Page 461 - Sports
India hoping to break AFC U-23 qualification jinx in Tashkent
India will aim for a maiden appearance in the final round of the AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers when they begin their campaign at the continental football tournament, starting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on March 22. India have never made it to the final round of the AFC U23 Championship until now and in Tashkent too, the road looks tough as they have been clubbed along side defending champions Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. India U-23 team head coach Derrick Pereira named 10 19-year-olds and even a 16-year-old in the squad. "We should be excited about the possibility of making history," quipped Pereira. "We need to find the right combination and fight with the correct spirit." Pereira further went on to stress the importance of the friendly that India played against Qatar. "This is why the friendly against Qatar was so helpful. They are a technically accomplished side, and we showed that we can perform well against such teams," he said. "In our group, Uzbekistan is the team that has the ...
India out to break AFC U23 C'ship qualification jinx
India U23 National team head coach Derrick Pereira named ten 19-year-olds and one 16-year-old in the 23-member squad for the forthcoming AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers, scheduled March 22 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan."We should be excited about the possibility of making history," quipped Pereira. "We need to find the right combination and fight with the correct spirit,'' Pereira said in an AIFF statement.India have never made it to the final round of the AFC U23 Championship until now. In Tashkent, they have been clubbed with defending champions Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.Pereira further went on to stress the importance of the friendly that India had played against Qatar, which he believes was a technically accomplished side."This is why the friendly against Qatar was so helpful. They are a technically accomplished side, and we showed that we can perform well against such teams. In our group, Uzbekistan is the team that has the acumen for such style of football, and judging by our last ...
AB de Villiers launches 'ABDCam' app to raise funds for youth in South Africa
Former South Africa player, AB de Villiers, has launched a social media app 'ABDCam', using which fans and users will be able to take pictures and videos with various stickers and frames found in the app.The app has been launched to raise funds for youth in South Africa. Users can earn JETpoints from their selfies that can be contributed to social impact causes through the AB de Villiers Foundation. The app is available for both Android and iOS users."I wouldn't be here without my fans, they are incredibly close to my heart," Sports24 quoted De Villiers, as saying."With the birth of the AB de Villiers Foundation and my new official app, ABDCam, my fans can now have access to exclusive, cool ways to create their own content whilst helping kids around the world," he added.The wicket-keeper batsman is one of the best batsman of his time and hold some records, like the record for fastest 50, 100 and 150 in ODIs at the same time, that will require strenuous work for any player who is ...
Defeat to Aus warning sign for India for World Cup: Dravid
High-flying India crashed to a stunning 2-3 defeat against Australia at home in the bilateral ODI series and the setback should act as a warning sign for Virat Kohli and his men going into the upcoming World Cup as one of the favourites, feels former captain Rahul Dravid. India led 2-0 in the five-match series, but lost the last three to the reigning World Cup champions to lose an ODI series after a lengthy gap. These games are the last of the 50-over competition for India going into the World Cup commencing on May 30 in England. "I think there was a bit of notion that we are going walk there and win the World Cup easily. So its a good thing that has happened. What it has (the outcome against Australia) reminded us is that we have to play the World Cup very, very well," said Dravid. He was speaking at the launch of ESPNCricinfos new metrics, Superstats, along with his former India teammate Sanjay Manjrekar here on Wednesday. "In a way I think its a good balancing factor.
Shotgun World Cup: Kynan, Prithviraj fail to qualify for men's trap final
Kynan Chenai and Prithviraj Tondaiman shot 123 and 121 respectively out of a possible 125 but failed to make it to the final round of the men's trap event at the Shotgun World Cup. Australian James Willet won gold in the event. Kynan shot 24 in the last qualification round, which put him in a six-way shoot-off for the sixth and final qualification spot. He became the second to bow out in the shoot-off finishing 10th while teammate Prithviraj despite three rounds of a perfect 25, finished 35th. Earlier, Australian Willet, who made the transition from Double Trap to Trap just over a year ago, shot a perfect 125 to top the 107-strong qualification field. He was followed by four shooters with a score of 124 while Briton Nathan Hales, who claimed the final spot winning the shoot-off involving Tondaiman, was the only Shooter to qualify with a score of 123. The two Tokyo 2020 quotas in the event however went to silver medallist Zaher Ahmed of Egypt and China's Yu Haicheng who won Bronze. ...
Shami will be given adequate rest: KXIP coach Mike Hesson
Mohammad Shami is keen to make an impact for Kings XI Punjab in the upcoming IPL but will be given adequate rest in between matches, said Kings XI Punjab coach Mike Hesson. There is a lot of talk around the workload of Indian players going into the IPL with the all important World Cup beginning two weeks after lucrative T20 league and India captain Virat Kohli has left it to the players to manage their workload during the competition. Shami has been one of India's best performers in 2018 and is expected to share the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah during the World Cup, starting May 30. "It is going to be on a case by case basis. I have had chats with KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami. They are keen to make a big contribution for KXIP and we are certainly very keen to have them. We will manage them like every player throughout the tournament, former New Zealand coach Hesson told PTI. While Shami is workload definitely needs to be monitored, Rahul will be more than happy to play as many games as
Cricketers to adopt names, numbers for Ashes jersey
England and Australia are set to have names and numbers on the back of their playing Test shirts for the first time under changes proposed for the ICC Test Championship, beginning August 1.Test cricket between the two sides since the inaugural match in 1877 has been played in white or cream clothes, while the introduction of cap numbers and series details stitched in below the badge on their chest is a relatively recent introduction. Some nations including Australia also have their initials stitched into the sleeve on the side of their dominant hand, cricket.com.au reported.In first-class cricket, England and Australia players already wear numbers on their backs, unlike in other countries.Cricket Australia's operations department is understood to be well in the planning phase to produce numbered Test shirts for this winter's Ashes squad. Initial reports of the change faced resistance and skepticism from Test match traditionalists but it has been welcomed by Test batsman Travis ...
Butler stressed on playing brave and smart cricket in World Cup
England's destructive wicket-keeper batsman, Jos Butler has emphasised on the importance of playing brave and smart cricket to go far in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019."It won't be a side that plays cautiously that wins the World Cup, even in knockout games, it will be a side that plays some brave cricket and smart cricket." "If we [England] are at a crossroads, we've been going down the positive route," ICC quoted the 28-year-old, as saying, while talking about the team having maximum chances to win the world cup.England has a really strong squad and the team is currently holding the number one position in the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings. Naturally, the English team is coming up as the favourite of every prominent former player like Shane Warne, Sunil Gavaskar and Herschelle Gibbs.The other benefit they are privileged with is that the World Cup is scheduled to be hosted by them, so they will try to make the most out of it.Recently against West Indies, they posted their ...
Gabriel Jesus says career 'stopped' after World Cup
Brazil and Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has admitted that his career "stopped" following last summer's World Cup, but says he is growing in confidence and ready to recapture his best form.
Amit Panghal, Shiva Thapa in Indian men's boxing team for Asian Championships
Asian Games gold-medallist Amit Panghal will be making his competitive debut in the 52kg category while Shiva Thapa (60kg) will eye a record-breaking fourth successive medal after the duo found a place in the Indian men's boxing team for the Asian Championships, next month. The Asian Championships are scheduled to be held in the Thai capital of Bangkok from April 19 to 28. Panghal won a second successive 49kg category gold medal at the prestigious Strandja Memorial Tournament in Bulgaria last month and trained in his new weight division in Germany earlier this month. The Haryana-boxer has been forced to shift divisions after the 49kg category was dropped from the 2020 Olympic programme. Thapa also started the new season on a positive note with a silver medal at the GeeBee Tournament in Finland this month. The former world championship bronze-medallist from Assam has won medals in three previous editions of the Asian showpiece event -- gold in 2013, bronze in 2015 and silver in ...
Ramon Wilmot leads way as Namibia bounce back
Ramon Wilmot scored the first century of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier 2019 in Windhoek, as he helped Namibia bounce back from a loss to Nigeria in the opening fixture.The second day of the tournament saw Namibia rack up 296/7 against Tanzania, with the 16-year-old Wilmot clubbing 132 off 122 balls. He struck 16 boundaries and four sixes, as Namibia showed that they are still contenders.He received support from Dian Neethling, who made 49 as his side took advantage of some friendly batting conditions. In response, Tanzania were blown away for just 46. Jan-Izak de Villiers started the carnage, with a new-ball spell that garnered 3/8 in five excellent overs.Mauritius Ngupita kept up his fine form, wrapping matters up quickly, with 4/12 in 4.1 overs, as Namibia romped to a massive 250-run win.Nigeria, who caused the main ripple on the opening day, ground out another 58-run victory over Kenya. Batting first, Nigeria notched 201/4. Olayinke Olaleye struck a well-paced 73, .
England, Pakistan to watch out for in WC: Kuldeep
Despite losing the home ODI series 2-3 to Australia, the Virat Kohli-led Team India is considered the favourites for the upcoming World Cup. However, chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav believes two other teams also have the capability to shine in the showpiece event, starting May 30 in England and Wales.
One T20 World Cup Qualifier spot up for grabs
Papua New Guinea (PNG), Philippines and Vanuatu will compete for a spot in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier as the first of five T20 World Cup regional finals gets underway.Only 25 teams remain from the 68, which started the regional qualification process for the T20 World Cup 2020 in February 2018. Eight of those 25 teams from Africa, America, Asia, EAP and Europe Finals will join Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Oman, Scotland and Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup Qualifier between October 11 and November 3 this year in the United Arab Emirates."It means so much to be hosting this tournament. We have worked really hard on our game, the fielding, the batting, and the bowling and looking forward to going out there and showing what we can do. We can't control the weather but we are preparing the best we can and we will be focused and ready to go when the tournament starts," ICC quoted PNG captain Assadollah Vala, as saying.Vanuatu captain Andrew Mansale said: "It would be a big boost .
Schreuder to follow Nagelsmann as Hoffenheim coach
Alfred Schreuder will be Hoffenheim's new coach after taking over from departing Julian Nagelsmann in the summer, the Bundesliga outfit confirmed in an official statement.
S. American football head stresses need to broaden market
The president of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) Alejandro Dominguez has defended his strategy of promoting regional competitions in the international market.
Amy Jones eyes three-figure mark
England wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones scored fifties in each of the two matches of the ICC Women's Championship one-day international series against Sri Lanka, with one match to spare.Jones, however, regrets that she has not been able to convert those half-centuries into bigger contributions, but is pleased about the victories.A 71-ball 79 from Jones helped the side to secure a 154-run victory in the opening match and then her 54 off 39 balls in the second took England over the line with a comfortable six-wicket win."I feel in good form with the bat at the moment and I am enjoying the fast outfields, but any time you pass 50 you do want to go on and make three figures. Hopefully, if I keep doing what I am doing and working hard the rewards will come," ICC quoted Jones, as saying.After losing two ODIs against India, England have won every single match including the third ODI and three T20Is against India. To keep up the winning run, England are targetting to hand whitewash to Sri Lanka
Pant grabbed his chance, now up to selectors: Saha
An injury can change a sportspersons career graph overnight and not many would know that better than India and Sunrisers Hyderabad wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha. From being a Test regular to watching Rishabh Pant take the coveted spot after the Bengal player suffered a shoulder injury, Saha has seen it all.
'Messi, Ronaldo lucky-unlucky to be greats same time'
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both lucky and unlucky to be playing in the same generation, said former Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho while commenting on the long-running debate on who's the best.
South Africa secure super over win
South Africa maintained their dominance over Sri Lanka but it took a super over to win the first T20I of the three-match series at Newlands.Chasing a target of 135 on Tuesday, David Miller guided the Proteas with a 23-ball 41. Having required 18 runs off the final four overs, South Africa lost five wickets for 17 runs to finish the match in a tie with fast bowler Lasith Malinga returning 2/11 in his four-over quota.Miller along with Rassie van der Dussen collected 14 off Malinga in the Super Over. In reply, Thisara Perera and Avishka Fernando could only manage to get five runs off leg-spinner Imran Tahir.Earlier, a 29-ball 41 from Kamindu Mendis helped Sri Lanka to post a respectable total as no other batsman could reach the 20-run mark.Fast bowler Dale Steyn dismissed Niroshan Dickwella from the second ball of the first over, which helped South Africa take control.South Africa, too, faced lusty blows before a 66-run partnership between van der Dussen and Miller that eased the side's .
Badminton's Lee out of Malaysian Open in blow to Olympic hopes
Badminton great Lee Chong Wei has pulled out of next month's Malaysian Open, despite being given the all-clear after cancer, throwing his Tokyo 2020 Olympics dream into jeopardy. Lee was advised by doctors against putting "undue stress" on his recovering body, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) said in a statement late Tuesday, after the 36-year-old travelled to Taiwan at the weekend for a post-treatment check-up. "In order not to put his body under undue stress, Chong Wei has been advised to withdraw from the upcoming Malaysia Open," the BAM said. "We also urge everyone to give him the space and time required for his recovery." The triple Olympic silver medallist has been out since July last year when he was diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer. The former world number one endured a tough treatment programme in Taiwan but opted not to retire and resumed training in January. Lee originally planned to come back at the All England Open earlier this month but then delayed his .