Page 283 - Sports
Tencent replaces PUBG with patriotic game in China
Chinese tech giant Tencent has shut down its famous PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) mobile game in China after it failed to secure a government license to monitise the game.
India football coach: Stimac favourite, decision Thursday
When the All India Football Federation's technical committee sits down to pick India's next coach at the Football House in New Delhi on Thursday, it will have few other than Croatian Igor Stimac to choose from.
Cyclone Fani causes minor damage at Kalinga stadium but hockey event to stay in Bhubaneswar
The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar has suffered some minor damage owing to Cyclone Fani but that would not come in the way of conducting the Hockey series Finals scheduled to be held in the city next month, Hockey India asserted Wednesday. Rejecting speculation that the June 6-15 tournament might be shifted out of the Odisha Capital to either Lucknow or Raipur, a top Hockey India official said no such decision has been taken and the national body is committed to host the event in Bhubaneswar. "I don't know from where these reports come from but we absolutely had no discussions with Odisha government about shifting the venue," a top HI official told PTI. "We are is in touch with the Odisha government officials and we have been informed that the extent of damage in the hockey stadium is minimal. Hockey India officials will also travel to Bhubaneswar this week to assess the condition of the turf and take stock of the situation at the official team hotels. "In this time of need, we at ...
Balanced India definitely good for WC semis but will need some luck after that: Kapil
The legendary Kapil Dev Wednesday said India will have no trouble in making the World Cup semifinals given the "balanced" line-up, which features an "unmatchable" duo in Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but will need some luck to progress beyond that. The World Cup, which begins on May 30 in the UK, will see all 10 participating nations face each other in a round-robin format. India's 15-member squad boasts of experienced players like Dhoni, Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Shikhar Dhawan along with in-form youngsters such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav. "India has a great combination of youth and experience. In a way they are more experienced than the other teams. They have the right balance -- four fast bowlers, three spinners and they have Virat Kohli and Dhoni," Kapil, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain, told reporters at a promotional event Wednesday. "Dhoni and Kohli have done extremely well for India. Both of them are unmatchable," he added. The .
Shaw to lead North Mumbai Panthers for 2nd T20 Mumbai League
Young cricketing prodigy Prithvi Shaw will lead the North Mumbai Panthers in the second edition of the T20 Mumbai League starting next week, it was announced Wednesday. The announcement was made by the franchise through a media statement. The North Mumbai Panthers will be led by the 19-year- old batsman Shaw, the statement said. The league, an eight-team affair, will be held from May 14 to May 26 at the Wankhede Stadium here. The North Mumbai squad comprises, among others, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Pravin Tambe and is coached by Umesh Patwal, the release stated.
FIFA upholds Chelsea transfer ban
The ban on Chelsea signing players over the next two transfer windows remained largely in place after FIFA issued their ruling on the London club's appeal on Wednesday. In February, the Blues were banned from signing players for their men's teams for the next two transfer windows after being found guilty by FIFA's disciplinary committee of breaching regulations relating to the recruitment of minors. Chelsea denied any wrongdoing and appealed. On Wednesday, the governing body of world soccer announced that its appeal committee had "decided to partially uphold the appeal". The committee lifted part of the ban, but only for players under 16 who are not "international transfers and first registrations of foreign minor players". That means Chelsea will still not be able to sign male players over the age of 16 when the summer transfer window opens. Chelsea had been eager to have the ban lifted, or suspended pending the appeal, so they could be in a position to sign a replacement for Belgium
Focusing on fitness of players: Haryana Steelers coach
JSW Sports owned Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) team Haryana Steelers has kicked-off their pre-season camp at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) here and head coach Rakesh Kumar says the main purpose is to focus on the fitness of the players.
India to play Caribbean nation Curacao in Kings Cup football
India will play against Caribbean nation Curacao in their first match of the 47th King's Cup football tournament at Buriram in Thailand on June 5. According to the fixture announced by Football Association of Thailand on Wednesday, the hosts will face Vietnam on June 5 in the four-team tournament. The respective winners will lock horns against each other in the final on June 8 and the third-place match will be held earlier on the same day. All the matches will be played at the Chang Arena Stadium, Buriram. As per FIFA Rankings of April, India are ranked 101 and Thailand at 114. Vietnam are at 98 and Curacao at 82. The King's Cup is a FIFA-sanctioned international 'A' tournament being organised by the Thailand FA since 1968 and the results of the competition are included in the calculation of FIFA rankings. India's previous participation in the King's Cup was in 1977.
Combination of youth and experience will help India in the World Cup, says Kapil Dev
The combination of youth and experience along with the presence of "unmatchable" duo of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli could help India lift their third World Cup, feels former captain Kapil Dev. The World Cup, which begins on May 30 in the UK, will see all 10 participating nations face each other in a round-robin format. India have picked a 15-member squad which boasts of experienced players like Dhoni, Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Shikhar Dhawan while the youngsters such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav were emerging as vital cogs in the side. "India has a great combination of youth and experience. In a way they are more experienced than the other teams. They have the right balance -- four fast bowlers, three spinners and they have Virat Kohli and Dhoni," Kapil, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain told reporters at a promotional event Wednesday. "Dhoni and Kohli have done extremely well for India. Both of them are unmatchable," he added. The ...
It's going to be amazing but gruelling: Bairstow on World Cup, Ashes
England batsman Jonny Bairstow can't wait for the "biggest summer" of his cricket career to get underway with the World Cup this month but he also expects it to be the most gruelling as the Ashes is lined up just a few weeks later. Bairstow, who scored 445 runs from 10 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in his debut IPL season, will be a key player for the England in the World Cup starting May 30 in the United Kingdom. The World Cup will end on July 14 and the Ashes, against arch-rivals Australia, will start August 1. "It is huge. It is the biggest summer I will ever be involved in. It is the biggest ever summer for English cricket full stop," he told 'The Daily Telegraph'. "A World Cup and an Ashes; it is going to be amazing. You dream of winning them. If you can't dream about that and think what that is going to feel like then what is the point (of playing)? "At the same time you know it is going be a gruelling summer. Five Tests at the end of World Cup is going to be tough, mentally ..
Klopp all praise for young Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed Trent Alexander-Arnold after their 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the second-leg of semi-finals which helped them to reach into the finals of Champions League."We thought our performance was better than 3-0 at Barca, and Barca were better than 4-0 here. We all know you need luck in this situation or a genius moment like Trent Alexander-Arnold," Goal quoted Klopp, as saying."I saw the ball in the net and didn't know who had taken the corner, it was too quick for me. Oh my God - genius," he added.Klopp's side made an impeccable comeback after facing a 0-3 defeat in the hands of Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg on May 2.Klopp also stated that such a win would not have been possible in an empty stadium."No chance. We know this is the club that makes atmosphere, emotion, desire and football quality. If you cut off one it doesn't work. We know that, I've said it before," Klopp said."This club has a big heart and tonight it was ...
Another Champions League 'disaster' leaves Valverde future in doubt
Barcelona and Lionel Messi walked out at Anfield as probables for a Champions League, Cup and Liga treble but walked off with coach Ernesto Valverde possibly facing the sack. Shortly after their 4-0 capitulation on Tuesday which sent Liverpool through to the Champions League final on the back one of the competition's greatest ever comebacks, Barca president Josep Bartomeu dodged guaranteeing the future of his coach Ernesto Valverde. "We are all very emotional now because of the elimination," said Bartomeu. "We have to raise our spirits because there is a Copa del Rey final to come. There will be difficult days for everyone but we have to lift our heads." Another Cup final to erase the disappointment of another failure in the Champions League except, just like last year, even a domestic double will not come close. It was supposed to be the season Barcelona laid to rest the ghost of the Stadio Olimpico, where they inexplicably conceded three in Rome, one year after they let in three in .
Can't say for sure who will bat at 4 for India at WC: Kapil
Even as the debate on whether Vijay Shankar was the right pick for India's no.4 slot at the upcoming World Cup refuses to die down, India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has a different take on the whole issue.
England Women's squad given royal launch
Prince William announced on Wednesday that Steph Houghton will lead England at the Women's World Cup as "celebrity fans" announced Phil Neville's team player-by-player on social media. Manchester City captain Houghton was the first player of the squad of 23 to be announced, by the Football Association president. "The countdown is on to a momentous summer of football as our Lionesses head to France to take on the world's best at the Women's World Cup," William said in a video posted on his official Twitter account. "It gives me great pleasure to be able to announce that England's defensive rock and captain, Steph Houghton, will be on the plane to France. Steph, congratulations. I know you and the team will do the nation proud. Good luck." Ex-England men's captain David Beckham, a former Manchester United teammate of Neville's, announced the inclusion of Nikita Parris, who will wear the number seven shirt, on Instagram. "It's a shirt that I wore for many years with pride," he said. ...
Russian 'identity fraud' athlete handed 12-year drugs ban
A Russian athlete who infamously used the identity of a friend to circumnavigate her country's state-sponsored doping suspension was on Wednesday handed a 12-year ban, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced. Kseniya Savina, 29, underwent an out-of-competition control in Ifrane, Morocco, on May 15, 2018 with banned blood booster EPO detected in her sample. She blamed the positive test on her housekeeper mixing up her back pain medication with pills her husband and coach Aleksei Savin was taking for chronic renal failure. She claimed it had happened "whilst laying the table for lunch". An investigation by the AIU with the help of Russia's anti-doping agency RUSADA discovered that Savin had never been prescribed this medication. Records supplied by Savina from a clinic in her home town of Simferopol were proved to be forged. Her husband was given a four-year ban for his part in the deception. Savina, who has retired from competition, is also under investigation for an ...
Bangladesh 'monitoring' Sri Lanka before July cricket tour
Bangladesh cricket officials said Wednesday they were monitoring security in Sri Lanka in the wake of last month's terror attacks and ahead of a planned tour slated for July. The national team narrowly avoided being caught in the New Zealand mosque attacks of March 15 that killed 51 people. Bangladesh's one-day international series in Sri Lanka was scheduled to take place in July, having been brought forward from December. But the fate of the series has been thrown into doubt following the April 21 Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka churches and hotels that killed more than 250 people. "We won't say the series is uncertain, but we are monitoring the situation through the Bangladesh High Commission and our foreign ministry," cricket board chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told AFP. "We will also see what the Sri Lankan Cricket board has to say about the present situation," he added. Bangladesh's players and officials came within 50 metres (yards) of the Al Noor mosque in ...
Confident ahead of 2019 Giro d'Italia: Carapaz
Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz of Movistar team said on Wednesday that he is looking at the 2019 Giro d'Italia as a big challenge but will aim for the podium.
Hamid Hassan likely to stop playing ODIs after CWC19
Afghanistan pacer Hamid Hassan on Wednesday announced that he might retire from the limited-overs format after the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup."Probably this is going to be my last World Cup for my country. I may stop playing ODI cricket after this tournament. However, I would continue playing T20 cricket, either for Afghanistan or in the Shpageeza League (domestic T20 league) or the leagues abroad," International Cricket Council (ICC) quoted Hassan as saying."As a player who has dedicated all his life to cricket, the decision to quit is always a tough one. However, after a lot of thought, I felt after the injuries and the recovery process I went through, it is time to consider my health seriously," he said.Hassan has made a comeback to the Afghanistan 15-member team for the upcoming World Cup. The player last played an ODI in 2016.The 31-year-old has been constantly bogged down by injuries and the selectors surprised everyone by including him in the squad."If I continue ...
Smith, Starc shine even as Australia lose to NZ XI
A classy century by Will Young helped New Zealand XI beat Australia XI in their second World Cup warm-up game on Wednesday.
Levante haven't finished off enough games: Morales
Levante captain Jose Luis Morales feels the team hasn't converted their chances this season and failed to finish off games despite playing well in La Liga.