Page 301 - Sports
PSG's Mbappe slapped with three match ban
French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe was banned for three matches Friday following his sending-off for a reckless tackle during Paris Saint-Germain's French Cup final debacle against Rennes. The French football Federation (FFF) said they had also opened disciplinary proceedings against Mbappe's teammate Neymar for striking a Rennes fan following the shock defeat on penalties after extra time. Mbappe, PSG's gifted 20-year-old striker, lunged with his studs into the knee of Rennes defender Damien Da Silva near the close of extra time on Sunday. Having already missed one game, Mbappe will miss Saturday's match against Nice and the trip to Angers the following week but will be available for the last two games of the season. The threat of further sanctions hangs over Neymar, banned for three Champions League games after insulting the referee following PSG's exit from the last 16 at the hands of Manchester United. This time Neymar lashed out at an abusive opposing fan as he climbed the ...
China's Wanda pumps $300m into giant football academy
Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda will invest 2 billion yuan ($300 million) in a huge new football academy aimed at improving standards in one of the world's great sleeping giants. Wanda, which is owned by one of China's richest men, Wang Jianlin, announced a 23-pitch facility capable of accommodating 500 players and coaches in Dalian, a port city in the north-east. "In addition to meeting the needs of professional football clubs, it will also provide training venues for primary and secondary school students who love football in Dalian," a statement said. It will not be the only large-scale academy in China, whose collection includes the Evergrande Football School in Guangzhou, the biggest in the world with accommodation for more than 2,000 students. China has unveiled plans to set up an eye-popping 20,000 academies as part of plans to turn the country -- whose national team is 74th in the world rankings -- into a football superpower. Wanda owner Wang is a big football fan but the ...
IPL management to track Ness Wadia matter, to update CoA
With the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) disbanding all sub-committees of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) except for the selection committee and the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), the IPL Governing Council was also disbanded. That saw the formation of the IPL management team to look into the smooth functioning of the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League. And the team has decided to look into the Ness Wadia fiasco and its impact on his team Kings XI Punjab.
Variety key to succeed in T20 Cricket: Varun Aaron
Rajasthan Royals pacer Varun Aaron feels the gentleman's game is changing swiftly as batsmen today have many innovations in their kitty to cope with the bowlers. As a result, he feels that the bowlers should also come with new tricks and techniques, a thing he has focussed on in recent times.
Ghosal, Joshna enter semifinals of Asian Championship
India's Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa moved into the semifinals with convincing victories over their respective opponents in the Asian Squash Championship here on Friday. Ghosal's was the last match of the day and the Indian had hardly anything extra to take care as he disposed of Malaysia's sixth seed Mohd Nafizwan Adnan in straight games for an 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 win. Joshna on the other hand had a task in hand suppressing compatriot Tanvi Khanna before prevailing 12-10, 13-11, 11-7. Tanvi, who had made impressive strides in the championship and played with lots of motivation, continued in that vein against her senior. Unforced errors undid much of her spirited fight but it must be said to her credit, Tanvi stretched Joshna in the first two games before losing them over tie-break points.
Hardik Pandya wants Bumrah to advice him
Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya revealed whenever he does something wrong during bowling, he wants Jasprit Bumrah to guide him."After the game he (Bumrah) was telling me that you should have bowled a slower bouncer and I told him in the game that you have to come if you think I am doing something wrong or you want me to do something, you should come," Pandya told Bumrah in a video posted by IPL official website.However, Bumrah replied that he does not want to confuse Pandya and want him to bowl whatever he feels like.Mumbai Indians became the third team to qualify for the IPL playoffs after they registered a victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in a Super Over and the credit goes to Bumrah, who restricted the visitors on just eight runs in the Super Over which Mumbai Indians chased easily.Bumrah, in the video, said that his mantra to perform well in the Super Over or in the game was to keep things simple."I was just focusing on what I have to do during the super over as well as ..
'Match with City would be cool, but I don't think it's too likely': Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that a playoff match between his team and Manchester City to decide who gets the Premier League title will be pretty cool but he does not think it is very likely.If both the teams finish level on points, goal difference, and goal scores, then a final match will be required to decide who gets to win the Premier League title."It would fit the season actually to make a big showdown of it. High noon, 12 o'clock somewhere. It would be cool, but I don't think it's too likely," goal.com quoted Klopp as saying on Friday.The Reds boss Klopp was seen amused at the fact that Liverpool can tie the goal difference with Manchester City as the Reds would be required to score five more goals than City to get leveled in the goals department."How is that possible? If we have exactly the same goal difference? We need to score five more goals than City? Yeah, wow," Klopp said."Will it be between the last game and the FA Cup final or after that?" he added.Klopp had .
Goalie David de Gea's will play for Manchester United: Manager Solskjaer
Manchester United's manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has supported goalkeeper David de Gea, who has been headlining news for all the wrong reasons, and has confirmed that he will play for the team in the next Premier League against Huddersfield."I would think so, yeah, or he will play. He's been fantastic this season. Towards the end now he's been in headlines for the wrong reasons but he has to deal with that," goal.com quoted Solskjaer as saying on Friday."The goalkeeping department is fantastic, with Emilio [Alvarez], Sergio, Lee [Grant] and David, they've been such a tight-knit group. They've experienced better times than just now but he's ready for Sunday," he added.De Gea has been a four-time player of the year for Manchester United and has been a very consistent player for the club over the past few years.The player has been going through a rough patch lately but Solskjaer opined that the whole team has faith in the 28-year-old goalkeeper."What we discuss we don't need to tell ...
India-Aus matches have more intensity than India-Pak: Varun Aaron
Indian fast-bowler Varun Aaron on Friday said Indian team is much better than of Pakistan and there's no reason why they shouldn't beat them in the upcoming World Cup. He also noted that the India-Australia matches are played at a much higher intensity than India-Pakistan matches of late."We have a much better team than Pakistan, there is no reason why we shouldn't win the match against Pakistan. I feel India has developed a fierce rivalry with Australia off late and the intensity of India-Australia matches are almost outdoing the intensity of India-Pakistan matches. The rivalry between India and Pakistan will always be there, but the match to look out for will be the India-Australia one," Aaron told ANI.Pakistan's all-rounder Shahid Afridi in his latest autobiography 'Game Changer' slammed India's former cricketer Gautam Gambhir for his attitude and said Gambhir acted like he was a cross between Don Bradman and James Bond.However, Aaron said there is nothing much serious about this ..
It is all rosy: Starc on returning duo Smith and Warner,
Pacer Mitchell Starc has stated that Australia has moved on from Steve Smith and David Warner's ball-tampering incident and added that the team is focusing on the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019.Smith and Warner, who faced a year-long ban, joined their team-mates as they gathered for a pre-World Cup training camp."It is onwards, upwards and focused on the World Cup. It is all rosy," ICC quoted Starc, as saying.The duo had missed ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE. However, Smith and Warner were welcomed into the Australia dressing room to know how things have changed under Aaron Finch's leadership and coach Justin Langer. Australia handed a 5-0 defeat to Pakistan in their last series in March ahead of the World Cup."We have all had our meetings and moved on. The meeting I was involved in with ... 95 per cent was not about Dave and Steve and the group. It was more about where the team was going," Starc said.Both Smith and Warner, the former captain and vice-captain, will .
Aman Raj makes cut despite late collapse in Korea
India's Aman Raj survived a major collapse of four bogeys in the last five holes in the second round to make the halfway cut in the 38th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship here on Friday. Aman, who broke through for his first win on the PGTI Tour last September, shot 72 in the first round and then ended with 73 in the second to be three-over 145 after being one-under at one stage. The other two Indians in the fray, S Chikkarangappa (72-75) and Aadil Bedi (76-76) missed the halfway cut. Chikka was undone by the finish as he double bogeyed the Par-4 16th and bogeyed the 17th to miss the cut by one. Bedi was way off at 10-over as the cut fell at four-over 146. Aman played very steady with two birdies on ninth and 12th to be two-under for the day and one-under for the tournament, before he had four bogeys in last five holes of the Namseoul Country Club. Finland's Janne Kaske (70-66) broke the local stronghold by firing a superb five-under-par 66 to grab a share of the halfway lead .
Unheralded Vaidehi, Soha in semis
Wild card Vaidehi Chaudari of Gujarat toppled favorite Nidhi Chilumula to enter the semi finals of the USD 3000 FinIQATT Asian Ranking Women's Tennis Championships here on Friday. Another junior, Soha Sadiq, outplayed Vanshika Pathania to also enter the last four in the tournament organized by Navnath Shete Sports Academy in association with MSLTA. In the quarter finals, former junior national champion Vaidehi, trying to make a mark in women's tennis, upset Nidhi 6-4, 7-5 in a close contest . She will take on former national champion Sai Samhitha Chamarthi in the semis. Sai Samhita brushed aside young Riya Uboveja 6-1, 6-0. In two other quarter final clashes, Soha stopped Vanshita 6-3, 7-5, while Prathiba Narayan Prasad outsmarted Pune girl and wild card Bela Tamhankar 6-3, 6-1.
Indian Women's Football League begins on Sunday
Defending champions Rising Student's Club will take on Gokulam Kerala FC in the opening match of the Indian Women's League football here on Sunday. As many as 12 teams, divided into two groups of six each, are participating 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. Group II has Manipur Police, Sethu FC, Bangalore United FC, SAI-STC Cuttack, FC Kolhapur City and Baroda Football Academy. "Women's football in our country is going through an exciting phase. We have seen the Indian Women's Team produce some great results at the International front," said All India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das. "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 Association for their support in hosting the IWL, and wish the participating clubs all the best for the ...
Seriton inks new 3-year deal with FC Goa
Defender Seriton Fernandes has signed a new long-term contract with FC Goa till the summer of 2022. Seriton made his ISL bow in 2017/18 as a Gaur after the club picked him in the 7th round in the 2017 ISL Players Draft. He then went on to play a vital role in his first season in the club, establishing himself as the undoubted first-choice in the right-back slot. He helped the club to semi-final appearances in both the Indian Super League and the Super Cup, a media release issued here said. "Goa is home for me. Playing for the people and wearing the crest is something I really take pride in. To have the opportunity to play for the club is every Goan boy's dream. And now to have the chance to extend my stay here was something I couldn't say no to," stated Seriton.
Decision on Rabada taken by South Africa: Ponting
Delhi Capitals will definitely miss the services of Purple Cap holder Kagiso Rabada going into the business end of the tournament, but head coach Ricky Ponting made it clear that it was a decision that wasnt in the hands of the franchise and one that Cricket South Africa (CSA) took.
You will do special things in World Cup: Yuvraj to Hardik
Yuvraj Singh, hero of India's victorious campaign in the 2011 World Cup, is expecting "special performances" from all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the 2019 edition, beginning May 30 in the UK. Pandya is back to his best, at least with the bat, following testing times which saw him serve an interim suspension for making sexist comments on a popular chat show. The 25-year-old has been in remarkable form this IPL and his Mumbai Indians teammate Yuvraj hopes that he extends his explosive run to the 50-over mega event. "I was actually having this conversation with him (Hardik) yesterday where I told him that 'you have a great chance of performing really well with the ball and bat', the kind of form he is in at the moment. "Definitely, the way he is batting at the moment, it is phenomenal and I hope he carries that form (into the World Cup). He has been bowling well in patches but as I said it is all about how you handle the pressure," said Yuvraj. The veteran left handed batsman was speaking ..
Average start for Aditi Ashok on LPGA
A bogey on each side of the Lake Merced Golf Club meant that Aditi Ashok carded two-over 74 to lie tied 61st after the first round of the LPGA Mediheal Championship. Aditi, who is having a testing season with just two cuts in seven starts, has a best of T-30 last week at the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open. Playing in tough conditions at the Mediheal Championships, where the first day's average score was just over 74, Aditi had bogeys on the 16th and ninth after starting from the 10th. Three players are tied at the top at 5-under 67 and they included LPGA rookie Anne van Dam of the Netherlands and major champions So Yeon Ryu and Eun-Hee Ji of Korea. They held a one-shot lead over Chinese Taipei's Peiyun Chien, Celine Boutier and Amy Yang at the Par-72 course. Van Dam has shifted from the Ladies European Tour, where she has won four times in the past, to the LPGA this year. She is looking to become the first Dutch player to win on the LPGA. She leads the Tour in average driving distance at ...
Leadership roles for Smith, Warner at WC: Langer
Steve Smith and David Warner would be given leadership roles within the Australian World Cup squad, said head coach Justin Langer as the team held its first training session without the high-profile duo.
Liverpool's Keita out for the season
Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita will miss the rest of the season with an adductor injury that is set to sideline the Guinea international for two months, manager Jurgen Klopp said Friday. Keita limped off midway through the first half of Liverpool's 3-0 loss to Barcelona at the Camp Nou during Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg. "Bad news, a high-grade adductor injury with the tendon rupture so it keeps him out for at least two months," said Klopp of Keita, who will now miss Saturday's trip to Newcastle, as well as home games against Barcelona and Wolves -- Liverpool's last match of the Premier League season. "Bad news for us and for Guinea with the Africa Cup of Nations coming up. Not nice," German boss Klopp added. "Very serious. For sure he is not in the best moment. African Cup of Nations was a big target for him." Liverpool travel to a Newcastle side managed by former Reds boss Rafael Benitez a point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City. But a win at St ...
Neeraj undergoes elbow surgery, doubtful for World Championships
Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has undergone an elbow surgery, raising doubts over his participation in the World Championships to be held in Doha. It has been learnt that the recovery is likely to take three to four months, putting his participation at the prestigious Worlds (September-October) in serious doubt. It is also certain that the Haryana athlete will miss major part of the international season, including the prestigious Diamond League series. Chopra, who won a gold in the Commonwealth Games as well as Asian Games last year, was successfully operated by celebrated orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala at the Kokilaben Dirubhai Ambani Hospital here Thursday evening. The arthroscopic surgery on his throwing right hand was done to remove bone fragments from his elbow joint and lasted around two hours. "Undergone elbow surgery in Mumbai by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. Will require some months of rehabilitation before i can start back with throwing. Hoping to return ...