Page 299 - Sports
Organisers taken aback by demand for women's World Cup tickets
Five weeks before the women's World Cup kicks off in France, and there is a hive of activity high up in the Montparnasse Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Paris. It is here, on the 49th floor and with an unobstructed view over the French capital, that tournament organisers are working to put everything in place for a month -- from June 7 to July 7 -- where women's football will be in the spotlight like never before. And yet, the organisers admit that they have been caught out by the extent of the demand from foreign fans for tickets. "We didn't see it coming," says Erwan Le Prevost, head of the local organising committee. While the opening match will be played at the Parc des Princes in Paris and both the semi-finals and the final will be staged in Lyon, in between matches will also be played in some of France's smaller provincial cities, from Nice on the Mediterranean coast to Valenciennes in the far north. "We did not always choose big stadiums, because we didn't want any empty
Jorginho can silence jeers insists Azpilicueta
Cesar Azpilicueta insists Jorginho will eventually silence the critics because the much-maligned Chelsea midfielder is reaching peak form heading into Sunday's crucial clash against Watford. Jorginho has endured a difficult first season with Chelsea after his ponderous displays and strong connection to polarising Blues boss Maurizio Sarri made him a target for the club's frustrated fans. Sarri brought Jorginho with him from Napoli in the close-season having identified Chelsea's midfield as a weak link. The 60-year-old believed the Italy international was the right man to help implement his tactical game-plan after they worked together successfully in Serie A. It hasn't turned out that way as Chelsea, with N'Golo Kante moved out of his preferred defensive midfield role, struggled to adapt to 'Sarri-ball', leading to stinging criticism for both Jorginho and his manager from the Stamford Bridge stands. But Chelsea captain Azpilicueta is convinced Jorginho still has value for his team and
Arsenal bid to reverse slump as Brighton fight for survival
Arsenal have one foot in the Europa League final but know they cannot afford the luxury of taking it easy in Sunday's match against struggling Brighton as they chase a Premier League top-four berth. Unai Emery's team have wobbled badly in the league in recent weeks, losing four out of their past five matches after putting themselves in a strong position. They are two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with two matches remaining, the first at home to Brighton on Sunday and the second away to Burnley the following week. But they still have two chances to reach next season's Champions League -- by winning the Europa League or moving up a place from their current position of fifth in the Premier League. Arsenal lead Valencia 3-1 ahead after the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday. Victory in that competition guarantees entry into the Champions League next season. Emery, who said reaching the Champions League again after an absence of two seasons is the club's "first ..
Everton keep Euro dream alive with Burnley win
- Everton kept their slim hopes of a top-seven finish in the Premier League alive as they recorded a fourth consecutive victory at Goodison Park by defeating Burnley on Friday. The Toffees have seen off Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United on their patch recently -- by an aggregate score of 7-0 -- and two goals in three first-half minutes proved decisive against the Clarets. Burnley defender Ben Mee got a telling final touch to Richarlison's strike while Seamus Coleman headed in on the rebound as Everton ran out 2-0 winners in both sides' penultimate fixture of the campaign. The win moved Everton up to eighth and to within a single point of Wolves in seventh -- a position that will seal a Europa League berth next season if Manchester City beat Watford in the FA Cup final later this month. Wolves could extinguish coach Marco Silva's stated aim of European football with a win over already relegated Fulham on Saturday but this was an impressive way to sign off at home from ...
Ronaldo rescues 1-1 draw for Juventus against Torino
Cristiano Ronaldo scored late as Juventus dented Torino's chances of qualifying for the Champions League with a 1-1 draw in Serie A on Friday. Torino looked set to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Superga air disaster by beating Juventus following Sasa Lukic's first-half goal, but Ronaldo leveled six minutes from time. Torino remained sixth, two points below fourth-place Atalanta for the final Champions League berth, ahead of the rest of the weekend's games. Juventus has already won its eighth consecutive league title. "The draw burns. We were thinking of victory," Torino coach Walter Mazzarri said. "Two or three times we could have scored the second goal and maybe brought the win home. There are still three matches left. We have to play them like we did tonight." The derby was moved ahead a day to avoid clashing with the anniversary of the 1949 plane crash in which 31 people died, including the "Grande Torino" team that had won five straight league titles. "The 'Grande Torino'
Leipzig's winning run ends ahead of Bayern showdown
French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a late equaliser for Mainz to end RB Leipzig's six-game winning streak in a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Bundesliga on Friday. Mateta's 83rd-minute goal snatched a point after Timo Werner had put Leipzig on course for victory with a goal and two assists. "We could have scored five or six goals today but we didn't defend as well as we usually do," Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick told Eurosport. The draw is an untimely set back for in-form Leipzig, coming just a week before they host league leaders Bayern Munich. With Bayern two points ahead of second place Borussia Dortmund, Leipzig could make a potentially title-deciding intervention by beating the leaders. They also face Bayern in the German Cup final later this month, but Rangnick said that his side were not getting distracted by the chance of silverware. "This game had nothing to do with the cup final, and the Bayern game next week is not a dress rehearsal, it is a normal Bundesliga game," ...
Sevilla suffer Champions League hiccup
Sevilla slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Leganes in La Liga on Friday which left their Champions League hopes on a knife-edge. Morocco's Youssef En Nesyri gave Leganes an eighth-minute lead before Danish star Martin Braithwaite added a second for the visitors on the 20-minute mark. Oscar Rodriguez hit the third eight minutes from time. Sevilla remain in fifth place with 55 points, the same as Getafe in fourth spot but having played a game more. Leganes' victory moved them into 10th place and assured their place in La Liga for next season.
Loyal supporter set to buy relegated Huddersfield
Huddersfield Town announced Friday that an agreement was in place for the sale of the club to lifelong fan Phil Hodgkinson. The already-relegated Terriers' match against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday could now be Dean Hoyle's last as chairman, provided the takeover is approved by English football authorities. Huddersfield, defying most predictions, have spent the past two years in the top flight. Hodgkinson is set to take a 75 percent controlling ownership, with Hoyle, in charge for the past 10 years, retaining a minority stake and remaining on the Yorkshire club's board of directors. "My heart doesn't want me to sell and I believe the Manchester United game will probably be the most emotional day of my life," Hoyle told the club's website. "However, my head is telling me that, after 10 years of total dedication and my recent ill health, I need to do what is right for myself, my family and Huddersfield Town. "I have chosen Phil not just because he is an astute ...
Beckham MLS team gets green light for temporary home
David Beckham's tortuous quest to find a home for his Inter Miami Major League Soccer franchise received a boost on Friday after a Florida judge approved plans to build a new stadium in neighbouring Fort Lauderdale. The former England captain's ownership group was forced to go before a court in South Florida on Wednesday to obtain permission to demolish the crumbling Lockhart Stadium. The stadium, home of the now-defunct Fort Lauderdale Strikers, is around 25 miles north of Miami. Beckham's group plans to build a new 18,000-seat arena at the site in time for Inter Miami's MLS debut in 2020. Work on the new venue will begin immediately in the wake of Friday's court ruling, which followed a legal battle with sports entertainment company FXE Futbol, which had sought an injunction against Beckham's project. FXE had been in talks with city officials for over a year about renovating rather than demolishing Lockhart Stadium before Beckham's group swooped for the site. But Judge Raag Singhal
'I won't take medication': Defiant Semenya wins first race since gender ruling defeat
Caster Semenya won the 800 metres at the Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday in her first race since losing her appeal over a controversial gender ruling, claiming "actions speak louder than words". The South African, a two-time Olympic champion, timed 1min 54.98sec to defeat Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba, who clocked 1min 57.75sec and Ajee Wilson of the United States in 1min 58.83sec. Semenya's victory could be her last over 800m with new IAAF rules governing testosterone levels coming into operation on May 8. Asked if she intended to take hormone-suppressing treatment, she said: "Hell no. No way. "I don't know what will happen next. But no-one should tell me what to do, if people want to stop me from doing something that's their problem, not mine." After setting a new meet record, she told the BBC: "Actions speak louder than words. When you're a great champion you always deliver. "With me, life has been simple. I'm just here to deliver for the people who love and support me. I'm ...
Overseas players keen on Women's IPL
New Delhi [India], May 4 (ANI): India's triumph over Pakistan in the final of the first-ever ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007 drew not only worldwide attention towards T20 cricket but also led to the creation of the Indian Premier League by the BCCI a year later. With further introduction of leagues around the world, the shortest format has taken the centre stage given it is just a three-hour spectacle, unlike One-Day Internationals.Down Under, Cricket Australia moved a step further and staged Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) alongside the Big Bash League, for both locals and overseas players. The England Cricket Board (ECB), in an attempt to water the same garden, started Kia Super League (KSL) shortly. In an exclusive interaction with ANI, star players Suzie Bates, Danielle Wyatt, Stafanie Taylor, Sophie Devine, Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp, shared not only how these tournaments developed their games but also revealed that a full-fledged IPL-style women's league is long ...
Indian Women's League to begin on May 5
The third season of the Indian Women's League (IWL) is set to kick-off on May 5 at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana, Punjab.Defending champions Rising Student's Club will take on Gokulam Kerala FC in the opening match.As many as 12 teams, who are divided into two groups of six each, are set to participate in the tournament. Group I consists of Rising Student's Club, Gokulam, FC Alakhpura, Hans Women Football Club, Central SSB Women Football Club, and Panjim Footballers. Meanwhile, Group II includes Manipur Police, Sethu FC Bangalore United FC, SAI-STC Cuttack, FC Kolhapur City, and Baroda Football Academy.All India Football Federation (AIFF) General Secretary, Kushal Das said, "Women's football in our country is going through an exciting phase. We have seen the Indian Women's Team produce some great results on the international front.""We are sure to see the rise of more talented players in the third season of the Hero Indian Women's League. I would like to thank the Punjab Football
Foakes stars as England survive Ireland scare
Ben Foakes' unbeaten 61 on his debut helped England recover from a top-order collapse to beat Ireland by four wickets in a lone one-day international in Dublin on Friday. England, the world's top-ranked side in ODI cricket and the hosts of the 50-over World Cup starting later this month, collapsed to 66 for five chasing a modest 199 for victory. They were still in trouble in a match at Malahide reduced to 45 overs per side by a wet outfield when teenage debutant left-arm quick Josh Little took his fourth wicket. England were now 101 for six against an Ireland side who have not qualified for the World Cup But wicket-keeper Foakes and Surrey team-mate Tom Curran (47 not out) saw England home with an unbroken stand of 98 as the visitors won with three overs to spare. Victory in their opening match of the season saw England avoid the embarrassment of a fresh defeat by a side controversially excluded from an upcoming World Cup now reduced to 10 teams following their shock loss away to ...
Gill keeps KKR's playoff chances alive after KXIP win
Shubman Gill struck his second consecutive half century as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kept their playoff chances alive by defeating Kings XI Punjab by seven wickets in a must-win Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the PCA I.S. Bindra Stadium here on Friday.
Semenya wins Doha 800m in first race since gender ruling defeat
Caster Semenya won the 800 metres at the Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday in her first race since losing her appeal over a controversial gender ruling, claiming "actions speak louder than words". The South African, a two-time Olympic champion, timed 1min 54.98sec to defeat Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba, who clocked 1min 57.75sec and Ajee Wilson of the United States in 1min 58.83sec. Semenya's victory could be her last over 800m before new IAAF rules governing testosterone levels come into operation on May 8. "Actions speak louder than words. When you're a great champion you always deliver," Semenya told the BBC after setting a new meeting record. "With me, life has been simple. I'm just here to deliver for the people who love and support me. I'm enjoying each and every moment of my life maybe because I have the love I need from my people." Asked if she intended to take the medication required to lower her testosterone levels, she later told reporters with a smile: "Hell no, that's
Shubman shines as KKR knock Kings XI Punjab out of IPL
Shubman Gill showed maturity beyond years as Kolkata Knight Riders knocked out Kings XI Punjab by seven wickets on Friday to stay afloat in the Indian Premier League. Chasing a target of 184, the 19-year-old Gill showed his range on his 'home turf' with an attractive 65 not out off 49 balls balls, anchoring the chase after Chris Lynn (46 off 22 balls) set the pace with some big hits in the Powerplay overs. Not only did KKR reach the target in 18 overs but they also improved the net run-rate as they now have 12 points with a must-win away game against Mumbai Indians left. The opening duo added 62 in 6 overs before Lynn was dismissed havingh hit five fours and two sixes. Robin Uthappa (22, 14 ablls) looked good but didn't stay long enough even as Gill, who hit five fours and two sixes carried on with minimum fuss. Andre Russell (24 off 14 balls) hit a couple of sixes in the 50-run stand in only 4.2 overs to cut the chase short. However Gill's batting was a treat for the eyes as he ...
IPL 2019: KKR defeat KXIP by seven wickets
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by seven wickets in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Friday.With this win, KKR has now moved on to the fifth position in the league standings with 12 points whereas Kings XI Punjab is placed at the seventh position with 10 points.Chasing a challenging total of 184, KKR got off to a good start as their opener Chris Lynn hammered the hosts for regular boundaries. Lynn (46) was at his fluent best but his innings was cut short by his fellow countrymen Andrew Tye. KKR had scored 62 runs for the loss of one wicket after the completion of six overs.Shubhman Gill and Robin Uthappa did not let the momentum slip away and they continued to pile on the misery on Punjab's bowlers. The duo stitched together a partnership of 38 runs but their resistance was cut short by Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin as he dismissed Uthappa (22).Gill kept on going on his merry way and he .
Mihailovic appointed men's volleyball coach
The Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) on Friday named Serbian Dragan Mihailovic as the head coach the Indian men's volleyball team.
Curran's maiden 50 helps KXIP post 183/6 against KKR
Sam Curran notched up his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) half-century as Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) posted a competitive 183/6 in 20 overs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a crunch encounter at the PCA I.S. Bindra Stadium here on Friday.
Curran, Pooran take Kings XI Punjab to 183 for 6
Youngsters Sam Curran and Nicholas Pooran displayed belligerence as Kings XI Punjab put on a respectable 183 for 6 against Kolkata Knight Riders in a must-win IPL game here Friday. While West Indies' Pooran smashed 48 off 27 balls to give the innings initial impetus as he added 69 runs for the third wicket with Mayank Agarwal (36 off 26 balls), Englishman Curran walloped KKR bowlers to smash an unbeaten 55 off 24 balls to take the score past 180-run mark. For KKR, fast bowler Sandeep Warrier (2/31) was the most impressive as he removed the opening pair of Chris Gayle (14 off 14 balls) and KL Rahul (2 off 7 balls) in quick succession. However Pooran again showed his big-hitting prowess, hitting four sixes apart from three boundaries as he found an able partner in Agarwal. Pooran was unlucky to miss out on a fifty as he was holed out in the deep mid-wicket region trying to hit a Nitish Rana half-tracker for six. Once Agarwal and later Mandeep Singh (25) got out, it seemed that KXIP ...