Page 243 - Sports
Mbappe wants responsibility, 'maybe at PSG, maybe elsewhere'
Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe fuelled speculation surrounding his future on Sunday, saying that he wants "responsibilities, maybe at PSG, maybe elsewhere". The 20-year-old backed up his excellent 2018 World Cup, where he scored four times as France won the trophy, by netting 38 times for PSG this season. He was named as the Ligue 1 player of the season on Sunday, but did not deny that a potential move away from France could be in the offing. "It (the award) is an important moment for me, a turning point in my career... The moment of having more responsibilities, maybe at PSG, maybe elsewhere," he told BeIN Sports. Mbappe did not back down on his comments when asked about them in the mixed zone a few minutes later. "For me, it was the moment to say it... When I say something, I think about it," he said, reiterating his desire to have more "responsibilities". "If it's at PSG, it's good, if it's elsewhere, it will be elsewhere for a new challenge." Mbappe has been regularly ...
Atalanta grab crucial point at Allegri's Juventus farewell party
Departing Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri bid farewell to the Turin fans in the team's final home game this season on Sunday, a 1-1 stalemate against Atalanta that kept the visitors' hopes of a first-ever Champions League qualification alive. The Juventus fans paid tribute to Allegri, who the club's management have decided will not be their coach next season, despite winning 11 trophies in five years, but missing out on winning the Champions League. Juventus have already wrapped up their record eighth consecutive title, which was Allegri's fifth. The team were officially presented with this year's Serie A trophy -- the first for Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Former World Cup winner Andrea Barzagli played his final home game after eight years in Turin, and received an resounding ovation when he came off after an hour. On the pitch, forward Mario Mandzukic struck ten minutes from time to cancel out Josip Ilicic's 33rd-minute goal for Atalanta. The point keeps Atalanta's ...
MotoGP: Marquez secures Honda's 300th premier class win
Marc Marquez took his third win of the 2019 season with another dominating performance as teammate Jorge Lorenzo took his best finish of the season with 11th position at the French MotoGP.
Pakistan cricketer Asif Ali's daughter dies after cancer treatment
Pakistan batsman Asif Ali is expected to leave the tour of England following the death of his daughter, who had been having treatment for cancer in the United States. A statement issued by Islamabad United, the team Asif plays for in the Pakistan Super League, late Sunday said: "ISLU family pays its deepest condolences to @AasifAli2018 on the tragic loss of his daughter. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Asif & his family. Asif is a great example of strength & courage. He is an inspiration to us." Earlier on Sunday, the 27-year-old Ali made 22 during Pakistan's 54-run defeat by England in the fifth and final one-day international at Headingley -- a loss that saw England take the series 4-0 after the opening match was washed out. Ali featured in every game of the series, scoring two fifties with a career best of 52 in the third ODI in Bristol. The hard-hitting Ali has scored 342 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 31.09. He was not included in Pakistan's preliminary squad for ...
Nadal can't wait to return to new-look Roland Garros
Defending French Open champion Rafael Nadal said Sunday he can't wait to hit the clay courts of Roland Garros after claiming his first title this season and ninth Italian Open trophy. Nadal defeated world number one Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 for a record 34rd Masters, leaving his vanquished foe to label the Spaniard as "the number one favourite for Roland Garros". "I am going to be there with time enough, as always," said 32-year-old Nadal, who wants to capture a 12th trophy in Paris. "I'm going to repeat my normal routines. For sure I can't wait to be there and have the feeling, see the stadium, watch all the new great things that Roland Garros is doing," the 17-time Grand Slam winner said of the rebuilt Philippe Chatrier Centre Court. "I saw a picture. Looks great. Still open, still not closed. Is a different stadium, but the feeling probably will not be very different. "This year, I don't see a big difference. The wind is going to be the same as always. Court is still big." His .
Woakes guides England win final ODI before World Cup
Fast bowler Chris Woakes' five-wicket haul guided England to win its final ODI before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019.Coming with three victories in the five-match bilateral series against Pakistan, England won by 54 runs at Headingley, Leeds on Sunday night.Chasing a par total of 352, Pakistan were 6/3 as Woakes trapped the top-order. Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed successfully brought their side into contention with a 146 partnership. Soon both fell to run outs in quick succession as Babar (80) was caught short by Adil Rashid while wicket-keeper Jos Buttler removed the bails of Sarfaraz, who was three shy hundred.Asif Ali and Imad Wasim helped Pakistan cross the 200-run mark. The lower-order of the visiting side swung the bat around, however, England's fielding proved the difference.Woakes returned to pick two more wickets in the name of Wasim (25) and Hasan Ali (11) while Asif (22) was dismissed by pacer David Willey. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid completed the formalities and got ...
Nadal claims 34th Masters title in Rome
Spain's Rafael Nadal has claimed a record 34th ATP Masters 1000 crown, beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 with a statement victory in an epic Italian Open final.
Ethiopian Belihu, Kenyan Tirop win TCS 10K marathon
Ethiopian Andamlak Belihu and Kenya's Agnes Tirop won the men's and women's titles in the TCS World 10K marathon run in this tech hub on Sunday.
Rafael Nadal edges out Djokovic to win 9th Italian Open title
The Spanish Rafael Nadal has clinched the Italian Open 2019 title after vanquishing Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 in the final here on Sunday. This is Nadal's ninth Italian Open title.Nadal came out furiously in the first set and dominated throughout while Djokovic struggled to add even a single point to his side. Consequently, with 6-0, Nadal whitewashed the Serbian.However, in the second set, Djokovic made a comeback and won the set, 6-4, from a little margin. With this victory, Djokovic got some hope and the match went on to the third set.But Nadal in the third and decisive set as well produced a similar performance and overpowered Djokovic to win the set by 6-1 and hence won the Italian Open 2019.Notably, it is the 81st title of Nadal's career.Whereas, in Women's single Czech's Karolina Pliskova registered two straight-set victory against Britain's Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-4 to claim the Italian Open title.
China outclass Malaysia 5-0 in Sudirman Cup
China thrashed Malaysia 5-0 in the opening Group D tie of the Sudirman Cup badminton tournament here on Sunday.
Phil Simmon to step down as Afghanistan coach after World Cup
Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons said that he will step down from his position after the conclusion of International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Cricket World Cup."I have thought about it and I have actually given the ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board) my notice that I will not be renewing my contract. I will move on to something different once my contract expires on July 15," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Simmons, as saying.The former West Indies opener took the charge back in December 2017 and said that he helped ACB in achieving their goal of qualifying for the premier tournament."I signed up originally for 18 months and I think I have done a lot in this period. It is time for me to move on to something else now. To want to get to the World Cup - that was ACB's goal at the time they appointed me," he said."My goal is always to leave things better than when I joined: the way we practice, the way we think about the game, the way we assess other teams. I've tried to help the players in all those ...
Pak women thrash South Africa women by 4 wickets
Pakistan defeated South Africa's women's team by four wickets in the third T20I clash here on Sunday to take a lead (2-1) in their ongoing five-match T20I series being played.Chasing a total of 139 runs, Pakistan had a very penurious start as they were at 4/3 after the completion of third over. South Africa's Shabnim Ismail got hold of both the openers, Umaima Sohail and Javeria Khan while Moseline Daniels took wicket of Bismah Maroof.Then Nida Dar and Iram Javed took the field and provided their side a much needed momentum as they played some brilliant shots. However, in the 12th over Moseline Daniels got hold of Dar (32).Aliya Riaz then joined the on-field batter Javed. Javed kept on hammering boundaries and scored her half-century. Moseline Daniels then took wicket of Riaz in the 18th over which halted her 30-run inning.Javed (55) too gave away her wicket in the last over of the inning. Kainat Imtiaz and Sana Mir came out to bat and took their side over the line to register a ...
Beaten Malaysia miss Lee Chong Wei in Sudirman Cup opener
A young Malaysian side shorn of legend Lee Chong Wei battled to defeat against powerful hosts China on the opening day of the Sudirman Cup on Sunday. Lee is one of the finest badminton players of all time but his career appears to be nearing a sad conclusion after he was diagnosed last year with early stage nose cancer. The 36-year-old former world number one's absence is a severe blow to Malaysia's hopes of making an impact at the Sudirman Cup, the world mixed-team championships. In his place, Lee Zii Jia, aged 21, faced China's world number two Shi Yuqi with Malaysia already trailing 2-0 to the hosts in the city of Nanning. Shi was an easy 21-12, 21-11 winner in 35 minutes and China ran out 5-0 victors in the tie. But the Chinese, who along with top-seeded Japan are the favourites, did not have it all their own way against the brave Malaysians. Soniia Cheah, ranked 34 in the world, pushed third-ranked Chen Yufei to three games. The men's doubles also went to a deciding game with Li
Pliskova beats Konta to win 2019 Italian Open title
Karolina Pliskova clinched the 2019 Italian Open title on Sunday after beating Johanna Konta in straight sets.
Hassan Al Thawadi says Qatar's ardent critics become their greatest ally
Qatar will be hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after winning the hosting right in 2015 and the Secretary-General of Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi is optimistic about hosting the premier tournament and said that most 'ardent critics' have turned into 'greatest ally'."I think people are beginning to realize it. I think some people still remain entrenched in their opinions because they haven't come and seen Qatar," Goal quoted Hassan Al Thawadi, as saying."Anybody who has experienced this recognizes and confirms that the decision (to give Qatar hosting rights) was the right decision. For us, the change will happen and it will happen when we host the rest of the world in 2022 but in the lead-up, I am very proud to say that, some of our most ardent critics have today become our greatest ally because they have seen the benefit that this World Cup has," he added.The preparations are in full swing as Qatar have already unveiled a refurbished Khalifa international
Boxers confident of good show at India Open 2019
With six gold medals last year, the Indian contingent is confident of putting up a better show as the second edition of the India Open kicks off at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium, here on Monday.
T20 Mumbai: Ranjane steers ARCS to 6 wicket win
Shubham Ranjane's unbeaten 71 guided his team ARCS Andheri to a six-wicket win against North Mumbai Panthers here Sunday in their T20 Mumbai league match. Ranjane (71 not out off 42 balls, 5x4, 3x6) and Praful Waghela (45 off 31 balls, 3x4, 1x6) conjured 114-run stand for the fourth wicket, which laid the foundation of ARCS' win as the team was chasing a 161 run target at Wankhede Stadium. This was ARCS' second win in four games while the Panthers suffered their maiden defeat after two consecutive wins. When left-handed Waghela joined Ranjane at the end of the ninth over, the 161 run target looked a distant dream, especially after ARCS were teetering at 41 for three at one stage. However, Ranjane and Waghela took the North Mumbai Panthers bowlers to task and played with grit to bring down the equation to 13 off the final over. With 13 runs required off the last over, Ranjane started with a straight six off medium-pacer Sairaj Patil. The next ball saw Waghela sacrificing ..
Imad and Afridi strike but England still post 351-9 against Pakistan
Imad Wasim and Shaheen Shah Afridi led a Pakistan fightback but England still scored 351 for nine at Headingley as Tom Curran again pressed his case for a World Cup place. England, in their last one-day international before the tournament hosts and favourites name their World Cup squad on Tuesday, were set for a huge score at 191 for two off 25 overs. But several batsmen got themselves out, including Test skipper Joe Root, who top-scored with 84, and one-day captain Eoin Morgan, who made 76 on his return to the side. Left-arm spinner Imad finished with fine figures of three for 53 in his maximum 10 overs. Fast bowler Afridi took wickets at both ends of the innings in a return of four for 82. But the last over saw Curran hit six and then ramp an outrageous four off successive Hasan Ali deliveries to take England to a competitive total. Curran finished on 29 not out -- the second match in a row where the Surrey paceman had proved his worth as a lower-order batsman following his 31 in a .
Langer compares Smith's batting at nets to Tendulkar
Australia head coach Justin Langer on Sunday said watching Steve Smith during the team's first practice session here was like "watching Sachin bat."
Bhutan national side to play exhibition match against Delhi team on Monday
The Bhutan senior national football team will play an exhibition match against a combined Delhi outfit at the Ambedkar Stadium on Monday. The Bhutan side will play against Delhi Blues which will be a combined team of state Santosh Trophy and Delhi Senior Division League players. "The players of Bhutan senior national team are here in Delhi for visa interviews for their 2022 World Cup qualifying first round match against Guam (on June 11). They have to apply for US visa and they have to do that in Delhi," Football Delhi President Shaji Prabhakaran told PTI. "They are here and so we approached them for an exhibition match," he added. Normally, when a national side of another country plays against a team in India, the organisers will have to seek permission from the All India Football Federation which will, in turn, have to get clearance from the Asian Football Confederation. But Prabhakaran said that this process of getting permission was not required as it's just an exhibition ...