Page 2235 - Sports
Russia to learn 2018 Paralympic fate in January - IPC
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Wednesday maintained Russia's doping suspension with a decision on their participation in the 2018 Paralympics to be made in January. In a statement IPC president Andrew Parsons said they had extended the ban as the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) had not made sufficient progress to justify their reinstatement. ""The RPC is making headway with the IPC on three of the five remaining reinstatement criteria. "However sadly, and much to our growing disappointment and frustration, there is a lack of progress regarding an official response from the Russian authorities specifically and adequately addressing the McLaren findings and evidence." Russia were suspended by the IPC in August 2016 following revelations of widespread state-sponsored doping uncovered in a report by Richard McLaren on behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It also saw the country's track and field team banned from the 2016 Rio Olympics. The IPC ...
Pankaj Advani begins with 2 wins
Multiple times world champion Pankaj Advani got his campaign underway today with two wins in the main draw of the 7th National 6-Red snooker tournament here. He defeated Abhimanyu Gandhi (4-0) and R Girish (4-2) in the group matches. Meanwhile, R Girish of RSPB ousted local favourite and junior national champion S Shrikrishna of Tamil Nadu 4-2 in his first group match. Digvijay Kadian whitewashed former Asian gold medallist Manan Chandra 4-0 in his first match. Earlier, Digvijay had shocked Dhruv Sitwala by defeating him in the qualifying rounds. Dhruv Sitwala made the first maximum break of 75 in the tournament against D Rajkumar. Digvijay Kadian whitewashed former Asian gold medallist Manan Chandra 4-0 in his first match. Multiple times national champion Alok Kumar has won both the matches he has played and leads in his group. Local favourite and former Asian Games gold medallist Rafath Habib of RSPB edged past Vinayak Agarwal in the deciding frame 4-3 in his first ...
Indian Oil down BPCL via penalty shootout to clinch Gold Cup
International Talwinder Singh did the star turn by scoring three goals, including the decisive goal in the sudden death penalty shootout, to help Indian Oil, Delhi, edge out Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai, 5-4 and lift the 52nd Bombay Gold Cup hockey title for the second time today. In a closely fought final between the two public sector petroleum firms at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium, Indian Oil took a 1-0 lead early in the first half through Talwinder Singh that was neutralised by Sher Singh of BPCL in the 52nd minute of play. With the teams locked 1-1, the penalty shoot-out was resorted to and it also finished with both teams tied at 4-all after converting three goals each in the shoot-out. The sudden death was applied and, after both Lalit Upadhyay for BPCL and Bharat Chikara for IOL failed to score, captain Birender Lakra was foiled by the Indian Oil custodian Krishan Pathak before Talwinder Singh beat BPCL goalie Vikas Dahiya to notch the match-winner. Indian Oil, thus, ...
Need more 'player-friendly' event scheduling: Nehwal
Indian ace Saina Nehwal is all set to spearhead Awadhe Warriors challenge in the Premier Badminton League (PBL), starting from December 23, but the Hyderabadi shuttler at the same time is also worried about the cramped scheduling of events for the forthcoming year.Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of a PBL event, Nehwal said, "The scheduling of events is not done properly for next year. For the top players, it is going to be very challenging to choose tournament."She added, "There are so many tournaments including the few prestigious ones. Some tournaments are also mandatory to play. It is going to be very challenging for the players to pick and choose the events."Nehwal's concerns come on the backdrop of the fact that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has made it compulsory for the top 15 global players in the singles events and top 10 pairs in the doubles to play a minimum of 12 tournaments or face a penalty.The Olympian lamented that BWF's uneven scheduling of tournaments only ...
Shuttler Marin excited to be back in PBL
Spanish badminton star Carolina Marin on Wednesday rated the Premier Badminton League (PBL) as one of the major tournaments featuring eight World Championship medallists and nine Olympic medallists.
Sri Lanka opt to bowl in first T20I
Sri Lankan captain Thisara Perera won the toss and opted to bowl against India in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) here on Wednesday.
Cuttack T20I: Lanka win toss, ask India to bat first
Sri Lanka have won the toss and have asked India to bat first in the opening T20I of the three-match series here at the Barabati Stadium.Stand-in-skipper Rohit Sharma announced two changes in the last ODI squad. As Shikhar Dhawan has been rested, KL Rahul will return for the T20Is in his natural role at the top of the order, alongside Rohit.Bhuvneshwar Kumar has also been rested and will be replaced by Jaydev Unadkat to partner Jasprit Bumrah in the seam attack.For Sri Lanka, skipper Thisara Perera announced four changes. Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, and Kusal Perera are named in the playing XI.Left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando will be making his T20I debut for Sri Lanka.India have a 6-4 win-loss record in T20I this year and given their outstanding record in Tests and ODIs, the hosts look the most vulnerable in the shortest format.The hosts currently lead Sri Lanka 7-4 on head to head count in T20Is and are yet to lose against them in the last four outings.Having clinched the ...
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Perera wins toss, elects to field against India in 1st T20
Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the first Twenty20 cricket International of the three-match series, here today. Left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando will make his T20I debut for Sri Lanka. Teams: India: Rohit Sharma (C), Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wk), Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Jaydev Unadkat, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal. Sri Lanka: Thisara Perera (C), Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Vishwa Fernando and Nuwan Pradeep.
Shubhankar, Chawrasia to tee off at PGTI tourney
The fast-rising Shubhankar Sharma and the seasoned SSP Chawrasia will be a part of the strong Indian field at the Rs. 1.5 crore McLeod Russel Tour Championship starting tomorrow. While reigning Indian Open champion Chawrasia will yet again be one of the firm favourites at his home course, Sharma and Ajeetesh Sandhu will also take centre-stage having posted their maiden victories on the global stage only recently. Twenty-one-year-old Sharma took the golfing world by storm last week when he became the youngest Indian to win on the European Tour after a career-defining three-shot triumph at the Joburg Open in South Africa. Winning the event, tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour, also earned Sharma a berth at his first Major, next year's British Open, which would be played at Carnoustie. Sharma, also a winner on the PGTI this year, is now returning to one of his favourite venues where he tasted success at a PGTI event in March 2016. "It's not an .
Windies rue poor batting as New Zealand win first ODI
New Zealand cruised to a five-wicket win over the West Indies in the first one-day international on Wednesday as the tourists' batting line-up failed to perform. The return of Chris Gayle could not spark the West Indies, with the short-form master managing only 22 as his team struggled to 248-9 after losing the toss and being sent in to bat. The Black Caps always looked comfortable chasing the modest total, overhauling it with four overs remaining at Whangarei's Cobham Oval. West Indies skipper Jason Holder said his side needed to be "a lot better with the bat" as they chase their first ODI series win in New Zealand since 1995. "It was tough, I didn't think we had enough runs," he said. "We kept losing wickets at crucial stages of the game and never really gathered momentum. "That obviously hampered us today and we've just got to correct it." There were some bright spots for the Windies, with opener Evin Lewis notching a classy 76 and Rovman Powell staging a pugnacious .
Vijender confident of ending 2017 on high
Ace Indian boxer Vijender Singh today said exuded confidence of ending the year on a high note as he takes on African champion Ernest Amuzu of Ghana at the Sawai Man Singh Indoor Stadium here on Saturday. The 32-year-old India, who is WBO Oriental Super Middleweight and WBO Asia Pacific champions, laughed at his opponent's recent statement that he would leave the crowd favourite "beaten and broken" in the upcoming bout. "Perhaps Amuzu has not goggled about me otherwise he would not have dared to talk like that about me. Only time will tell who is going to thrash whom," said Vijuender, who holds a 9-0 professional record. "I can't predict how long would the fight last but I can assure you that the first round of the bout would set the tone. I am an experienced boxer and I know what and how to do. I have undergone rigorous training sessions for almost two months. I am fully prepared physically and mentally to defend my titles and want to end my year on a winning note in ...
Arsenal striker Giroud to miss Liverpool fixture
Arsenal key striker Olivier Giroud will miss the English Premiere League (EPL) clash with Liverpool on Friday following his suspected hamstring injury against West Ham.
For Saina, fitness is now priority number one
Saina Nehwal has realised that world's top players are supremely fit and she too has shifted her focus on attaining high level of fitness to remain a potent challenger on the circuit. Nehwal says she won't be bothered if she does not win many Super Series titles next season. "I am not challenging myself to win the Super Series because I have won a lot in the past, so I am not worried about that. But I have to get fitness at the right time, when I want to," Saina told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of PBL. "I don't believe in tournaments anymore, so no tournament, no titles, just fitness will be my priority next year," said Nehwal, who had suffered a career-threatening knee injury a few days ahead of the Rio Olympics. She clinched the Malaysia Masters in January, before winning a bronze at the World Championship and Senior Nationals this season. In a free-wheeling interaction, Nehwal said: "After a series of first round and second round exits in the first .
Marin slams BWF service rule change as 'stupid'
Rio Olympics gold medallist shuttler Carolina Marin on Wednesday slammed Badminton World Federation's (BWF) proposed service rule change as "stupid". It will be implemented from the All England championship next year.
India's Raghu, Javed named as umpires for Hockey World Cup
India's Raghu Prasad and Javed Shaikh were on Wednesday named in the list of umpires appointed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for the 2018 Hockey Mens World Cup in Bhubaneswar.
Pacer Gurbani brings Vidarbha to brink of Ranji trophy final
Vidarbha rode pacer Rajneesh Gurbani's match-changing spell in the final session of the fourth day to stand on the brink of their maiden Ranji Trophy final appearance, needing just three wickets to win against Karnataka in the semi-final clash here at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
No.1 Test side India should win in every condition: Gambhir
Out-of-favour opener Gautam Gambhir feels being the world's No.1 Test side, India should win in "every condition" as Virat Kohli and his men embark on a tough Test and limited-overs series in South Africa starting next month. India would look to shed the tag of poor travellers in 2018 as the team embarks on a series of overseas tours starting with South Africa. Post South Africa, next year India will also travel to England and Australia, where conditions will not be as conducive to the spinners as they are at home. Besides, the famed Indian batting line-up will also be tested by the moving ball. Kohli might have won 20 of his 32 Tests as captain, but the memories of two seasons of home dominance will recede quickly if Kohli and India fail to deliver on foreign land. "It's going to be a tough tour because South Africa is a very good side especially in their own backyard. They have got quality bowling, they have got quality batting. India really has to play well to beat ...
Vidarbha inch closer to maiden Ranji final
Vidarbha stood on the verge of making their maiden Ranji Trophy final as they left fancied Karnataka, chasing 198, in a spot of bother at 111 for seven on the fourth day of their last-four clash, here today. At stumps on the penultimate day, Karnataka skipper R Vinay Kumar (19) and Shreyas Gopal (1) were batting at the Eden Gardens. Resuming at 195 for four and with a lead of only 79, Vidarbha relied on a solid 55 from Aditya Sarwate, whose primary duty is to take wickets with his left-arm spin bowling, to reach 313 before being all out. Overnight on 71, Ganesh Satish was castled by Abhimanyu Mithun for addition of only 10 more runs. R Vinay Kumar and allrounder Stuart Binny picked up three wickets apiece and Sreenath Aravind had two to his name. Chasing a modest total with more than a day to spare, Karnataka were off to a disastrous start as they lost Mayank Agarwal (3) quickly. Ravikumar Samarth (24) and Dega Nischal (7) got out in quick succession, but the big blow was
I don't lack motivation, won't call it quits, says Gambhir
With age not on his side, the chances of a national comeback look relatively bleak for Gautam Gambhir despite his golden run in domestic cricket, but the feisty India opener says he won't give up just yet. For Gambhir, regarded one of the most complete batsmen in Indian cricket, what matters is "motivation" and the day he loses it, he won't shy away from calling it quits. Gambhir continues to turn up for Delhi, which made it to the final of the premier Ranji Trophy this season after 10 years. Gambhir might be out of national reckoning, but he has been in ominous form this season and that is precisely one of the reasons behind Delhi's success. "Keep scoring runs, that is what you can control and you can do. You can't control things which are not in your hands. The only thing you can control is to get a bat in your hand, go out there, perform and score as many runs as possible," Gambhir told PTI in an interview. "That is what you are meant to do and that is what I am ...