Page 1983 - Sports
Iran to play friendlies against Greece, Lithuania
Iran will play two friendly matches against Greece and Lithuania in early June, Tehran Times daily reported.
Tottenham hold Juventus 2-2 in CL R16 first leg
Tottenham Hotspur overcame a 2-0 deficit in the first 10 minutes to draw 2-2 here with Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
Gundogan shines as Manchester City run riot at Basel
Ilkay Gundogan dazzled with two goals in Manchester City's 4-0 romp at FC Basel today to leave the Premier League leaders on the verge of the Champions League quarter-finals. Pep Guardiola's side effectively settled the last-16 tie after just 23 minutes by racing into a 3-0 lead at Basel's Sankt Jakob Park. Their first three goals came in a devastating nine-minute spell thanks to a Gundogan header, a Bernardo Silva volley and a long-range Sergio Aguero strike. Basel's misery continued just after the break when Gundogan deftly added a fourth from outside the area and he could easily have finished with a hat-trick. "To win 4-0 away in the last 16 is an amazing result, we are almost in the quarter-finals, but I am not saying we are already there, out of respect for Basel," said Guardiola. "We defended well and we were clinical - we had four chances and took them all." The scoreline gives the Swiss side little hope for the return leg at the Etihad on March 7. As expected, Basel were ...
Eriksen grabs Spurs draw to spoil Higuain show
Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen pulled Tottenham back from the brink to hold Juventus 2-2 in Turin, spoiling what had looked set to be a Gonzalo Higuain one-man show in the Champions League last 16, first leg here today. Higuain had put Juventus -- losing finalists twice in the past three seasons -- two goals up within the first nine minutes at the Allianz Stadium. The Argentine's lightning strike after just 73 seconds was followed by a second from the spot to leave Mauricio Pochettino's English side reeling. But the 30-year-old missed two further chances to hammer home Juventus's advantage in the first half, with striking the crossbar with a second penalty on the stroke of half-time. Kane had pulled Tottenham back into the tie, beating veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon on 35 minutes with Eriksen whipping in the second with a 70th-minute free-kick to leave it all to play for in London next month. "The team showed real character to come here and challenge a team like Juventus," said ...
We are one people: N Korean skaters wow in dream Olympic debut
North Korean skaters Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik produced the performance of their lives to smash their personal-best score and qualify for tomorrow's pairs final at the Winter Olympics. Vociferously backed by 200 singing North Korean cheerleaders, the duo seduced the supportive crowd on their Games debut with an excellent execution of their short programme to the Beatles classic "A Day in the Life". The 19-year-old Ryom and her partner Kim are the only two of the 22 North Korean athletes at the Games in South Korea to meet Olympic qualifying standards -- the rest got in on a special invitation as part of a landmark agreement that led to some calling this the "Peace Olympics". And their skill was on full display at the Gangneung Ice Arena, the judges awarding them 69.40 points, destroying their previous highest score of 65.25 and propelling them into the free-skate final in 11th place. The pair were initially marched past the media by a minder without stopping to discuss their electric
Hockey India names 34 players for women's national camp
Ahead of Korea tour and the Commonwealth Games 2018, Hockey India on Wednesday named 34 players for the women's national camp, which will begin in Sports Authority of India (SAI), Bengaluru on February 16th.The players will report to Indian women's team chief coach Harendra Singh, who emphasized on the need for speed and agility ahead of a busy calendar year for the women."Since 2018 is extremely important with mega events in the pipeline it is necessary for the team to stay fit and injury-free but at the same time they also need to be fast and agile. Keeping this in mind we will have a series of classes and sessions to guide players and educate them on significance of fitness and achieving our target in major competitions," expressed Harendra Singh ahead of the camp.After ending the year 2017 on a high, winning the Women's Asia Cup in Japan, the Indian team will begin their campaign this year with Korea Tour between March 3 and March 12 where they will play five matches against the ..
Bottas keen to extend Hamilton partnership at Mercedes
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas wants to continue being team-mates with Lewis Hamilton as he insists that he clicked really well with the four-time world champion in their first season together.In 2016, Bottas had signed a one-year deal to replace suddenly-retired Nico Rosberg as Hamilton's new teammate at Mercedes for the 2017 season.The 28-year-old later extended his stay at Mercedes after a new one-year deal was agreed to by the team.However, both Mercedes team-mates will now be out of contract at the end of the 2018 season.While Hamilton is in negotiations with Mercedes over a new contract which would keep the Briton at the team until 2021, Bottas will have to earn a new contract."For me, it's good for Lewis to continue. I clicked well with him, and he's a quick driver and a challenge," Sport24 quoted Bottas, as saying.The Finnish driver believes the best argument in favour of Mercedes retaining his services for the upcoming season is to win convincingly for them in 2019."The best
Mahmudullah named Bangladesh skipper for first T20I against Lanka
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that Mahmudullah Riyad will lead the side for the first Twenty20 international (T20I) of the two-match series against Sri Lanka, starting February 15.He will stand in for regular skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who has been ruled out of the first match because of a finger injury which he sustained during the ODI tri-series final against Sri Lanka in January.Meanwhile, uncapped left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam Apu has been called into the squad as a replacement of Shakib.Mahmudullah had earlier captained Bangladesh in the Test series in Shakib's absence.Squad: Mahmudullah (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Abu Hider, Abu Jayed, Ariful Hoque, Mahedi Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Afif Hossain and Nazmul Ismail.
Ex-Udinese midfielder Valentim named Botafogo coach
Brazilian football club Botafogo has named former Udinese midfielder Alberto Valentim as its coach for the remainder of 2018.
Focus on speed and agility at Indian women's team camp
Hockey India today announced a 34-member squad for the women's national camp beginning Friday as chief coach Harendra Singh emphasised on the need for speed and agility ahead of a busy year. Since 2018 is extremely important with mega events in the pipeline it is necessary for the team to stay fit and injury-free but at the same time the players need to be fast and agile," Singh said ahead of the camp. "Keeping this in mind we will have a series of classes and sessions to guide players and educate them on significance of fitness and achieving our target in major competitions," he said further. Indian women's hockey team, which ended 2017 by winning the Asia Cup in Japan, will report for the camp at the Sports Authority of India in Bengaluru. The team will begin its campaign this year with the Korea tour from March 3-12 when it will play five matches against the hosts at the Jinchun National Athletic Centre. In May, the team will return to Korea to defend its Asian Champions Trophy ...
Lone consortium bids for Rs 2,700 crore Train-20 project
The global bidding for the ambitious, Rs 2,700-crore project to manufacture 291 aluminium-bodied coaches has drawn only one consortium.
Malaysian badminton pair probed for match-fixing
Two Malaysian badminton players are being investigated for suspected match-fixing by the sports governing body and could be banned for life if found guilty, a sports official said today. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is probing the pair over alleged fixing that happened about two years ago, said Norza Zakaria, president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia. He refused to disclose their identities but Malaysias The Star newspaper reported one used to be a top junior player and the other had taken part in the Thomas Cup, a prestigious team event. "We have zero tolerance for this kind of heinous behaviour -- it will tarnish badmintons reputation," Norza told AFP. The BWF declined to comment. Under the BWFs rules, players found guilty of match-fixing can be banned for life. The Star reported that the players, who have been suspended, will attend a BWF hearing in Singapore this month. Malaysias anti-corruption authorities also said they would investigate the ...
Indian cricket team can beat any country: BCCI
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president C K Khanna hailed the Indian cricket team for their historical one day series win in South Africa, saying the team is capable of winning anywhere and against any nation.Khanna told ANI, "Great performance. Virat and his boys have been performing exceedingly well.""They have proved that they can beat any country on their soil, and this victory, after a gap of 25 years, is a great achievement. Entire country is proud of them," he added.The Men in Blue on Tuesday wrapped up the fifth One Day International (ODI) of the six-match series against South Africa as they defeated the hosts by 73 runs to register their first bilateral series win in the Rainbow Nation.No Indian men's side since 1992, has ever won a series across any format in South Africa.With this win, the Indian team also climbed up to the number one spot in the ICC ODI Team Rankings, pushing South Africa on number two spot.Being sent in to bat first, India posted 274 for ...
Drama as snowboarder White claims landmark gold
Snowboard legend Shaun White pulled off a spectacular final run of the day to grab his third Olympic halfpipe gold medal today, claiming Americas 100th Winter Games title in the process. The 31-year-old held his nerve at the last to score a brilliant 97.75 points and snatch the title from Japans Ayumu Hirano, who was leading on 95.25, with Australias Scotty James third on 92.00. It was particularly satisfying for White, known as "Flying Tomato" because of his red hair, who won gold in 2006 and 2010 and helped put the hipster sport on the map, but flopped in Sochi four years ago. White said it had been an agonising wait for his score from the judges to come through, as he pipped Hirano to the title to make US history. "Oh man, that was awful and amazing at the same time. I knew I did a great ride and I was proud of that and I could walk away with my head high, but when they announced my score and Id won, it crippled me," he said. "I was so overwhelmed with happiness, Ive been through ..
ATP to probe 'racial prejudice' allegations
The Association of Tennis Professionals says it has launched an internal investigation after a first-round match between two American players at the New York Open boiled over on the court. The ATP Tour officials say they are reviewing "allegations of racial prejudice" after Ryan Harrison and Donald Young exchanged words in the first set and had to be separated by the chair umpire during a changeover in play on Monday. "The ATP takes any allegations of racial prejudice extremely seriously," the organization said in a statement. "A further review of all video and audio recording from the match will take place as this matter is investigated further. "No further comment will be made until the completion of the investigation." The two continued their exchange later on their social media profiles. African-American Young, 28, posted on Twitter after the match: "I'm shocked and disappointed, Ryan Harrison, to hear you tell me how you really feel about me as a black tennis player in the middle
Commonwealth Games chiefs red-faced after ticket gaffe
Tickets for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games opening ceremony have been sent out with the wrong day on them, an error that red-faced Australian organisers admit is embarrassing. Some 14,000 tickets for the showpiece event were printed with Thursday, April 4, when April 4 -- the day for the ceremony -- is a Wednesday. "I was disappointed when Ticketek (the ticketing provider) informed us they had picked up the error," Games chief Mark Peters told reporters late Tuesday. "The ticketing process has gone really well and this is a glitch that none of us wanted." He said there were no plans to reprint them. "It's easily rectified in terms of we are going out to all individuals saying this is an absolutely valid ticket." Compounding the problems, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported further blunders Wednesday, with weightlifting, table tennis and triathlon tickets sent out with wrong times on them. The Games are contested between nations that are members of the Commonwealth, a group of ...
We got a 'good hiding' from India: SA coach
A disappointed South Africa coach Ottis Gibson says he has no excuses to offer for the "hiding" his depleted side has taken from a rampaging India, leaving him with a lot to think about going forward. A 73-run win over the Proteas in the fifth one-dayer here yesterday has ensured India their first ever series victory on South African soil across all formats. The Virat Kohli-led team has taken an unassailable 4-1 lead in the six-match ODI series. "You take three of your best batsmen out of any team, they will struggle and when you do it against a very strong Indian team it has exposed us. I've told the lads in dressing room we will not make excuses but will try and get better. We have got a good hiding from India, let us not kid ourselves about that, but it has also given us a lot of food for thought going forward," said Gibson at the post-match conference. "I know we have been focusing on the World Cup, but I don't think the team that will go to that tournament is the one that you saw
Dipa Karmakar not ready for CWG: Coach
Gymnast Dipa Karmakar's coach Bishweshwar Nandi has said that the Agartala athlete is not prepared to compete at the Commonwealth Games, which is why she will miss the prestigious multi-nation event starting from April 4 in Australia.Karmakar, who won historic fourth spot at the 2016 Rio Olympics, opted out of the three-day selection trials that started in New Delhi on Monday.Bishweshwar, told ANI, "Deepa karmakar's performance is not up to the mark, that's why as a coach I have decided not to send her for the Commonwealth Games. I told her that if your performance is not good and up to the mark then there is no point of going for the Games.""I have asked her to prepare herself for the Asian Games," he added.Karmakar won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Championships, becoming the first Indian female gymnast to do so in the history of the Games.The 24-year-old is one of the only five women who have successfully landed the 'Produnova', which is regarded as ...
Neymar not unsettled by Real speculation - Marquinhos
Neymar has not been affected by the rumours linking him with a move to Real Madrid, his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Marquinhos insisted ahead of the sides' Champions League showdown. "I don't see him as being destabilised. He knows very well how to control his emotions. He handles the pressure and responds on the field," said Marquinhos of his fellow Brazilian at a press conference at the Santiago Bernabeu. "He is a great person with a great entourage. We leave him to do his job on the field. "He came to Paris to do great things and tomorrow's (Wednesday's) match is a chance for him." Madrid left-back Marcelo had earlier done his bit to fuel the speculation, saying: "Madrid fans like good players. Any fan would like to have Neymar in their team." That was after he gave an interview to Brazilian television saying that his international colleague would one day play for the Spanish giants. Real had been interested in Neymar before he joined Barcelona in 2013, and he then moved to Paris .
Woods aims to reverse Riviera fortunes
Tiger Woods finds a lot of things to love about Riviera Country Club, but his record here isn't one of them. "I love the golf course, I love the layout, it fits my eye -- and I play awful," Woods said Tuesday as he prepared to tee it up in the Genesis Open starting tomorrow on the classic course nestled in the hills of Pacific Palisades, west of downtown Los Angeles. "It's just one of those weird things." Woods and Riviera go way back. He made his first PGA Tour start as a 16-year-old at Riviera in 1992, playing on a sponsor's exemption and missing the cut. He went on to pile up 79 US tour titles and 14 major championships, but in 10 appearances at Riviera his best finish was second place in 1998, which he followed with a tie for second in 1999. It's the only tournament he has played so often and never won. He last played the tournament in 2006, and he might have remained estranged from Riviera if he hadn't taken over as tournament host last year. His scheduled return in 2017 was ...