Page 2112 - Sports
We want to get a whitewash against India, says Rabada
Five days before the final Test on a pitch that bore an excessively green tinge, pacer Kagiso Rabada said South Africa are gunning for a whitewash of India, having trampled the visitors in the first two matches. The hosts have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead with convincing wins in the first two Tests, with Rabada producing a match-winning spell at the Newlands. "Obviously we know how to play fast bowling and we've got respect for their attack. Every game you go into, you want to win. So obviously we want to get a whitewash against India." Rabada said that India are too reliant on skipper Virat Kohli, who scored his 21st Test hundred at Centurion. "I think they do rely on him. But it is just like we rely on a couple of players too. I'm not saying India don't have any quality players, they do. But it's just a fact - Kohli scores most of their runs. "It is really enjoyable bowling to the likes of him. He was named ICC Player of the Year (sic), so it's quite cool to go up ...
Shiv tied 6th, Bhullar tied 9th at Singapore golf meet
Indian golfer Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar finished tied sixth and joint ninth, respectively, after the second round of the SMBC Singapore Open here on Friday.
Bayern sign Germany midfielder Goretzka
Record German football champions FC Bayern Munich on Friday announced the signing of young midfielder Leon Goretzka from FC Schalke 04 on a four-year deal to be effective from the summer.
Dhoni backs Test brigade despite loss to Proteas
Throwing his weight behind the beleaguered Test side which lost the ongoing Test series 0-2 to South Africa, former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday said it was important to look at the positives of the team's performance.
Vani off to a fine start in inaugural event of 2018 Hero WPGT
Vani Kapoor made a fine start to the 2018 season, clinching a two-shot win in the first leg of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour here. She was aided by a flawless back nine after being three- over for the front stretch at the Kalhaar Blues & Greens. Vani, who won four titles in six starts in 2017, now has five wins in seven starts. She carded an even par 72 in the final round to finish 5-over 221 and edge out Saaniya Sharma by two shots. Saaniya shot one-over 73 which included a costly double bogey on par-5 14th hole. She also had a bogey earlier on 11th hole. Gursimar Badwal finished third in a tie with Tvesa Malik as both shot 73 each and also finished on the same total of 226. Vani, who will also spend time on the Ladies European Tour later in year, started the final day one shot ahead of Neha Tripathi and opened bogey-bogey. She, however, steadied herself and dropped only one more shot on the front nine on eighth. Birdies on 12th, 14th and 18th ensured she finished .
Eye-catching Saini set to be assessed during net sessions
Delhi pace sensation Navdeep Saini has been called to South Africa not just as a net bowler for Indian batsmen but also as a future prospect for the team after his prolific domestic season. Saini and Mumbai's Shardul Thakur have been called up to the Indian team ahead of the third Test in Johannesburg on January 24. The visitors have already lost the series after going down comprehensively in the first two matches in Cape Town and Centurion. "Saini's inclusion is important because it is in keeping with the rotation and intended experimentation in the pace department," a team source said. "His name has cropped up recently in selection meetings and he could be on the fringes of the Indian team. This will be an opportunity to take a look at him, and maybe he will get involved with the team in the near future," he added. Saini took over 30 wickets in a sensational Ranji season, the highlight of which was him running through a strong Bengal line-up in the semifinals. India ...
I-League: Aizawl to host Neroca in North eastern Derby (Preview)
After playing a tiring goalless draw in their last Hero I-League match against East Bengal, reigning champions Aizawl FC will hope to get back to their winning ways when they host Neroca FC for the second Northeast derby of the season at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Saturday.
Spurs defender Carter-Vickers joins Ipswich Town on loan
Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers on Friday joined Ipswich Town Football Club on loan.
Aizawl ready for Neroca in Northeastern derby
After playing a tiring goalless draw in their last match against East Bengal, reigning champions Aizawl FC will hope to get back to their winning ways when they host Neroca FC in an I-League match here tomorrow. Neroca have done well so far in their maiden season as they have lost only one match out of nine and going into tomorrow's derby, they will be brimming with confidence. The Imphal-based side have come into tomorrow's match after an outright win against Indian Arrows but their head coach Gift Raikhan is well aware of the threats that Aizawl FC could posed to his team. "First of all, it's not a derby for me but more of a homecoming for me as I have nurtured many Mizo boys earlier in my career and did my B-License in Aizawl," Raikhan said at the pre-match press conference. "Every match is difficult and I cannot predict the result. All I can guarantee is we will give our absolute best. Aizawl FC is a very good team and it will be a tough match," he said. "It's been a
Nagaraj, Nagesh qualify for MercedesTrophy National Final
City golfers Nagaraj MS and Ramesh Nagesh qualified for the Mercedes Trophy National Finals on Day 3 of Bengaluru leg here today. Nagaraj and Nagesh, who have a handicap CAT (0-17) and handicap CAT (18-24), carded a Nett. Score of 69.2 and 71.4 respectively. The Mercedes Trophy has so far seen 15 qualifiers who will be competing in the National Finals to be played at the Oxford Golf Resort in Pune from April 4-6. The best Gross Winner of the day was Rajesh Raju with an excellent round of 75 and there were a host of other prizes on offer to be won on the day. Prominent winners included N K Lenka who won the Ballantine's Long Drive Challenge with a mammoth drive of 285 yards. Krathish Bopanna won the Mercedes-Benz Closest to Pin contest on hole 2. In the Mercedes Benz Closest to Pin in Two Shots, Subhashish Ghosh landed the ball at 5.4 ft. from the pin to win the contest on hole no. 11. Shiva Kumar who landed the ball on the line won the Mercedes-Benz Straightest Drive ..
Saranya holds GM Solodovnichenko in Chennai Open
Woman FIDE Master J Saranya of Chennai held Grandmaster Yuri Solodovnichenko (Ukraine) to a draw in the second round of the 10th Chennai Open International Chess tournament here today. Top-seed GM Timur Gareyev of USA defeated Maharashtra girl Mrudul Dehenkar and Sergei Tiviakov (Netherlands) scored over P Bala Kannamma to lead a bunch of players at the top with two points each. Sharing the lead are GMs Tukhaev Adam, Vitaly Sivuk (both Ukraine), Tran Tuan Minh (Vietnam), Marat Dzhumaev (Uzbekistan), Pruijssers Roeland (the Netherlands), Adam Horvath, Czebe Attila (both Hungary), Deepan Chakkravarthy and R R Laxman (both India), among others. The 266-player 10-round Swiss tournament concludes on January 25. Important results (Round 2) (Indians unless specified): Timur Gareyev (USA) 2 bt Mrudul Dehankar (1), Sergei Tiviakov 2 bt P Bala Kannamma (1), J Saranya (1.5) drew with Turi Solodovnichenko (Ukr) 2, Adam Tukhaev (Ukr) 2 bt Tarini Goyal (1), Thanki Hemal Karsanji (1) .
Finch makes second century as Australia reach 270
Australian opener Aaron Finch scored his second consecutive one-day international century to help his team to 270 for nine in the second ODI against England at the Gabba today. Finch blasted 106 from 114 balls, including nine fours and a six, to follow the 107 he made at the MCG on Sunday. The burly opener looked like leading Australia to a score well past 300 but his dismissal, soon after that of Mitchell Marsh, ensured England were able to keep the Australian scoring under control. Australia started their innings well with Finch and David Warner both dominating the English fast bowlers, who pitched too short on the Gabba wicket. England captain Eoin Morgan turned to his spinners with immediate effect. Moeen Ali had Warner caught at slip for 35, bringing Steve Smith to the crease. The Australian captain struggled to 18 from 25 balls before part-time off-spinner Joe Root trapped him lbw. Root then enticed Travis Head into charging down the wicket, only to chip a return ...
U19 World Cup: India thrash Zimbabwe in last group tie
India crushed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in a Group B clash to maintain their all-win record at the ICC U19 World Cup here on Friday.
Nadal ominous as Dimitrov gets back on track
Rafael Nadal stormed into the round of 16 at the Australian Open today with a vintage performance as Grigor Dimitrov and Elina Svitolina kept their Grand Slam hopes alive on a hot draining day. The Spanish world number one showed no mercy to 28th seed Damir Dzumhur on Margaret Court Arena, as he rediscovers his best form after ankle trouble. The top seed raced through the match in just 1hr 50min, wasting as little energy as possible in the 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 rout. "I was very, very focused," Nadal said. "I'm very happy with everything and to have another chance on Sunday." That chance will be against 24th seeded Argentine Diego Schwartzman for a place in the quarter-finals. Third seed Dimitrov, who could meet Nadal in the semis, had plenty to prove after a huge second-round fright from a qualifier, who pushed him to five sets. And the Bulgarian delivered in a testing 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian rising star Andrey Rublev as temperatures touched 40 Celsius (104 ...
Dhoni takes the positives from SA series loss
After the Indian batsmen failed to show a spine in South Africa and lost the Test series 2-0, former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has offered support to the team, saying that one should look at the positive side which is the bowlers' formidable performance."I would say look at the positives. To win a Test match you need 20 wickets and we have taken 20 wickets. If you can't take 20 wickets, what is the next thing? You look to draw a Test match", Dhoni said while speaking at an event here.The wicket-keeper-batsman added, "If you are not able to take 20 wickets, you can't win a Test match irrespective of whether you are playing in India or you are playing outside. But that's the biggest positive, we are taking 20 wickets which means you are always in a position to win a Test match. Once you start scoring runs you are there".India received a 72-run defeat from South Africa in the Cape Town Test and also lost the second Test at Centurion by 135 runs.Following the two-Test match and a ...
Fernandinho extends Manchester City contract
Brazilian midfilder Fernandinho on Friday signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City.
Pune City rope in Toribio, Stankovic
FC Pune City have signed Spanish defender Manuel Jesus Ortiz Toribio and Austrian midfielder Marko Stankovic, the Indian Super League (ISL) football franchise announced on Friday.
Manav Thakkar World No.2, Diya Chitale No.5 in TT rankings
Manav Thakkar climbed to World No.2 in the boys' under-18 category while Diya Chitale rose to No. 5 in the girls' under 15 category in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings, which also have an unprecedented 17 players in the top-50. Thakkar's jump has been particularly phenomenal as he moved from 18th to his current position. The top place is within striking distance, which will become India's moment of crowning glory, a release said. He has also broken into the top-15 in the boys' under-21 rankings, thanks to his win in Slovenia. Among other successes, recently crowned Junior National Champion Payas Jain has climbed to the 11th spot, and right behind him is Jeho H at No. 12. Another entrant into the top-50, Yashansh Malik currently placed at 46. Snehit S (24), Manush Shah (33), Jeet Chandra (36) and Parth Virmani (43) also promise big things, making it into the upper echelons of the under-18 ITTF rankings. Another Gujarati lad in fray is Ronit Bhanja,
Chelsea accused by FIFA of signing 25 minors
English football club Chelsea have been accused by FIFA after an initial investigation of signing 25 foreign players under the age of 18.
Svitolina ends Kostyuk's campaign at Australian Open
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Friday put an end to the Australian Open campaign of fellow countrywoman Marta Kostyuk with a 6-2, 6-2 victory in the third round.