Page 277 - Sports
Luke Shaw wins Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award
Manchester United footballer Luke Shaw was crowned as the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for the 2018-19 season, adding to his team's player of the season on Thursday (local time).The defender has won the recognised sculpture of Sir Matt for the very first time in his United career."It's obviously nice for me, but I'd rather win no individual trophies and have a better season as a team. We need to move on and focus now on next season and what's to come," Shaw said in an official statement released by Manchester United."Ole has done an amazing job and of course we've had ups and downs but he's obviously looking forward to getting us back in pre-season and getting his proper work done for next season. We're all looking forward to starting fresh next season with him as the manager," he added.The voting was done by many fans of Manchester United and they cast votes on the official app of the football club.Shaw secured the most number of votes, followed by his fellow team-mates Victor ..
On-drive boosts my confidence the most: Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored a match-winning knock for Supernovas against Velocity in the ongoing Women's T20 Challenge, has revealed that playing the on-drive shot boosts her confidence the most.
Women's T20 Challenge: Veda Krishnamurthy defends Velocity's defensive approach
Velocity's key player Veda Krishnamurthy defended her team's defensive approach of playing for the net run-rate in the match against Supernovas in the Women's T20 Challenge on Thursday.The team's decision to play according to the net run-rate sparked off a debate on whether the team should be playing for winning or for the net run-rate. Velocity ended up losing the match against Supernovas by 12 runs."In the previous game, we made a lapse by losing a heap of wickets because we were in a rush to close out the chase," Krishnamurthy told reporters here."So our initial aim on Thursday was to qualify for the final because we had a certain target 117 to get. So, we were asked to play accordingly. And when we got close to that target is actually when we tried to go for our shots," she added.Chasing a score of 143 against Harmanpreet Kaur's led-Supernovas, Velocity was clearly seen chasing the spot in the finals. The team needed 66 off 51 balls for the win or make 40 runs in the same period ..
IPL 2019: Bajaj Finserv is back with the second phase of #EMINetworkPowerplay contest
After the popular success of the initial segment of the theme-based campaign, Bajaj Finance Limited, the lending arm of Bajaj Finserv, is back with the second phase of #EMINetworkPowerplay contest.The cricket inspired campaign is specially targeted towards the qualifiers and the final playoffs of the ongoing Indian Premier League. The latest season of #EMINetworkPowerplay was launched online and will be open for participation till May 12, 2019.Following the interactive concept of the former phase, this engaging campaign interestingly incorporates the features of the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network category and enables the participants to play online and win a Smart TV and Amazon vouchers every day.To participate, one needs to follow a set of easy steps to enrol, play and win amazing rewards. The enrolled user must select one team out of the 4 teams mentioned (finalist and the ones playing in the qualifiers) and play a timer moderated 6 questions quiz called an 'over'.The over will consist ..
Big three into Madrid last-eight as Osaka and Kvitova crash out
Roger Federer saved two match points to defeat Gael Monfils and reach the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Thursday but women's world number one and top seed Naomi Osaka was dumped out in a last-eight shock. Federer, playing only his second match of a 2019 comeback to clay after three years away, needed two hours to defeat French showman Monfils 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3). Osaka fell for the second time in two months to Federer's Swiss compatriot Belinda Bencic, exiting 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. Bencic also beat the double Grand Slam winner in March at Indian Wells. Czech second seed Petra Kvitova, the defending champion, was also a shock loser, going down 6-2, 6-3 to Kiki Bertens, the Dutch seventh seed who was runner-up in the 2018 final. Men's top seed Novak Djokovic, however, motored into the last eight as he hammered Jeremy Chardy 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) while five-time champion Rafael Nadal dispatched Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4. Nadal will next play Stan Wawrinka after the Swiss completed a national hat-trick ..
Aubameyang fires Arsenal to Europa League final
Valencia's hopes of imitating Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur by mounting a miracle comeback in a European semifinal were shattered by Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose hat-trick propelled the Gunners into the Europa League final.
Man City on brink of Premier League glory as Liverpool cling to hope
Manchester City and Liverpool have slugged it out in one of the most gripping Premier League title races of all time, going toe to toe in a monumental battle for the ages. But it will all be decided on Sunday when City travel to Brighton and Liverpool host Wolves, with Pep Guardiola's team firm favourites to get over the line ahead of Jurgen Klopp's charging team. The bare statistics from both sides this season are phenomenal. City, on 95 points, have won their past 13 Premier League matches to wipe out a seven-point lead for Liverpool and are on the brink of becoming the first team to retain the title since Manchester United in 2009. Klopp's men, with 94 points, have recovered from a mid-season stumble to record eight straight victories and are agonisingly close to their first English top-flight title since 1990. The 18-time league winners face the scarcely credible scenario of ending the season with the third-highest points tally in Premier League history and a single defeat yet ...
'We pulled wagon from the muck': Bayern on brink of seventh successive title
Bayern Munich will look to wrap up a seventh successive Bundesliga title on Saturday but with coach Niko Kovac warning silverware should not be taken for granted in a week which witnessed the never-say-die comebacks of Liverpool and Tottenham. "Of course I hope we win the title on Saturday, but we have seen what can happen in football," said Kovac, with a nod to the unlikely midweek Champions League semi-final recoveries of the two English sides. Despite his caution, Kovac said he was proud of the way his team had fought back after finding themselves nine points behind Borussia Dortmund back in December. Now they lead by four points with just two games left, starting with RB Leipzig on Saturday. "The team really had to pull the wagon out of the muck, and they have managed to do that, but now we need to get through the last two games," added the coach. On Saturday, Bayern will be without goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for the first of two season-defining May clashes with Leipzig. Neuer, who .
Barcelona expect frosty return to Camp Nou with recovery a long way off
Barcelona's recovery begins against Getafe on Sunday but the pain felt from their Champions League collapse at Anfield is likely to get worse before it gets better. For Getafe, who stand on the brink of their own meteoric upset of finishing in La Liga's top four, the game at Camp Nou is pivotal but for Barca's hurting players, it could feel more like a wake. "There are going to be some difficult days ahead, but we have to go again," said coach Ernesto Valverde. A week before, their fans had roared them off, ecstatic after a 3-0 victory over Liverpool put them within touching distance of their first European final since 2015. When the names of the players, and coach, are read out before kick-off this weekend, the reaction will be instructive, pointing to just how much Tuesday's 4-0 defeat has spoiled an otherwise excellent season that could yet end with a domestic double. "We have to be really self-critical about what happened," Luis Suarez said. "There are a lot of things to evaluate .
Sharma, Bhullar shoot par at British Masters
Shubhankar Sharma found a late birdie to shoot an even par 72 as he, Gaganjeet Bhullar and SSP Chawrasia literally ran into rough weather on the opening day of the British Masters, here. On a cold day, Sharma holed a late birdie on 17th but then missed a birdie putt on 18th. Still he gave himself a chance to get into weekend action. Bhullar did the same with three birdies and three bogeys though Chawrasia shot 76 on Thursday. "I gave away some soft shots, though I did not hit bad. It was cold, but the weather during Pro-Am was colder. That last putt, if it had fallen, would have been nice, but I think I can pull back some tomorrow," said Sharma, who is making debut at the British Masters. Sharma opened with five pars followed by a birdie before dropping two shots in three holes on seventh and ninth to turn in one-over. He had one bogey and two birdies on back nine. Bhullar had three birdies on second, third and seventh, but bogeys on first, eighth, 12th and 13th pegged him to one-over
Allegri's future in spotlight as Juventus travel to Roma
Massimiliano Allegri's future as Juventus coach is in the spotlight as the champions travel to Roma in Serie A on Sunday with mounting speculation over his position. Juventus have already wrapped up their eighth consecutive title, and Allegri's fifth in as many years since replacing Antonio Conte in 2014. The 51-year-old had insisted that he was staying despite the team's flop quarter-final Champions League exit at the hands of Ajax, which led to criticism of his management after the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo had boosted hopes of a first Champions League in over two decades. They were also booted out of the Coppa Italia by Atalanta. Having nothing left to play for with three games to go this season has given Allegri time to take stock, with a meeting reportedly set to take place with club president Andrea Agnelli. "We'll sit down with the club and think about the future, analyse this season and what could be done better, to have a team ready to aim for success in all competitions ..
London calling - in Baku: Aubameyang hat-trick takes Arsenal into Chelsea showdown
Arsenal will play Chelsea in the Europa League final after a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hat-trick ended Valencia's hopes of another dramatic European comeback on Thursday. Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, Valencia made the perfect start at Mestalla when Kevin Gameiro finished at the back post but goals from Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette left the home side needing four in 40 minutes. Gameiro scored again, sparking hopes of a revival to trump even the efforts of Liverpool and Tottenham this week, before Aubameyang hit his second and then completed a brilliant hat-trick to seal a 4-2 win, 7-3 on aggregate. There will be a London derby for the final in Baku on May 29 and, for the first time in history, four English teams competing in both the Champions League and Europa League finals, with Liverpool and Spurs meeting in Madrid three days later. It also keeps alive Arsenal's chance of securing a place in the Champions League next season and, realistically, their last chance, given they
Suarez undergoes surgery for knee injury
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez underwent surgery on a knee injury on Thursday and could be a doubt for their Copa del Rey final against Valencia later this month. Suarez played the full 90 minutes of Barca's shock 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday, which ended their hopes of reaching the Champions League final. But the club announced on Thursday that Suarez needed an operation, with the cup final just over a fortnight away on May 25. "Luis Suarez has an internal meniscal injury to the right knee and will be subjected today to an arthroscopy," read a club statement. Suarez is unlikely to face Getafe at home in La Liga on Sunday before Barcelona play away to Eibar the following weekend in their last league game of the season. Ernesto Valverde's side have already been crowned champions and could seal consecutive domestic doubles by beating Valencia, even it is unlikely to make amends for the collapse against Liverpool.
'It wasn't easy': Sarri relief as Chelsea book Europa final clash with Arsenal
Maurizio Sarri admitted Chelsea rode their luck to reach the Europa League final as Kepa Arrizabalaga's penalty heroics clinched a dramatic 4-3 shoot-out win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday. Sarri's side will face London rivals Arsenal in an all-Premier League final in Baku on May 29 as for the first time all four finalists in the Champions and Europa League come from England. Chelsea took the lead in the semi-final second leg thanks to Ruben Loftus-Cheek's first half strike at Stamford Bridge. But Luka Jovic equalised soon after the interval as a tense clash finished 1-1 after extra time and 2-2 on aggregate. Cesar Azpilicueta's penalty was saved by Kevin Trapp in the shoot-out, but Kepa kept out Martin Hinteregger's effort and then turned away Goncalo Paciencia before Eden Hazard slotted home the decisive kick to spark wild celebrations. It was a sweet moment of redemption for Kepa after he was widely criticised for his astonishing mutiny in the League Cup final against ...
Chelsea beat Frankfurt to enter Europa League final
Chelsea prevailed on penalties against Eintracht Frankfurt to win the Europa League semifinal tie and set up a May 29 title bout with London neighbours Arsenal.
Tiger takes aim at 16th major, PGA win mark at Bethpage
Tiger Woods chases more golf history in next week's 101st PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, the same public course where the 15-time major winner captured the 2002 US Open. The 43-year-old American superstar completed one of the great comebacks in sports history last month with a dramatic victory at the Masters for his fifth green jacket and first major triumph since the 2008 US Open. "One of the biggest wins I've ever had for sure," Woods said. "It's something I will never, ever forget." An 11-year major drought saw him endure an infamous sex scandal as well as years of knee and back injuries that left him uncertain of a normal life until a 2017 spinal fusion operation enabled him to return to golf at an elite level. "You could compare it to maybe the biggest, if not one of the biggest, moments in the history of golf," said 20th-ranked Webb Simpson. "From where he was, not knowing if he would ever play again. To come from feeling that way to winning the Masters is pretty ...
New Zealand's Young hits second straight ton against Australia
Unheralded New Zealander Will Young smashed his second century in a row Friday, mastering a full-strength Australian attack led by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in a World Cup warm-up match. The 26-year-old, who is uncapped and not part of New Zealand's World Cup squad, followed up his classy 130 against the Aussies on Wednesday by reaching another ton with a pull for six over mid-wicket. He eventually fell to Marcus Stoinis for 111 as a weakened New Zealand, missing some of their top players, made 286 for nine off their 50 overs in the unofficial game in Brisbane which is not counted as a full international. Opener George Worker hit 59 with Cummins the best of the bowlers, taking 4-32 off eight overs. Cummins and Starc, who took one wicket, were playing together for the first time in three months as the latter returns from injury. The three-match series is tied 1-1, with Australia aiming for a confidence-boosting win before heading to England to defend their World Cup title. They ...
Pant is this generation's Sehwag: Manjrekar
Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has heaped praise on Rishabh Pant, saying that the wicketkeeper-batsman is Virender Sehwag of the current generation.
CAB introduces 10 minutes added time to fight heat
The Cricket Association of Bengal has said first and second division One-Day matches will have 10 additional minutes per session because of extreme heat and humid conditions.
Neymar appeals against UEFA's three-match suspension
Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has appealed against UEFA's three-match ban imposed on him for using inappropriate words towards match referee, the French sports newspaper L'Equipe reported on Thursday.