Page 2149 - Sports
Afghanistan Premier League to be held in Oct
Afghanistan have joined the long list of countries hosting their own T20 competition, with their country's cricket board announcing the launch of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL).The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed on Thursday and now the first edition of the league is all set to take place at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in October this year.Reflecting on the same, ACB chief executive Shafiq Stanikzai said that five teams, including 80 Afghan and 20 foreign cricketers, will play a total of 23 matches in the first-ever APL."There will be a total of 23 matches between five teams. The league will take place in the UAE, but we haven't yet decided on which cities will play host to the league. But now we have got official approval from the Emirates Cricket Board, and we'd like to thank them for that," ESPNcricinfo quoted Stanikzai, as saying.Stanikzai further revealed that the auction to purchase the five teams would be held in March, which will be ...
Martinez signs new deal with Racing
Argentina's Racing Club has placed a 20 million-euro (about $24 million) price tag on highly rated striker Lautaro Martinez amid interest from a raft of European football clubs.
Neymar's PSG move a 'backward step', feels Ronaldo
Brazilian football legend Ronaldo has described national team superstar Neymar's club world record move to Paris Saint-Germain from FC Barcelona as a "backward step".
U-19 World Cup: An opportunity like never before
It's considered the stepping stone for the stars of the future and 15 teams, including three-time champions India, would be aiming to discover their Virat Kohlis and Steve Smiths when the ICC Under-19 World Cup starts off here tomorrow. From Kohli to Smith, most modern-day greats have learnt the ropes in the biennial event, which has gained significance with every passing edition. The boys not only become men here, they also become household names with millions following the live broadcast of the competition. The event begins tomorrow with Pakistan taking on Afghanistan, and hosts New Zealand facing reigning champions West Indies. India, eager to prove themselves after their disastrous showing in the Asia Cup, open their campaign against Australia at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. The tournament's stature has risen to such an extent that a great like Rahul Dravid, the current India U-19 coach, would love to have been part of it back in the day. "We never played this ...
ICC hands official warning to MCG pitch
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday gave an official warning to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in relation to the 'poor' rating given to the pitch for the fourth Ashes Test.The MCG, where the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England was played between December 26 and December 30, 2017, drew criticism from both teams after the hosts scored 327 and 263-4 declared in their two innings while England scored 491 in their only innings.In arriving at the sanction, the ICC noted the comprehensive response provided by Cricket Australia, which did not contest the rating given to the pitch by the ICC Match Referee, Ranjan Madugalle, but highlighted that the ground is a frequently used venue that has no history of preparing poor pitches for international cricket, and indicated that there was a commitment by both the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) and Cricket Australia to improve the pitches presented for international cricket at the MCG in the future.The MCG Test was the ...
Messi shines again as Barcelona stroll into Cup quarters
FC Barcelona brushed past Celta Vigo 5-0 in the second leg and 6-1 on aggregate to book their place in the last 16 of the King's Cup knockout football tournament.
AFI names teams for Asian Indoors & Asian Games test event
Sprinter Dutee Chand will be part of the 13-strong Indian team for the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, while reigning Asian champion distance runner G Lakshmanan has been selected in the 36-member contingent for the Asian Games test event competition. The 21-year-old Dutee Chand, who won a bronze each in the 100m and the 4x100m events at the Asian Championship last year, will carry India's hopes in the eighth edition of the tournament to be held in Tehran, Iran from February 1 to 3. Dutee Chand was banned by the Athletics Federation of India in 2014 under the Hyperandrogenism policy but she fought her back in 2015 after challenging the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne. Lakhsmanan, who won double gold in 5,000m and 10,000m at the Asian Athletic Championships, will lead Indian challenge in the Asian Games test event slated from February 11 to 14 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The team also comprises Davinder Singh Kang, who became the first Indian .
Jittery India aim to stay afloat against daunting South Africa
Outplayed in the lung-opener, India will have to resolve a few selection puzzles and respond better to the sharp bounce when they square off against a redoubtable South Africa in the do-or-die second Test, starting here tomorrow. India's record of nine consecutive series victories will be on the line from tomorrow after the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series by registering a 72-run win in the first Test in Cape Town. It is only the second match in India's 12-Test long overseas schedule in 2018-19, and already they are faced with a must-not-lose situation in a bid to keep this series alive. Surrendering a 2-0 lead to South Africa will not dent their No.1 ICC Test ranking, but that will be of little consolation when the postmortem of the performance is done back home. In order to get this Test off on the right foot, the Indian team management will be looking to get their selection on the money. On Thursday, 48 hours before the first ball is bowled, Team India
'Death bowling' concerns for unbeaten New Zealand
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has called on his bowlers to be more accurate in the final overs as they look to take an unbeatable lead over Pakistan in the third one-day international in Dunedin tomorrow. New Zealand are already 2-0 in the five-match series but Williamson is not completely happy, especially with the bowling to lower-order batsmen. Pakistan rocketed from 141 for seven in the 37th over to make 246 for nine in game two, repeating a pattern that has been all too common in recent seasons where New Zealand have let the score get away on them after a solid start. "We learnt a few lessons from the last game," Williamson said Friday. "They bat very deep, the Pakistani side, and that is a sign of a good team," he added." "To see their lower order come out and put together a partnership that gave them a total which could have been a tough chase... it's important that we learn from that." Despite the big hitting, particularly by Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan who ..
ISL: ATK desperate for win against NorthEast
NorthEast United FC will need to be at their menacing best when they take on desperate ATK in the ninth round of the Indian Super League (ISL) clash at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati, here on Friday.ATK have won just twice in eight games and can cut the gap to the playoff spots to just two points with a victory.Their assistant coach Bastob Roy likened the situation to that of Real Madrid in the La Liga - saying that this was how football was and that they would now have to create their own luck rather than rely on the rub of the green."Have you seen the situation of Real Madrid? This is football, it's part of the game and we are trying to come out of this situation. We still think we can make the playoffs. The table is very unpredictable and with two wins in a row, we may be able to achieve it. Luck is not with us. Chance factor has been against us. We are not looking behind but looking forward. The only thing we can do is hard work. Luck is not in our hands. In football you
Leave outside off-stump deliveries: Borde to Indian batsmen
Former batsman Chandu Borde has some advice for the Indian batsmen who struggled in the first Test in South Africa - stay a bit outside the crease and leave the balls pitched outside the off-stump. India were crushed by 72 runs in the first Test at Cape Town as the visiting batsmen failed to chase a modest 208 target after being shot out for 135 to give South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Borde, who served as the vice-captain of the Indian team under Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, also exuded confidence that the Virat Kohli-led side would bounce back in the second Test starting at Centurion tomorrow. "First thing is to stay there on the wicket, which is important, and particularly to leave the ball that is pitched outside the off stump. Many of our batsmen were either caught behind or were caught in the slips," Borde told PTI in an interaction at his hometown. "Therefore they should change their technique in such a way that anything that pitches outside the off .
Senior National Hockey C'ship: Himachal edge past Kerala
Himachal came from two goals down to defeat Kerala 3-2 in a nervy Pool F encounter on the fifth day of the 8th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2018 (B Division) here last evening.It was Kerala who took a 2-0 lead after 41 minutes through D Sarang (11') and Vineeth Muraleedharan (41'). However, Himachal went on to score three quick goals in the span of seven minutes to win the match 3-2. Naurvi Ram (53', 56') scored a quick brace for Himachal while Arman (60') scored the winner in the last minute of the match.In another Pool F match, it was Punjab National Bank who started their campaign with a win as they scored a 9-0 victory over Madhya Bharat.The victors started the match well as they scored two goals each in the first two quarters to maintain a 4-0 lead till half-time. Punjab National Bank scored another four goals in the third quarter to kill Madhya Bharat's hopes of making a comeback.Goals for Punjab National Bank were scored by Gagandeep Singh Sr. (15', 17'), ...
AFI names team for Asian Indoors & Asian Games test events
The selection committee of Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced a 13-member team for the 8th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships to be held in Tehran, Iran from February 1 to 3. Under the chairmanship of former Olympian G S Randhawa, the committee also selected a 36-member contingent to represent India at the Asian Games test event competition to be held from February 11 to 14 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Jakarta will host the 18th Asian Games later this year from August 18 to September 2. After the meeting at AFI headquarter here on Wednesday, CK Valson, Secretary AFI said, "The athletes were selected on the basis of their performances in the International and National Championships including National Junior Championships held in 2017 and confirming their present fitness levels. "The team is short as we have excluded certain events due to inexperience of our athletes on a 200m track." Meanwhile, Indian cross country athletes will participate in the 14th Asian ...
Messi puts on masterclass for watching Coutinho
Lionel Messi put on a masterclass in front of new recruit Philippe Coutinho as Barcelona trounced Celta Vigo 5-0 to ease into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals 6 -1 on aggregate. Coutinho, dressed in a black shirt dotted with white stars, was in the stands at the Camp Nou for the first time since his 160 million-euro ($192 million) move from Liverpool. It didn't take long for the Brazilian star to appreciate the playing riches on show on the pitch. "The first half was extraordinary," said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde. Level at 1-1 after the first leg, the three-time defending champions were 4-0 up by half-time. Messi grabbed the opening two goals in the 13th and 15th minutes, both finished with a sublime first touch with his left foot, both created by Jordi Alba. Messi then returned the favour by setting up Alba to score past the hapless Sergio Alvarez in the Celta goal before Luis Suarez made it 4-0 on the night after 30 minutes when the Uruguayan burst through the ...
French glitches put technology under review
The debate on using technology to help football referees took a twist as the French league suspended its use of goal-line reviews following some "serious dysfunctions". The goal-line technology (GLT) system, provided by German company GoalControl, was "suspended immediately" by French football authorities after incidents in League Cup games on Wednesday between Amiens and Paris Saint-Germain and Angers and Montpellier. In Amiens, the problem centred around PSG's second goal in a 2-0 victory. Adrien Rabiot's flicked header hit the post and bounced over the line before goalkeeper Jean-Christophe Bouet pulled the ball back. However "the GLT did not make the referee's watch vibrate", Didier Quillot, the director general of the French league said in a conference call on Thursday. In the second incident, which involved Montpellier defender Daniel Congre, the problem was the reverse. The technology "made the referee's watch vibrate in error even though the ball taken by Daniel
Wrestler Sushil Kumar injured during practice session
Ahead of the third season of Pro Wrestling League, wrestler Sushil Kumar got injured during his practice session on Friday.Sushil, who injured his knee during the practice session, has been advised by the doctor to take two days rest.Sushil, who is representing the Delhi Sultans in the third season Pro Wrestling League in the 74 kg category, would be replaced by Praveen next match.Parveen is a bronze medalist of Senior National Championship 2017.Sushil was picked up at a whopping amount of Rs 55 lakh for the Delhi team, the highest amount ever in the history of Pro Wrestling League auctions, which was kick-started on January 9.
IAF conquers 'Mission Seven Summits'
A five-member team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) mountaineers have completed their Mission Seven Summits by successfully scaling the Mt Vinson in Antarctica.The team led by Gp Capt R C Tripathi V M (G) was flagged off by Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on December 8, 2017.Before Mt Vinson, different teams of the IAF had summited Mt Everest (Asia), Mt Carstenz Pyramid (Indonesia- Australisa continent), Mt Elbrus (Russia-Europe), Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt Aconcagua (Argentina-South America), Mt McKinley/Denali (Alaska-North America) over the last two decades.The team now has returned successfully after proudly flying the Tricolour and the IAF flag on the highest peak of Antarctica on December 25 last year and created another glorious moment for the IAF.Yesterday, in a ceremonial function, Dhanoa flagged-in the team by receiving the Ice Axe and the Tricolour from Tripathi.The Air Chief Marshal felicitated and complimented the team for braving the challenge and fighting the elements ...
Want to focus on my game: Sushil Kumar
Indian star wrestler and two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar on Thursday said that he wants to focus on his game, which will speak about his capabilities in a much better way."Players get very short time in that case they can decide whether to do politics or concentrate on their game," Sushil told ANI when asked about the allegations made by wrestler Parveen Rana.Earlier in December, wrestler Parveen Rana, had accused Sushil of cheating in the trail bout for 2018 Commonwealth Games, and had said that he will take the revenge of his defeat in the next face-off with the Olympian."I played a good bout yesterday (against Sushil Kumar), but there was a lot of cheating there and due to that I was made to lose," Rana had told ANI.The incident took place minutes after Sushil had qualified for the 2018 Games, which is to be held in April, following his 7-3 victory over Parveen in the semi-final bout.Rana had alleged that Sushil' supporters beat him and his elder brother post the match for .
PBL: Hyderabad beat Bengaluru to take claim top spot
Hyderabad Hunters, backed by sterling displays from B. Sai Praneeth and Carolina Marin, beat Bengaluru Blasters to claim the top spot in the Premier Badminton League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Thursday.
Tata Steel honours three climbers
Tata Steel today felicitated three climbers including 13-year-old Aman Verma, who recently won gold medals at the National Sport Climbing Championship held at Indore. Verma bagged three gold medals in speed climbing, lead climbing and bouldering event of the sub-junior championship held between 27th to 30th December, said Bachendri Pal, head, Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF). The foundation handed over altogether Rs 50,000 cash for his achievements while Rs 16,000 was given to Talim Ansari (14), who was the first child from Jharkhand to win bronze at National Sport Climbing Championship in 2016, and a gold and silver in the last edition at Indore. Besides, Verma's sister Anisha (12), who won a gold medal in lead climbing at the Indore championship, was awarded Rs 5,000.