Page 556 - Sports
Photos of ex-Pakistani cricketers removed from Nagpur stadium
The Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) has removed pictures of former Pakistani cricketers from its stadium near here in view of public sentiments after the Pulwama terror attack, a senior official said Wednesday. The photos of former Pakistan cricket team captain and now Prime Minister Imran Khan, batting legend Javed Miandad and some other players were removed from the VCA Stadium at Jamtha three days ago, VCA president Anand Jaiswal told PTI. These photos were kept at the press box and other non- public areas in the stadium, he said. Jaiswal said the step has been taken keeping in view the sentiments of people at large after the terror attack. Cricket associations of Punjab and Rajasthan have also removed the pictures of former Pakistani cricket players from their respective stadiums in Mohali and Jaipur to protest the Febraury 14 attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The Cricket Club of India in Mumbai last week covered a portrait of Imran Khan to protest against
BAI announces 20-member squad for Dutch, German Junior 2019
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Wednesday announced 20-member junior India squad for the six-day Dutch Junior International, starting on February 27, and the four-day German Junior 2019 starting on March 7.
Federer to play on clay at Madrid Open
Roger Federer's comeback on clay will feature a return to the Madrid Open for the first time since 2015, it was confirmed on Wednesday. For the last two years, the 37-year-old has chosen to skip the clay-court season completely to preserve energy for tournaments on his preferred surfaces of grass and hard. But Federer indicated in January that he would play at the French Open this year while the Madrid Open has announced he will be among those competing at the Caja Magica too. "Federer is one of the best players in history, it's no secret," said Feliciano Lopez, the Madrid Open's tournament director. "We are happy because his return to Madrid is a gift for the tournament but above all for the fans, because they will be able to see a player that is unique and unparallelled." Federer has won the Madrid Open three times, in 2006, 2009 and 2012, but his last appearance was in 2015, when he lost his opening match to Nick Kyrgios. The 20-time Grand Slam champion was beaten in the fourth ...
Butt says call to play PSL could be his shot at redemption
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt hopes an unexpected call to play in the domestic Twenty20 league will help him regain his place on the national team, he said Wednesday, years after he was banned for spot-fixing. The 34-year-old said he was delighted to join the Lahore Qalandars in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) as a replacement for Mohammad Hafeez, who was ruled out after fracturing his thumb. "After a long time I received one of the best messages of my life when Lahore called me to play in the PSL, and I am very happy to get this opportunity," he told AFP. The PSL's popularity has surged since it was first held in 2016. The bulk of the tournament is played in the United Arab Emirates, but with security improving in Pakistan the final eight matches -- including the March 17 final -- will be held at home, in Karachi and Lahore. The league's growing profile means it is the first big chance for the left-handed batsman to rehabilitate himself since his high-profile ban for a .
Smiling Sri Lankans seek series win
Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne said on Wednesday he wanted his players to continue playing with a smile on their faces as they seek to become the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa. Sri Lanka go into the second Test at St George's Park on Thursday with an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the two-match series after their sensational, Kusal Perera-inspired one-wicket win in the first Test in Port Elizabeth. "We came here to win matches," said Karunaratne, who was handed the captaincy after Dinesh Chandimal was axed after losing a series in Australia last month. "I just want to make sure the boys give their maximum each day." Karunaratne said enjoyment was a key factor. "We have to keep our heads clear and play positively," he said. "We want to enjoy ourselves. You will see with our boys when they are playing they are smiling and cheering each other. If you are enjoying yourself you will play well." The Sri Lankan captain said conditions in Durban and those expected in ...
Concern for misfiring Suarez as goals dry up for Barcelona
The image of a frustrated Lionel Messi with his hands on his hips in Barcelona's 0-0 Champions League draw in Lyon may reverberate the most around the world, but it is Luis Suarez's form in front of goal that is causing most concern in Catalonia. Suarez laboured throughout much of the Champions League last 16, first leg in France, although he came as close as anyone to scoring for Barcelona when he fired just wide from a Jordi Alba cutback 20 minutes from time. Barca's recent struggles away from home at the business end of the Champions League go on -- it is now six matches without an away win in the knockout rounds, with just one goal scored in that time, since beating Arsenal 2-0 three years ago. Suarez, meanwhile, has now gone 16 away matches without scoring in the competition since a draw at Roma in the group stage in 2015. That adds up to more than 24 hours in total. "I'd be worried if he were not creating chances, but he has always had chances, he creates them for his teammates,
BFI President Ajay elected as head of Elite Foundation of AIBA
India's boxing chief Ajay Singh has been elected as president of the Foundation Board for Better Boxing of the world governing body of the sport, AIBA. Foundation for Better Boxing was constituted by the AIBA in the last meeting of their Executive Committee to address future development of the sport globally. Boxing Federation of India chief Singh was elected to the post on Tuesday and he will have a tenure of four years. "With the aim of the foundation being to improve and spread the sport globally, Singh's vision will help boxing move forward in the right direction," said a release. AIBA President Gafur Rahimov, European Boxing Confederation (EUBC) head Franco Falcinelli, African Boxing Confederation chief Sidi Mohamed Moustahsane and AIBA Executive Director Tom Virgets are the other members of the Foundation. Virgets has been elected as the Secretary. "The appointment is a huge pride not only for me personally but an honour for Indian boxing and the boxers too as our hard work has .
PSL gets new production & event partners
Left in the lurch after IMG-Reliance pulled out as producers and logistics support providers, Blitz and Trans Group have stepped in and have extended a lifeline to the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
IPL: Powerhouse CSK aim to continue domination
After facing a two-year ban due to betting activities of its top officials, star-studded Chennai Super Kings made a roaring comeback in the 10th edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) last year and will be aiming to maintain the same momentum in the 2019 edition of the cash rich tournament.
It's high time, Pakistan should be taught a lesson: Yuzvendra Chahal
Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal feels the country should take strong action to end terror attacks like Pulwama, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel, but refused to say whether the World Cup game against Pakistan should be boycotted. The attack is the deadliest in the last 30 years in Jammu and Kashmir and there has been demands for India to refuse playing Pakistan in the World Cup which gets underway in England from May 30. "This should settle once and for all. We can't tolerate it any longer," Chahal told 'India Today'. "Every three months we get to hear about our jawans losing their lives to terrorism and we can't keep waiting for things to happen. We have to make things happen and we should settle this face to face, even if that means aar paar ki ladaai (fight on the battlefield)," he added. Terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, which operates out of Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has escalated the political tensions between the two ...
It's good to have left-armer but don't need to go crazy about it: Zaheer Khan
Indian team management's fascination for a left-arm pacer in its ranks is well-known but the country's best ever practitioner of the trade Zaheer Khan feels that one shouldn't go "crazy or overboard" if the bowler in question is not ready for the challenge. In the past few years, India have tried a number of left-arm fast bowlers, including Barinder Sran and Jaydev Unadkat, the latest being Mohammed Khaleel, who has been dropped after an indifferent series in New Zealand. "If you have that variation (left-armer's), it's certainly an advantage but you don't have to go crazy about trying to find a left-armer. It is all about contributing to team's cause. Left-arm pacers are natural talent and you don't have control over when you will get one," Zaheer, who is a mentor for the Ferit Cricket Bash (FCB), told PTI on Wednesday. Khaleel looked completely out of depth in New Zealand, where conditions were conducive for swing bowling and the veteran of 95 Tests feels that the youngster has some
BAI announces 20-member squad for Dutch and German Junior
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Wednesday named a 20-member junior Indian squad for the upcoming Dutch International and German Junior. Manipur's Maisnam Meiraba Luwang will be leading the boys' singles challenge by virtue of the 1192 points that he amassed following his title wins at the All-India Junior Ranking Badminton Tournaments in Vijayawada and Bangalore. The girls' team will be spearheaded by the 2017 U-15 Asian Junior Championships gold medallist Samiya Imad Farooqui who logged in 1125 points in the ranking tournaments. BAI considered the cumulative ranking points from the three All India Junior Ranking tournaments held in Vijayawada, Bangalore and Jaipur in the month of January. While Meiraba topped the chart in the boys' singles section, the others joining him are Andhra Pradesh's Sai Charan Koya, Priyanshu Rajawat of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh and Sathish Kumar from Coimbatore. In girls' singles, Farooqui is joined by Gayatri Gopichand, Nashik girl Smit Toshniwal .
Qatar eyeing Brazil friendly before Copa America
Newly-crowned Asian Cup winners Qatar could play friendlies against Brazil or Uruguay in June ahead of playing in the Copa America, the team's coach and officials said on Wednesday. The South American giants are among a list of teams Qatar are trying to secure matches against -- others include Colombia, Panama and the USA -- ahead of their first Copa America appearance. "We need to finalise the preparations but sure we need to play a couple of games," said coach Felix Sanchez on the sidelines of an award ceremony for the winning squad in Doha. "We prepare a list of potential teams that we would like to play against but also we need to see their availability." Qatar Football Association (QFA) president Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed al-Thani said the team's first friendly would be in early June. "It will be [a team] from South America, we will announce it as soon as possible," he said. Qatar have been drawn in a group with Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay in the Copa America, which
Man City owners team with robot-makers to buy Chinese club
Manchester City's owners City Football Group announced the purchase of Chinese third-tier club Sichuan Jiuniu on Wednesday -- in partnership with a Chinese investment fund and a company that makes robots. The rare swoop for a Chinese team, after Sheffield United bought Chengdu Five Bulls in 2006, expands CFG's portfolio to seven clubs and follows the rapid growth of Chinese football in recent years. Few details were revealed about the deal, which partners Abu Dhabi-owned CFG with China Sports Capital and UBTECH, a Chinese artificial intelligence and humanoid robotic company. Investment fund China Sports Capital was jointly established by Sequoia China and Chinese state-linked CMC, which bought a 13 percent stake in CFG in 2015. CFG also owns New York City and Melbourne City football clubs, but chief executive Ferran Soriano said it had been a long-held "dream" to become part of China's growing football scene. "We want to be part of the initiative... even just a small part," he told a .
Khedira sidelined for over a month with irregular heartbeat - reports
Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira could be out of action for over a month while he undergoes treatment after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, according to reports in Italy on Wednesday. Former World Cup winner Khedira has been ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League tie at Atletico Madrid because of atrial arrhythmia. The condition causes an irregular and fast heart rate and can result in dizziness, shortness of breath and tiredness. Khedira had suddenly felt his heart beat faster in training on Tuesday and immediately went for treatment. "Sami Khedira is out of the squad, he stayed in Turin to undergo further tests," said coach Massimiliano Allegri. "He's an important player for us with good international experience." The 31-year-old could be sidelines for between 30 to 40 days, according to sports dailies Gazzetta and Corriere Dello Sport. Arsenal defender Stephan Lichsteiner suffered from the same condition when playing for Juventus at the end of 2015 and was out for a
Battle for top spot as Bengaluru face Goa
Their play-offs berths already booked, Bengaluru FC and FC Goa take on each other in their Indian Super League match in a battle for the top spot here Thursday. FC Goa have climbed to the top of the ISL ladder but whether they manage to stay there will be known when they face 'the Blues' at their own den in a 'top of the table' clash at the Sree Kanteerava stadium. The Goa-based side have a chance to go three points clear of Bengaluru at the top, but more than that the driving factor for Sergio Lobera's team will be a desire to ensure their momentum does not stall with just two rounds to go before the play-offs. The Gaurs are high on confidence after a six-game unbeaten run in which they have not conceded a goal in the last five. Given the troubles Goa have had with their defensive organisation earlier in the season, this augurs well for Lobera. In fact, Goa have the best attacking record so far this season (35 goals scored) and the joint-best defensive record (17 goals allowed). The .
Some justification in demand for boycott of Indo-Pak cricket ties: R S Prasad
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Wednesday said those demanding Pakistan's boycott in the upcoming cricket World Cup are "justified" to some extent given that things are not normal between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack. Ever since 40 CRPF personnel were killed in what was the deadliest terror strike in three decades in Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a demand that India should not play Pakistan in the World Cup, which begins May 30 in England. The two neighbours are drawn to clash on June 16 at Old Trafford and might square off again in the knockout stage. "I cannot make any comment (on cricket issues) except to say those who are demanding it have some justification. You can see many films and concerts have been cancelled. Things are not normal," Prasad, who also holds the portfolio of Information and Technology, told 'India Today'. "If things are not normal, the jhappiyan-pappiyan (hugs and kisses) issues have always been there," he said. However, he ...
Doing extra work as I have board exams after World Cup: Manu Bhaker
Aiming at an Olympic quota, Manu Bhakar says she is "putting in a lot extra" as she juggles between shooting and studies ahead of the World World Cup, which precedes her Class 12 Board exams. The 17-year-old Bhaker, owner of multiple ISSF World Cup, Commonwealth and Youth Olympic gold medals, has her eyes trained at a quota for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Having turned a year older two days ago, Bhaker will have her chance to secure another quota for the country in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup, which begins at the Dr Karni Singh Range from Saturday. "I am doing little extra work as my class 12 exam is also scheduled just after the World Cup. Hence, I study for my exams after practice," Bhaker told PTI. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) recently requested the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to reschedule the class 12 exam dates for Bhaker and fellow marksman Vijayveer Sidhu in order to avoid a clash with the upcoming Asian Airgun ...
My focus is to regain fitness ahead of Oly qualification: Pranaav
Left to deal with fitness issues for most part of last season, India's doubles specialist Pranaav Jerry Chopra is aiming to return to his best form ahead of the Olympic qualification events. The 26-year-old had to endure a tough phase last season as he spent most of his time nursing a recurring shoulder injury before a bout of dengue completely derailed his plans. The Punjab-born shuttler received a huge boost when he, along with Chirag Shetty, clinched the men's doubles title at the Senior National Championship in Guwahati last week. "The senior title meant a lot after going through a lot, both mentally and physically," Pranaav, who forms India's best mixed doubles pair with N Sikki Reddy, told PTI. "My focus is to regain full fitness before the Olympic qualification starts by April end," added the Indian, who was part of the gold-winning mixed team at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Pranaav suffered a shoulder injury in May last and though he recovered to play a few tournaments, .
Shubhankar eyes another good show on return to WGC-Mexico
India's Shubhankar Sharma said he will have to get the right mindset and also manage the course well to produce another good show at the WGC-Mexico Championship beginning Thursday. The 22-year-old will return to the WGC-Mexico Championship where he had produced a world-class performance over the first 54 holes before settling for Tied-ninth place last year. "To be honest, acceptance is really important. You can never have your top game every week, probably only one or two weeks you can play your best golf. That means whatever that is working, you have to make use of it," he said. "Course management comes into play, short game is very important and you can win tournaments at 80 or 90 percent of your capabilities. "The mindset is very important, you have to be positive and every time a player wins, you get into that mindset as it's all about confidence," he said. Coming after a series of modest performances in 2019, Shubhankar, who was the Asian Tour Player of the Year in 2018, feels he