Page 2225 - Sports
Sevilla sack coach Berizzo less than a month after cancer op
Sevilla Football Club has announced the sacking of chief coach Eduardo Berrizo less than halfway through the season.
Brazilian striker Jo to join Japan's Nagoya Grampus
Former Manchester City and Jiangsu Suning striker Jo has agreed to join Japanese football club Nagoya Grampus from Corinthians, the Brazilian media reported.
Wolfsburg striker Gomez rejoins Stuttgart
Wolfsburg striker Mario Gomez has returned to his former club Stuttgart with immediate effect, both German football clubs have announced.
Kusal Perera shares Sri Lanka's struggle with wrist spinners
Explosive Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Perera has admitted that his team had difficulty in picking Indian spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal during their 88-run loss in the second T20I here. Sri Lanka were cruising at one stage, reaching 145 for one in chase of 261 but chinaman Yadav picked three wickets in a single over to diffuse their challenge. Chahal took four wickets, including that of opener Upal Tharanga (47), as India hammered Sri Lanka by 88 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. "They are bowling really well and generally the wrist- spinners with their variations are hard to pick. But this wicket offered very little for the bowlers and was excellent for batting and we could have done better," Perera said at the post match press conference. "We tried to capitalize with fours and sixes. We didn't want too many dot balls. We tried to hit out and ended up losing too many wickets," added the 27-year-old, who top scored for the ...
T20 series: Formidable India eye whitewash against Sri Lanka
With the series already in their pocket, India will look to give some of the bench players a chance but there will be no let-up in the intensity as they eye a complete whitewash against Sri Lanka in the third and final T20I here tomorrow. For the islanders, it has been a forgetful year, and the two recent defeats against India have just added to their misery. While the hosts thrashed Sri Lanka by 93 runs in the first match at Cuttack, they outclassed them by 88 runs in Indore to seal the series. The visitors also lost the ODIs 1-2 and drew a blank in the Test series held earlier. On the other hand, India have been cruising across all formats and would surely look to end a successful year with another thumping win ahead of a tough tour of South Africa where they play three Tests, six ODIs and three T20s. The constant one-sided results may not be an ideal preparation for India for the upcoming tour, but the positive thing is that in absence of seniors including ...
Sevilla sack cancer-stricken coach Berizzo
Sevilla sacked coach Eduardo Berizzo just a month after it was announced the Argentine is suffering from prostate cancer, the club said, citing poor results. "The Sevilla board... has taken the decision to sack the coach of the first team due to the bad form of the team," Sevilla said in a statement, without making reference to Berizzo's illness. News of Berizzo's condition was released just hours after Sevilla battled back from a 3-0 half-time deficit against Liverpool to secure a famous 3-3 draw that helped book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, where they will face Manchester United. The former Argentine international then missed four matches as he underwent surgery on a tumour with his assistant coach Ernesto Marcucci taking charge. Marcucci's last match in charge was a 5-0 thrashing by Real Madrid, but Berizzo's return to the bench has failed to inspire an upturn in fortunes as Sevilla were held 0-0 at home by Levante a week ago before losing 3-1 ..
Espanyol inflict Atletico's first league defeat
Atletico Madrid failed to put pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona ahead of El Clasico at Real Madrid as they slumped to a first La Liga defeat of the season 1-0 at Espanyol. Sergio Garcia struck the only goal two minutes from time when he swept Esteban Granero's cross past a helpless Jan Oblak to hand Espanyol a much-needed win to ease their relegation fears. Atletico remain six points adrift of Barca, but could end the year nine points back if the Catalans move a huge step towards the title with victory away to Real on Saturday. "You could see that whichever of the two teams made a mistakes was going to lose the game," said Atletico boss Diego Simeone. "They didn't make any mistakes, we did, and that is why we lost." However, Simeone refuted suggestions Atletico had blown a golden opportunity to cut the gap on Barca at the top to three points. "Is it a step backwards to lose for the first time in 20 matches? Hopefully, it takes another 20 for us to lose ...
Liverpool survive Arsenal fightback in six-goal thriller
Liverpool survived an incredible Arsenal fightback as Roberto Firmino rescued a thrilling 3-3 draw in a strong contender for the Premier League's game of the season. Philippe Coutinho's first half opener and Mohamed Salah's strike after the interval appeared to have put Liverpool on course for an early Christmas present at the Emirates Stadium yesterday. But Arsenal hit back in stunning style with three goals in five minutes from Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil. There was one last plot twist as Firmino bagged Liverpool's equaliser to cap a breath-taking clash that was almost as memorable as the Reds' 4-3 victory over Arsenal in the corresponding fixture last season. Fourth placed Liverpool remain one point above fifth placed Arsenal after a Christmas cracker that underlined the qualities and problems with two teams who harboured title ambitions in August, but now trail way behind runaway leaders Manchester City. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 league
Woods splits with swing coach Como
Tiger Woods will press on with his comeback in 2018 without the aid of a swing coach, announcing on Twitter that he is splitting with Chris Como. Woods says he has no immediate plans to replace Como, who began working with the 14-time major champion in November of 2014. "Since my fusion surgery, I have been working hard to relearn my own body and golf swing," Woods tweeted yesterday. "I've done this by primarily relying on my feel and previous years of hard work with Chris. "For now, I think it's best for me to continue to do this on my own. I'm grateful to Chris Como for his past work, and I have nothing but respect for him." Woods's career had already been disrupted by injury when he began working with Como, and he has made just 12 US PGA Tour starts since then. He missed all of the 2015-16 season, and after yet another back surgery in April was sidelined until the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in November -- his first tournament in 10 months. Woods, who said he .
Stokes cuts short NZ stay to return to England
England allrounder Ben Stokes has ended his brief New Zealand cameo and is returning to the England "for family reasons", Canterbury cricket officials confirmed today. Stokes has been playing for Canterbury, his New Zealand birth province, for the past month while waiting to learn if he would be cleared to join the England side in the Ashes series in Australia. In a brief statement, Canterbury Cricket chief executive Jez Curwin said Stokes was leaving for "family reasons", with his wife and young family back in England. "Ben has been great around the club, the team and the staff. We can't fault his attitude or his all-round contribution in his time with us and we are sorry that he couldn't stay with us for longer," Curwin said. The 26-year-old Stokes has been banned from international duties while police investigate his alleged role in a fight outside a nightclub in Bristol three months ago. Curwin told Fairfax media that Stokes' departure had "nothing to do with the ...
Nicholls, Astle set West Indies 326-run target
Henry Nicholls and Todd Astle led New Zealand to a comprehensive 325 for six batting first against the West Indies in the second one-day international in Christchurch today. The pair put on 130 for the sixth wicket with Nicholls unbeaten on 83 while Astle, in only his second ODI, was out in the final over for 49. George Worker and Ross Taylor also chimed in with half- centuries to propel New Zealand into solid position in a match the West Indies need to win to keep the series alive. New Zealand won the first of three ODIs by five wickets on Wednesday. Worker and Colin Munro gave New Zealand a flying start, reaching 50 in the seventh over before Sheldon Cottrell struck. He removed Munro (30) and Neil Broom (six) in quick succession before Worker and Ross Taylor steadied the innings with a 58-run partnership at better than a run-a-ball pace. Worker, who was dropped on seven by wicketkeeper Shai Hope, reached his second consecutive half-century against the West Indies and a
I play according to the field: Rohit
It's not brute power but sublime timing with which Rohit Sharma produces the big knocks and the Indian opener says it is the ability to play according to the field that is key to his batting. "I definitely don't have so much power. I rely a lot on timing the ball more than anything else. I know what my strengths are as well as my weaknesses. I try to play to the field as much as I can, to be honest," Rohit, who flattened the Sri Lankan attack with joint fastest T20 century, said. He clears the boundary ropes with consummate ease, in complete contrast to modern day's aggressive batsmen such as Chris Gayle, who rely on power hitting. Yet he is the only batsman, who has three double hundreds in ODIs and now two in the Twenty20 format. Asked if he makes any technical adjustment to hit the long shots, Rohit explained his strategy. "The field is spread after six overs. I try and see where I can find my boundary options. It's important to be able to play with the field," he ...
Last-minute equaliser seals match for Chennaiyin FC
In a nail-biting finish, Vineeth's 94th minute equaliser with a sharp cross, allowed Rene Mihelic to give Chennaiyin FC the lead in their Hero Indian Super League match against Kerala Blasters at the Marina Arena here on Friday, with the match ending 1-1.Until the deadlock was broken, the Blasters had probably gone closest in the second half when Courage Pekuson turned his man and made space for himself to take a stinging shot which Karanjit Singh expertly palmed away. Rachubka had to make a save of his own at the other end from Gregory Nelson's shot.The save was fitting as it came shortly after he tripped in front of Jeje Lalpekhlua, almost allowing the striker to score. But Jeje stuck a leg out and a foul was given, saving Rachubka's blushes.Soon after the second half started, Chennaiyin's Lalruatthara's cross deflected off Mailson Alves' head and almost beat his own keeper. But minutes later they created a chance, with Anirudh Thapa, Lalpekhlua and Raphael Augusto combining to set .
'Play with the field', says Rohit Sharma post victory
After a spectacular display of cricketing prowess, Indian stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma on Friday said it was his ability to score runs in every nook and corner of the ground that helped him equal the fastest century in Twenty20 International cricket, thus paving way for the hosts' massive 88-run victory here.Sharma, leading India in the absence of the newly-wed regular captain Virat Kohli, matched the record South Africa's David Miller set against Bangladesh in October as he mercilessly took on Sri Lankan bowlers during his century off just 35 balls.The 30-year-old Sharma, who smashed 10 sixes and 12 fours, said he tried to play according to the field setup by the opposition, and not target any specific area to score runs."It is important that you try and play with the field. I want to score all round the park not just in one area. So, for m,e it is important that I try and explore the fielding that the opposition keep for me. In all formats, I try and do that, because hitting in ...
India clinches T20I series against Sri Lanka
India have managed to clinch the three match T20I series against Sri Lanka by winning the second match by 88 runs at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Friday.While chasing a target of 260, Sri Lanka managed only 172 in 20 overs. The islanders lost their last seven wickets for 27 runs as spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal again reigned terror, as the duo shared six wickets among themselves.Earlier, India's stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma produced yet another brilliant performance, as he slammed a quick-fire century, 118, helping his side set a mammoth target of 261 runs for Sri Lanka.Rohit Sharma was declared the Man of the Match for equalling David Miller's record of the fastest T20I century off 35 balls.Besides Rohit and KL Rahul's 89 off 49 balls, wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni also smashed two boundaries and two sixes before falling cheaply for 28.India have now taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 against the Lankans. The third match will be played in Mumbai on ...
Despite leaking runs, I was looking for wickets: Kuldeep
India's chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who scalped crucial three wickets to hand India a 88-run victory against Sri Lanka on Friday, said despite conceding runs, he was looking for wickets.
Always had faith on Kuldeep and Chahal: Rohit
India skipper Rohit Sharma today said he always had faith on Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal despite the spin duo leaking runs during Sri Lanka's chase of a mammoth 260 in the second T20I here. India rode on Rohit's record equalling 35-ball century and KL Rahul's 89 to beat Sri Lanka by 88 runs and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Kuldeep (3/52) and Chahal (4/52) shared seven wickets and Rohit said he was always confident that the duo would bring Indian back into the game. "They have been doing well for India and always they bring us back," said Rohit. I don't mind such games where they are put under pressure, they were ready to take the pressure and Kuldeep changed the game and Chahal has been doing well for sometime now. So I always had belief on them." Talking about his own batting, Rohit said: "The stage was set, good conditions to bat. I was trying to do what I do, hit through the line. It came off really well. I went out there and had ...
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh partners with the EPL in India
The English Premier League has formed an official partnership with Indian film actor Ranveer Singh. The Bollywood star is a passionate football fan and will help promote the Premier League to fans in India and globally. Singh, famous for his lead roles in films such as Bajirao Mastani and Befikre, is a lifelong supporter of Arsenal FC and closely follows Premier League action throughout the season. In this ambassadorial role, he will be working to support the League's community initiatives across India, promote fan events and share his passion for the game. This partnership builds on the Premier League's existing commitment to fans and development of the game in India. The League recently hosted an international fan park in Bengaluru, which saw more than 20,000 Indian fans engage with clubs and activities. The Premier League is committed to supporting the development of the game at both a grassroots and elite level in India and has been running the international community
India beat Sri Lanka by 88 runs in second T20I
A good all-round performance helped India beat Sri Lanka by 88 runs in the second Twenty-20 International (T20I) match at the Holkar Cricket Stadium here on Friday.
IOC punishes 11 more Russian Sochi Olympic competitors
Sochi luge silver medallists Albert Demchenko and Tatyana Ivanova were among a group of 11 Russians disqualified for doping and handed lifetime bans by the International Olympic Committee today. The announcement comes following hearings by an IOC commission into allegations of state-sponsored doping by hosts Russia at the 2014 Winter Games. Demchenko and Ivanova were punished along with two speed skaters, three cross country skiers, two bobsledders and two ice hockey players. These latest IOC sanctions brings to 43 the number of Russians caught out by the Oswald Commission into doping at Sochi with three cases pending. "As some investigations are still ongoing (notably the forensic analysis of the bottles), it cannot be excluded that there might be new elements that would justify opening further new cases and holding more hearings," the IOC said in a statement. The raft of punishments have seen Russia lose top spot in the Sochi medals table having been stripped of 13 of .