race Club Plate, the chief event of Hyderabad Winter Races held here today. The winner was trained by Satyanarayana. Trainers Deshmukh scored a treble and R H Sequeira scored a double, while Jockies Suraj Narredu and Nakhat Singh scored a double each. Three first favourites obliged in a card of eight events.
Super Cup qualifiers to start on March 12, final on April 22
The final round of the much-anticipated Super Cup will be played between March 31 and April 22 while the qualifiers for the same are slated to take place between March 12-31, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said in a statement.