Page 457 - Sports
Williamson named Player of the Year at NZC awards
Kiwi captain Kane Williamson claimed the coveted Sir Richard Hadlee Medal for Men's Player of the Year at the annual New Zealand Cricket (NZC) awards on Thursday.
Asia Mixed Team C'ships: Ashmita, George-Shukla shine but India lose 2-3 to Chinese Taipei
India crashed out of the Asia Mixed Team badminton Championships after losing 2-3 to Chinese Taipei, despite some brilliant performances by rising star Ashmita Chaliha and men's doubles pair of Arun George and Sanyam Shukla here Thursday. Ashmita and George-Shukla emerged victorious in the first two matches to give India a 2-0 lead in the five-match tie but defeats in the next three matches meant India failed to progress from Group B. India had suffered a defeat to Singapore by an identical scoreline in their opening Group B match. With this win, a resilient Taipei booked their quarter-final berth. George and Shukla showed nerves of steel to hold off the World No. 14 pair of Liao Min Chun and Ching Heng for a 21-17, 17-21, 21-14 win. Assam's 19-year-old Chaliha then played beyond her age to get a marathon 21-18, 17-21, 21-19 win in exactly an hour. With India leading 2-0, World No. 32 Wang Tzu Wei and three-time Indian national champion Sourabh Verma were locked in a gritty contest ...
Injured Kenyan striker Timbe set to be back in May
Beijing Renhe striker Ayub Timbe has spoken about his knee surgery and said he will be ready for Kenya camp in May, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt from June 21 to July 19.
IPL 2019: 5 power hitters set for fresh fireworks
With just a couple of days left for the start of the annual T20 festival -- the Indian Premier League (IPL) -- fans across the country are eagerly awaiting fireworks from some big hitters in the business.
Finch ready to bat down the order at World Cup
Australia's limited-overs captain and opener Aaron Finch is ready to bat down the order if situation demands in the ICC cricket World Cup in England and Wales.
Infosys, Roland-Garros team up for digital innovation
Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, and Roland-Garros Grand Slam tennis tournament, also called the French Open, on Thursday announced a three-year strategic technology partnership.
India wins rich haul of medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games
India returned with 368 medals, including 85 gold, at the Special Olympics World Summer Games which was held at Abu Dhabi, UAE from March 14 to 21. The Indian team of 284 athletes also clinched 154 silver and 129 bronze medals in its highly successful campaign at the prestigious event. Indian powerlifters bagged the maximum number of medals -- 20 gold, 33 silver and 43 bronze. Roller Skating earned India 49 medals -- 13 gold, 20 silver and 16 bronze. In cycling, the Indians won 11 gold, 14 silver and 20 bronze to total 45 medals, while the country's track and field athletes returned with 39 medals -- 5 gold, 24 silver and 10 bronze.
Stade Pierre-Mauroy gearing up to host Coupe de la Ligue final
The Stade Pierre-Mauroy has emerged as a fitting venue for the Coupe de la Ligue final later this month, with the home of LOSC Lille having become used to staging showcase events in recent years. RC Strasbourg Alsace and EA Guingamp go head to head in this season's final on Saturday, March 30 with the aim of succeeding Paris Saint-Germain winners in each of the last five years - on the roll of honour. Fans of both clubs will flock to Villeneuve-d'Ascq on the outskirts of Lille for the match, ensuring that there should be a sell-out crowd for the occasion at the 50,083-capacity ground. The Stade Pierre-Mauroy will be the latest stadium to host the final of the competition since the decision was taken to move it away from the Stade de France. PSG beat AS Monaco at the Groupama Stadium, home of Olympique Lyonnais, in 2017 and then defeated the same opponents at the Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux 12 months ago. Like those venues, and the Allianz Riviera in Nice, the Stade Pierre-Mauroy is .
IPL 2019: Fight of the fates, Bangalore or Harry Gurney
Cricket is a game of uncertainties, as opined by one of the most famous India batsman, Virendra Sehwag. This is absolutely true, especially in the shortest format of the game and IPL (Indian Premier League) is no exception to it. You can never predict what will happen till the last over of the game concludes.But this time around, we have a reason to predict winner even before the tournament has started as we are going witness a fight of the lucks, Bangalore's luck or KKR's (Kolkata Knight Riders) bowler Harry Gurney luck. Both are on a winning streak, Bengaluru has been winning every tournament in 2019 whereas Harry Gurney has not lost even a single league he has participated in since he left England in December 2018.Bengaluru's winning streak started off with the Bengaluru Bulls' triumphant in Pro Kabaddi League title followed by Bengaluru Raptors win in Pro Badminton League and Bengaluru FC win in Indian Super League (ISL). Interestingly, all these titles were their maiden title and
8000 members of Bharat Army to gather for World Cup
The Bharat Army (BA), comprising of nearly 8000 fans of the Indian team from 22 countries, will gather for the upcoming World Cup in England as the Indian cricket supporter's group celebrate its 20-year anniversary.The group, which began with four fans from different parts of the UK, had been bumping into each other throughout the World Cup 1999 in England decided it would be fun to gather as many Indian fans together to watch the big clash between India and Pakistan and since then it has grown multi-fold, ICC reported.The Bharat Army has now grown from being a UK-based supporters' group to having a global presence with regional heads. [They] help grow our supporters' group in the UK, India, UAE, Australia, New Zealand and the USA," said Rakesh Patel, one of the founders.Patel, who watched Sachin Tendulkar scored 31 off 26 balls to help India to a five-wicket win at Trent Bridge in 1990, has been "travelling the world for almost 30 years" supporting India at different stadiums."I've ..
Norway difficult team in Euro qualifiers: Jordi Alba
With many new players set to debut for the Spanish national football team, Spain and Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba warned that Norway will likely give the La Roja a hard time when the teams square off in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Infosys partners with Roland-Garros to reimagine tennis experience
IT major Infosys has announced a strategic three-year technology partnership with Ronald-Garros Grand Slam Tournament to leverage digital technologies and enhance the tennis experience for fans and players globally.Infosys will utilise its expertise in artificial intelligence, big data and analytics, mobility, virtual and augmented reality to provide fans, players and coaches with a new experience."This partnership centres around digital innovation, a key pillar of the tournament, and will offer tennis fans an even richer experience," said Bernard Giudicelli, President of the French Tennis Federation."We are convinced that Infosys will help us deliver the tournament's digital transformation objectives to ensure Roland-Garros remains at the cutting edge of technology."In 2018, Roland-Garros set new records with more than 480,000 spectators attending the tournament and was broadcast in 224 countries worldwide. Organised by the French Tennis Federation, Roland-Garros is the only Grand ...
Australia captain Finch willing to demote himself when Smith, Warner return
With Steve Smith and David Warner set for return, captain Aaron Finch is willing to demote himself in the batting order to aid Australia's title defence in the upcoming ICC World Cup. Struggling for form in recent times with an average of 22.87 after eight innings this year, Finch said he will be fine batting at any position for the benefit of the team, cricket.com.au reported. His slot has become more insecure with the highly-rated Usman Khawaja displaying terrific form in the dramatic ODI series win in India recently. "If that means me batting at six, I'll comfortably do that. If it's at the top, three or four - it doesn't matter," Finch said. "Personal results aren't what this side is about. I think that's what has made our improvement as dramatic and quick as it has been. If you go in just solely focused on scoring a hundred or thinking, 'if I bat at five, I'm not going to get a hundred, I don't get enough opportunity', that's not what is best." Finch and Khawaja are expected to ..
Finch to demote himself in Aussie World Cup squad
As David Warner is likely to return for the World Cup, Australia's opening combination for the May-June tournament in England remains uncertain.Aaron Finch had opened with Warner during the 2015 World Cup. In the absence of Warner, Finch produced stands of zero, three, 76, 83 and 193 with Usman Khawaja in the recent five ODIs against India.Warner and Steve Smith are serving ball-tampering ban, which is slated to end on March 28.The form of Khawaja and Warner's looming return have complicated the situation. The most likely outcome is Khawaja will bat at first drop but Finch, having batted twice at number five during last year's ODI series in England, has vowed to do whatever is best for the team, cricket.com.au reported."If that means me batting at six, I'll comfortably do that. If it's at the top, three or four - it doesn't matter. Personal results aren't what this side is about. I think that's what has made our improvement as dramatic and quick as it has been," Finch said."If you go .
To get picked, you have to perform: Coulter-Nile
Australia fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has said that in order to get picked for the World Cup squad, one has to perform rather than worrying about the selection.
FC Porto renew contract with Iker Casillas
FC Porto has announced that goalkeeper Iker Casillas has signed a contract extension with the Portuguese club.
IPL 2019: 5 death-over specialists to watch for
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is considered to have a wide fan base and with games mostly going down the wire, it makes the league even more interesting. With several contests in the league going to the final over or the last delivery for a conclusion, every team comprises one or more death-over specialists.
Warne told me to bowl with big and brave heart, says Lamichanne
Delhi Capitals' up-and-coming leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichanne has received advice from the master of the craft, Shane Warne, who asked him to bowl with a "big and brave heart". The huge fan of Warne said that he wants to follow the example of the Australian legend. "I have always admired and idolised Shane Warne the most, and fortunately for me, IPL has given me the chance to meet him. I met him last season where he gave me certain tips to improve my bowling, which also gave me a huge boost in my career. "However, I believe, the most important advice that he gave me was to make sure that I bowl with a big and brave heart," Lamichanne said. The 18-year-old Lamichanne believes that the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League will provide him with a great opportunity to shine against the world's best. The Nepali bowler, who will represent the franchise for the second year running, spoke after Delhi Capitals' second friendly T20 match on Wednesday. Coming off an impressive Big Bash ...
ICC World Cup: Bharat Army's 8000 fans from 22 countries to converge in UK
Bharat Army, the Indian equivalent of Barmy Army, will have nearly 8000 fans from 22 countries converge in the United Kingdom and support Virat Kohli's team in the upcoming World Cup, according to the International Cricket Council. The Bharat Army started with four fans bumping into each other throughout the 1999 World Cup in the UK. Since then, thanks to the four men's efforts, it has grown manifold. It will have a presence of at least 5000-6000 fans at every India match. "The Bharat Army has now grown from being a UK-based supporters' group to having a global presence with regional heads," Rakesh Patel, one of the founders, was quoted as saying by the ICC. "(They) help grow our supporters' group in the UK, India, UAE, Australia, New Zealand and the USA." Patel has been travelling the world for almost 30 years supporting India at different stadiums. "I have hundreds of ticket stubs and match-day programmes of all the matches I've been to around the world," he said. "Including that ...
Dhoni opens up on 2013 IPL fixing scandal, asks what did players do to go through all of that
What mistake did the players make, asked Mahendra Singh Dhoni, opening up on a phase of life made "most difficult and depressing" by the 2013 IPL fixing scandal. The two-time World Cup winning captain broke his silence in a docudrama aptly titled 'Roar of the Lion', which focuses on the scandal that rocked Indian cricket and the ensuing fairy tale comeback by Chennai Super Kings following a two-year suspension for its management's role in spot-fixing. "2013 was the most difficult phase in my life, I was never depressed as much as I was then. The closest was 2007 World Cup when we lost in the group stages. But all said and done, 2007 happened because we did not play good cricket. "But 2013, the angle was completely different. People are talking about match-fixing and spot-fixing. It was the most talked about thing in the country," Dhoni said in the first episode titled 'What did we do wrong'? broadcast on Hotstar. Dhoni, who led the CSK to three IPL titles, said they knew a "harsh ...