Page 2209 - Sports
Sindhu's win gives Chennai Smashers an edge in PBL
World No. 3 PV Sindhu came back from a game down to win her match against Mumbai Rockets' Beiwen Zhang to give Chennai Smashers a slight 2-1 edge in the Vodafone Premier Badminton League (PBL) here at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.The Indian began well but lost 12-15 to the World No. 11 from America in the opening game. She, however, displayed her typical grit and composure to level the match, winning the second game with a 15-7 score.The third game saw Zhang inch ahead in a one point lead at 5-4, but Sindhu again remained calm as she regained the lead at the break with the 8-7 score. She took her chances after that and forced her opponent from one end to to the other to round up her win at 15-9.Earlier, World No. 24 Brice Leverdez of France made a brilliant debut as he defeated World No. 30 Sameer Verma to win 15-14, 10-15, 15-14 in a high-octane Men's Singles clash.The Men's Doubles encounter too went neck and neck in the initial phases. But Mumbai Rockets' Lee Yong Dae .
Liverpool agree terms to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton
Liverpool Football Club have agreed deal to sign Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in the January transfer window.
I-League match: East Bengal edge past Gokulam 1-0 to take pole position (Third Lead, correcting para 7)
A stunning late first half strike by Mohammed Rafique propelled city soccer giants East Bengal to a 1-0 win over one-man-short Gokulam Kerala FC and a slot atop the I-League ladder here on Wednesday.
I-League match: East Bengal edge past Gokulam 1-0 to take pole position
A stunning late first half strike by Mohammed Rafique propelled city soccer giants East Bengal to a 1-0 win over one-man-short Gokulam Kerala FC and a slot atop the I-League ladder here on Wednesday.
Kohli meets India U-19 boys
India captain Virat Kohli gave the national U-19 cricket team a quick pep talk here on Wednesday ahead of their departure for the U-19 World Cup.
I-League: East Bengal beat Gokulam to take top spot
East Bengal defeated 10-men Gokulam Kerala FC 1-0 in an I-League encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday to climb to the top of the points table.
Dwayne Bravo, Abdul Razzaq to participate in St Moritz Ice Cricket 2018
St Moritz Ice Cricket 2018 on Wednesday confirmed the inclusion of West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo and former Pakistani seamer Abdul Razzaq."We are delighted to have Dwayne Bravo and Abdul Razzaq as the newest additions to Team Royals. Both have a very good fan following and the crowd at the stadium and elsewhere will have a great time watching their favorite players battle it out in the snow. I am particularly happy about Bravo joining the ranks as he becomes the first from West Indies to do so. We are surely going to get enthralled with the Caribbean spirit," Akhilesh Bahuguna, Director, All Sphere Entertainment Pvt Ltd said in a statement.Bahuguna said that with a special concept of Ice Cricket and cricketers like Bravo, Afridi, and Razzaq joining it along with the global crops of players, the place will definitely position itself as one of a kind sports travel destination in the world.A joint initiative of Vijay Singh, CEO, VJ Sports and Akhilesh Bahuguna, Director, All Spheres
Chennai beat Mumbai to register first win of PBL-3
Defending champions Chennai Smashers clinched their maiden win of the third season of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) after beating Mumbai Rockets 4-3 in the opener of the Delhi leg of the Rs 6 crore PBL at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here on Wednesday.
Prithvi Shaw eyes U-19 World Cup title
Indian U-19 cricket captain Prithvi Shaw on Wednesday said that the team is aiming to win the U-19 World Cup set to begin from January 13."It is a very good opportunity for us since we have been working hard for the last 3 years. As a captain, I want to take the entire team along. I have trust in my team and everyone knows their responsibilities.We want to win the World Cup. Game by Game we will go through the process," said Shaw.Shaw and coach Rahul Dravid were interacting with the media before the team's departure to New Zealand for the coveted tournament.Dravid placed his faith in the young team that is set to begin its U-19 World Cup campaign and said that the team has quality players in all departments and termed the U-19 World Cup as a stepping stone for them.He further emphasized that the conditions in New Zealand will be an exciting challenge and how quickly the team adapts to them will be the key."I think the conditions will be an exciting challenge. I think it's going to be .
India ready for South Africa challenge: Ravi Shastri
Indian cricket team's head coach Ravi Shastri is confident that the Virat Kohli-led team is ready to face the challenges awaiting them in the upcoming South Africa tour."The boys are really looking forward to it, we know it is going to be a huge challenge and how tough South Africa tour is. We toured Australia three years ago and did a pretty good job, we have done well in England. The preparation has been good, " Shastri said during a press conference ahead of the team's departure to South Africa.Shastri added: "These boys have been on the road together for the last four-five years so that should help a long way."India will tour South Africa for two months -- January and February-- in 2018 and will play three tests, six ODIs and three T20 Internationals.Kohli said that the team is looking confident of where it stands and is looking forward for the tour."We as a team are looking very confident about where we stand...We are not going out there to prove something to someone, we are just
Sindhu wins but Son guides Mumbai to 3-2 lead over Chennai
Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu notched up a thrilling three-game win in the women's singles but Son Wan Ho guided Mumbai Rockets to a 3-2 lead over title holders Chennai Smashers in a Premier Badminton League (PBL) tie, here today. World Championship silver medallist Sindhu entertained the handful of badminton aficionados at the Siri Fort stadium with a come from behind 12-15 15-7 15-9 win over Mumbai Rocket's Beiwen Zhang in an exciting womens singles match. World No 5 Son then starred in Mumbai's Trump match and scripted a 15-11 15-5 win over Thailand's Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in the second men's singles match to make it 3-2 in favour of his team. Earlier, Lee Yong Dae and Tan Boon Heong started the proceedings and gave Mumbai Rockets a great start, defeating B Sumeeth Reddy and Lee Yang 15-9 15-6 in a lop-sided men's doubles opening match. In the first men's singles, Sameer Verma, who is coming back after recovering from a shoulder injury, suffered a ...
East Bengal pip Gokulam Kerala 1-0, reach top of league table
Mohammed Rafique struck the winner as East Bengal beat Gokulam Kerala 1-0 to climb to the top of the table in the I-League football tournament, here tonight. East Bengal and Minerva FC are both on 13 points after six matches but the red and gold brigade are on top by virtue of a better goal difference. The I-League debutants came close to scoring on more than one occasion but Rafique took the wind out of their sails with a stunning 44th minute strike to ensire full points for the home team. Mahmoud Al-Amna's corner was headed away by the Kerala defence but it went straight to an unmarked Rafique, who chested the ball down before firing it in with a drilling shot from outside the box as East Bengal won their fourth match on trot. Having come here after their maiden I-League win in the last round, Gokulam suffered their third defeat of the season as they remain on eighth position with four points after five matches. The Kerala outfit looked fine as a unit and impressed ...
South Africa thrash Zimbabwe in two days
South Africa crushed Zimbabwe by an innings and 120 runs inside two days in their one-off day-night Test at St George's Park on Wednesday. Forced to follow on after being bowled out for 68 in their first innings, Zimbabwe were shot out for 121 runs in their second innings. The match ended before the scheduled dinner break on the second day. Fast bowler Morne Morkel was the destroyer in the first innings, taking five for 21, but medium-pacer Andile Phehlukwayo and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj engineered the second-innings collapse. Phehlukwayo took three for 13 and Maharaj claimed five for 59, with stand-in captain AB de Villiers seemingly using his front-line fast bowlers sparingly so they could take advantage of the helpful conditions under floodlights. In the end they weren't needed. Zimbabwe put up a fight at the start of their second innings, reaching 54 before they lost their first wicket, although opening batsman Hamilton Masakadza was forced to retire hurt ...
U-19 boys will have to adapt fast in New Zealand, says Dravid
India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid on Wednesday asserted that the conditions in New Zealand will pose the biggest challenge to his wards when the U-19 World Cup starts next month.
Mutko steps down as 2018 World Cup organising committee chief
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who was banned for life from the Olympic Games this month over doping, said today that he is stepping down as chairman of the 2018 World Cup organising committee. "(Organising committee director Alexei) Sorokin will be the chairman," Mutko was quoted by Russian agencies as saying, two days after suspending his role as president of the Russian Football Union. "He will interact with FIFA. I will concentrate on work in the government," he said. Mutko on Monday announced that he plans to file a claim in the Court of Arbitration for Sport to contest his Olympic ban, and would suspend his duties in the RFU for the duration of the proceedings. He added at the time that he would continue his role as chief coordinator of preparations for the World Cup Russia will host next summer until Russian leadership decides otherwise. Today he said his claim has been filed in the CAS. Mutko was banned for life from the Olympic Games on December 5 ..
Iran's Haji Safi to join Olympiakos
Iranian international left-back Ehsan Haji Safi has reached a transfer agreement with Greek football giants Olympiakos.
Limping Dhawan raises eye-brows, doubtful for 1st Test
Senior opener Shikhar Dhawan appears to be a doubtful starter for the first Test against South Africa, starting January 5, due to an ankle injury. Before Indian team's departure, Dhawan was seen entering the team hotel limping with his left-ankle heavily strapped. He was accompanied by physio Patrick Farhart and has undergone for an MRI scan. "Shikhar Dhawan's ankle is being assessed. The physio is yet to give any report to the national selectors. As of now, he is travelling with the team. However, it can't be ascertained whether he will be available for the first Test match or not," a senior BCCI official told PTI on the condition of anonymity. If Dhawan is rendered unfit for the first Test, then in- form KL Rahul is expected to open the batting with the dependable Murali Vijay. As per the selection pattern of the Indian teams whenever there has been an injury concern, the fourth opener currently would be Tamil Nadu's Abhinav Mukund, who had scored 82 in his last Test ..
Egypt coach reveals secrets about World Cup qualification
Argentine Hector Raul Cuper, who coached Egypt to qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, on Wednesday revealed some secrets about how his team qualified for the tournament in Russia.
Kohli's pep talk to U-19s, terms Prithvi "special talent"
He knows how to win an U-19 World Cup and no wonder current coach Rahul Dravid wanted senior team skipper Virat Kohli to have a small session with Prithvi Shaw and Co ahead of their departure for colts World Cup. In fact, the skipper is aware about teenage prodigy Prithvi's exploits in first-class cricket where he has already scored five hundreds. "I am also excited about Prithvi (Shaw). I have heard a lot about him and Ravi Bhai (Shashtri) has also told me many things about him. He has had a lot of good performances in first-class cricket, which is rarely seen. He has been made the captain ahead of the boys, who have played U-19, there is special ability in him, that we have seen," Kohli told reporters here. Both India senior and U-19s will be travelling to their respective destinations in the same flight via Dubai. "Yes I will be meeting them (U-19 boys) after my press conference. Rahul bhai spoke to me and said that I should talk to them before leaving.
Getting married was much more important: Kohli
Getting married was "something much more important" than a cricket series for Virat Kohli as he asserted that the three-week break won't affect his preparations for the upcoming South Africa tour. The India captain opted out of the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka to get married to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma in a private ceremony in Tuscan, Italy. Kohli, who scored 2818 international runs and 11 hundreds in 2017, will head for South Africa tonight for a tough tour where India play three Tests starting January 5. The Tests will be followed by six ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals. Asked how difficult will it be for him to return to cricket post the marriage celebrations, Kohli replied: "Not difficult at all, I was away for something (marriage) which is much more important. That is a period that will always remain special for both of us." "Switching back to cricket is not difficult at all because it is in my blood, like it is for every other team member ...