Page 2126 - Sports
Soccer: Man United overhaul Spanish pair as Europe's biggest earners
ZURICH (Reuters) - Manchester United enjoyed the biggest revenue of any European club in the last financial year after a 32 percent increase propelled them above Real Madrid and Barcelona, UEFA said in an annual report published on Tuesday.
4-Nations hockey tourney: India to take on Japan today
The Indian men's hockey team will aim to kickstart their Four Nations Invitational Tournament on a promising note when they lock horns with Japan in their opening match at the Blake Park here on Wednesday.It should be noted that India have a good record against Japan as they had begun their successful outing in Men's Asia Cup last year with a comfortable 5-1 win.After four days of training at the venue and getting used to the conditions in New Zealand, drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh had earlier expressed that the team are ready to make a winning start in the tournament where they play Belgium and New Zealand apart from Japan in two separate Five-Day Series.India had a stellar 2017 season as they bagged the Asia Cup title besides also clinching a bronze medal at the Hockey World League Finals (HWL).The tournament will also see former captain PR Sreejesh making a return to the side, after being forced to miss a major part of last season due to a knee injury.The two squads are as ...
Ronaldinho retires from football - brother
Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho has formally confirmed his retirement from football, more than two years since his last appearance as a professional, reports in Brazil said. The 37-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona star, a key member of the Brazil side which won the World Cup in 2002, last played in 2015 during a brief stint with Fluminense. However his brother and agent Roberto Assis said he would not play again and would now concentrate on tribute events. "He stopped, we're going to do something really big, nice, after the World Cup in Russia, probably in August, we'll do several events in Brazil, Europe and Asia, and of course, we're watching a game with the Brazilian team," Assis said. Ronaldinho's career began with Gremio in Porto Alegre, his hometown, before he emerged as a star with French giants PSG. He then spent five years with Barcelona between 2003 and 2008, helping the Catalans win the Champions League in 2006, after being awarded the ..
Fourth seed Svitolina turns up heat to survive scare
Elina Svitolina had to come from behind today against Katerina Siniakova to set up an all- Ukrainian third-round clash with teenage sensation Marta Kostyuk. The world number four was largely in control but somehow dropped the first set on the way to a 4-6 6-2 6-1 win against her 59th-ranked Czech opponent in two hours and 14 minutes. "I think she played well in the first set but I gave her one break, so I think it was kind of my mistake," said the fourth seed. But Svitolina cranked up the heat as temperatures rose on Rod Laver Arena, relentlessly overpowering her opponent from the back of the court to take the final two sets in dominant fashion. "I thought I was going to melt today, was struggling a bit" Svitolina admitted. "Today I had enough sun, I just want to have an ice bath and recover." Svitolina came into the first Grand Slam of the year in top form after winning the Brisbane International warm-up event after picking up five WTA Tour titles last year, more than .
Kyrgios fined for colourful language at Open
Australia's volatile Nick Kyrgios has been fined for a colourful directive to the rowdy crowd during his opening round win at the Australian Open. The 22-year-old was slapped with a USD 3,000 penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct early in his 6-1 6-2 6-4 win over Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva in a night match on Hisense Arena on Monday. The Australian was among six players fined a total USD 15,000 for indiscretions in qualifying and the main draw's first phase at the year's opening Grand Slam. Croatia's Borna Coric was hit with a USD 5,000 penalty for racquet abuse during his defeat to Australia's John Millman. Argentina's Diego Schwartzman and Romanian Marius Copil were fined USD 2,000 each for the same offence. Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik was handed two USD 1,000 fines and American Stefan Kozlov was penalised USD 1,000, both for audible obscenities during qualifying.
Venus conqueror Bencic slumps out
Venus Williams' Australian Open conqueror Belinda Bencic ran out of steam today, failing to keep the momentum going against qualifier Luksika Kumkhum. The Roger Federer-inspired Swiss stunned Williams in round one, but was no match for the Thai star who moved into a Grand Slam third round for the first time. Bencic, 20, was never in contention on a searing day on Hisense Arena, slumping 6-1 in the first set before putting up more fight in the second only to succumb 6-3. Bencic, who made her WTA Tour debut as a 14-year-old, has often been touted as a future potential champion, but she again failed to live up to the hype. Only yesterday, fellow Swiss Federer, who won the Hopman Cup this month alongside Bencic, had heaped praise on her. "She's still so young, she has a great career ahead of herself. I try to help her where I can," he said. But he also added: "Still so much to improve." For Kumkhum, it was a major achievement in her seventh Grand Slam main draw appearance. She .
Australian Open: Federer glides into second round
Defending champion Roger Federer comfortably cruised into the second round of the men's singles after defeating Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene in straight sets at the Australian Open here on Tuesday.The 19-time Grand Slam champion, who had an upper hand in the game from the beginning, and left no stone unturned in defeating the world No 51 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.Federer won three consecutive service games to love, which kept the pressure mounting on his Slovenian opponent, and subsequently took the opening set in 26 minutes.While Bedene rallied in the second set, the Swiss maestro got an early break in the third, which got him on track for a straight-sets victory in a span of an hour and 39 minutes.Meanwhile, former world number one and Serbian tennis maestro Novak Djokovic celebrated his long-awaited return to the grand slam with a thrilling 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory over American Donald Young, earlier in the day.In the women's singles, Russian tennis star and five-time Grand Slam champion Maria ...
Austria's Kurz sceptical on euro zone budget ahead of Merkel meeting
BERLIN (Reuters) - Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said told a German newspaper ahead of talks with German counterpart Angela Merkel that he was sceptical about the creation of a new euro zone budget after German parties agreed to back the idea.
WIFA, Mumbai City launch Baby League
Western India Football Association (WIFA) and Mumbai City FC have launched the countrys first Baby League in the age group of eight to 12 years, by setting up 24 developmental centers here and in Pune.
It was a brilliant day for SA: Elgar
South African batsman Dean Elgar today admitted that the conditions here worked in India's favour but his side somehow found a way to be on top of the proceedings in the second cricket Test. At the end of the fourth day's play, India were reduced to 35/3 while chasing 287 and they were staring at a series defeat. "It was a brilliant day for South Africa. By no means was it an easy day. The conditions worked in India's favour. The ball was turning quite a bit for Ashwin and he utilized it quite nicely, especially against the left-handers. Their seamers were quite effective in conditions they seem quite used to bowling in," said Elgar. "We were in quite a lot of trouble yesterday when AB and I got together, and we knew we had to find a way and grind it out. We were very thankful for the lead on that wicket -- whether it was 30 runs or 50 runs -- it was going to prove quite a lot. It was a good day for us and the cherry on the top was the way the bowlers put their hands ...
I-League: Neroca beat Arrows to cement third spot
Neroca FC defeated a valiant Indian Arrows 2-0 in an I-League encounter at the Tilak Maidan Stadium here on Tuesday.
Aizawl FC to host East Bengal in I-League clash
Defending champion Aizawl FC are all set to host Kingfisher East Bengal in their next I-League clash at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Tuesday.It will be tipped as the homecoming of Lalramchullova, Brandon Vanlalremdika, Laldanmawia and Syrian midfield maestro Mahmoud Al-Amna who were an integral part of Aizawl FC's title-winning campaign last year along with none other than the coach Khalid Jamil before they joined Kingfisher East Bengal at the starting of this season.The I-League title has always eluded the visitors and if they are to be on their hunt they will need nothing but three points when they lock horns against the current champions Aizawl FC.East Bengal trail league leaders Minerva Punjab by four points after nine games and if Khalid and his boys want to stay close to the title they will have to play their hearts out in front of Aizawl's Red Army who will sing till the final whistle stops the game.On being asked if Aizawl are a weaker team after he left for greener ...
India, Afghanistan Test in June
The Indian cricket team will play their first Test match against Afghanistan at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium from June 14 to 18.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board said Tuesday that the Afghanistan cricket team will play its first Test match in India."BCCI has always extended support to Afghanistan cricket, infrastructural support and every other kind of support. We will continue to do that," BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary told ANI."The news that Afghanistan will be playing its first Test match with India in India was celebrated and welcomed in the same fashion that we celebrated our full membership and Test status," Shafiqullah Asmat Stanikzai, CEO, Afghanistan Cricket Board, told ANI."It is a huge development in our cricket and it has changed the face of cricket in the country," he added.The series as of now will be called the India - Afghanistan Friendship Series, confirmed Choudhary.
Don't know why they prepared this kind of pitch: Shami
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami today expressed surprise at South Africa rolling out a sub- continental type of pitch for the second cricket Test here. India were reduced to 35/3 while chasing 287 for a series-leveling victory at stumps on the fourth day. "I did not expect the ball would stay so low in this wicket. Till now in overseas conditions, we have not seen such slow and low bounce wickets. So I don't know what they were thinking when they made this wicket. But whatever it is we have to play on it and the conditions are same for both teams. Tomorrow we will try to win," said Shami. "The wicket has been slow since the beginning, even on the first day you saw that it is going low continuously. And even today, it went slow and low and you needed a lot of extra effort. We tried to give 110-120 percent. That was more important for us," he said at the post-match press conference. Shami took 4/49 in the South African second innings as the hosts were bowled out for 258. He ...
India to host Afghanistan's maiden Test in June
India will host Afghanistan in their debut Test from June 14-18 in Bengaluru, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced here on Tuesday.
South Africa: Chasing 287, India suffers early setbacks
Chasing a target of 287, India struggled to begin their second inning on a positive note on Tuesday, as South Africa reduced visitors to 35 for 3 at stumps on Day four of the second Test match, at SuperSports Park here.The huge moment came when Lungi Ngidi continued his good form and scalped the wicket of captain Virat Kohli.Earlier, South Africa began the fourth day with an overnight score of 90/2. AB De Villiers and Dean Elgar frustrated the Indians with their patient and gritty batting. Both shared a 141-run partnership before it was finally broken by Shami.South African wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock once again failed to fire with the bat as he struggled to play against the moving ball.Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis tried to make amends and kept the scoreboard ticking, while he continued to run out of partners.In the second innings, Shami was the pick of the bowlers, scalping 4 for 49, followed by Bumrah's 3 for 70. Ishant Sharma took 2 for 40, while Ravichandran Ashwin had figures
2nd Test: Early blows put India in trouble (Roundup)
Chasing 287 runs for a series-equalising win, India faltered from the start in their second innings and lost three quick wickets to close the penultimate day of their second cricket Test against South Africa at 35 for three here on Tuesday.
Neroca FC blank Indian Arrows 2-0
Neroca FC scored a goal in each half to beat Indian Arrows 2-0 in an entertaining match of the I- League at Tilak Stadium here today. Both the teams played an attacking game but it was Neroca who had more of the ball possession and scoring chances especially in the first half. The Manipur side took the lead through an own goal by Arrows defender Anwar Ali in the 18th minute before Odil Felix Chidi (90+3) found the net in the stoppage time. The win took Neroca's tally to 18 points from nine matches, one point less than East Bengal who are second but have played one more game. Indian Arrows remained on 10 points from 11 matches to be at seventh position. Neroca had scoring chances in the first half but were not successful in finding the net until Arrows defender Anwar committed a mistake to score an own goal in the 18th minute. A move on the left saw Yumnam Gopi Singh send a cross and Anwar attempted to head the ball to keeper Prabukhan Singh Gill. The Arrows goalkeeper ...