Page 309 - Sports
Getting dropped from Indian team after 2-3 matches has led to dip in form: Umesh
Struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Umesh Yadav says getting dropped from the Indian team off and on has led to loss of self confidence and dip in form which is clearly showing in the ongoing Indian Premier League. Umesh, who is not in India's World Cup team, said nothing is going right for him and the piling mental pressure has affected on his accuracy and rhythm in bowling. "Everybody is saying I am not bowling well and why is this happening? Because in last two years I continued playing all formats in domestic level, but after that, I have not played too many ODIs or T20s. I am just picked for 2 to 3 games, then again get dropped," Umesh said. "Everyone is thinking I am not giving my best, but it is not. It happens for every fast bowler," he said after the abandoned IPL match between RCB Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday. Umesh admitted that for the past six months he has not been able to maintain accuracy. "It is difficult to elaborate because it is part of every bowler. ...
Hurt the opponent from word go: Shiva Thapa's new ring philosophy
A record fourth Asian Championship medal in his cabinet, Indian boxer Shiva Thapa says throwing caution to the wind and hurting rivals from the very first second is helping him rediscover himself after enduring an erratic season last year. Thapa became the first Indian male boxer to claim four consecutive Asian medals with a 60kg category bronze in the just-concluded edition in Bangkok. He had won a gold in 2013, a bronze in 2015 followed by a silver in 2017 at the tournament which can easily be called his 'happy hunting ground'. "I have tried to become more aggressive, I now try to hurt my opponents from the first ring of the bell. I have realised there is no point in waiting," Thapa, a two-time Olympian and a former world championships bronze-medallist, told PTI in an interview. By waiting, Thapa implies the cautious approach which was the hallmark of his style in the past. "That can cost you bouts, I now understand. You feel that you are conserving yourself for that big assault but
Bangladesh change World Cup strip after uproar
Bangladesh has altered its World Cup cricket strip to add a touch of red following uproar over the initial design, which some had likened to rival Pakistan's kit, the cricket board said Wednesday. The national flag of Bangladesh is red and green, but the Tigers' jersey unveiled Monday for the tournament starting later this month in England and Wales was green and white. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) spokesman Jalal Yunus said cricket's world governing body had originally asked it to drop the red colour due to "commercial complications", but relented following a subsequent request from the BCB. "It made the jersey green and white. But people wanted a touch of red in the jersey. So we requested the ICC (International Cricket Council) again and they accepted our request," he told AFP. The original design had featured the names of players and the word Bangladesh in red, Yunus noted. Social media was awash with complaints after the strip was unveiled, with former BCB president Saber ...
KXIP's Varun Chakravarthy ruled out of IPL
Kings XI Punjab's Varun Chakravarthy was on Wednesday ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League after the spinner failed to recover from an injury. The Tamil Nadu player has been on the sidelines for most part of this IPL campaign due to a finger injury. A leg-spinner, Chakravarthy played just one match during the ongoing season against Kolkata Knight Riders in March, returning with figures of 1/35. He was injured during KXIP's visit to Chennai last month which sidelined him for a few weeks. "While the team was hopeful that Chakravarthy would return for the final few games of the campaign, his recovery however has not been sufficient. The 27-year-old will return home as a result. KXIP wishes him a speedy recovery and the very best for the rest of the year," KXIP said in a media release.
Only 'work' can get us through difficult moment, Marquinhos on PSG's poor form
Paris Saint Germain's dismal form has made Marquinhos say that they do not have any other option but to 'work' to overcome through this 'difficult moment'."It's a difficult moment, and it's only through work that we will be able to overcome it. I will get the message to the dressing room, because football is a collective job and we have no other choice," Goal.com quoted Marquinhos, as saying.The defender's comments came after their recent 3-2 defeat in the hands Montpellier in the ongoing Ligue 1 on Tuesday. Moreover, they lost to Rennes on April 28 in the Coupe de France final on penalties after a 2-2 tie.PSG atop the points table of Ligue 1 and are already champions of Ligue 1. However, their recent form has not been up to mark as they have lost five out of their six matches in all competitions.Therefore Marquinhos emphasised that if they will continue to play like this, they will be subjected to criticism from fans."It's too easy to say that the season is over. We cannot continue ..
Bajrang eyes Indian support at Madison Square Garden
World no. 1 Bajrang Punia has requested the Indian diaspora in New York to come to the Madison Square Garden as the wrestler is all set to become the first Indian to fight at the iconic place.
Hockey India recommends PR Sreejesh for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
Hockey India on Wednesday recommended ace goalkeeper PR Sreejesh for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, while experienced duo of men's team midfielder Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and forward Akashdeep Singh, as well as women's team defender Deepika, have been recommended for the Arjuna Award.The governing body also proposed Dr RP Singh and Sandeep Kaur for the Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement, while coaches Baljeet Singh, BS Chauhan and Romesh Pathania have been recommended for the Dronacharya Award.Rajinder Singh, Hockey India Secretary General said, "We are happy to endorse these current and former hockey players for the National Awards 2019. Over the course of their careers, as players and coaches respectively, these athletes have contributed immensely to Indian Hockey."They have always stood out while performing for the nation and have taken the Indian team to great heights. It is with pride that they have donned the Indian colors, helping the team in ..
No wrong in being hungry for success: Gambhir tells Upton
In his just release book The Barefoot Coach, Rajasthan Royals head coach Paddy Upton has written in length about mental conditioning of sportsmen and also pointed at how former India opener Gautam Gambhir was riddled with insecurities, doubts and vulnerabilities. He went on to add that the former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper was one of the most negative people he has worked with.
Hockey India recommend Sreejesh for Khel Ratna
Hockey India has recommended goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award while the experienced duo of Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and Akashdeep Singh and womens team player Deepika have been recommended for the Arjuna Award.
Apurvi Chandela attains top position in 10m Air Rifle rankings
Indian shooter Apurvi Chandela added another feather to her already illustrious cap, securing world number one position in the 10m Air Rifle rankings on Wednesday.Apurvi shot a world record score of 252.9 to clinch gold at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup 2019 in February this year. She is among the six Indian shooters to earn the Olympics quota for the Tokyo Games. In the 2018 Asian Games, Apurvi had won a bronze medal in the 10m Mixed Rifle event.The Jaipur-born shooter took Twitter to share her joy on achieving the feat, saying, "World Number 1 Touched a milestone in my shooting career today".Meanwhile, Anjum Moudgil attained the world number two rank in 10m Air Rifle after her mixed team gold at the ISSF World Cup in Beijing.
Texas teen runs 100-meter dash in 9.98 seconds
A high school sprinter in Texas, nicknamed 'White Lightning', set a new unofficial record in a 100-meter dash after completing the race in an incredible time of 9.98 seconds.
Colin Ingram to skip ninth season of BBL
Former South Africa batsman Colin Ingram will not compete in the ninth season of the Big Bash League (BBL) due to family reasons.The 33-year-old completed a two-year deal with the conclusion of the 2018-19 tournament, where his score tally for Adelaide Strikers reached to 610 runs at a strike-rate of 138.95 in 25 matches."We are disappointed to lose Colin but we were aware that it was a strong possibility that for family reasons he could not commit to a new contract," ESPNcricinfo quoted Tim Nielsen, the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) general manager of high performance, as saying."He is a quality player and leader and was one of the key players behind our first BBL title win last year. We wish Colin, Megan and family all the best," Nielsen said.Ingram led the Strikers on 14 occasions in the absence of Travis Head, who was on international duty.With Ingram stepping back, Strikers will have an overseas spot empty. However, it is understood the team has not made a bid for ..
Felt good to get AB, Virat out again: Gopal
Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal said it felt good to take a hat-trick against RCB while dismissing AB de Villers and Virat Kohli for the second time in this edition of the Indian Premier League.
Sunrisers face Mumbai Indians sans Warner in crucial clash
Their batting mainstay, Australian David Warner no longer available, Sunrisers Hyderabad face a formidable task when they square off against Mumbai Indians in a crucial IPL match here on Thursday. The match is important for both sides as a victory will bolster their play-off chances while a defeat would bring them one step closer to the exit door. Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals have already sealed their play-off spots, while the other two slots are yet to be decided. Currently, MI are on third position with 14 points from 12 games, while the SRH are in the fourth spot with 12 points from as many matches. If MI win on Thursday, they qualify for the play-offs while a victory for SRH will take them level on 14 points with the home side and both will have to wait longer to know their fate. Warner, after scoring a staggering 692 runs from 12 matches, headed home to take part in the national camp ahead of the World Cup, which begins on May 30 in England. The void left by his ...
Emery turns to Europa League once more to salvage Arsenal's season
Unai Emery's first season in charge at Arsenal is in danger of imploding unless the Spaniard can again prove himself to be a Europa League specialist and cover up an alarming dip in the Gunners' Premier League form. Arsenal have lost four of their past five league games to Everton, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City to slip down to fifth and relying on more favours from Chelsea or Tottenham to have any chance of a top-four finish. However, winning the Europa League would also offer a much-needed return to the Champions League next season after a two-year absence. For 20 years under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal enjoyed the riches and the glamour of the Champions League and the impact of missing out has had serious implications on the budget Emery has had to work with. In January, he revealed the club could not afford to make any permanent signings. Emery is a specialist in Europe's second-tier competition, winning it three times when at Sevilla, and he is also well ...
Troubled PSG throw away lead again to lose at Montpellier
Paris Saint-Germain's end-of-season meltdown continued on Tuesday as the Ligue 1 champions twice threw away the lead in a 3-2 defeat at Montpellier, three days after dramatically losing the French Cup final. Souleymane Camara netted Montpellier's winner five minutes from time after Leandro Paredes was caught in possession on the edge of his own area. Before that, Presnel Kimpembe's own goal had cancelled out an Ambroise Oyongo own goal that had given PSG the lead. Angel Di Maria put the visitors back in front, but Andy Delort made it 2-2 before Camara sealed the points. PSG wrapped up their sixth league title in seven seasons a week ago, but this result means they have won one and lost three of their last five league games. "We made individual errors, too many of them, and big mistakes," lamented coach Thomas Tuchel. "In these conditions it is difficult to win a match at Montpellier, who are a very strong and aggressive team defensively." This latest defeat will increase the pressure .
'I made a mistake': Pochettino takes blame but slams Spurs
Mauricio Pochettino took his share of the blame for "sloppy" Tottenham's 1-0 Champions League semi-final first leg defeat against Ajax after admitting he used the wrong tactics. Pochettino's side made a dismal start as Donny van de Beek put Ajax ahead after just 15 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday. Ajax dominated the first half until Pochettino completely changed his game-plan by switching from a 3-5-2 formation to a 4-4-2 system. Aided by the introduction of Moussa Sissoko for the injured Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham regained a measure of control without ever hurting Ajax with their long-ball barrage. Pochettino conceded he had blundered with his game-plan, but the Tottenham manager was also angry with the lethargic way his players started the club's first European Cup semi-final for 57 years. "Watching now of course I can accept it was a mistake the shape we used. But there were not too many options," Pochettino told BT Sport. "I am not happy. But our lack of energy .
Sarri urges Chelsea to finish on a high note
Maurizio Sarri has challenged Chelsea to secure an upbeat finish to a turbulent season that plunged the club into chaos and threatened to cost the Italian his job. Sarri's side travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday knowing they are five matches away from rescuing their troubled campaign. The Blues sit fourth in the Premier League with just two games left in the battle to qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea are two points above fifth placed Arsenal and three ahead of sixth placed Manchester United, with games against Watford and Leicester to come. They are also favourites to secure a Europa League final berth after being handed a last four clash with unheralded Eintracht. Booking a place in the Champions League, either by winning the Europa League or finishing in the Premier League's top four, would be a significant achievement given the self-inflicted wounds Chelsea have endured this term. After a painful period that saw widespread ..
Hockey India names 18-man team for Australia tour
Hockey India has named an 18-member men's team for the Australia tour, beginning May 10 in Perth. Under newly appointed coach Graham Reid, the team will be led by Manpreet Singh.India started this season with a silver medal at the 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in March, where a young squad with a few seasoned players were tested against the likes of Korea, Japan, Canada, Poland and Malaysia.For the Australia tour, India will again try youngsters and test experienced players ahead of the team selection for the much-awaited FIH Men's Hockey Series Final Bhubaneswar Odisha 2019.India will feature PR Sreejesh and Krishan B Pathak guarding the goalpost in the four-match series against Australia, while experienced defender and drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh has been called-up after nearly eight months since he last played at the 18th Asian Games. He will be joined by vice-captain Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Birender Lakra, Gurinder Singh and Kothajit Singh in the backline.Midfielders ..
Ajax defeat depleted Spurs, close in on Champions League final
Ajax closed in on a first Champions League final for 23 years as Donny van de Beek's early goal beat an injury-hit Tottenham 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday. Van de Beek's opener on 15 minutes was just reward for the Dutch side's first-half dominance as Tottenham badly missed the presence of the injured Harry Kane and suspended Son Heung-min. Tottenham improved after the break despite another injury blow as Jan Vertonghen had to be helped down the tunnel after a sickening head knock, but lacked the inspiration needed to get back on level terms without their two top scorers. And Ajax could easily have had an even greater lead to take back to the Johan Cruyff Arena for the second leg next week when David Neres hit the post 10 minutes from time. Ajax had shown they are not fazed on the road despite the tender age of many of their squad by shocking Real Madrid and Juventus away to reach the last four and started confidently. Spurs were happy to sit deep and wait for ...