Page 1962 - Sports
It was an 'absolutely amazing' week: Federer
After celebrating his return to the top of the ATP rankings by clinching the Rotterdam Open, 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has insisted that it was an 'absolutely amazing' week for him.Yesterday, Federer, the oldest man to clinch the world number one spot in tennis, eased past Bulgarian player Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 to clinch his 97th title at the Rotterdam Open.Speaking after his win, Federer revealed that though his goal was to make it to the semi-finals as he wanted to become the oldest man to seal a numero-uno spot, he somehow managed to lift the title."Thank you very very much. What a week it's been, absolutely amazing. The goal was to make it to the semis but I won the tournament so I am very happy. I would like to thank everybody who has been part of this tournament over the years. Getting the players back and making them feel incredibly welcome," the Daily Express quoted Federer, as saying.Meanwhile, the Swiss star also hailed Dimitrov after a tough week in the ..
ISL: Mumbai City stay alive in race
Mumbai City FC registered a convincing 2-1 win over ATK in their Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata last evening to stay in the hunt for a place in the playoffs.Alexandre Guimaraes' side needed all three points from the game and his side came up with the goods.While the win didn't help Mumbai City FC improve their position in the league table but it kept their hopes alive.The Islanders now have 20 points from 15 games, and still, have a chance of making it into the top four.After a sluggish start to the game, Marcio Rozario brought the game to life with a spectacular freekick goal at the half-hour mark to give Mumbai City FC the lead.Bipin Singh then equalised for Ashley Westwood's side early in the second half but the visitors regained their lead minutes later through Rafa Jorda.ATK dominated the early exchanges in the game but Anwar Ali's needless push on Rafa Jordan on the edge of his own box provided Rozario the opportunity to have a
Anderson holds nerve to win New York Open
South Africa's Kevin Anderson bagged only the fourth title of his career with a three-set victory over Sam Querrey to claim the ATP Tour New York Open on Sunday. Anderson played flawlessly in the third set tie-break to win 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) in two hours and 13 minutes, ending Querrey's hopes of a title on home soil. The 31-year-old Anderson -- who lost in the final of the US Open in New York last September -- expressed delight at bucking a trend which has seen him lose in 11 finals before Sunday. "Ive been to quite a few finals and if it doesn't go your way its pretty tough to deal with," Anderson said. "It means a lot to me that I was able to come through it today." A see-saw first set saw Anderson break first to go 2-0 up before Querrey hit back to level at 2-2 with a break of his own. Querrey then broke Andersons serve once more to take a 4-3 lead and held for 5-3. Anderson was in trouble on his next service game, and scrambled to save three set points before Querrey then ..
Doping case extremely disappointing if proven -- IOC
A doping case involving a Russian curler at the Pyeongchang Olympics would be "extremely disappointing" if proved true, the International Olympic Committee said Monday. "Its extremely disappointing for us if a case is proven," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said after a curler from the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) was implicated in the second doping scandal to hit the Games. The spokesman for the OAR delegation in Pyeongchang told Russian media that an A sample showed a possible violation of anti-doping rules and a B sample would be tested later Monday.
Slower deliveries, change of pace was key to India's success: Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar today said South Africa's ploy to unsettle Indian batsmen with short-pitched balls back-fired and the key to India's success in the first T20 international was changing the pace and bowling more slower deliveries at the Wanderers here. Kumar (5 for 24) grabbed his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals to help India notch up a 28-run win after restricting South Africa to 175-9 in 20 overs. What I was trying to do is bring about change of pace in my bowling. I just wanted to take the pace off the ball because I knew it won't be easy to hit the ball and that's what I did. The important thing is how you mix your deliveries according to the wicket," Kumar said. "For instance, today we bowled a lot of slow balls. It was a part of our strategy on this wicket, to do away with pace and make it difficult for the batsmen to score. Apart from line and length, it's important to understand how you want to mix your deliveries. It matters. Today, for instance, it was ...
Been working on the knuckleball for one year: Kumar
Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Man of the Match in the first T20 International between India and South Africa, on Sunday said that he has been working on the knuckleball for almost one year.Kumar claimed a five wicket haul at the New Wanderers Stadium on Sunday and helped India win the first T20I against South Africa by 28 runs."I enjoy bowling in tough situations. The knuckleball is something I have been working on for almost a year. Nowadays, you need to figure out new ways to get wickets," Kumar told media in the post-match conference.Enjoying the high from a 5-1 historical ODI series win against South Africa, Kumar said that the momentum for the T20I series rests with India and the credit for the same goes to the entire team."When you win, you forget everything else. And when we went in today, we knew what we wanted to do. Whenever India goes abroad, the reputation is that we are not a good batting side when it comes to playing short bowling. We have tackled that thing really well in ...
Bhuvneshwar gave us nothing to score off: Hendricks
South African opener Reeza Hendricks today heaped praise on Bhuvneshwar Kumar, saying the Indian pacer consistently hit the right areas and didnt give the batsmen anything to score off during the first T20 international here. Kumar picked his maiden five-wicket haul (5-24) as India won the first T20I by 28 runs after restricting South Africa to 175 for 9 in 20 overs. He (Bhuvneshwar) was just consistent in his areas which was pretty much giving us nothing to score off. So we had to be happy with ones and twos at that time, said Hendricks, who scored 70 off 50 balls. They just executed their plans well and kept it very simple. That's pretty much it compared to what we did, he added. India made an aggressive start and scored 78/2 in the first six overs which set them up for 203/5 eventually. In comparison, South Africa were 41 for 2 after the powerplay overs. "Obviously their powerplay was much better than ours. Looking back now that's where we lost it," he said. Hendricks had an .
ISL: Mumbai keep playoffs hopes alive with 2-1 win over ATK
Mumbai City FC kept their playoffs hopes alive with a 2-1 win over hapless ATK who were handed their fifth defeat at home this Indian Super League (ISL) season at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday.
CCI Snooker: Brjesh Damani wins title
Indian Oil's Brijesh Damani today won the Rs 12.25 lakh prize-money CCI All India Open Snooker Championship here after he defeated ONGC's Sourav Kothari by a stunning 7-1 margin in a one-sided best-of-13 frame final. Damani went home richer by Rs two lakh and received the CCI Snooker Trophy, and a fine crystal trophy, while Kothari received Rs 1.30 lakh. Damani did not have to produce anything exceptional as Kothari was unable to find his rhythm. Damani played steadily and potted consistently. He also boldly attempted some long and difficult shots and succeeded with those pots which played a big role in his victory. Kothari made a positive start and came up with two small efforts of 19 and 21 to lead 48-25, but missed a simple last red in the centre pocket. Damani grabbed the chance as he potted the final red and followed it up with the brown before clearing the balls from the table to compile a run of 35 to snatch the first frame, which was the beginning of his charge ..
Hirscher rules slopes as Russian doping spectre returns
Marcel Hirscher claimed his second Pyeongchang Winter Olympics ski title today as a doping case involving a Russian curler threatened to cast a fresh shadow over the Games. While Americas Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn licked their wounds, the Austrian Hirscher hit his groove in the mens giant slalom, winning by an impressive 1.27sec -- five days after his debut Olympic victory in the combined. Norways Oystein Braaten won the mens freestyle skiing slopestyle and Norway also triumphed in the 4x10km mens cross-country relay to reach nine gold medals and draw level with Germany at the top of the medals table. Martin Fourcade became Frances first four-time Winter Olympic gold-medallist after a mad dash to the line in the mens 15km mass start biathlon, where he edged Germanys Simon Schempp in a dramatic photo finish. But away from the action a fresh doping scandal threatened to set back Russian efforts to return to the Olympic fold after they were banned over a major drugs scandal.
Napoli reply to Juventus to stay top in Serie A
Napoli matched Juventus with a 1-0 win over SPAL today to regain top spot in Italy from the champions who had earlier won the Turin derby by the same score. The two Serie A pacesetters both bounced back from European setbacks to claim their ninth consecutive league wins. Napoli -- shocked 3-1 at home by RB Leipzig in the Europa League -- stayed top with a narrow home victory at their San Paulo Stadium and injury-depleted Juventus -- held at home by Tottenham in the Champions League -- continued their derby domination of Torino 1-0. "It was a great response because we didnt do very well Thursday," said Napoli striker Lorenzo Insigne. "We know that to win the championship we have to win every game. There are 13 to go and still a long way being just one point ahead (of Juventus)." Both clubs could thank Brazilians for the three points with Alex Sandro scoring the only goal for Juventus after 33 minutes and Allan putting Napoli ahead after just six minutes. Napoli have 66 points ...
Bhuvi's fi-fer seals victory for India
Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Sunday claimed a five wicket haul at the New Wanderers Stadium and helped India win the first T20 International against South Africa by 28 runs.Having being sent into bat, the Indian team looked comfortable and confident with opener Shikhar Dhawan smashing 72 off 39 balls.Skipper Virat Kohli chipped in with a quick 26 and Manish Pandey scored 29, taking the Indian team total to 203 for five wickets in 20 overs.Junior Dala picked up two wickets, while Chris Morris, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Andile Phehlukwayo scalped one each.The hosts came close with a powerful performance by opener Reeza Hendricks, who scored his maiden T20I fifty. His 70-run knock included eight fours and one six.Farhaan Behardien chipped in with a late 39 off 27 balls. He, however, was dismissed off Yuzvendra Chahal's final ball.Jaydev Unadkat, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal claimed one wicket each.Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who claimed a T20I best of 5 for 24, was declared the man of the match. Kumar also .
Mumbai City FC keep playoff hopes alive with win over ATK
Mumbai City FC kept alive their playoffs hopes as they got the better of defending champions ATK 2-1 in an Indian Super League (ISL) match here today. Marcio Rozario (32th minute) and Rafa Jorda (53') scored their first ever ISL goals on either side of a Bipin Singh (47') strike as the Kolkata side provided Mumbai City FC a new lease of life. The defeat -- their fifth at home this season -- at the Salt Lake Stadium meant ATK are now winless in their last six games. Alexandre Guimares' side needed all three points from the game and his side came up with the goods. While the win didn't help Mumbai City FC improve their position in the league table but it kept their hopes alive. The Islanders now have 20 points from 15 games, and still have a chance of making it into the top four. After a sluggish start to the game, Rozario brought the game to life with a spectacular freekick goal at the half-hour mark to give Mumbai City FC the lead. Bipin Singh then equalised for Ashley Westwood's side
Russian Olympic curler involved in doping case: sources
A Russian Olympic curler has been implicated in a doping case, sources told AFP today, in a potential setback as the country battles to recover from a major scandal which triggered its ban from the Pyeongchang Winter Games. A source close to the matter said the case involved meldonium -- the same substance that saw Maria Sharapova banned. The World Curling Federation also said it was aware of the situation, following Russian reports which named a Russian curler. Russia was banned from the Olympics after the emergence of systemic doping. But the International Olympic Committee is considering lifting the ban before the Pyeongchang closing ceremony on February 26. A fresh doping case would be deeply embarrassing for Russia, which has 168 athletes deemed clean competing in Pyeongchang as neutral Olympic Athletes from Russia. "Today the headquarters of our delegation received an official notice from the IOC regarding a possible violation of anti-doping rules," Konstantin Vybornov, ...
One of our most balanced performances: Kohli after T20 opener
Captain Virat Kohli allayed injury-related fears and then termed India's 28-run win over South Africa in the first T20 International "one of our most balanced performances" in recent times. Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar shone bright as India emerged easy winners in the opening game of the three-match series, two days after completing a 5-1 rout of the hosts in the ODIs. When South Africa were batting, Kohli left the field for a brief while after getting injured. "The injury was early on in the innings. It was in the glutes while taking a single. Thankfully it wasn't a hamstring. So I went off before I would tear a muscle," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. It was a complete team effort and Kohli acknowledged it. "It was a really good wicket to bat on. Rohit and Shikhar were outstanding at the top. It was a total team batting performance and in the end Bhuvi showing his experience - all in all it was a good team effort. "We were looking to do this in T20s for a
In the beginning we never got partnerships, says Duminy
South Africa skipper Jean-Paul Duminy on Sunday blamed the lack of partnerships for a 28-run loss to India in the first first Twenty-20 International (T20I) at the New Wanderers Stadium here.
Norway takes two golds to top medals table at Winter Olympics
Snow sports powerhouse Norway grabbed two gold medals on Sunday to top the medals table at the Winter Olympic Games here.
Ostapenko-Dabrowski win Qatar Open title
Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko and Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski on Sunday won the doubles final of the Qatar Open tennis tournament, beating Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Slovenia's Andreja Klepac.
This was one of our most balanced performances, says Kohli
After beating South Africa by 28 runs in the first Twenty-20 International match on Sunday, India skipper Virat Kohli termed the performance as one of their most balanced ones.
Release dues, share plans, improve refereeing: Mohun Bagan to AIFF
Alleging "sub-standard" refereeing in the ongoing I-League, Mohun Bagan have asked the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to release the subsidy for hosting the current I-League's home matches, pay their dues from previous seasons and share future plans.