Page 25 - Sports

Mrquez to conclude 11-year partnership with Honda at end of MotoGP season

Honda's MotoGP team and former world champion Marc Mrquez will be ending their 11-year partnership at the end of the season, the Japanese engine maker said Wednesday. Driving a Honda, Mrquez won six world championships, won 59 races, and secured 64 pole positions in the MotoGP class. His last world championship came in 2019. The 30-year-old Spaniard has struggled with injury since he broke his right arm in the 2020 opener. He is currently 15th in the points standings. The agreement will cut short Mrquez's current contract by a year. Both parties agreed it was in their best interests to each pursue other avenues in the future to best achieve their respective goals and targets, Honda said in a statement.

Asian Games: Indian men's hockey storms into final, defeats South Korea 5-3

The Indian men's hockey team will face the winner of the other semi-final match between China and Japan in the gold medal match on Friday

Asian Games: Indian women's kabaddi team plays out 34-34 draw against China

In an unexpected start to its campaign, the Indian women's Kabbadi team was on Monday held to a surprise 34-34 draw by Chinese Taipei in a group A match at the Asian Games here. The Indians were made to work hard throughout the contest by their opponents, who earned a bonus point on the last raid of the match to force a draw. The women side's next assignment will be on Tuesday against South Korea, while the men's team will take on Bangladesh in their Group A match. The Indian women's team did not have an ideal start but recovered well to finish ahead at the end of the first half. Defender Hsiu-Chen Feng troubled the Indians, who scripted a late recovery to finish 17-15 after the first half. For India, Ritu Negi earned the first defensive point through an ankle hold, while Pooja Hathwala took the bonus point in the second half. India managed to extend their lead by five points at 23-17 before grabbing a 26-20 lead at one stage but there after the Chinese Taipei side came back roar

Asian Games: India women campaign ended, men hopes alive in Sepaktakraw

The Indian men's team kept their hopes alive after winning two straight matches in group B but it was curtains for women's side in quadrant sepaktakraw at the Asian Games here on Monday. The men's side thrashed Singapore 2-0 (21-7, 21-15) in just 38 minutes before beating Philippines 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) at the Jinhua Sports Centre Gymnasium. India will next face South Korea on Tuesday in their last group match. The top two teams from both groups qualify for the semi-finals and Japan are currently at the top with three wins. However, the women's side ended its campaign finishing last in the group. The women's team suffered a third straight defeat, losing to the Philippines 0-2 (18-21, 15-21) in just 39 minutes. Earlier, the men's side lost to world number six Japan 0-2, while the women's team lost to Laos 0-2 and China 0-2. India have won only one bronze in the sport at the Asian Games a bronze in men's regu at Jakarta in 2018.

Asian Games: 20 cuts and 26 stitches later, Aarathy Raj rises to win medal

Things looked gloomy for Aarathy Kasturi Raj after a nasty fall in May that required 26 stitches to treat more than 20 cuts, including few deep ones on her forehead. But, with her physician mother by her side, the Indian roller skater recovered in time to win a historic bronze medal at the Asian Games. Her goal achieved, Aarathy, who has completed her MBBS, will rejoin her mother in running the hospital they own. Aarathy suffered the injury during training exactly four months before the start of the continental showpiece. The 29-year-old said it was scary but she took the injury in her stride and recovered quickly after rehabilitation with her physician mother taking care of her. "I had a scary incident on May 26 this year and I had 26 stitches. There were deep cuts on my forehead," Aarathy told PTI after playing a part in the bronze medal win in the women's 3000m team relay. "I started training on the bike, did rehab." Daughter of a businessman father C Kasturi Raj and gynaecolo

Yarraji Race: AFI president promises to take up matter to highest level

Jyothi Yarraji was first disqualified, then allowed to run and eventually finished third, all these happened in a span of few minutes during a farcical women's 100m hurdles race at the Asian Games here on Sunday. Drama unfolded in the last event of the day at the 'Big Lotus' stadium when the women's 100m hurdles was stopped after the gun was fired. Replays clearly showed that Chinese runner Wu Yanni was responsible for the false start as she got off the blocks even before the gunshot was taken. The judges reviewed the start of the race at the on-field screen and then disqualified Yanni. But to the surprise of the Indian camp, Yarraji was also told that she would be out due to false start. Yarraji stood her ground for a while and protested and the race was held up for a few minutes. In sprint races, under 100 millisecond rule, any athlete who reacts within 100 milliseconds (0.100 second) of the gun going off is considered to have false started. Later, the judges allowed both of th

Ronaldinho confirms his 'maiden visit' to West Bengal in mid October

Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho has confirmed his visit to the city ahead of the Durga Puja festival. For the three-time Ballon d'Or winner, this will be the maiden visit to the football-crazy city that has hosted many legends of the world sport, including Pele, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. "Hello Everybody, I will be doing my maiden trip to Kolkata this mid-October," the 43-year-old posted on his official Facebook page. "I know Kolkata has a huge number of Brazil fans and I am very excited to meet them," he added. He would also meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and "gift her a jersey". He further stated that he would like to "learn cricket" for city's icon Sourav Ganguly. "I know cricket is very popular and this time I want to learn cricket from Bengal's 'Dada'. "I would also interact with sponsors and many felicitation programs and promote the beautiful game. Let the Samba Magic begin this Durga Puja... Ami tomader bhalo bhashi (I love you all)," he ...

ICC World Cup 2023: List of commentators announced-Shastri, Ponting & more

World Cup winners Shane Watson, Lisa Sthalekar, Ramiz Raja, Ravi Shastri, Aaron Finch, Sunil Gavaskar and Matthew Hayden will be a part of the commentary panel

Asian Games 2023 India Kabaddi full schedule, match time, squads, streaming

India's Kabaddi matches at the Asian Games 2023 will take place at 6 AM IST and 1:30 PM IST from October 3 to October 5 before semifinals and final take place on October 6 and 7 respectively

Asian Games: Indian men enter squash final, women signs off with bronze

The Indian team humbled defending champions Malaysia 2-0 to reach the final of the men's squash event after the seasoned Saurav Ghosal and Abhay Singh registered identical wins at the Asian Games here on Friday. India, thus, set up a marquee gold medal clash with Pakistan, against whom they lost in the pool stage and will seek revenge heading into the final. Abhay Singh started the proceedings for India on a positive note, securing a 3-1 (11-3 12-10 9-11 11-6) win over Muhammad Addeen Idrakie Bin Bahtiar in the opening match. He took 57 minutes to ward off the challenge of Bin Bahtiar. The experienced Ghosal then got the better of Eain Yow NG 3-1 (11-8 11-6 12-10 11-3) in 69 minutes to wrap up the second semifinal in favour of India. Mahesh Mangaonkar was not required to play his match against Mohammad Syafiq Bin Mohd Kamal. The Indian men had settled for the bronze medal in the last edition of the Games in Indonesia. Ghosal said contrary to the final result, it was a tough outin

Asian Games: Boxer Zareen secures Olympic quota, assures medal at Asiad

With this victory, Nikhat also officially sealed her place in India's Paris Olympics contingent. As for her Asian Games campaign, she will be up against Thailand's Chuthamat Raksat in the semifinal

At the Asian Games, this 9-year-old skateboarder has the Olympics in sight

Philippines' skateboarding prodigy Mazel Alegado is one of the youngest competitors at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China

IPL 2024: Bobat named Royal Challengers Bangalore's new director of cricket

Bobat is a hugely influential figure who has played a significant part in one of English cricket's most enthralling years as a performance director

Host China continues Asian Games dominance by surpassing 150 medals

China blew past the 150-medal mark Thursday on Day 5 of the Asian Games, more than double the number of second-place South Korea as the home nation continued its decades-long domination of the event. The hosts were bolstered by multiple golds in a home sport on Thursday, as Chinese athletes won the men's 70-, 60- and 56-kilogram finals in Wushu martial arts, as well as the women's 60- and 52-kilogram finals. He Feng, who took gold in the 70-kilogram final by beating former Asian Games gold medalist Mohsen Mohammadseifi of Iran, was trailing in the first round and credited his coaches for helping him adjust. It is mainly the result of the tactics and training by the coach, then the most important thing is mentality, which determines success or failure, he said. I always tell myself not to give up, persistence is victory. Host nations traditionally get a homefield medal bump, and He said the crowd also helped keep him going. Seeing so many people cheering for me, I think I can't giv

Asian games: Manika, Sharath, Sathiyan storm into pre-quarterfinals

Star Indian paddlers Manika Batra, Sharath Kamal and G Sathiyan dominated their opponents en route their pre-quarterfinals entry in the table tennis competition at the Asian Games here on Thursday. Sharath, a team bronze winner in 2018 Asian Games, never gave a chance to Mohammed Shaffan Ismail, his opponent from Maldives before winning 11-9, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7. Sathiyan, who had won a bronze medal in the team event in Jakarta Games 2018, too was equally overwhelming against Turki Lafi Almutairi of Saudi Arabia while registering a 11-5, 11-6, 11-9, 11-2 victory. The Saudi player tried to claw his way back in the third set going closer to the Indian at 9-7, but Sathiyan's experience proved at the crucial juncture. In the fourth game, Sathiyan just brushed aside his rival giving away just two points. Manika, a 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a bronze winner in mixed doubles at the Jakarta Asian Games, blanked Nabita Shresthta of Nepal 4-0 (11-5, 11-4, 11-3, 11-2) in just 20

We saw ups, downs together: Arjun Cheema after winning gold in shooting

Shiva Narwal said that he is feeling happier since his brother Manish Narwal secured a quota spot for the Paris 2024. Shiva added that it is a happy moment for his family and the whole nation

Asian Games: Rider Agarwalla wins first individual medal in Equestrian

Malaysia's Fathil Mahamad clinched gold with 75.780 scores and Hong Kong's Jacqueline Wing Ying claimed silver by scoring 73.450 points

Asian Games: India misses medal in individual event of 10m air pistol

The Indian team finished one point ahead of silver medal holders China. This was the fourth gold medal in shooting and overall sixth in the ongoing Asian Games

Asian Games: Jaismine Lamboria punches her way into quarterfinals

The referee stopped the contest in Round 2 as the Saudi boxer was unable to match the skills that Jaismine possessed

MotoGP to return to India next year as 16th race after San Marino GP

The inaugural edition of the IndianOil Grand Prix of India, MotoGP Bharat, was held on September 24 at the Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida