Page 2211 - Sports
Defensively strong Jamshedpur face leaders Chennaiyin in ISL
It will be a test of debutant Jamshedpur FC's robust defensive structure when they take on leaders Chennaiyin FC in a Hero Indian Super League (ISL) match, here tomorrow. Steve Coppell's robust defensive organisation has made Jamshedpur FC a tough, if not the most exciting, team in their debut ISL season. The Englishman's side is currently sixth on the table with nine points. And such is the congestion at the top of the standings that a positive result against Chennaiyin FC tomorrow will leave them only a point behind the league leaders. Jamshedpur FC haven't scored many goals but, at the same time, they have been really miserly at the back. They have only lost once so far, and have eked out three draws to go with the two wins. Considering the fact that Jamshedpur FC are playing their first ISL season, Coppell has been very pragmatic in his approach. Talking about his team's inability to score too many goals and their style of play Coppell said the team has to think of .
300 million pound spent is not enough for Mourinho
Jose Mourinho says Manchester United are struggling to compete with Manchester City's financial might and the sum of nearly 300 million he has spent on transfers is not enough to win the Premier League. A 2-2 draw with Burnley today saw United lose further ground in the table to Pep Guardiola's runaway leaders, who are 12 points clear with a game in hand. Mourinho claimed that United's illustrious history does not guarantee them -- or any similar club -- success when faced with City's huge resources. "When you say a club 'like Manchester United', do you think Milan is not as big as us?" said Mourinho, listing other big European clubs who are struggling domestically. "You think they are not as big as we are? Do you think Real Madrid are not as big as we are? You think Inter Milan is not as big as we are? "There are many big clubs and you say big clubs, I know what is a big club. One thing is a big club and another thing is a big football team that you know is not one of ...
No hard feelings: Broad forgives critics as wickets return
Stuart Broad said he didn't hold a grudge against critics who called for him to be dropped after he ended a poor run of form with four wickets in the fourth Ashes Test today. The 113-Test Nottinghamshire seamer had been under fire from detractors -- including former England captain Michael Vaughan -- after his career-worst 0-142 as England relinquished the Ashes in Perth. Broad admitted he was too defensive in Perth, where he was more concerned about conceding runs than taking wickets, and said just a subtle mental adjustment had put him back on track. "I think every time you step on to the field you're pretty much playing for your career, that's the pressure of international cricket," Broad said, after taking four wickets for 51 to help dismiss Australia for 327 in their first innings in Melbourne. "You never know how things will go, you just need to focus on making sure that your mindset's right, your work ethic's right to make sure you're doing everything to be at ..
IOA to take up implementation of TOPS scheme with Ministry
IOA president Narinder Batra today said he would take up the issue of proper implementation of TOPS scheme with the Sports Ministry and ensure all assistance for athletes in their endeavour to achieve results in international events, including Olympics. "I have taken note of the observations made by the TOPS scheme committee on the need for better implementation and will be discussing this with the ministry to ensure the best interests of athletes are borne in mind," Batra said. Batra was reacting to the recent statement of Abhinav Bindra, India's lone individual Olympic gold medalist, who emphasised on the need to improve 'the overall depth of professional support for athletes'. Batra, who is also the president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), said a systematic development program has reaped benefits for those National Sports Federations (NSFs) who have taken up this initiative. "It is undoubtedly necessary to have a long-term approach in terms of athlete ..
Shuttler Ashwini backs BWF's 2018 schedule (IANS Interview)
Indian doubles star Ashwini Ponappa on Wednesday backed the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) decision to make it mandatory for top shuttlers to play at least 12 tournaments in a revamped schedule for 2018.
I've learned from injury lay-off: Djokovic
Former world number one Novak Djokovic, who is all set to make a return in Abu Dhabi this week, has said that his six-month injury-layoff from tennis had taught him not to take things for granted in his career.The Serbian maestro has not played a match since being forced to retire from his Wimbledon quarterfinal against Tomas Berdych due to an elbow injury.Though Djokovic was expected to make a return in 2018, he has decided to start his season early at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, beginning in Abu Dhabi tomorrow.Having won the tournament back in 2013, the 12-time Grand Slam champion has opted to use the three-day exhibition competition as part of his warm-up for the season-opening Australian Open.Describing his injury agony as a 'roller-coaster ride', Djokovic asserted that it was a really big call for him to skip a Grand Slam as he has never done so in his professional career."It's been a really roller coaster ride for me for a year and a half with this (elbow) issue.I've
We reserve the right to pull out of Asia Cup: PCB warns BCCI
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has warned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that his country can exercise their 'right' to pull out of the Asia Cup, which India is all set to host in September next year.Expressing his views on their arch-rivals' objection over Pakistan hosting the 2018 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, Sethi said that the PCB will decide whether the team will travel to India or not for the main event."I also raised the point that since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still awaiting an approval from the government to hold the Asia Cup and wants the visa clearance of all the participating teams, the PCB will decide whether to go to India or not because we are also bound by our government's clearance," Sethi told Dawn.Representatives from India and Bangladesh were absent during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Lahore earlier in October, after they had raised an issue to Pakistan hosting the Emerging Teams Asia Cup, ..
Pochettino tags Harry Kane as 'world-class'
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino has tagged his star striker Harry Kane as 'world-class' after his side defeated Southampton 5-2 in an English Premier League (EPL) tie.
Man Utd not the best team in the world: Mourinho
Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho feels his club is currently not the best team in the world and the work to re-build a world-class side is still under process.
Proud after Man Utd draw: Burnley's Dyche
Burnley coach Sean Dyche praised his side and said he is proud after registering a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the English Premier League (EPL) football tie here.
England trail by 135 runs on Day 2 of 4th Ashes Test
Alastair Cooks unbeaten century helped England score 192/2, trailing by 135 runs at stumps on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Wednesday.
Dalmia Group becomes owners of Delhi Dashers in PBL 3
Dalmia Bharat Group has become the new owners of the Delhi Dashers franchise for the third edition of the Premier Badminton League (PBL), it was announced here today. The Delhi team, which was known as Delhi Acers in the last two editions, was officially rechristened to Delhi Dashers this season. "It is a privilege moment for us that we have become the proud owners of Delhi Dashers," said Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO of Dalmia Cements. "Supporting such team players can also propagate integration in our country, particularly in the youth. When they see badminton being played the youth think we can also be heroes and heroines," he said at a press conference on the eve of the team's tie against Bengaluru Blasters. Ace shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa, who missed the first match due to her wedding earlier this week, said: "I am thrilled to be a part of Delhi Dashers. The entire team is looking forward to doing well, the team is quite confident to put out a good show and I will try ..
Pep Guardiola is a great leader: Midfielder Fernandinho
Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho on Wednesday credited Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola and said he is a great leader who always keeps him motivated to perform better.
Key moments of 2017 in football
Football in the year just-ending has seen triumphs and setbacks for many national teams and clubs both on and off the pitch. Let's take a look back at some of the defining moments of the beautiful game in 2017.
Association of Indian Football Coaches launched
With the game of football growing fast in the country, the Association of Indian Football Coaches was today launched here, with the recognition of the All India Football Association, to provide a platform and for the welfare of the coaches. "We are starting this to help the coaches with the support of AIFF. It's not a union and we will work with AIFF," said one of its directors and AFC A license coach Dinesh Nair at the media conference to announce the launch of the AiFC. Nair is also the head of the Youth and Grassroots development wing of the ISL outfit, Mumbai City FC. "It's important for everyone to work together as we want to develop many more coaches. Our aim was to develop 6,500 coaches from the 2014 level of 1,200. Now in the next five years we want to make it 65,000 coaches as football is growing rapidly in India," AIFFs COO Kishor Taid said. Apart from Nair, the board of directors of the newly floated coaches body comprises former India captain I M Vijayan, ...
Aiden Markram excels in his 'toughest' Test innings
South African opener Aiden Markram, who had a sublime start to his Test career, has revealed the 'toughest' innings he has played so far.The 23-year-old said that facing the pink ball in twilight conditions against Zimbabwe on Boxing Day was the most difficult challenge he has faced until now."There were a few factors that made it quite difficult ... the pink ball being one. Today was probably the toughest it's been for me so far," Sport24 quoted the 23-year-old, as saying.He also shared about the difficulty he faced in switching formats, after having recently appeared in the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge."It's not always easy to just jump format to format like that. I am still very inexperienced and it was a bit of a challenge for me," he said.Having scored 97, 15, 143 and 125; a total of 380 runs in his first four innings against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe; Markram is already making waves in Test cricket.However, the true test of his caliber will be the upcoming series against India and ...
Former U-19 WC stars urge players to seize opportunities
Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan, who played the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2004, believes the prestigious tournament not only helps in ironing out the flaws of the players but also let them understand how things pan out in top tournaments.India and Pakistan have traditionally done well in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cups, having reached the final five times each in an event that is acknowledged as a stepping stone in the development of all participants - players and match officials.Pakistan made the final of the inaugural edition in 1988 and are the only side to have won back-to-back titles when the Sarfraz Ahmed-led side defeated India in the 2006 final to follow up their 2004 victory. Pakistan also made the final in 2010 and 2014.On the other hand, India have won titles in 2000, 2008 and 2012 while also playing the final in 2016 when the Windies won their first title.Dhawan is all praise at the opportunity that the U19 CWC provides while the likes of Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav , ...
Continental giants India struggle for global success in 2017
The age-old malady of inconsistency remained unaddressed but Indian hockey did take baby steps towards global success in 2017, a year which reaffirmed the nation's continental supremacy in the sport. The Asia Cup crown after a decade and the bronze at the Hockey World League Finals were the high points for India's men's hockey team in the year gone by, where successes at the global stage were few and far between. For the women's team, however, it was a year to remember. The girls won only their second Asia Cup title in October- November and by virtue of the title entered the top-10 of the FIH rankings for the first time. Awe-inspiring at times and ordinary on occasions, that precisely sums up the Indian men's team in 2017. They started the year with a bronze at the Azlan Shah Cup and ended it in the same fashion -- with a bronze in the season-ending HWL Final in Bhubaneswar. In between, it was a roller-coaster ride as Manpreet Singh and Co. continued to grapple for world .
Lazio advance to Coppa Italia semis
Lazio edged Fiorentina 1-0 here to become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia 2017-18.
Veteran sports administrator Ashok Mattoo no more
Veteran sports administrator Ashok Kumar Mattoo, who headed the national boxing and hockey federations at different times, passed away today after prolonged illness. He was 75 and is survived by his wife and two daughters. "Mr Mattoo was unwell for the past 5-6 months. There was nothing in particular but he had been suffering from a lot of age-related ailments because of which he had to be hospitalised as well," Mattoo's close friend and colleague at the now-defunct Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF), Ashok Gangopadhyay, told PTI. "He passed away this morning around 8.30," he added. Highly respected in the Indian sports fraternity, Mattoo served as IABF President for 16 years, the first stint being 1980 to 1989. He came back to take charge in 1993 and served till 2001 before being replaced by Abhay Singh Chautala. "It is a huge loss for Indian boxing. Mr Mattoo was not just a great administrator but also a wonderful human being. He will be missed," said current chief