Page 2220 - Sports
India finish runners-up in SAFF U15 Women's Championship
India finished runners-up after going down 1-0 to Bangladesh in the final of the SAFF U15 Women's Championship in Dhaka. In a closely contested game, Shamsun Nahar's strike in the 41st minute sealed the issue in Bangladesh's favour. After blanking out Bhutan and Nepal, India lost to Bangladesh in the group stages, as the hosts bagged the title.
Ashes: England seamer Overton ruled out of Boxing Day Test
The England Cricket Board (ECB) on Sunday announced that seamer Craig Overton has been ruled out of the Boxing Day Test against Australia with a fractured rib.
Kenya gets small quota, promises better performance at CWG
Kenya will have to enter a leaner team of 132 to the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast from April 4 to 15, 2018, after its quota was reduced.
Real Madrid have not lost the La Liga: Marcelo
Real Madrid star defender Marcelo Vieira said the defending champions have not lost the ongoing season of the La Liga after registering a thumping 0-3 defeat against Barcelona.
Ben Stokes to get go-ahead for IPL 2018
Former English vice-captain Ben Stokes might be given approval by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to put his name into the next month's Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.According to The Guardian, Stokes was IPL's highest-paid overseas player, securing a 1.7m-pound-deal at Pune in 2017 and also went on to win the season's most valuable player award.The 26-year-old all-rounder was recently also given a no-objection certificate (NOC) by ECB allowing him to play for Canterbury in New Zealand, which ended on Saturday, after which Stokes opted to return to England for Christmas.Stokes is now likely to see the ECB grant him the necessary NOC for the IPL as well."That is for Ben to decide. Having given an NOC for New Zealand, it will be difficult for us to say on balance we would not apply the same thinking to other parts of the world," said ECB chief executive, Tom Harrison, on Ben entering the IPL auction.Earlier in October, Stokes was withdrawn from the Ashes squad by the ECB .
Nadal withdraws from Abu Dhabi season opener
World number one Rafael Nadal has pulled out from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, the season-opening exhibition event in Abu Dhabi next week, due to lingering fitness concerns.The latest news casts some serious doubt as to whether the 31-year-old Spaniard will be ready to play some competitive tennis by the start of the year at the Brisbane international, reports News.com.au.The Spaniard will be replaced by compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut for the six-man event.Last month, Nadal had announced the withdrawal from the ATP finals citing a knee injury after he was defeated by Belgium's first-time qualifier David Goffin in the opening match.The injury had also forced him out of Paris Masters in November.Nadal had won the French Open and the US Open this year while returning to the top of the rankings for the first time since June 2014.
Victoria Azarenka to miss ASB Classic in Auckland
A continuing custody dispute has prevented two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka from resuming her tennis career at the ASB Classic in Auckland from Jan 1. Azarenka notified tournament organizers on Sunday that she will be unable to play the tournament for "personal reasons." The former world No. 1 has not played since Wimbledon in July because she cannot leave California until a dispute with her former partner over the custody of their son Leo is resolved. Tournament director Karl Budge said "there is obviously a fair bit going on and unfortunately the result of that is that Victoria won't be here next week. That's a tough one for her. She's been training hard and is a professional tennis player that wants to be playing tennis." Azarenka has been given a wild card into the Australian Open which begins Jan 15.
Mourinho slams 'childish' United
Jose Mourinho blasted his "childish" Manchester United stars after they conceded a last-gasp equaliser in a damaging 2-2 draw at 10-man Leicester, here yesterday. Mourinho's side were seconds away from a win that would have kept them in touch with Premier League leaders Manchester City. After falling behind to Jamie Vardy's strike, United led through Juan Mata's double, but the visitors switched off in stoppage-time and Leicester's Harry Maguire snatched a dramatic leveller. United are now 13 points adrift of City and Mourinho was furious with his team's late defensive blunder and a series of woeful finishes when chances arose to kill the game. "We didn't win because missed incredible chances. I would say joke chances," Mourinho said. "We made a big defensive accumulation of mistakes in an easy match to win. I talked to the players at half time when it was 1-1 that it was an easy match to win. "We were punished by our mistakes. Childish loss of possession, so easy. ...
India aim a clean sweep in last T20I against Lanka
Having pocketed the three-match T20I series already, India will be looking to whitewash Sri Lanka in the final match, here at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.Playing under zero pressure, India might consider giving a T20I debut to Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar or Baroda all-rounder Deepak Hooda and other young IPL candidates.So far, the visitors have been kept silent on the batting front by the wrist-spinner duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.Stand-in-skipper Rohit Sharma has been enjoying a stupendous form in the series, having hit the fastest T20I century, 118, in Indore.Young KL Rahul has also grabbed his opportunity at the top of the other with back-to-back half-centuries in the previous two matches.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will not be enjoying the services of Angelo Mathews, who has been ruled out of the final match due to a hamstring injury.Danushka Gunathilaka or Dasun Shanaka is likely to be preferred as the replacement of the left-hander.With the Wankhede quick ..
Overton ruled out of Boxing Day Test
England seamer Craig Overton was ruled out of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in the ongoing Ashes series after sustaining a rib injury.Overton was hit by a Pat Cummins bouncer while batting on debut in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, which he then aggravated in the Perth Test earlier this week.With the England medical staff warning that Overton could potentially puncture a lung if he sustained another blow in the same area, it has been decided not to risk his health in the fourth Test. He must be considered a significant doubt for the Sydney Test, too, the ESPNcricinfo reported.Tom Curran, Mark Wood and Mason Crane are the bowlers who are likely to replace Overton.The 23-year-old made an unbeaten 41 in his debut for England and has claimed six wickets in his two matches to date.Having won the Perth Test by an innings and 41 runs, Australia have already regained the coveted urn as they have now the insurmountable lead in the series.England, who are trailing by 0-3 in the Ashes ...
Guardiola says Aguero will decide own future
Pep Guardiola said Sergio Aguero had earned the right to determine his own Manchester City future after the Argentinian striker scored a brace in a 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth. The build-up to yesterday's contest was dogged by talk of Aguero's supposed discontent at the Etihad Stadium as Guardiola continues to rotate his starting XI. Aguero, City's all-time leading scorer, is reported to have held talks with club owner Khaldoon Al Mubarak, but he showed no signs of unhappiness against Bournemouth as he scored twice and set up a goal for Raheem Sterling. "I respect Sergio a lot, about all he has done and what he will do in the future," said City manager Guardiola after the Premier League leaders' 17th successive league win. "He is a legend. He will decide absolutely everything about his life and his future. I'm delighted to have him here with Gabriel (Jesus) and all the squad. "Aguero is a special player, a legend, and I am so happy when he plays good and he is scoring ..
Brazilian striker Fred joins ex-club Cruzeiro
Brazilian striker Fred has rejoined his former side Cruzeiro from their local rivals Atletico Mineiro.
Bacca leads Villarreal to 1-0 win over Valencia in La Liga
Colombian Carlos Bacca led Villarreal to a 1-0 win over host Valencia in the 17th round of Spanish First Division soccer action, earning the win at the Mestalla for the third consecutive year.
Brazil's Botafogo name former striker as coach
Brazil's Botafogo have appointed former striker Felipe Conceicao as their senior coach for the 2018 season.
Man City claim 17th straight win, Kane equals record
Manchester City racked up a 17th consecutive Premier League victory after Sergio Aguero's 100th and 101st Etihad Stadium goals inspired a 4-0 win over Bournemouth, here yesterday. Aguero scored twice and set up Raheem Sterling as Pep Guardiola's side made it 18 wins and one draw in the first half of the season. City are 13 points clear of second placed Manchester United, who lost more ground on the leaders after conceding a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw at 10-man Leicester. Harry Kane equalled the record for Premier League goals in a calendar year with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win at Burnley that lifted Tottenham Hotspur to fifth place, while third- place Chelsea drew 0-0 at Everton. Hailing Aguero, Guardiola said: "He is a special player, a legend, and I am so happy when he plays good and he is scoring goals." City are now two wins off the record for consecutive victories in Europe's top five leagues, which was set by Guardiola's Bayern Munich in 2013-14. They have ...
Sushil's Phoenix-like rise exposes wrestling's sorry tale
Indian wrestling would have remained a tale of highs and lows had it not been for two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar's Phoenix-like rise, which gave a reality check to a sport that hasn't moved much since his sudden exit from the scene three years ago. Wrestling have accounted for medals at the Olympics since 2008 Beijing Games, but overall it has failed to lived up to the hype it once created, and it was evident in 2017. Despite winning a number of medals, Indians were found wanting on many occasions with none coming close to the class of Sushil or Yogeshwar Dutt, and even Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik failed to up the glamour quotient with her inconsistent performances. For a 34-year-old, making a comeback was a tough task, but Sushil hardly faced any such threat on the way to winning a gold at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship. He showed class is permanent, and that the youngsters still have a long way to go, at least in his weight category -- .
I am ready to fight for Commonwealth, World title: Vijender
Indian boxing's poster boy Vijender Singh now has his eyes trained on the Commonwealth and World Championship title, the hunger for success not quite satiated by his 10th straight win on the pro circuit. The 32-year-old Vijender last night floored West African Boxing Union Middleweight champion Ernest Amuzu with an unanimous verdict to retain his WBO Oriental and Asia Pacific Super middleweight titles. The Commonwealth Super Middleweight title is currently held by Great Britain's Luke Blackledge, a very talented 27- year-old boxer with 23 wins, including eight knockouts, from 30 fights. While Blackledge could prove to be his toughest opponent so far, for the time being India's Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist was delighted to have signed off the year on a high. "Happy to end this year on a winning note. Now I will look forward to play at least two titles next year -- Commonwealth and World title. I would like to thank the people of Jaipur for making this .
Australia paceman Cummins defends bouncers at tail-enders
Fast bowler Pat Cummins says Australia will continue to bowl bouncers at England's tail- enders during the last two tests of the Ashes cricket series despite concerns the tactic is intimidating and potentially dangerous. Australia has already won the five-test series 3-0 and the fourth Test begins at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday. Cummins struck England No. 11 James Anderson on the side of the head shortly before the end of the third test at Perth, leaving a bruise on the Englishman's ear. He said yesterday that the tactic of short-pitched bowling at tail-enders is legitimate and that he has faced more than 50 bouncers from England's pacemen in the series so far. In a newspaper column this week, former England captain Mike Atherton called on the umpires of the fourth and fifth tests to more stringently enforce rules around intimidatory bowling. Cummins said Australia had deliberately targeted the England tail-enders with bouncers and would continue to do ...
Australia captain hit on hand, should be OK for MCG test
Australia captain Steve Smith was struck on his right hand by a stray ball near the nets as the team prepared for Tuesday's start to the fourth Test against England. Smith was standing to the side of the Melbourne Cricket Ground nets on Sunday when he was struck by a ball that had been hit by Cameron Bancroft. Smith later had a hit but was in obvious discomfort. Opener David Warner said Smith was OK and would play in the fourth test. Australia has clinched the Ashes series 3-0. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with him, he's fine," Warner said. "He was confused how it actually got there. I think we all were. It hit the top of the rail and then just flicked up." Smith was struck on the same hand while working on his slips catching at training earlier in the season. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who delayed his arrival into Melbourne after his father-in-law had a stroke, trained with the squad today. "It's a tough time for them. We're doing everything we can to get behind him ..
Ashes gone, pride at stake for wounded England at MCG
England are contemplating changes as they look to restore battered pride in Tuesday's fourth Melbourne Test after surrendering the Ashes to Australia. It's been a tour from hell for Joe Root's beleaguered team, succumbing to three heavy defeats and rendering the last two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney as "dead rubbers." Root has been in the eye of the storm over the tourists underwhelming efforts with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting deriding him as a "little boy" who has been a "bit soft" during the one-sided series. Several other under-performing senior players, notably Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali, have also been under the gun with some critics calling for their axing. England are more likely to call up either Tom Curran or Mark Wood for injured paceman Craig Overton who is in doubt with a cracked rib, while young leg-spinner Mason Crane is pushing for a Test debut. England and Wales Cricket Board chief Tom Harrison typified the feelings inside the ...