Page 2206 - Sports
Bengaluru Blasters thrash Delhi Dashers 4-2 in PBL
Superlative performances by world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and Malaysia's Chen Wei Feng helped Bengaluru Blasters trounce Delhi Dashers in their opening match of the third Premier Badminton League (PBL) here today. World No. 1 Axelsen, who recently defended his title at the Dubai Super Series Final, outclassed China's World No. 22 Tian Houwei 15-11 15-11 in Bengaluru's Trump match to seal the tie with one match to go at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here. After the fourth match, Benguluru had taken a 4-2 unassailable lead over Delhi Dashers, who recently got a new owner in Dalmiya Cement. Earlier, playing their first match of the season, Bengaluru Blasters drew first blood with Korean Kim Sa Rang and India's N Sikki Reddy combining well to secure a 15-10 12 -15 15-11 win over the Delhi pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Ivanov Vladimir in the mixed doubles opening match. World No. 45 Malaysian Chong Wei Feng then dished out a gritty game as he came back from a game ...
Final session of a day will be crucial against India: Morkel
South Africa pacer Morne Morkel feels that final session of a day will be crucial for his side's attack to do the damage on Indian batsmen when the three-match Test series begins on January 5 here. "It's going to be about that last session in the day when the ball is soft and conditions are tough. Majority of the runs in Test cricket are scored after tea time. So for us, it's going to be if we have enough petrol in the tank to knock India over at the back end of the day," Morkel said about the upcoming series against India. Morkel claimed his first Test five-for in five years against South Africa's one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Port Elizabeth which the Proteas won inside two days. Despite being the most successful seamer in the match, he is the also the one most at risk of missing out against India when Dale Steyn returns. If South Africa stick to a frontline attack of three seamers and a spinner at Newlands, Morkel may have to watch the match from the sidelines. ...
I-League returns to Kolkata Maidan as Bagan face Arrows (Preview)
Mohun Bagan take on the rookies of the Indian Arrows in what is being touted as a historic first ever I-League match at the city football giants' home ground here on Friday.
Man Utd defender Rojo available for Southampton clash
Manchester United on Thursday confirmed that their Argentine defender Marcos Rojo will be available for the forthcoming English Premier League (EPL) clash with Southampton at the Old Trafford here on Saturday.
School kids in Manipur hone their soccer skills
With a move to nurture sport in football-mad Manipur, various organisations and individuals have come up with camps to instill and train budding football players.Like Samsui, who wants to play soccer professionally in future, around 80 students from various schools of Ukhrul hill district in Manipur got an opportunity to learn the basic techniques of soccer at Patkai public ground, which was initiated by the Patkai Christian Academy.Patkai Christian Academy in Ukhrul district has been propagating the culture of football to the school-goers in the district.The 15-day long district Inter-school winter football coaching camp was conducted under the leadership of Khareithan Phungchamnao, the camp director and also a well-known national football player.""From when I was young, I was interested in playing football and I wanted to improve the skills, so I decided to join this camp. We have learned most of the basics here like how to control the ball and many other football techniques," said .
Windies suffer another blow as Pollard pulls out of T20s
West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard on Thursday was pulled out of the T20 series against New Zealand owing to 'personal reasons'."Left-handed batsman Shimron Hetmyer will replace all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who is unavailable due to personal reasons," Cricket West Indies said in a statement.Earlier, Sunil Narine had also pulled out due to personal reasons.On the other hand, fast bowler Ronsford Beaton will miss the series owing to a side strain. Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell will replace him.The West Indies team has lost both the Test series and the ODI series against the Kiwis and will play for pride in the shortest format of the game.The first T20 international will be played at the Saxton Oval on December 29.
Delighted with the rest ahead of India series: Morkel
South Africa pacer Morne Morkel on Thursday said he was delighted with the time for rest given ahead of the series against India in the first week of January.
Robust system helped cricket survive controversies: Jagdale
Former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale today said Indian cricket has managed to survive the innumerable brush with controversies in recent years because of the robust system put in place by the Board's past masters such as M A Chidambaram and Jagmohan Dalmiya. The 67-year-old longtime administrator, who also served in the national selection committee multiple times, quit as BCCI secretary at the height of the IPL spot-fixing scandal in 2013, never to return. Jagdale, also a former MPCA president, is currently looking after the cricket affairs at the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association. "There has been a lot of uncertainty in the BCCI, but in spite of all the controversies, the best thing is that cricket has not suffered, the system has not suffered, teams are still performing. The Indian team is performing, that shows the strength of the system," Jagdale told PTI. "It is because of the system, right from junior to senior level. I am not talking about international cricket ..
Simon looks to regain lost touch at Tata Open Maharashtra
Frenchman Gilles Simon is aiming to regain his form at the Tata Open Maharashtra after having gone through a difficult last season. The 33-year-old world no 89 took to the court here today at the Mhalunge Balewadi Stadium to complete his first practice session in India. Someone with 12 ATP singles titles under his belt, as he dropped in the rankings from being ranked 25th (Jan 1 2017) in the world to 89th. But the Frenchman isn't bogged down by the disappointing season and is back to starting a new season with a rejuvenated form. "I did not have a good season last year but I am now fresh and raring to go here in Pune. This is the first time I will be playing in India, usually I started my season in Australia but have now decided to play in India and I am looking forward to performing well," said Simon. Speaking on his chances to win the singles at Tata Open Maharashtra, Simon said that he is very confident that he can do well against the top players here. "I have won a ..
Windies aim to bounce back in first T20I against New Zealand (Preview)
After staying winless in the Test and One-Day International (ODI) series, the West Indies will aim to bounce back in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) against New Zealand at the Saxton Oval here on Friday.
India is powerhouse of badminton: Ajay Jayaram
Shuttler Ajay Jayaram believes that Indian players are currently ruling the world of badminton and the country has emerged as a powerhouse in the recent years.Talking to ANI, he said, "Over the last couple of years and this year, you have seen Indians playing the semis and the finals of tournaments and winning almost every other Super Series. In the men's singles and women's singles they have done exceptionally well this year."The 30-year-old added that there is not much difference between India and other countries when it comes to quality players."Earlier there were five Indians in world's top 20 in the men's singles, which no other country had. So if you compare with other countries there's not much difference. Over the past five-six years, this change has happened. And the way juniors are shaping up, I am sure that it is going to get better in the future," he said.Asked about his performance in the concluding year, Jayaram said he had been injured for a major part of 2017 which ...
Kolkata to host first-ever I-League fixture
Mohun Bagan will host Indian Arrows in the historic first ever Hero I-League match at their home ground on Friday.Meanwhile, this will be the youngsters' first visit to the city, which is termed as the Mecca of Indian Football after their FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign.The Green and Maroons will be looking to shrug off their mid-table blues and will be relying on the support of their faithful present at the club grounds.Though the Kolkata giants have remained unbeaten this season so far, three draws with only two victories have seen them slip to the fifth spot on the Hero I-League table.The latest results at home, a 1-1 draw with Shillong Lajong and a goalless stalemate against newly promoted NEROCA FC have made the fans restless coupled with arch-rivals Kingfisher East Bengal now perched on top of the standings."We play to win matches but is impossible to win all the games. Obviously will be eyeing full three points from tomorrow's game. In the last match we created more chances but ...
Pune City coach handed four-match ISL suspension
FC Pune City head coach Ranko Popovic has been suspended for four matches and fined Rs 5 lakh with immediate effect for the club's upcoming games in the Hero Indian Super League.All India Football Federation (AIFF) Disciplinary Committee found Popovic in breach of Article 50 (misconduct against match officials) and Article 58 (offensive behaviour and fair play) for his remarks made against Match Officials at the post-match press conference in Goa after the match between FC Goa and FC Pune City."Mr. Ranko Popovic, Head Coach of FC Pune City is fined Rs 5,00,000 (five lakh INR) and is suspended for 4 (four) matches of FC Pune City, from the date of this decision. The amount should be deposited to All India Football Federation within 10 days from the date of communication of this decision and until such payment, the match suspension to continue, over and above 4 match suspension," said AIFF Disciplinary Committee report communication to the club.Popovic will therefore miss Pune City's ...
Ashwin-Jadeja need to change their style in SA: Rahane
India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is confident that senior spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be able to change their style of bowling that suits South African pitches during their upcoming tour, starting January 5. "I feel Ashwin and Jadeja, they both have it in them to deliver abroad and not only in India. See when you play in India you have to bowl in a certain way and if you see the likes of Moeen Ali, Nathan Lyon if they are playing in England, Australia they have to bowl in a different style," Rahane told 'India Today' channel. "So, Ashwin and Jadeja, they are doing really well at the moment but I am sure they are capable of doing well abroad as well. Yes, they have to change their style a bit, skills a bit, have to bowl at a different pace but I completely believe that and I am confident that whoever plays or even if both of them play, they will do well in abroad," the stylish Mumbaikar commented. Like it has been said million times ...
Indonesia to play friendlies with FIFA World Cup qualifier Iceland
Indonesian football teams are scheduled to vie against 2018 World Cup qualifier Iceland, in friendly matches slated for January 11 and 14 in Yogyakarta and Jakarta respectively.
'Romeo' wins 'The Mettupalayam Plate'
'Romeo', ridden by Saddam Hussain, won 'The Mettupalayam Plate', the feature event of the races here today. The winner, trained by Fahad Khan, is owned by C R Bala Kumar and V Sathish Kumar. Jockey C Umesh rode two winners. Three favourites obliged in a card of six races.
ISL: Confident Mumbai City to face misfiring Dynamos (Preview)
A massive seven points separate Delhi Dynamos from Mumbai City FC as Indias top cities battle it out in the Indian Super League (ISL) season four contest on Friday evening.
Liverpool break the bank for Van Dijk in £75m deal
Liverpool broke the world transfer record for a defender after they agreed on a deal to sign Southampton centre-back Virgil Van Dijk for a staggering 75 million pounds.The Dutch defender will now join the Merseyside club when the winter transfer window opens on January 1.The official website of the Liverpool Football Club issued a statement, "The Reds have agreed a deal with the south coast club, and the player himself, that will see the 26-year-old defender move to Anfield when the transfer window re-opens on January 1, 2018."Van Dijk will don the number four of the famous red shirt, which has previously been worn by Kop favorites Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger and will look to add that much needed-steel in the Liverpool defence, which has conceded 23 goals in 20 games in the English Premier League.Van Dijk took to Instagram to express his delight after the deal.In a post, he said, "Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool FC player! ?????? Today is a proud day for ..
Before double ton, feared career over: Cook
England opener Alastair Cook who scored his fifth Test double century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday said that prior to this innings, he feared his career might be over.Unbeaten at 244* at stumps on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test, Cook said he felt embarrassed about his previous performances."All tour I've been struggling with rhythm, I've actually been embarrassed about my performances," Cook told The Guardian."It was a kind of feeling like last-chance saloon. When you're in those positions and you dig yourself out, it makes you proud," the 33-year-old added.Cook (11,956) who moved past two legendary West Indies players, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (11,867) and Brian Lara (11,953) to become the sixth highest scorer in Test cricket said he has had doubts about his ability for the last twelve years."I've doubted myself for 12 years. I'll probably continue to doubt myself. The longer it goes, the harder it becomes. That's why I'm quite proud, going to the well again and ...
Pakistan Hockey Federation invites Batra for World XI matches
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has extended an invitation to FIH Narinder Batra to visit Karachi and Lahore next month for the matches to be played by a visiting international eleven side. "We are inviting heads of different hockey federations and we have extended a special invitation to the FIH President, Narinder Batra to visit Pakistan," PHF secretary, Shahbaz Ahmed told PTI. The International CI is due to reach Karachi on January 18 and play one match against Pakistan eleven the next day and than one more match on January 21st in Lahore. To create hype and symbolise the visit by the international eleven side, the PHF has also invited several hockey legends from different countries for the matches. "If the FIH President comes it will give a big boost to hockey in Pakistan because he belongs to India and headed Hockey India as well," Shahbaz said. PHF President, Brig (retd) Khalid Khokar said PHF also wanted to invite former Indian greats, Dhanraj Pillay and Pargat ...