Page 490 - Sports
India hunt for 5th straight title at SAFF Women's Championship
The Indian women's football team will be gunning for their fifth consecutive title when the SAFF Women's Championship kicks off here on Tuesday. Six teams are taking part in this edition.
We will go all out to retain the trophy: Maymol Rocky
The Indian senior national team will be gunning for its fifth consecutive title when the fifth edition of the SAFF Women's Championship kicks off on Tuesday. This edition will witness a total of six teams taking part, with India scheduled to face Maldives and Sri Lanka in the group stage on March 13 and 17 respectively. At the pre-tournament press conference, coach Maymol Rocky expressed confidence in her side. "The SAFF Championship has been a successful one for us over the years. This time we will go all out to retain the trophy again," she uttered. When asked about the young players in the squad, the head coach stated that she has full faith in the abilities of her players. "These youngsters can work magic on the field. They have been together for a long time now and have made a lot of progress in the last few months. With the Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 next month, our objective is to reach our peak at the correct time," she added. Defender Ashalata Devi, who will captain the team .
Mushtaq Ali T20: Mumbai maul Vidarbha; Gujarat derail Railways
Domestic giants Mumbai defeated Vidarbha by six wickets in their Super League Group B match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament here Monday. Opting to field at the Holkar Stadium, Mumbai bowlers, led by medium pacer Tushar Deshpande (3-28), put in a spirited show to restrict Vidarbha to 137/8 in their alloted 20 overs. Deshpande was ably supported by another pacer Shardul Thakur (2-21), while Shams Mulani (1-22), Shivam Dube (1-28) and Siddhesh Lad (1-9), too, played their part, picking up a wicket each. Deshpande gave early breakthrough to Mumbai when he accounted for Vidarbha opener Atharva Taide (4). Jitesh Sharma (20), captain Ganesh Satish (24) and Rushabh Rathod (26) got starts, but failed to convert them into big scores as Mumbai bowlers struck at regular intervals. Vidarbha were reeling at 95-6, but pacer Umesh Yadav chipped in with a blazing 26 off 12 balls, which included three fours and two sixes, to ensure his side crossed the 130- run mark. Young prodigy ..
CSK keeper batsman Jagadeesan in awe of Dhoni's fitness
Tamil Nadu and Chennai Super Kings wicketkeeper-batsman N Jagadeesan is in awe of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's fitness and said the legendary stumper was supremely fit and so calm. "He is supremely fit. You really can't say he is 37 because of the way he moves, he is so swift around the field. And he is just so calm. He rarely speaks, but those few words lift the team," Jagadeesan was quoted as saying on the CSK website. The flamboyant batsman, who is yet to make his IPL debut, said he got to watch Dhoni closely, adding that he got inputs from the talismanic captain. "You don't see Dhoni keep at the nets, he is someone who keeps directly in the games. But he is always there to guide you. I will be doing my drills and, at times when Mahi bhai sees me, he takes the time out to come and give me inputs. If I have doubts in my wicketkeeping or batting I go to him," Jagadeesan said. The 23-year old cricketer said he had learnt by sharing the dressing room with some of the game's ...
Portuguese legend Figo impressed with Mumbai fans
Former Real Madrid star Luís Figo was impressed by Mumbai football fans at the UEFA event here last week.
India 'B' win U-19 Quadrangular title
India under-19 'B' outclassed India under-19 'A' by 72 runs in the final to win the quadrangular ODI tournament here Monday. Electing to bat, India 'B' made 232 for 9 in 50 overs and dismissed the 'A' team for 160 in 38.3 overs to emerge deserving winners. Skipper Rahul Chandrol (70, 74 balls, 4X4, 2X6), Sameer Rizvi (67, 88 balls, 4X1) and left-arm medium-pacer Sushant Mishra, who took a four-wicket haul, shone for India 'B'. Arya Sethi went for a duck in the third over, nicking one to 'keeper Dhruv Chand Jurel off Akash Singh, leaving India 'B' at 5 for 1. Varun Lavande (7) fell in the 10th over before opener Tilak Varma (38, 54 balls, 3X4) and Chandrol began the repair work. Lavande fell to Kartik Tyagi (3 for 33) after adding 43 runs with the captain. Chandrol and Rizvi were involved in a 99-run partnership for the fourth wicket as India 'B' worked its way back into the match. The dismissals of Chandrol (at 170) and Rizvi (at 199) enabled India 'A' fight back. India 'B' was ...
IAAF upholds Russia ban over doping
The IAAF said on Monday that it will maintain its ban on Russian athletes over doping that it imposed in 2015, following a council meeting of top officials in Qatar. Rune Andersen, head of the doping task force for athletics' world body, said two outstanding issues remained -- the examination of data received from the Moscow anti-doping lab and the issue of costs being sought by Russia because of the scandal. "There are two outstanding issues," said Andersen. "These need to be resolved.
Gangjee echoes Shubhankar, backs OWGR points on PGTI
Two-time Asian Tour winner Rahil Gangjee, here on Monday, echoed Indian golfing ace Shubhankar Sharma and hailed the introduction of Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points on the PGTI.
Markram gets World Cup lifeline with ODI
Aiden Markram was handed a likely lifeline to the Cricket World Cup on Monday when he was named in South Africa's squad for the final two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka. Markram, a fixture as an opening batsman in South Africa's Test team, has not played in a one-day international since November 2018. A modest one-day international record has counted against Markram but successive innings of 169, 139 and 85 for the Titans domestic franchise this month earned him a recall for South Africa's last two one-day matches before the World Cup, starting in May. Also back is the experienced JP Duminy, who returned to domestic action with two half-centuries this month after being out of action since October following shoulder surgery. Duminy adds balance to the squad as a left-handed batsman and capable off-spin bowler. Another experienced returning player is batsman Hashim Amla. A squad of 15 players was named - the same number as will go to the World Cup. Batsman Reeza Hendricks and
Raheem Sterling hailed as one of world's best by Kompany
Vincent Kompany has hailed Manchester City teammate Raheem Sterling as one of the best players in the world after his 13-minute hat-trick in the 3-1 win against Watford. The victory at the Etihad on Saturday took the defending champions four points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table but Jurgen Klopp's men closed the gap to a single point on Sunday. There was an offside debate over Sterling's first goal and his second was a tap-in but his third highlighted his skill as he weaved into the area, cut back and fired past Ben Foster. "It's incredible because his first year at City was tough, and then from the moment Pep (Guardiola) came in he just kicked on and went from strength to strength," said City captain Kompany. "For me, he is one of the best wingers in the world. He's so important for us. To have the ability to unlock defences when they defend with so many bodies is the sign of a top, top, top player." Sterling's strikes shifted what had been a frustrating ...
Rashid, Gangjee, Viraj to vie for top honours in 1st Bengal Open Golf
Ace golfer Rashid Khan will look to continue his rich vein of form on the circuit when a stellar field featuring leading names take part in the Tata Steel PGTI's inaugural Bengal Open Golf Championship at the Tollygunge Club here from Tuesday.
India prepares for AFC U-23 qualifiers campaign
India's U-23 team will start its AFC U-23 qualifiers campaign with a friendly match against the Qatar U23 team at Doha on Monday. Derek Pereira, the head coach of the U-23 national team, described the match as a perfect start before the qualifiers. "Its a perfect opportunity to gauge ourselves before the qualifiers," he said.
Taylor prays in quiet apology after passing Crowe's century mark
Ross Taylor whispered a prayer and an apology to the late Martin Crowe Monday as he overtook his mentor's century tally during an exceptional innings of 200 that put New Zealand in a strong position in the second Test against Bangladesh. Taylor's 18th Test century, one more than Crowe laid the foundation for New Zealand's 432 for six declared in the first innings of the rain-disrupted Test in Wellington. At stumps, Bangladesh were 80 for three in their second innings, needing another 141 runs on the final day to make New Zealand bat again. The number four's sterling effort was his third Test double hundred and achieved his long-held ambition to fulfil Crowe's prophecy that Taylor would one day overtake the late great batsman's mark. "I told Hogan (Crowe) 'my apologies' for taking so long to get there," said Taylor who scored his 17th century in 2017, nearly two years after Crowe died from cancer. "Seventeen was such a big number when I just started playing cricket. Once I got there ..
Real Madrid beat Valladolid 4-1
Real Madrid came back from an early deficit to trounce Valladolid on the road in a La Liga match that was a good bit tougher for the capital squad than the 4-1 score would seem to indicate.
Warne like drift makes Kuldeep more difficult than Chahal: Hayden
A "Shane Warne like drift" makes Kuldeep Yadav a more difficult bowler to face compared to Yuzvendra Chahal, feels former Australia opener Matthew Hayden, who says wrist spinners like the two Indians are becoming more relevant because of finger spinners' lack of "courage". Kuldeep and Chahal, the two Indian wrist spinners, have troubled the world's best batsmen in the shorter formats. So what makes them special? "Leg spinners provide option and variety. In particular, if you look at Kuldeep, his strength is not how far he turns the ball but his strength is how the ball just like Shane Warne's deliveries arrives at the batsman. It has a distinct curve in the air," Hayden told PTI during an interview. Chahal can, however, be negotiated, feels Hayden, who was hugely successful against Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble at their peak. "Chahal is a different bowler. He is a very stump-to-stump. He bowls much flatter and straighter. He doesn't get the drift. If I was a player, I would prefer .
Taylor's double ton raises New Zealand victory hopes in rain-hit Test
A double ton from Ross Taylor and three quick Bangladesh wickets put New Zealand in a prime position to pull off an exceptional victory in the rain-shortened second Test in Wellington on Monday. At stumps on day four at Basin Reserve, where the first two days were washed out, Bangladesh were 80 for three, still 141 from making New Zealand bat again. Taylor, dropped twice on 20, proceeded to punish the Bangladesh attack with a rollicking 200 from 212 balls before New Zealand declared at 432 for six. With 23 overs left in the day, Bangladesh had a disastrous start to their second innings when Tamim Iqbal was bowled in the first over. After innings of 126 and 74 twice so far in the series, Bangladesh's leading run-scorer was out for four. Mominul Haque followed for 10 and Shadman Islam for 29 leaving Mohammad Mithun on 25 with Soumya Sarkar not out 12. New Zealand resumed the day at 38 for two and piled on 394 runs in 73 overs before sending Bangladesh back in. Taylor, after surviving ..
Past champions Nadal, Federer advance at Indian Wells
World number two Rafael Nadal raced into the third round of the ATP Indian Wells Masters as Roger Federer made a less speedy but still successful start to his quest for a sixth title. Nadal, a three-time Indian Wells winner, needed just 72 minutes to get past overmatched Jared Donaldson 6-1 6-1 on Sunday. Federer, who is seeking to break out of a tie with top seed Novak Djokovic for most titles in the California desert, looked set for a similarly easy time of it, but had to turn back a second-set challenge from German Peter Gojowczyk in a 6-1 7-5 win. Fourth-seeded Federer said he was relieved not to go to a second-set tiebreaker after falling behind 3-1 to the free-swinging German who is ranked 85th in the world. The Swiss regained the break and, after saving four break points to make it 4-4, he broke Gojowczyk for a 6-5 lead, the German double-faulting on break point to give Federer a chance to serve it out. "I struggled a little bit with my serving in that second set and that gave .
Saina, Sameer look to put behind All England disappointment at Swiss Open
Two-time winner Saina Nehwal and defending champion Sameer Verma will look to shrug off their All England disappointment when they spearhead India's campaign at the Swiss Open, starting with the qualifiers here Tuesday. For Sameer, this event started his journey that culminated into a World Tour Final semifinal finish last year and a career-high ranking of 11. He had defeated newly-crowned All England Champion Kento Momota in the quarterfinals, a few months before the Japanese went on to become the world no 1 and world champion last year. World no 14 Sameer will be opening his campaign in USD 150,000 event against a qualifier after his elder brother Sourabh, who had also battled injuries on his way to becoming the Senior National Champion last month at Guwahati, pulled out of the tournament. Sameer might face fellow Indian B Sai Praneeth in the second round and a favourable result is likely to hand him over the chance to settle scores with former world no 1 Viktor Axelsen, who had ...
Coimbatore: Cricket tournament for the visually impaired
Visually-impaired persons participated in a cricket tournament organised for them over the weekend in Coimbatore by the 'Tamil Nadu Cricket Association for Blind'.The initiative was undertaken with an aim to promote sports among partially blind and as many as 45 people from across the state were selected to play in the matches. Based on the degree of blindness, they were divided into three teams.Muthusamy, founder president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association for Blind said, "There is no government support for this kind of cricket game in India for visually impaired people. We urge the government to support the cause and also BCCI should include the blind cricket game in our national sports category."The matches of Challenger Trophy cricket tournament for blind were held on Saturday and Sunday and the winning team will participate in the national cricket tournament for the blind to be held in June this year.
Coimbatore: Cricket tournament for visually impaired held
Visually impaired persons participated in a cricket tournament organised for them over the weekend in Coimbatore by the 'Tamil Nadu Cricket Association for Blind'.The initiative was undertaken with an aim to promote sports among partially blind and as many as 45 people from across the state were selected to play in the matches. Based on the degree of blindness, they were divided into three teams.Muthusamy, founder president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association for Blind said, "There is no government support for this kind of cricket game in India for visually impaired people. We urge the government to support the cause and also BCCI should include the blind cricket game in our national sports category."The matches of Challenger Trophy cricket tournament for blind were held on Saturday and Sunday and the winning team will participate in the national cricket tournament for the blind to be held in June this year.