Page 232 - Sports
Blackburn coach praises Aniket Jadhav
Blackburn Rovers head coach Tony Mowbray heaped praise for Indian footballer Aniket Jadhav saying that he is athletic and very enthusiastic."The vast majority of his training has been with the academy system. His main training has been with his own age group and the players who we feel would be best for him to show his talent," Goal.com quoted Mowbray, as saying."I don't see him train every day, I have seen him train twice. He has come up with the first team on a few days when we probably needed some extra players to make the session work. I think he has got good attributes - he is athletic and mobile. I think he likes to get on the ball and play and pass. The days I watched him, he was very enthusiastic," he added.Jadhav, who featured for the India U-17 team at the 2017 FIFA World Cup which was held in India, joined the Blackburn Rovers in March from Indian Super League (ISL) side Jamshedpur FC for a training stint.Mowbray also opined that there are some qualities which the Indian ...
Alex Hales eyes England comeback at World T20
Alex Hales, who was dropped from the England World Cup squad, is eyeing a comeback to the national side for the next year's T20 World Cup to be held in October on the back of some good performances in T20 leagues across the globe.
Smith sounds warning bell, stars in World Cup warm-up
Steve Smith sounded warning bells for the opposition teams going into the World Cup after he extended his pre-tournament purple patch with another half-century to help Australia defeat West Indies by seven wickets in the unofficial warm-up game.
Usman Khawaja survives Russell's nasty bouncer
Australia faced a minor hiccup on Wednesday as Usman Khawaja was struck by a bouncer bowled by West Indies player Andre Russell during a practice match between the teams ahead of the World Cup at Hampshire's Nursery Ground.After the incident, Khawaja was forced to retire hurt in the second over of the inning when Australia were chasing a modest target of 230 runs. Khawaja did not take part in the game afterwards and went to the hospital for x-rays. However, after the scans on his jaw, Khawaja was cleared of serious injury.Shaun Marsh, who scored an unbeaten 55 in the match, termed the Khawaja incident 'scary'. "It was very scary. It copped him on the side of the cheekbone ... The main thing is he is OK and can bounce back pretty quickly," Cricket.com.au quoted Marsh as saying.It was Steve Smith (76) and Shaun Marsh's brilliant half-centuries which helped Australia chase the target in the absence of their in-form batsman Khawaja and register a seven-wicket victory over West ...
FIFA drops plans for 48-team 2022 World Cup
FIFA shelved a proposed expansion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams, dealing a blow to the world football body's president Gianni Infantino. The 2022 tournament in the Gulf state will now be played with 32 nations taking part. FIFA said it had abandoned the expansion plans "following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process" which led to the conclusion that "under the current circumstances such a proposal could not be made now". "(The tournament) will therefore remain as originally planned with 32 teams and no proposal will be submitted at the next FIFA Congress on 5 June," FIFA said in a statement. The expansion was a pet project of Infantino, who pushed the idea despite the likely need for Qatar's neighbours to put aside a two-year blockade and help to host an expanded tournament. "The involvement of these countries in the organisation of the tournament jointly with Qatar implies the lifting of this blockade, in particular the lifting of restrictions on the ...
Uncertainty over Serena fitness, Osaka form at Roland Garros
Serena Williams heads into this year's French Open as an outsider for a Grand Slam title for possibly the first time in 20 years, with questions surrounding her fitness after a poor start to the season, while Naomi Osaka needs to rediscover her best form to solidify her position at the top of the women's game with a third straight major crown. The 37-year-old Williams is still waiting for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam triumph, with her last victory coming at the 2017 Australian Open shortly before taking a break from the sport due to pregnancy. She impressed initially after returning, but last year twice fell just short of drawing level with Margaret Court's mark, losing in the Wimbledon final to Angelique Kerber before her infamous meltdown en route to another final defeat by Osaka at Flushing Meadows. Williams' 2019 campaign has not gone to plan so far, with a series of injuries seeing her manage just four matches since her Australian Open quarter-final exit to Karolina ...
Ajinkya Rahane scores century on County debut
Middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane, who failed to make a cut in the 15-member India squad for the upcoming World Cup, scored a brilliant century on his County debut for Hampshire.
Boxing expected to maintain status at Tokyo Olympics
Boxing is set to appear on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games calendar, while the recognition of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should be suspended, according to the recommendation of the IOC's Executive Board to next month's IOC Session.
Federer, Nadal threaten Djokovic bid for historic Slam
Novak Djokovic can become only the second man in history to have twice held all four Grand Slam titles at the same time with victory at the French Open. However, a returning Roger Federer and rejuvenated Rafael Nadal will once again stand in his way. World number one Djokovic completed his first private stranglehold of all four Slams with victory at Roland Garros in 2016. Having clinched the 2018 Wimbledon and US Open titles and then a seventh Australian Open crown in January this year, the Serb is tantalisingly close to another 'Djoko Slam'. Federer and Nadal, with 20 and 17 career Grand Slam titles each respectively, may be ahead of 15-time major winner Djokovic in total hauls and have also completed career Slams. However, not even Federer or Nadal have managed to hold all four of the sport's greatest prizes at the same time. It is such a rare feat that only Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) -- all calendar Grand Slams -- have pulled off the sweep in the sport's ...
Track star Felix criticizes Nike maternity policy
Olympic track and field star Allyson Felix joined a chorus of recent criticism against Nike on Wednesday, accusing the US sporting goods giant of penalizing female athletes who took time off to have a child. Felix, the only female track and field athlete to win six Olympic gold medals, wrote in the New York Times she had been offered a vastly reduced contract by Nike since taking time off in 2018 during her pregnancy. The 33-year-old former 200m Olympic champion spoke out after US team-mates Alysia Montano and Kara Goucher levelled similar allegations against Nike as part of an investigation by the Times last week. "They told stories we athletes know are true, but have been too scared to tell publicly: If we have children, we risk pay cuts from our sponsors during pregnancy and afterward," Felix wrote in the Times. "It's one example of a sports industry where the rules are still mostly made for and by men." Felix, who gave birth to a baby girl in December, said she had decided to ...
World Cup exile Hales will still cheer on England
Alex Hales insists he will still support England at the upcoming World Cup despite his shock exile from international cricket. The Nottinghamshire batsman was on course to feature for World Cup hosts England until a report in the Guardian newspaper last month revealed he was serving a 21-day ban following a second positive test for recreational drug use. The England and Wales Cricket Board responded to the report by announcing that Hales, a member of the provisional World Cup squad, had been withdrawn from international duty. Hales, 30, is now turning his attention instead to a stint with the Barbados Tridents in the seventh season of the Caribbean Premier League. The hard-hitting batsman, speaking after being selected as the first pick in the draft for the Twenty20 franchise competition staged in London on Wednesday, said he still wanted England to win the World Cup in his absence. "I'm still a fan and wish all the boys all the best. What we have done over the last few years has been
I am hungrier than ever before: Hashim Amla
South Africa batsman Hashim Amla, who missed the one-day series against Sri Lanka earlier this year and also the Indian Premier League, stated that he had his time away and now he is hungrier than ever before to be back on the field."Things happen that you don't anticipate and I did not anticipate how things have gone recently. But I am a firm believer that when something happens, there is some good in it. I have had time away and now I am really looking back to wearing the green and gold again," ICC quoted Amla, as saying."I am hungrier than ever before, there is no doubt about that. I have been blessed to have this shirt for a while but the time off has made me want to come back stronger," he added.The 36-year-old has already played twice in the World Cup (2011, 2015) and this will be his third appearance in the premier tournament. Amla will try to make the most of this World Cup as it will likely be his last chance of lifting the coveted trophy.The Proteas will face England in the .
Tendulkar feels Dhoni should bat at No. 5 in World Cup
Former India batsman Sachin Tendulkar feels that MS Dhoni should bat at number five in the forthcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, which will begin on May 30 in England and Wales."My personal opinion is Dhoni should be batting five. I still don't know what the team combination would be, but if you are going Rohit and Shikhar as openers, to Virat (Kohli) at number 3 and whoever at number 4 then Dhoni could be No. 5," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Tendulkar, as saying."Then Hardik Pandya, an explosive player, follows them. That way the experienced batsmen are well spaced out and Dhoni can stretch the game towards the end where he himself can be explosive along with Hardik," he added.Tendulkar, who is the highest run-getter in both one-day international and Test cricket, also enunciated that India should use Shikhar Dhawan wisely as he is the only left-hander in the India batting line-up.When asked whether Dhawan should bat as deep as possible, Master Blaster said: "Yes, of course. A left-right .
2022 World Cup to keep 32-team format: FIFA
FIFA on Wednesday shrugged off any possibility of expansion from 32 to 48 teams at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Sethu FC crowned as Indian Women's League champions
Sethu FC turned around a first-half deficit to clinch their first ever Indian Women's League trophy after defeating Manipur Police 3-1 at the Guru Nanak Stadium on Wednesday.Radharani Devi had put Manipur in the lead towards the end of the first half. But an own goal by Umapati Devi put Sethu back in the game before their Nepal international Sabitra Bhandari turned up the heat to score two goals and win it for the Madurai-based side.Sethu kept the Manipur attackers in check and built on their swift counter-attacks to move the ball up the pitch quickly. Their left winger Sandhiya looked lively in the opening exchanges as she bombed down the left flank to give a lot of trouble to the Manipur defence.The India international had the first clear chance a little after 10 minutes when she received the ball just inside the box and pulled the trigger. However, she scuffed her instep shot and it lacked any sting. The winger had another good chance when she received the ball from a melee inside .
Warm-Up tie: Australia crush West Indies by seven wickets
Australia eased to a seven wicket victory over West Indies in the first of their three warm-up games in the lead up to the ICC World Cup. Batting first, West Indies scored 229 in 49.2 overs after being reduced to 104 for 6 at one stage. At the small Nursery ground with ridiculously short boundaries, Australia chased the target in 38.2 overs with Steve Smith (76) and Shaun Marsh (55) scoring half-centuries. Skipper Aaron Finch scored 42 at the top while Usman Khawaja was retired hurt for 5. While batting, opener Evin Lewis (50 off 56 balls) and Carlos Brathwaite (60 off 64) struck fifties. It was the seventh wicket stand of 74 between Brathwaite and Sunil Ambris (37) that ensured a decent total for the Caribbeans. Andre Russell (5) was bowled by leg-spinner Adam Zampa (1/42). Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc got a couple of wickets each.
Denmark beat Indonesia 3-2 in Sudirman Cup 2019
Denmark and Indonesia both advanced to the last eight despite the former beating the latter 3-2 in Sudirman Cup 2019, here on Wednesday. And with this, England journey in the tournament came to an end.
Archery World Cup: Deepika, Tarundeep advance; Atanu crashes out
Four Indians including Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai advanced into third round even as Atanu Das crashed out in the recurve individual section of the Archery World Cup Stage III here Wednesday. Making their first international appearance this season after missing out the season-opening World Cup Stage I in Medellin due to travel issues, the Indians also kept themselves in medal hunt in the compound section where Avishek Verma and Rajat Chauhan also made it to round three. The 21-year-old Atul Verma, a bronze medalist at the 2014 Youth Olympics, was the most impressive, shocking Shanghai World Cup gold medallist Deng Yu-Cheng of Chinese Taipei in a shoot-off. Trailing 0-4 after two sets, Verma, a silver medalist at the 2017 World Youth Championship, made a stunning comeback winning the next two sets before the fifth one saw a 28-all tie. In the shoot-off, Verma held his nerves to edge out his opponent 9-8 to set up a third round clash against world number two Steve Wijler of the ...
Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri praises Eden Hazard
Chelseas coach Maurizio Sarri on Wednesday said that Belgium forward Eden Hazard, who is linked with a move to Real Madrid, would be a good fit for any team.
India Open International Boxing: Amit Panghal, Shiva Thapa enter semi-finals
Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal and Asian Championships bronze medallist Shiva Thapa marched their way into the semi-finals of the India Open International Boxing on Wednesday.Amit and Shiva in 52 kg and 60 kg, respectively, confirmed medals in the second edition of the tournament at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi AC Indoor Stadium.Amit faced some early resistance from Thailand's veteran Chakapong Chanpirom whom he was meeting for the very first time in his career. But the 23-year-old soon proved his mettle to earn a 5-0 win."It was a tight bout. A lot of boxers have changed the category from 49 kg to 52 kg like me. So it's important to study each one carefully and chalk out separate strategies for each," said Amit after having changed his weight category with an eye on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Shiva soared to a 5-0 win over Hellene Damien of Mauritius. The local boy, who became the first Indian to win medals from four consecutive Asian Championships just last month, ...