Page 293 - Sports

Memories of playing at Cooperage still fresh in my mind: Thapa

Walking down the memory lane, legendary Ranjit Thapa recalled his 16-year long association with Mumbai football. He was speaking as the chief guest at the 3rd MDFA awards function held at the Cooperage football ground Saturday night, where he addressed a large gathering of enthusiastic young and old footballers, present to receive their awards. Thapa, who represented the famed Mafatlal Group of Mills from 1968 to 1984 in the Harwood League, admitted that memories of his playing days at the iconic Cooperage ground were still fresh in his mind. "The sound of my shots hitting the woodwork (goalposts were made of wood) still keep resonating in my head. I enjoyed every challenge from the opponents and loved the comments from the large number of fans. It was always great to perform in front of vociferous spectators and especially those from the rival camp," Thapa was quoted as saying in a media release issued Sunday. Besides Thapa, who represented India in the 60s and 70s, ...

'Never forget what we have achieved' - Bayern confirm Ribery departure

Bayern Munich veteran Franck Ribery has said he wants to leave the Bavarians celebrating a league and cup double after confirming that he will end his 12-year spell at the Bundesliga club after this season. In a statement on their website on Sunday, Bayern announced the Frenchman would not extend his contract beyond June 2019. "When I came to Bayern it was a dream come true, it is amazing that I have been here for 12 years," said Ribery, 36, who joined in 2007 and has won eight Bundesliga titles and five German Cups since then. "It won't be easy to leave, but we must never forget what we have achieved together." "I hope that we can win the Bundesliga and the German Cup before I go." Ribery said he did not yet have any plans for next season. "I don't want to think too much about what is coming next, I just want to enjoy every day here with the team," he said. "I will play football next season of course, but I am not 100 percent sure where." Bayern also announced they would organise a ..

Women's T20 Challenge: Chance for J&K girl Jasia to rub shoulders with best in business

Australia's top internationals might be missing due to inter-board politics but the second edition of the Women's T20 Challenge starting Monday will provide an ideal opportunity to the younger Indian players to raise their level in company of the game's biggest stars. Three teams -- Trailblazers, Supernovas and Velocity -- will play each other in the round robin format. Harmanpreet Kaur's Supernovas take on Smriti Mandhana's Trailblazers in the opening game. Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy -- three of the most sought-after players in women's game -- had to unfortunately miss out with the BCCI alleging Cricket Australia of trying to use the three stars as "bait" to cancel a scheduled ODI series of the men's team in India. However, Danielle Wyatt and Stephanie Taylor are the big overseas names, who are expected to entertain the crowd with their skills. But the biggest takeaway from the four games could be the opportunity for the 27 Indian players in the three teams. Jammu and

Gimelstob right to quit ATP board, says Federer

Roger Federer believes there should be lessons learned from the Justin Gimelstob ordeal and is happy the American chose to step down from his position on the ATP board. Gimelstob pleaded no contest to a felony assault, reduced to a misdemeanour, after attacking an old friend, venture capitalist Randall Kaplan last Halloween. The former tennis player, who is also the coach of US star John Isner, was sentenced to three years of probation, must serve 60 days of community service and complete 52 weeks of anger management classes. Gimelstob has been an influential figure in the political scene on the men's tour and was believed to be a key factor behind the non-renewal of ATP CEO Chris Kermode's contract beyond 2019. Now that Gimelstob has vacated his board seat, many believe the decision on Kermode's fate should be reversed. "I don't know exactly the process, when the votes are happening, when the new CEO, all this stuff gets decided. But anyway (Kermode) should maybe be put back in the ..

McColgan calls for new categories as Semenya row rumbles on

Former 10,000 metres world champion Liz McColgan has said there should be separate events for athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) and for transgender competitors following a controversial ruling concerning Caster Semenya. This week South Africa middle-distance star Semenya lost a challenge against the International Association of Athletic Federations over plans to force some women to regulate their testosterone levels. The Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision means that female athletes with elevated testosterone will have to take drugs that suppress those levels if they wish to compete as women in certain events. The IAAF argued that athletes such as two-time Olympic 800 metres champion Semenya had an unfair advantage over others. McColgan, whose daughter Eilish has run against Semenya, expressed sympathy but backed the 2-1 CAS verdict as a necessary ruling to protect the integrity of women's sport. But the Scot also suggested Sunday that one forward would be to ...

Malinga leads show as MI restrict KKR to 133/7

Lasith Malinga snared three wickets as Mumbai Indians restricted Kolkata Knight Riders to 133/7 in a crucial Indian Premier League clash at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday.

MI restrict KKR to 133/7

Andre Russell failed to deliver when it mattered the most as Kolkata Knight Riders scored a sub-par 133 for 7 in their 'do-or die' IPL game against Mumbai Indians here Sunday. KKR's top run-scorer of this IPL, Russell (510 from 13 innings) was dismissed for a first ball duck as the visiting side frittered away a good start to post a modest total after being sent into bat. Openers Chris Lynn (41 off 29 balls) and Shubman Gill (9 off 16 balls) put up 49 runs together in 6.1 overs but KKR suffered a middle-order collapse as Mumbai bowlers made a splendid comeback. It was left to Robin Uthappa (40 off 47 balls) and Nitish Rana (26 off 13 balls) to stitch a 47-run stand for the fifth wicket to take KKR past the 120-run mark. Lasith Malinga (3/35), Hardik Pandya (2/20) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/31) were the main wicket-takers for the home side. Lynn and Gill started slowly before they started playing their big shots. Lynn hammered veteran Malinga for a four and a six in the fourth over as KKR ..

8 franchises buy 155 players at 2ndedition of T20 Mumbai

Eight franchises have picked 155 players for the second edition of the T20 Mumbai League, the auction for which was held here on Saturday. The league is to be held from May 14-26th at the Wankhede stadium, a media release said. From a total budget of Rs 2.8 crores, the 8 teams Mumbai North East Triumph Knights, Shivaji Park Lions, ARCS Andheri, North Mumbai Panthers, NaMo Bandra Blasters, SoBo Supersonics, along with the newly inducted teams, Eagle Thane Strikers (Mumbai Eastern Suburbs) and Aakash TigersMumbai Western Suburbs collectively spent Rs 2.73 crores, it added. Before the Player Auction, the six continuing teams of season 1, retained 11 players. The total number of senior players sold were 41 while the total number of emerging and developmental players who were sold were 114, the release said.

West Indies set record ODI opening stand against Ireland

West Indies openers John Campbell and Shai Hope shattered the record for the highest first-wicket partnership in a one-day international with a stand of 365 against Ireland in Dublin on Sunday. The duo comfortably exceeded the previous opening best at this level of 304 set by Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in July last year. Campbell made 179 and Hope 170 in an eventual total of 381 for three after the visitors were sent in to bat by Ireland captain William Porterfield at Clontarf. Hope was first to his century while Campbell quickly followed to him to a hundred -- his first in international cricket. They were both dismissed in the 48th over, Campbell top-edging Barry McCarthy to mid-off with Hope falling three balls later when he holed out to deep square-leg. Campbell faced 137 balls, including 15 fours and six sixes, with Hope's 152-ball knock featuring 22 fours and two sixes. The only higher partnership in the 4,128-match history of men's ODI ..

Babar Azam and Haris Sohail guide Pakistan to 173-6 in England T20

Babar Azam and Haris Sohail shared a century as Pakistan made a challenging total of 173 for six in their lone Twenty20 international against England in Cardiff on Sunday. Both batsmen struck fifties, Babar top-scoring with 65 and Haris 50 exactly with the duo combining well in a third-wicket stand of 103 in 64 balls after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and opted to bat first despite being confronted with a green-tinged pitch at Sophia Gardens. Jofra Archer took a wicket in his first over as a Twenty20 international bowler, having made his England one-day international debut just two days earlier in a four-wicket win away to Ireland. The Barbados-born fast bowler, renowned for his performances in franchise T20 competitions such as the Indian Premier League, led England's attack with two for 29 in his maximum four overs. And the Sussex quick, making a late bid to gain a place in tournament hosts England's squad for the upcoming 50-over men's World Cup, lived up to his ...

We need to quickly adapt, learn & reassess: Dhoni

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings was on the receiving end in their last league game of the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) as the MS Dhoni-led side suffered a six-wicket defeat against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at the PCA I.S. Bindra Stadium, here on Sunday.

Need to build core group for next seasons: Ashwin

Kings XI Punjab's (KXIP) journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 came to an end as the team could garner only six wins from 14 games and collect 12 points and skipper Ravichandran Ashwin felt his team needed to build a core group to keep going for the next few seasons.

I was playing much more freely, says KL Rahul

It was KL Rahul's brilliant show (36-ball 71) in the clash between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) helped his team end their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign on a winning note at home, the PCA I.S. Bindra Stadium, here on Sunday.

KL Rahul's carnage helps Punjab beat Chennai

Opener KL Rahul's blistering 71 off 36 balls, followed by Nicholas Pooran fireworks (36 off 22 balls) guided Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) to an impressive six-wicket win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) contest at the PCA I.S. Bindra Stadium, here on Sunday.

Younis declines PCB offer to coach U-19 national team

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan declined rejected the offer to coach Pakistan U-19 team after PCB didn't consider his demand of simultaneously being appointed the chief selector of the colts set-up. PCB wanted to follow BCCI's successful model of Rahul Dravid coaching the India U-19 and A team, which acts as a feeder for the national squad. "The idea was to have a high-profile cricketer work with the junior players on long-term basis instead of the old practice of having lesser known names attached to the Pakistan under-19 side," a PCB official said. It is learnt that PCB turned down Younis' demand as dual role of chief selector and head coach would have led to Conflict of Interest. "At the moment, it appears that Younis will not be working for the PCB as he has made it clear he wants total independence to work and get results with the junior team," he added. Younis, who retired from all cricket in 2017 after becoming the first Pakistani batsmen to reach 10,000 Test runs, is known

CSK get to play Qualifier in Chennai despite six-wicket loss against KXIP

KL Rahul's scintillating 36-ball-71 paved the way for a consolation six-wicket victory for Kings XI Punjab here Sunday but not before CSK ensured a top-two finish with chance to play the first IPL Qualifier at their happy hunting home ground Chepauk. With nothing to lose in the final game of the season, Rahul, Chris Gayle (28 off 28 balls) and Nicholas Pooran (36 off 22 balls) were the key contributors in KXIP's successful chase of 171 in in 18 overs. However CSK will be happy that with a net run-rate of +0.131 which is far better than Delhi Capitals' (+0.044), the defending champions will remain in the top two with two clear shots at summit clash qualification even if MI beat KKR in the evening game. Such was Rahul's domination that Universe Boss Gayle's run-a-ball knock paled in in comparison as the duo added 108 runs in only 10.3 overs to seal the match. While senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh got three wickets, he was hit for 57 runs in four overs. In fact, Dhoni's ploy to use ..

IPL 2019: KXIP overpower CSK to secure six-wicket victory

Kings XI Punjab defeated Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash here on Sunday.Chasing a target of 171 runs, Punjab had a very scintillating start as the openers, KL Rahul and Chris Gayle, formed a 108 runs partnership.Rahul started playing big shots at the beginning, which helped him score his half-century in just 19 balls.Both gave a solid start to Punjab before Rahul (71) and Gayle (28) both got out on two consecutive balls bowled by Harbhajan Singh.Nicolas Pooran and Mayank Aggarwal then came out to bat. However, their partnership did not last long as Aggarwal gave away his wicket on seven runs.Mandeep Singh then joined Pooran and both added another 46 runs to the scoreboard before Ravindra Jadeja sent Pooran (36) back to the pavilion.Sam Curran then came out to bat and both Curran and Mandeep Singh took their side over the line and registered a 6-wicket victory.Earlier, CSK were sent to bat first as Punjab opted to bowl first after winning ..

West Indies scripts world record

West Indies openers, John Campbell and Shai Hope, have created world record after forming the highest opening partnership in One-Day International (ODI) as the duo scored 365 runs for the first wicket against Ireland here on Sunday.In the first match of the tri-series in Ireland, the host won the toss and opted to bowl first which did not go well for them as West Indies' made the best out of it and posted a gigantic total of 381 runs.Campbell scored 179 runs while Hope smashed 170 runs. It was the 48th over of the inning when both Campbell and Hope gave away their wickets.Ireland's Barry McCarthy was the bowler who provided his side their first breakthrough in the name of Cambell and then in the same over took the wicket of Hope.Earlier, the highest opening partnership record was held by Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman, who scored 304 against Zimbabwe, last year.However, they fell eight runs short from breaking the record of highest ever partnership record for any wicket, ...

Mumbai ask KKR to bat first (Toss)

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to bat first in a crunch Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday.

Kohli, De Villiers apologise for poor RCB show

Royal Challengers Bangalore tweeted a video of captain Virat Kohli and star batsman AB de Villiers in which the pair thanked fans of the franchise for their support and apologised for the team's dismal performance this season.