Page 2156 - Sports
Boxing: India to take on Russia in first WSB clash
India will be up against Russia in their first clash of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) next month, a much-anticipated return to the semi-professional event sanctioned by the International Boxing Association (AIBA). The team has been named 'Indian Tigers' but the boxers, who will make up the outfit, have not yet been finalised. The franchise, fully owned by the Boxing Federation of India, will replace Mumbai Fighters, the team that had withdrawn in 2012 due to lack of support from the national body at that time. The clash against Russia is scheduled to be in the first week of February, a Boxing Federation of India official told PTI. In March, the country will host the Kazakhstan franchise on March 24. The other home clashes for India would be on April 20 and 21 against Russia and China respectively. In the away schedule, India will take on Kazakhstan and China on February 10 and March 9 respectively. India, Russia, Kazakhstan and China make for Group Asia in the eighth .
Mushtaq T20: Baroda, Saurashtra notch easy wins to top table
Opener Kedar Devdhar struck a whirlwind 61-ball century as Baroda whipped Gujarat by 36 runs to leap to the top of the table in the West Zone Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 league at the SCA Stadium here today. Later, Saurashtra drubbed Mumbai by eight wickets to notch up their second win in as many matches and join Baroda as league leaders. Baroda rode on Devdhar's chanceless ton the first of the zonal league - to pile on a competitive 175 for 7. They then bowled out their rivals for 139 in just 18 overs to notch up their second win on the trot and boosted their points tally to eight from two games. Gujarat, who suffered their third successive defeat in the league, are now left with no chance to make the knock-out even with a game still in hand in the five-team league. In the second game, Saurashtra bowlers, led by medium pacer Shaurya Sanandiya (4 for 22), bundled out Mumbai for 130 in 19.3 overs and then rode on opener Robin Uthappa's brisk half-century (52 in 36 balls) to ...
Yuki and Ramkumar advance in OZ Open qualifiers
India's top singles players Yuki Bhambri and Ramkumar Ramanathan came from behind to win their respective matches at the Australian Open qualifiers but it was end of the road for Sumit Nagal and Prajnesh Gunneswaran. Bhambri, seeded 15th, overcame Canada's Bradely Schuner 1-6 6-3 6-4 in the opening round and will next take on Spain's Carlos Taberner. Ramkumar, seeded 28th, edged out American Bradley Klahn 6-7(8) 7-6(3) 6-2 in his match to set up a second round clash against French man Gleb Sakharov. Prajnesh made a good start but lost steam as the match progressed, losing 6-1 1-6 2-6 to Germany's Tobias Kamke. Nagal, who recently played his maiden ATP World Tour event in Pune, went down fighting 6-7 (5) 6-3 3-6 to Italy's Alessandro Giannessi.
Harjinder Singh appointed Chef de Mission for Winter Olympics
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today appointed Harjinder Singh as the Chef De Mission for the 23rd Winter Olympic Games to be held in Pyeongchang next month. Singh currently holds the post of General Secretary in the Ice Hockey Association of India. "On behalf of the IOA I am pleased to inform that Harjinder Singh has been appointed as a Chef de Mission of Indian Contingent participating in the Winter Olympics," IOA President Narinder Dhruv Batra said in a release.
Djokovic beats Thiem in strong comeback after six-month absence
In his first appearance in six months, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic on Wednesday defeated Austria's Dominic Thiem 6-1, 6-4 at the Kooyong Classic exhibition in Australia.
India to tour Ireland for two T20Is in July
India are all set to travel Ireland for the two-match T20I series prior to their tour of England in July.Confirming the news, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that the two T20Is will be held in Dublin on June 27 and June 29.The series against Ireland will be followed by India's long tour to England, beginning with a three-match T20I series from July 3 at the Old Trafford.India last toured Ireland in 2007 when they played an ODI at Belfast, which the visitors won by nine wickets (D/L method).India have played Ireland just once in the T20 format when the two sides met in Nottingham during the 2009 ICC World T20.The Virat Kohli-led side are currently playing a three-match Test series in South Africa. The two sides are also slated to play six-match ODI series and three T20Is.
Iago Bilbao deal will add to Kepa speculation
Athletic Club Bilbao on Wednesday confirmed that goalkeeper Iago Herrerin has agreed to extend his contract with the club until the end of June 2021 with a buyout clause of 50 million euros ($60 million).
Politics hurt sportspersons: BFI President
Boxing Federation of India (BFI) President Ajay Singh on Wednesday admitted that politics in sports have cut short a lot of promising careers.
Cuba, Russia to take part in India Open boxing
The best of international boxing, including traditional powerhouses such as Cuba and Russia, will be in action at the richest boxing tournament ever in the country -- the USD 100,000 India Open starting January 28 here. "The India Open is an international Championship that is being held in Delhi. It will have participation from 25 countries such as Cuba, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia," the Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh said. India will be fielding four teams in the event, which will have both men and women pugilists fighting it out at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi. Every gold-medallist will be richer by USD 2500, while the silver and bronze winners in each weight category will be presented USD 1000 and USD 500 respectively. "India will be fielding four teams - so a lot of our players will get experience competing against the best in the world," Singh told PTI at the sidelines of a promotional event for the movie Mukkabaaz. "It is a great ...
Player misses deadline, plays and wins, but loses point
The games had begun, the top seeds were comfortably seated on their boards, but American Grandmaster Timur Gareyev was nowhere to be seen. The clock was ticking and the walkover time-limit of 30 minutes was fast approaching, as 14-year-old Koustav Chatterjee waited anxiously for his opponent in the 16th Delhi International Open Chess Tournament. Gareyev did reach the venue eventually, three minutes late, forcing the chief arbiter, Vasanth BH, to award the point to the Chatterjee. Desperate to score or a GM or IM norm, Chatterjee played the higher rated American and lost the game after a fight, but but the point went to the Indian. Third seeded Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta comfortably beat Ankit Gajwa. GM Arkadij Naiditsch, the top seed with a rating of 2701, had another normal day at the office as he managed to defeat Egyptian Adham Kandil, rated 2294. On the second table, unheralded Tamil Nadu youngster A L Muthiah managed to hold second seed GM Amonatov Farrukh to .
Liverpool great Tommy Lawrence dead
Liverpool great Tommy Lawrence died on Wednesday at the age of 77 years.
Shorey, Bhati star in easy Delhi victory
In-form Dhruv Shorey showed a different facet of his batsmanship, hitting four sixes in his unbeaten 59 off 44 balls as Delhi beat Haryana by seven wickets in a North Zone encounter of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. Chasing 154, Delhi romped home in 17 overs to remain in contention for the knock out stages after losing their opener against Punjab by two runs. Shorey added 82 runs with Nitish Rana (39 off 26 balls) as Delhi were not for once put under pressure by Haryana. Veteran Amit Mishra -- looking overweight and unfit -- was blasted for 32 runs in his three overs. Dhruv, normally known for his defensive batting in longer formats, hit some straight sixes with ease as he controlled the proceedings from the start after Gautam Gambhir (19) and Rishabh Pant (9) didn't score many. When Delhi bowled, medium pacer Subodh Bhati (3/25 in 4 overs) replacing leg-spinner Tejas Baroka, used clever variation of slower deliveries as Haryana failed to deliver in the back ...
Mitahli to lead Indian team in South Africa
Mithali Raj was today named captain of the Indian women cricket team that will travel to South Africa for a three-match away ODI series next month. Harmanpreet Kaur will be Mitahli's deputy as the BCCI announced a 16-member squad for the series beginning February 5. The ODI series will be followed by a five-match T20I series and the squad for it will be named later. India Women's ODI squad: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Ekta Bisht, Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Yadav, Punam Raut, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jhulan Goswami, Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Mona Meshram, Pooja Vastrakar, Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper).
Golf: Actor Madhavan qualifies for National finals
Bollywood actor R. Madhavan has won the qualification round of the Mumbai leg of the Mercedes Trophy golf meet, it was announced on Wednesday.
Indian women's squad announced for ODI series against S. Africa
India's women's squad for the three-match One-Day International (ODI) cricket series against South Africa was announced on Wednesday.
Harjinder named India's chef de mission for Winter Olympics
Ice Hockey Association of India General Secretary Harjinder Singh was on Wednesday named India's chef de mission for the 23rd Winter Olympic Games to be held PyeongChang, South Korea, from February 9 to 23.
India to tour Ireland for two T20Is before England series
The Indian cricket team will travel to Ireland for a brief two T20 Internationals series as part of their preparation for the gruelling tour of England in July, the BCCI announced on Tuesday.
All problems addressed, athletes satisfied: Hockey India CEO
Asserting that issues plaguing the Senior Men's National Championship in Imphal have been addressed, Hockey India CEO Elena Norman today said the players will vouch for the effort the national body has put in. Hockey players arriving in the Manipuri capital to participate in the 8th national championship (B Division) had complained of inadequate facilities. The athletes had said they were not provided blankets, adequate food or proper toilets. "Infrastructure is not a problem, there weren't enough resources. I went there personally, visited each and every room, ate with the people there. And now, I can say that every issue has been addressed," Norman told PTI. She said the organisers, perhaps, "underestimated" the logistical requirements of the event before getting things back in order. "The athletes understood we are there to help them, and they are now satisfied," the Australian, who was appointed HI's first Chief Executive Officer in 2011, said. Asked about the logic .
Chinese marathon champion banned for eight years over doping
China's national marathon champion and Olympian Wang Jiali has been banned for eight years after failing a drugs test, her second violation, the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) said today. The 31-year-old, who won gold at the 2017 National Games, tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO during out- of-competition testing in August and her career now appears over. The CAA also fined Wang 40,000 yuan ($6,000) and banned her coach Lyu Qiang for life. Wang -- who came 57th in the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics -- was banned for two years in 2013 for a previous violation, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. Separately, China's Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) said it uncovered 77 violations last year, calling it proof that the country is stamping down on drugs cheats ahead of next month's Winter Olympics in South Korea. China this week banned speed skater Shi Xiaoxuan for two years for failing a drugs test, the second such case to hit the national team in ...
Ex-Real Madrid defender Pavon backs coach Zidane
Real Madrid chief coach Zinedine Zidane is the ideal person despite the recent spate of poor results, the capital football club's former defender Francisco Pavon feels.