Page 2136 - Sports
Referee kicks Nantes player as PSG edge to victory
Angel Di Maria scored the only goal as Paris Saint-Germain claimed a controversial 1-0 Ligue 1 win at Nantes that was marred by a bizarre late sending off. There was drama in added time as Nantes centre-back Diego Carlos was sent off by Tony Chapron for appearing to accidentally trip up the referee, with the official responding by kicking out at the Brazilian and brandishing a second yellow card. Players told French television after the game that Chapron claimed he had slipped and not kicked Carlos on purpose, despite clear video evidence to the contrary. Di Maria poked in a 12th-minute opener for the visitors, before producing a glaring miss later in the first half. Emiliano Sala thought he had headed in an equaliser for Nantes, but was incorrectly denied by the linesman's flag. Unai Emery's visitors took full advantage of their good fortune, and draws for Monaco and Lyon earlier in the weekend, to move 11 points clear at the top of the table. "It was different to lots of
Suarez fires Barcelona nine clear in Sociedad fightback
Luis Suarez stole the show with a brace and an assist as Barcelona fought back from two goals down to win 4-2 at Real Sociedad and restore their nine-point lead at the top of La Liga. Suarez struck in the 50th and 71st minutes, his first a delightful chip from just inside the area, after laying on Paulinho six minutes before the break to start the comeback from first-half goals from Sociedad's Willian Jose and Juanmi. A stunning Lionel Messi free-kick five minutes from time completed the comeback, which puts Ernesto Valverde's side on 51 points, well ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid, 1-0 winners at Eibar on Saturday. "The goal we scored before the break really helped us," said Valverde. "It seemed the curse was still there when we were 2-0 down, and yet we pushed and we believed we could turn it around and take the lead, and finally the goals came." The win also moves Barca a full 19 points in front of arch-rivals Real Madrid, who are languishing in fourth and ...
Ready to take crucial wickets: Ishant Sharma
Indian pacer Ishant Sharma on Sunday said as a senior player he will have to take the responsibility and get important wickets.Sharma also said that he missed the first Test match because he had not recovered from an illness."I was supposed to play the first Test but I fell ill as soon as we reached here. I wasn't fully recovered from the fever so I didn't play the first game. I am the senior fast bowler of this team so I have to take responsibility. If I am ready to take those important wickets for the team, I am always up for it," Ishant said when asked about his absence from the first Test.Ishant was non-committal on how the pitch would behave heading into days three, four and five but opined that the game was still in the balance with Virat Kohli at the crease and approaching a century."I think it's pretty important partnership, obviously, because the way Virat is playing it is totally a different game. If Hardik gets going he can take the game away from the opposition. After tea .
Blind Cricket World Cup: India storms into Semi-finals
India defeating Nepal by eight wickets at the Eden Garden Cricket Ground in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, made its place into the semi-finals of the fifth Blind Cricket World Cup.After deciding to bat first, Nepal could manage to set a target of 157 for the Indian team.For India, Prakash Jayaramiah took two wickets conceding 22 runs while Skipper Ajay Reddy, Rambir, Prem Kumar and Jafar Iqbal picked up a wicket each.India chased down the target with much ease by losing just two wickets.Man-of-the-match Ajay Gariya scored 54 of 29 balls. Mehender remained unbeaten on 40, while Rambir was not out on 38.India will now play Bangladesh in the semi-finals on Wednesday at the Ajman Ovals.
ISL: Hume strikes again as Kerala pip Mumbai
A first-half strike by in-form Iain Hume handed David James marked his second consecutive win in the Indian Super League since taking over as head coach at Kerala Blasters FC.The 1-0 over Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Sports Arena on Sunday also helped the visitors climb up one spot on the points table to sixth place, with only goal difference separating from sixth-placed Mumbai City FC, who are also on 14 points.The game began with Mumbai sending in a few quick crosses into Kerala's box for Balwant Singh to go and attack. Sixteen minutes into the game, Sanju Pradhan and Balwant tested the much-touted KBFC defence but the highest Indian scorer's header went just wide of goal.Alexandre Guimaraes' side continued to ask questions of the visitor's defense, but it was Kerala Blasters FC who took the lead in the 23rd minute. A quick free-kick by Courage Pekuson caught Mumbai's defense napping and Hume break free from the off-side trap to out-step the ball past a diving Amrinder.Responding ...
Hockey Madhya Bharat wins first match of Senior Men Nationals C'ship
Action in the 8th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2018 (B Division) on Sunday continued into its eighth day with Hockey Madhya Bharat, Punjab National Bank, Delhi Hockey and Bengal Hockey Association, all winning their respective Pool matches of the competition.In the opening match of the day, it was Hockey Madhya Bharat who won their first match of the competition when they beat Hockey Himachal 4-3 in a very competitive Pool F encounter.In another Pool F match, Punjab National Bank beat Kerala Hockey 11-0 to register their second consecutive win.In Pool G, Delhi Hockey beat Hockey Rajasthan 14-1 to maintain their winning run in the competition. It was a great attacking display from Delhi Hockey as they scored 13 goals without reply until the 58th minute of the match.Hockey Uttarakhand and Hockey Coorg played out a 1-1 draw in Pool H as both teams produced a great defensive performance.Bengal Hockey Association kept their 100% record in Pool H intact, as they won their ..
Third day's morning session important for us, says Ishant
India pacer Ishant Sharma on Sunday said the morning session of the third day's play against South Africa will be important for the team.
Centurion Test: Kohli strikes fifty as India reach 183/5 at stumps
Indian skipper Virat Kohli struck a scorching half-century as India reached 183 for the loss of five wickets at stumps on the day two of the second Test against South Africa at the SuperSport Park here on Sunday.In reply to South Africa's first innings score of 335, India lost opener KL Rahul for mere 10 runs off Morne Morkel's delivery.Cheteshwar Pujara also departed early as he was run out by the debutant Lungi Ngidi on the duck.Opener Murali Vijay and Kohli then put on a 79 stand for the third wicket to make India's cross the 100 mark.Vijay missed his half-century by just four runs as he was caught behind the stumps by Quinton de Kock on Keshav Maharaj's delivery.Rohit Sharma (10) could not stay on the crease for long as he was caught leg before the wicket by Kagiso Rabada.Parthiv Patel also could not add much to his score as he went back to pavilion scoring 19 runs.Meanwhile, Kohli scored his 17th fifty and is currently on the crease batting at 85 with Hardik Pandya (11).Maharaj, .
Test debut at home ground is a dream for me, says Ngidi
For young South African pacer Lungi Ngidi, making his Test debut in front of his home crowd is a dream come true moment and said he too experienced goosebumps just like any other cricketer. Ngidi was instrumental in reducing India to 183 for five as he not only affected the first-ball run-out of Cheteshwar Pujara but also scalped his maiden Test wicket in the form of Parthiv Patel. "Test debut was a dream of mine and I am happy it came true on my home ground. I actually had goosebumps," said Ngidi at the end of day two in the ongoing second cricket Test against India here today. "I was talking to Vernon (Philander) in terms of game plans on how to get that wicket. Listening to someone with so much knowledge, and it planned out exactly the way he was telling me. It made me really happy and I now believe that I can perform at this level," he said. "I stuck to my lengths. We keep it as basic as possible. Being hypercritical, I think I could have done a little bit better, ..
Kohli-Pandya partnership can take the game away, says Ishant
India were in a spot of bother at the close of play today but pacer Ishant Sharma feels the visitors have the chance to take the ongoing second cricket Test away from South Africa if Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya build up a good partnership tomorrow. Skipper Kohli scored a valiant 85 to keep the visitors afloat by finishing the day at 183 for five in reply to South Africa's 335 all out in their first innings. Kohli held together India's innings with a classy unbeaten knock which came off 130 balls and was studded with eight boundaries. Hardik Pandya (11 not out) was giving Kohli company at the crease. The duo added 19 runs for the unbeaten sixth wicket. The visitors, who are down 0-1 in the three-match series, still trail South Africa by another 152 runs. "I think it's pretty important partnership, obviously, because the way Virat is playing it is totally a different game. If Hardik gets going he can take the game away from the opposition. After tea yesterday, the run out
Hyderabad Hunters claim maiden title in PBL 3
Hyderabad Hunters overcame a fighting Bengaluru Blasters 4-3 in a thrilling summit clash to claim their maiden title at the third Premier Badminton League (PBL) here tonight. Mixed Doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Pia Bernadet put up a dominant display in the last match of the encounter to clinch the the title and the winners' prize purse for the Hunters. Cheered on by a packed house and a vociferous team at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Satwik and Pia beat Kim Sa Rang (Korea) and N Sikki Reddy (India) 15-11, 15-12. The tall Satwiksairaj unleashed an array of powerful strokes to set up a well-deserved victory for the home side. The five-match duel turned out to be a pulsating affair with the Blasters' World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen and the Hunters' Olympic champion Carlina Marin winning their respective matches to make it 3-3 after the first four matches. The Hunters began on the back foot, with their men's doubles pair of Markis Kido and Yoo Yeon Seong failing to
Indonesian President inaugurates Asian Games stadium
Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) stadium on Sunday after it was renovated for the upcoming 2018 Asian Games.
Hyderabad pip Bengaluru to clinch PBL title
Hyderabad Hunters defeated Bengaluru Blasters 4-3 in the final of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Sunday.
ISL: Hume scores as Kerala beat Mumbai
Kerala Blasters rode on Iain Humes first half strike to edge past Mumbai City FC 1-0 in an Indian Super League (ISL) tie at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Sunday.
Hume goal helps Kerala down Mumbai
Canadian striker Iain Hume became the hero of Kerala Blasters for the second game running as his lone first-half goal helped the visitors get the better of Mumbai City FC 1-0 in a rousing Indian Super League match here today. Hume, playing with a bandage around his head, took advantage of a quickly taken free-kick by teammate Courage Pekuson of Ghana and sprinted forward to the bewilderment of the entire home side players before coolly slotting the ball past Mumbai custodian Amrinder Singh to the left corner in the 23rd minute of play. Much as Mumbai protested as even the referee Pranjal Banerjee had not taken his position when the free-kick was taken by Pekuson from well outside the Mumbai penalty area, the goal was allowed to stand much to the chagrin of the home side players and eventually was the match-winner. The victory enabled Kerala to draw level on points (14 each from ten games) with Mumbai who, however, remained in fifth spot by virtue of a superior goal ...
Punjab Royals beat Veer Marathas in Pro Wrestling League
Defending champions Punjab Royals got back to their winning ways, recording a pulsating 4-3 victory over debutants Veer Marathas in the Pro Wrestling League here today. Parveen Rana known for his explosive style of play, sped to an early 4-0 lead for the Veer Marathas and seemed to be cruising in the seventh and last bout of the day, with both teams tied 3-3. Jitender, however, exhibited great grit and took four straight points to level the score. He then moved to a higher gear and downed Parveen for a 7-4 win in the dying seconds to win the tie for the Royals. 2017 Asian Championship silver medalist Ritu Phogat of the Marathas overcame an initial scare to eke out a 9-7 win in the 50-kg women competition to send the tie into the decider. Although Ritu was shocked by Nirmala Devi's swiftness in the initial moments of the game, she did well to regroup and stay in the contest and pick up the crucial win for her side. In the fifth bout of the day, National champion Utkarsh ..
Levante stands by Lerma after alleged racist insult by Aspas
Spanish football club Levante on Sunday said it supported its Colombian midfielder Jefferson Lerma, who alleged that he was called a racist insult by Celta Vigo's Spanish striker Iago Aspas during a La Liga match.
India post 183/5 after bowling out S. Africa for 335 on Day 2 (Roundup)
Indian skipper Virat Kohli (85 batting) waged a lone battle to lift the struggling visitors to 183 for five in their first innings on the second day of the second cricket Test against South Africa at the SuperSport Park here on Sunday.
Axelsen hands Bengaluru Blasters edge in PBL final
World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen demolished Sai Praneeth in his Trump match to give Bengaluru Blasters a crucial edge over Hyderabad Hunters in the final of the third Premier Badminton League here today. In front of a packed house at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Axelsen played with authority and won the crucial Trump and the third match 15-5, 15-10 as Blasters were 2-1 (3 -2) ahead on points at the midway stage. The Hunters will hope that their star player Carolina Marin will keep them afloat in the contest by winning the Women's singles match. It will then boil down to the last clash, the Mixed Doubles, to make it a fitting finale. The Hunters began on the back foot, with their men's doubles pair of Markis Kido and Yoo Yeon Seong failing to get into their groove and losing the first point. They found the Blasters' Mathias Boe and Kim Sa Rang too hot to handle and gave in 0-2 without much of a fight. The stout Kido, who had controlled the game from the back of the court, ...
Captain Kohli keeps India afloat with a fighting 85
Skipper Virat Kohli scored a fighting 85 to keep India afloat on the day two of the second cricket Test against South Africa, here today. Kohli held together India's innings with a classy unbeaten 85 which came off 130 balls and was studded with eight boundaries. Hardik Pandya (11 not out) was giving Kohli company at the crease as India reached 183 for five in 61 overs in their first innings at stumps in reply to South Africa's 335 all out. The duo added 19 runs for the unbeaten sixth wicket. The visitors, who are down 0-1 in the three-match series, still trail South Africa by another 152 runs. Barring Kohli, opener Murali Vijay scored a gritty 46 off 126 balls before being dismissed by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. When rest of the Indian batsmen looked in little discomfort against the South African bowling attack, Kohli was at his positive best as he played his drives and pulls with consummate ease from the onset. Kohli, who faced flak because of lack of runs in the