Page 351 - Sports
Bus boys: Man City stars pay for 26 coaches to take fans to Wembley
Manchester City players will pay for 26 coaches to take fans to Wembley next month for the FA Cup final, the club announced on Friday. "The support from our fans throughout the season has been nothing short of incredible. Travelling to so many games in league and cup competitions, both home and away, is not easy to do and is something that every player in our squad values and appreciates," said captain Vincent Kompany. City, who have already won the Community Shield and League Cup at Wembley this season, will face Watford in the FA Cup final at the London venue on May 18. By that time, they may also be Premier League champions although their hopes of winning the Champions League were dashed in an epic quarter-final loss to Tottenham in midweek. "Although the result was not the one that we had hoped for, it was very special to hear our fans in full voice for ninety minutes backing the team," added Kompany. "We still have so much to fight for this season, and this is our way of saying ..
Told AB I will hug him if we win: Kohli
AB de Villiers was disappointed not to make it to Friday's game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) which the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won by 10 runs at the Eden Gardens in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), said skipper Virat Kohli on Friday.
I am disappointed, should have batted higher: Russell
Terming the 10-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore "sweet and sour", a disappointed Andre Russell did not mince words to say he should bat higher up the order in situations like these for Kolkata Knight Riders.
IPL: Seven spectators nabbed from Eden for betting
Seven spectators have been arrested in connection with cricket betting from the Eden Gardens here during the Indian Premier League (IPL) game between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), police said on Saturday.
IPL 2019: RCB break jinx against KKR, beat them by 10 runs
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ended their five-match losing streak against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as they defeated them by 10 runs in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) here at the Eden Gardens Stadium on Friday.Chasing a mammoth score of 214, KKR got off to the worst start possible as they lost their big-hitting opener Chris Lynn (1) in the very first over. Dale Steyn, who was making a return to RCB's team after eight years, struck the first blow for the team. Sunil Narine (18) also failed to leave a mark as he was dismissed by Navdeep Saini, who bowled a short ball and had him caught at the hands of wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel.Steyn struck for the second time as he dismissed Shubman Gill (9); the batsman was looking to go big but he was not able to time it and as a result he handed a simple catch to RCB skipper Virat Kohli, reducing KKR to 37 for three in the powerplay overs.Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa retrieved the innings for KKR in the middle overs as they ...
Was important for me to bat through in AB's absence: Kohli
Virat Kohli on Friday said the onus was only on him to bat through the innings in the absence of AB de Villiers and the RCB skipper lived up to the expectations with a 58-ball 100 for his first century of IPL 2019. RCB eked out a 10-run win over KKR for only their second success of the season after Andre Russell and Nitish Rana nearly pulled off the impossible. De Villiers was under the weather before the start of the game and Kohli decided to rest him. "It was important to bat along when AB is not here, as a senior player. AB was disappointed for not making it for the game tonight and I told him that I'll give him a hug if we win tonight," Kohli said at the post-match presentation. RCB finally managed to defend a total after posting 213 for four at the Eden Gardens. Needing 113 runs off the last six overs, Russell (65 off 25) and Rana (85 not out off 46) almost got KKR over the line but Moeen Ali managed to defend 24 in the final over. "There's no point in panicking in these types of
RCB pull-off 10-run win after another Russell carnage
Royal Challengers Bangalore eked out a 10-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders for only their second success of the season after Andre Russell and Nitish Rana nearly pulled off the impossible in the Indian Premier League here on Friday. Needing 113 runs off the last six overs, Russell (65 off 25) and Rana (85 not out off 46) almost got their team over the line but Moeen Ali managed to defend 24 in the final over. The tense climax came after Virat Kohli smashed 100 off 58 balls for his fifth century in the IPL and first this season. RCB hammered 91 runs off the last five overs to reach 213 for four, their highest total this year. Ali's 66 off 28 while batting alongside Kohli also proved crucial for RCB's cause as they finally managed to defend. The win keeps RCB mathematically alive in the tournament while KKR suffered their fourth loss in as many games. Following a Kohli special, it was the turn of swing king Dale Steyn to land some body blows on the opposition. Playing his first game .
Mountain Biking Race flagged off in Shimla
The mountain biking (MTB) Shimla 2019 race, held under the aegis of Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA), was flagged off from historic ridge maidan here on Friday. The race was flagged off by state chief secretary Ram Subagh Singh and athletes from the Special Olympic cycling champions from Himachal Pradesh. Over 100 cyclists from six countries including hosts India, Germany, Japan, Columbia, Nepal and United Kingdom are participating in the race, HASTPA president Mohit Sood said. A five-member team from border security force (BSF) and a three-member team from Service Selection Board (SSB) and three jawans from army are also taking part in the race. The youngest participant is 14-year-old Hukum Singh from Kullu, while the eldest participant is 63-year-old Vijay Mittar from Ludhiana. A 25-kilometer non-competitive stretch that covered Sanjauli, Dhalli and Mashobra was organised on Friday in the spirit of inaugurating the main race, starting ...
Ton-up Kohli powers RCB to 213/4 against KKR
Virat Kohli notched up his fifth century in the Indian Premier League while Moeen Ali too struck a belligerent fifty to help Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) post a mammoth 213/4 in 20 overs against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens here on Friday.
Kohli slams century after Ali's assault
Virat Kohli smashed his first century of the season after Moeen Ali's blistering knock as Royal Challengers Bangalore amassed 213 for four against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League here on Friday. The Indian skipper paced his innings brilliantly and got out on the last ball of the innings for a 58-ball 100, his fifth in the IPL. RCB scored 91 runs off the last five overs to record their highest total of the season. It was Ali who gave the much needed oxygen to their innings, smashing six sixes and five fours to seize momentum after a slow start. Kohli and Ali shared 90 runs off 43 balls and there was no looking back after Ali's assault. The match swung in the 16th over when Kuldeep Yadav bled 27 runs with Ali going berserk, smashing the star India spinner for three sixes and two boundaries. The chinaman ended with figures of 1/59 in four overs. Kohli, who scored his first 50 off 40 balls, changed gears in the second half of his innings. Such was his domination that ...
Former Scotland cricket captain De Lange dies aged 38
Scottish cricket was in mourning on Friday following the death of former national team captain Con De Lange at the age of 38 following a lengthy illness. South Africa-born all-rounder De Lange was diagnosed with a brain tumour after falling ill while away on international duty in late 2017. "Con's death at such an early age is a tragedy," said Cricket Scotland chairman Tony Brian. De Lange started his career in South Africa, playing for the Knights and Free State and had two years with Northamptonshire before representing Scotland. At international level, he captained Scotland to their first 50-over victory over a International Cricket Council full member and hit the winning runs as Scotland chased down 287 against Sri Lanka in May 2017.
Spirit, unity and passion key to success at WC: Imran Khan
Pakistan Prime Minister and World Cup winning captain Imran Khan on Friday stressed on the importance of team spirit, unity and passion to be successful at the upcoming World Cup in England. Imran told the World Cup-bound squad, who met him at his residence in Islamabad, especially captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to lead by performance and example. "You are the leader of this team and the whole team looks up to you. When a leader performs and shows passion, his player do the same," Imran told Sarfaraz. Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Ehsan Mani, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and other board members were also invited to the pre-World Cup meeting, in which some of the players also exchanged views on the game with the former skipper. The national selectors announced a 15-member World Cup squad with two reserve players on Thursday. Imran, who had led Pakistan to its only World Cup title in 1992, spent over an hour giving advice to the national team players on how to be successful during ...
'French Open is ultimate goal,' says Djokovic after shock Monte Carlo exit
Novak Djokovic shrugged off his shock Monte Carlo Masters exit on Friday, insisting he has plenty of time to whip his game into shape ahead of his assault on the French Open. The world number one slumped to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 defeat to Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals of a Masters event he has won on two occasions. The defeat also meant that the 15-time major winner has not made a semi-final since claiming a record seventh Australian Open title in January. "The French Open is the ultimate goal on clay. It's expected in a way for me to peak right at that tournament, because that's what I'm aiming for," said Djokovic, who has swept the last three Grand Slams. "This is only the first tournament on clay, and it's a long season. Let's see how it goes. "Maybe I'm lacking the consistency with the top results in the last couple of years in the best tournaments. "But I've been playing my best at Grand Slams and that's what I intend to do." Djokovic, the 2013 and 2015 champion in ...
Players' families not allowed to travel with Pakistan team during World Cup
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday rejected a suggestion from national team captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to have players' families travelling with them during the World Cup in England. "Yes there was a suggestion from the captain and players that they should be allowed to have their wives and children with them in England during the World Cup but the board has not allowed this, an official source in the board said. He said instead permission had been granted to the players that their wives and children could be with them during the ODI series against England but they would have to leave before the World Cup. The source said the board wanted the players to be totally focussed on cricket during the World Cup. "This decision has been taken by the team management," he said. Sarfaraz, in an interview to a television channel, made it clear he was in favour of allowing players to have their families with them, especially on long tours. "The World Cup and our tour of England is a long one. I ...
Services down 10-man Karnataka in penalty shootout
Services prevailed in a thrilling penalty shootout against a 10-man Karnataka side in the second semi-final of the Hero Santosh Trophy here on Friday. Services took the early lead with a Lallawmkima goal but Karnataka levelled the score in the 84th minute from a Nikhil Raj strike after going down to 10 men in the 70th minute as Ashik A S got the marching orders. Karnataka, being the more attacking side, started the match with their swift passing style moving the ball around the Services area. However, it was Services, who surged into the early lead on the seventh minute, when a cross from the right was controlled well by Lallawmkima inside the box as he slotted it into the far bottom corner of the net. The side from South India continued to probe the Services third of the pitch throughout the match but failed to make much of an impression in front of goal. Karnataka came out in the same vein of form in the second half as well, managing to launch attack after attack near the Services ..
Paddlers Manush, Raegan combine to bag bronze
India's young paddlers Manush Shah and Raegan Albuquerque clinched the bronze at the Belgium Junior and Cadet Open, a part of the ITTF Junior Circuit Premium, here on Friday.
Indian boxers dominate Asian Championship
World Championships' silver medallist Sonia Chahal (57kg) entered the Asian Boxing Championships quarter-finals asserting her dominance with a 5-0 win over Vietnam's Do Nha Uyan, while four other Indian boxers made a winning start on the opening day of the event here on Friday.
We have to treat every game like final, says Ben Stokes
England's star all-rounder Ben Stokes Friday said his struggling IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals will, from now on, have to "treat every game like a final" if they are to make the playoffs. Stokes, who himself has not been in the best of form, said that having lost six of their eight matches, Rajasthan Royals cannot afford to lose anymore. "Yes, we are in a must-win situation and we have to treat every match as final and which, I guess, puts any sort of negative thought process above our head. We have only one way to go and that is aggressive and positive," Stokes. Rajasthan, champions in the inaugural edition, are currently placed seventh in the eight-team standings with four points. "If you look at most of the games we lost, we have lost at the crucial moments. In T20 games two-three or four balls can dictate the winner, and unfortunately, we have not been the team to win those critical moments. "But if you lose those moments consistently then you deserve to be where we are. It is ..
Vishwakarma, Poonacha lead field
National men's champion Siddharth Vishwakarma and ATP-ranked Niki Poonacha will lead the field at the USD 3000 RBLATT Asian ranking men's tennis championships commencing here on April 22. The qualifying rounds are to be held on Saturday and Sunday, a media release said on Friday. The event will be the first event of the Asian Tennis Tour (ATT) launched by the Asian Tennis Federation to help safeguard the interest of the players in the region, in the wake of the uncertainties surrounding the professional Tour. "The recently-launched ITF World Tennis Tour, the cap in ATP/WTA points at the lower level tournaments along with reduced number of professional tournaments in India at the lower end, are all quite disruptive changes, filled with uncertainties and doubts about the future of our sport and the new ATT circuit will help our young tennis players immensely," said Sunder Iyer, secretary of the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association. Tournament Director D S Rama Rao ...
KKR win toss, ask RCB to bat first
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Dinesh Karthik won the toss and asked Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to bat first in their crucial Indian Premier League game at Eden Gardens here on Friday.