Page 562 - Sports
Liverpool coach expects tough match against Bayern Munich in CL
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp on Monday said he expects a difficult encounter against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League last-16 tie, despite the German side's somewhat unstable set of recent results.
ISL: FC Goa seal play-off berth; occupy table-top position
FC Goa became the second Indian Super League (ISL) side to book their place in the play-offs after a convincing 3-0 win over Kerala Blasters FC here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday.
FC Goa seal play-off berth, occupy table-top position
FC Goa became the second Hero Indian Super League side to book their place in the play-offs after a convincing 3-0 win over Kerala Blasters FC here Monday. Quickfire goals in the first half from Ferran Corominas (22') and Edu Bedia (25') and a third by Hugo Boumous (78') helped the hosts do the double over the Kerala outfit in the season. To make the result all the more sweeter, the Gaurs have leapfrogged Bengaluru FC to go top of the table. Goa has 31 points from 16 games same as Bengaluru FC but with a better goal difference now occupies table top position. On other hand, Kerala Blasters, remain ninth after slumping to their seventh loss of the season. FC Goa were on the money right from the start as Jackichand Singh threatened the Kerala defence as he twisted and turned the likes of Lalruatthara and Anas Edathodika on a couple of occasions. One of his efforts did beat Dheeraj Singh but came off the woodwork, much to Kerala's relief. Kerala then found the back of the net through ...
SAI coach Dubey to assist goalkeepers in hockey national camp
Promising Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach Piyush Kumar Dubey Monday joined the coaching set-up of the Indian men's hockey team in Bengaluru as a goalkeeping instructor. Sources in the Indian team management told PTI that Dubey joined the national camp at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru, where he will work with the goalkeepers ahead of the season-opening Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, starting March 23. The camp, involving the core 34 players, will be held under the supervision of Hockey India's High Performance Director David John and analytical coach Chris Ciriello. "Yes, he has joined the national camp today and he will be working with the goalkeepers under John and Ciriello. He is being promoted as part of Hockey India's plans to groom young coaches of the country," a team insider said. But surprisingly, Hockey India is yet to confirm the development. Reportedly, Dubey is being looked upon as someone who is expected to work with the team's new chief coach following Harendra ...
U Mumba Volley beat Ahmedabad Defenders, qualify for play-offs
U Mumba Volley beat Ahmedabad Defenders 4-1 (10-15, 15-12, 15-13, 15-12, 15-8) in the final league match of the inaugural Pro Volleyball League here Monday to qualify for the play-offs on set difference. U Mumba Volley will now play table-toppers Calicut Heroes in the first semi-final on Tuesday. The first set started with both teams going all out and fighting for each point. Two errors from U Mumba gave Ahmedabad a 8-7 lead at the first Technical Time Out (TTO). U Mumbas errors proved crucial as two more helped Ahmedabad race to a 11-8 lead. U Mumba immediately called for a Super Point and converted with a Vinit Kumar spike. Ahmedabad also called for a Super Point and took advantage. Ahmedabad were able to protect it and won the set 15-10. The Mumbai team bounced back with a strong performance in the second set and took it 15-12. For U Mumba, skipper Deepesh Sinha was looking in good rhythm, as he scored from 2 spikes and a block to give his side an 8-5 advantage at ...
I-League: Manzi's late strikes put Chennai City in driver's seat
Pedro Manzi, now the 12th I-League's joint highest scorer with 18 goals to his credit, scored two and set up another, all in the space of 12 minutes, to help table-toppers Chennai City FC beat Shillong Lajong FC 4-2 in a return leg fixture at the JLN Stadium, here on Monday.
India shouldn't play Pakistan in WC, says Harbhajan
Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh doesn't want India to play Pakistan in the upcoming ODI World Cup in the aftermath of the ghastly terror attack in Pulwama. Harbhajan said India are strong enough to win the World Cup even if they decide to forfeit the match against Pakistan in Manchester on June 16. Harbhajan's statement came after the terror attack in Pulwama killed 40 personnel CRPF personnel. Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad had claimed responsibility for the ghastly act. "India should not play Pakistan in the world Cup. India are powerful enough to win the World Cup without having to play Pakistan," Harbhajan Singh told 'Aaj Tak' news channel. "This is a difficult time. The attack that has happened, it was unbelievable and it's very wrong. Strict action will surely be taken by the government. When it comes to cricket, I don't think we should have any relations with them otherwise they will keep treating us like this," he added. Harbhajan said India doesn't need to .
Top I-League clubs say ISL promoters interfering, wants clarity on future
Miffed at what they feel is "a plan to kill the clubs" amidst "interference" by promoters of ISL, top I-League teams such as Mohun Bagan and East Bengal Monday sought an urgent appointment with All India Football Federation president Praful Patel. Besides the big two from Kolkata, league leaders Chennai City FC, Churchill Brothers, defending champions Minerva Punjab FC, Neroca FC, Aizawl FC and Gokulam Kerala FC have all jointly written to the AIFF, seeking clarity on their future in Indian football and expressed "our anguish and fear about a plan to kill the clubs". "Recent news reports suggest that this could be the last season of the I-League, with the ISL all set to be branded the top league of the country," the clubs wrote in the letter. "Shutdown of the I-League will lead to unfathomable losses not just for I-League clubs but for the entire Indian football ecosystem. As important stakeholders of Indian football, we deserve to be heard so that an amicable and long-term solution ..
Holmes wins after 3 years, claims Genesis Open title
JB Holmes handled the windy conditions better as he rallied from a four-shot deficit in the final round here to win the Genesis Open golf tournament, his first victory in three years. While the top names struggled, Holmes, who started the final round four shots shy of Justin Thomas, shot one-under 70 to claim his fifth PGA Tour win on Sunday. It was marathon finish on Sunday as players like Thomas and his group played as many as 34 holes. They played 34 holes due to a seven-hour rain delayed at the start of the week. It was difficult for the golfers to adjust to the cold temperature and brisk winds. Even though the high winds usually caused havoc on ball flight, it was the effect on the putting surfaces that brought a lot of grief. As Holmes carded 70 to get to 14-under, Thomas, who at one stage was 17-under, slipped to 75 and ended second at 13-under. Thomas even four-putted for a double bogey. The last three putts were inside eight feet and the final miss was from two feet. He had ..
Amit, Nikhat make Strandja Memorial finals; three others settle for bronze
Asian Games gold-medallist Amit Panghal (49kg) and former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) were among the four Indian boxers who made the finals of the 70th Strandja Memorial Tournament on Monday in Sofia, Bulgaria. Amit, the lone Indian left in the fray in the men's draw, defeated Morocco's Said Mortaji in a split 3-2 verdict to set up a clash with Kazakhstan's Temirtas Zhussupov. Zhussupov edged past Argentina's Jose Leandro Blanc in his semi-final clash. Zareen, a two-time national medallist, defeated Poland's Sandra Drabik 3-2 in an intense see-saw battle. Others who made the final stage in the women's competition were Manju Rani (48kg) and Meena Kumari Devi (54kg). While Rani got the better of Bulgaria's Emi-Mari Todorova, Devi beat Russia's Ekaterina Sycheva. Devi had won a bronze medal at the previous edition of the tournament which marks the beginning of the European boxing calendar. However, Pwilao Basumatari (64kg), Neeraj (60kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) ...
Late strikes from Pedro puts Chennai in drivers' seat
Pedro Manzi scored two goals and set up another to guide table-toppers Chennai City FC to a 4-2 win over hosts Shillong Lajong in a return leg fixture of the Hero I-League here Monday. Pedro, the current highest scorer in the 12th I-League with 18 goals to his credit, changed the complexion of the match in a span of 12 minutes. Spaniards Sandro Rodriguez and Nestor Jesus were the other goal scorers for Chennai, while Kitboklang Pale and Samuel Lyngdoh scored for the home team. Chennai consolidated their position at the top with 37 points from 17 games, five points clear of their nearest rival East Bengal. Shillong remained at the bottom of the table with 10 points from the same number of games. Akbar Nawaz gave new recruit and Italian keeper Mauro Boerchio his first start under the Chennai woodwork while Allison Kharsyntiew started with an unchanged XI. The game began with Chennai City pressing hard from the first minute. The Spanish duo of Pedro and Sandro along with Ajith Kumar ...
AIFF's League Committee to decide fate of Real Kashmir-Minerva Punjab I-League tie
The fate of the I-League match between Real Kashmir FC and Minerva Punjab FC will be decided by the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) League Committee, according to a statement issued by the AIFF on Monday.
India are the best at home, feels Australia skipper Finch
Australia's limited overs captain Aaron Finch feels India are the best in their own conditions and they have to be at their best to beat them in the limited overs games, starting with two T20 internationals from February 24.
ODI all-rounder rankings: Deepti Sharma attains career-high third place
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma attained a career-high third place in the ICC Women's ODI all-rounder rankings, updated on Monday.The 21-year-old moved up as South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk dropped behind Sharma, giving the Indian a chance to emulate or do better than her compatriots in an upcoming ICC Women's Championship home series against England.No India woman player has reached the top spot among all-rounders except the former captains Jhulan Goswami (July 2015), Purnima Rau (December 2000) and Shubhangi Kulkarni (January 1986), who have all attained the second position.The India-England series, which is slated to begin February 22, can be crucial in the final standings while defending champions Australia host second-placed New Zealand in another series that also starts on February 23.England are on 10 points from nine matches and can jump to second or third place, depending on results of the other series.West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor has advanced two places and ...
FIDE VP Nigel Short takes aim at AICF again
Global chess body FIDE's Vice-President and chess Grand Master (GM) Nigel Short targeted the All India Chess Federation (AICF) again by expressing disappointment at the disenfranchisement of the Maharashtra Chess Association and several others.
Djokovic maintains ATP rankings' top spot, Nadal second
Serbia's star Novak Djokovic - winner of 15 grand slams - maintained the No. 1 spot in the men's Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) world singles rankings released on Monday with 10,955 points, ahead of Spain's Rafael Nadal with a difference of more than 2,500 points.
Pulwama fallout: Minerva moves court, East Bengal wait & watch on Srinagar match
Minerva Punjab FC pulled out but refused to give up on points while East Bengal adopted a wait and watch approach towards its scheduled fixture after the Pulwama terror attack cast a shadow on their matches against Real Kashmir FC in Srinagar. Defending champions Minerva did not show up for their clash against a ready RKFC in Srinagar on Monday after asserting that the home club and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) failed in providing written security assurances. East Bengal, on the other hand, conveyed their concerns about the February 28 match to the AIFF but refrained from making an outright pullout threat. Their clash against RKFC is the last scheduled I-League match in Srinagar. The AIFF, meanwhile, has referred the Minerva issue to its League Committee and maintained silence on East Bengal's concerns. The entire sequence of events is a fallout of Thursday's attack in which at least 40 CRPF paramilitary troopers were killed while several others injured. It has been termed
Minerva Punjab moves court, I-League committee set to decide fate of Real Kashmir home game
With Minerva Punjab FC heading to court instead of the ground for their I-League match in Srinagar in the wake of the Pulwama terrorist attack, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Monday referred the matter to its League Committee. Defending champions Minerva Punjab FC moved the Delhi Hight Court and filed a writ petition after the AIFF refused to relocate their match and a few hours later, the sport's governing body went through the match commissioner's report along with other relevant documents. "The Match Commissioner's report along with other relevant documents are being referred to the All India Football Federation's League Committee for further action as per the I-League Regulations. They will give the verdict within seven days," the AIFF said in a statement. The match commissioner along with the referees, who have been posted in Srinagar since Friday and the players of the home team were at the venue for the match. The AIFF statement added, "Despite the tragic events which
Three uncapped players named in Sri Lanka ODI squad
Sri Lanka on Monday brought in three uncapped players to its 17-member squad for the five-match One-Day international series against South Africa. Debutant right-hand batsman Oshada Fernando was among those named for the series, which starts on March 3. The other two newcomers include bowler Kamindu Mendis, 20, and all-rounder Priyamal Perera, 23. Sri Lanka squad: Lasith Malinga (captain), Niroshan Dikwella (vice captain, Avishka Fernando, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Angelo Perera, Oshada Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Isuru Udana, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and Lakshan Sandakan.
After CCI & PCA, RCA pulls down portraits of Pakistani cricketers
Following in the footsteps of Mumbai's Cricket Club of India (CCI) and Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), the Rajasthan Cricket Association on Monday removed pictures of a number of Pakistan players to record its protest against the terrorist attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama that claimed the lives of 49 troopers.