Page 571 - Sports
Vihari creates Irani Cup history with hat-trick of hundreds, gives ROI edge over Vidarbha
Hanuma Vihari Friday scripted history by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick of hundreds in the Irani Cup, helping Rest of India rally and set Vidarbha a tricky 280-run target here. Enjoying a good run of form, the 25-year-old Vihari created the record with a single down the ground on the fourth day, his second century of the match and third straight in Irani Cup. The India player had scored 183 for Rest of India during last year's Irani Cup match against Vidarbha, who recently retained the Ranji Trophy with another exemplary showing. Besides Vihari's 180, India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane made 87 and Shreyas Iyer raced to a 52-ball 61, helping Rest of India to declare their second innings at 374 for three, a day after conceding a big first-innings lead. Needing 280 for an outright win, Ranji champions Vidarbha were 37 for one at close of play, still 243 runs shy of the target with nine wickets in hand. While Akshay Karnewar's gutsy century on the third day powered ..
SAI requests CBSE to reschedule shooters' exam dates
With the upcoming Asian Airgun Championships taking place at around the same time as the class 12 examination, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has requested the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to reschedule the dates of shooters Manu Bhaker and Vijayveer Sidhu.
India's biggest online poker event announced, prize purse is Rs 2 crore
With a staggering prize purse of Rs 2 crore, PokerBaazi, India's leading online poker platform, has announced its biggest international level tournament. The event, starting from February 20, has received a plethora of responses from many sectors and is expecting a big turnout with an entry fee of Rs 11,000 for each participant. The tournament, dubbed 'Game Changer', is good news for poker enthusiasts, the organisers feel. The tournament will feature three starting flights -- Day 1A (20th), Day 1B (21st),Day 1C (22nd), with each of the participants being allotted five re-entries. Players will test their skills in poker during the first three days of round one, and those who grind it out till the end will lock horns on February 24, the final competition where the winner will be declared. With no existing eligibility criteria for participation, any player can enter with the tournament by spending Rs 11,000 and play for the initial three days to qualify for the final day. The platform's .
India to play in Turkish Women's Cup
Indian senior women's team will be embarking on an exposure tour to Turkey, where they will be playing in the Turkish Women's Cup, starting February 27.India have been clubbed with Romania, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in Group A, while France (B), Jordan, Northern Ireland, and hosts Turkey make up Group B.Every team will play each other in the group in the round robin format with the toppers making it to the final. There will also be matches for the third and fourth, fifth and sixth slot, and seventh and eighth places.The tournament will be part of India's preparation for the AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2, to be held in April and also the SAFF Women's Championship scheduled in March.India have played seven International matches since January, which includes their exposure tours to Hong Kong and Indonesia, and the Hero Gold Cup in Bhubaneswar.All India Football Federation (AIFF) General Secretary Kushal Das said that the aim is to "provide a fool proof preparation" for the team ahead .
Maharashtra's Ruma clinches U-14 tennis double crown
Second seed Ruma Gaikaiwari of Maharashtra capped her dream run by bagging the girls under-14 singles and doubles titles at the Rotary Club All India Ranking Super Series Tennis Friday. Ruma defeated top seed Chandni Srinivasan, her doubles partner from Telangana, 6-1, 6-4 to lift the singles title at the MSLTA courts here. The under-14 boys' singles crown was bagged by third- seeded Manas Dhamne, also from the host state of Maharashtra. He upset 8th-seeded Aryan Shah of Gujarat in two well-fought sets in the singles final. Dhamne won 6-3, 6-3 in the final. Other results (Finals): Girls doubles: Chandni Srinivasan/Ruma Gaikaiwari beat Jennika Jaison/ Swara Katkar 6-0, 6-0. Boys doubles: Nithish Baalaji/Aryan Shah beat Manas Dhamne/Cahir Warik 7-6(9), 6-1.
16-year-old Aryaan becomes first Indian tennis player to flunk dope test
Aryaan Bhatia became the first Indian tennis player to fail a dope test and has been put under provisional suspension, the National Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday. The 16-year-old Bhatia's urine sample was taken during the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship held here in October last year. The NADA had collected samples for the first time from tennis players during the championship. All India Tennis Association Secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee claimed it was a case of ignorance and the banned substance entered into Aryaan's system from a medicine prescribed by a doctor. "It's a case of ignorance, a mistake has been made. The player had cold and he took a medicine as prescribed by a doctor. He was not aware that the medicine carried banned substance. He has already appealed and it will be heard soon," Chatterjee told PTI. "We will also put it strongly before NADA that he be excused since he is a junior player and mistake happened due to lack of awareness," he added. The national .
Ridhima grabs first title of the season in Hero WPG Tour
Ridhima Dilawari rallied from a three-shot deficit to a three-shot win while Gaurika Bishnoi slipped in the final round of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour's fourth leg here on Friday. Ridhima carded a second successive one-over 73 but Gaurika crashed to seven-over 79. Ridhima ended the week at two-over 218, while Gaurika, who had four runner-up finishes last season, added one more at 221. It was a winning start for Ridhima, who was making her first appearance on the Tour this season. Ridhima became the fourth winner this season, following Neha Tripathi, Gursimar Badwal and Tvesa Malik in the previous three legs. It was also Ridhima's third title on the Hero WPG Tour, following two in 2018, once each as an amateur and a pro. Neha Tripathi (75) was third despite a double bogey finish, while Amandeep Drall (79), runner-up in the last two legs, also had a disappointing final round and was fourth. On a rather tough scoring day, Gurimsar Badwal (77), winner the week before, was Tied-fifth ...
Battle of pride as Aizawl FC host Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan
Former champions Aizawl FC and Mohun Bagan will play for pride when face each other in a return leg fixture of 12th I-League at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Saturday. Aizawl FC are seventh on the points table with 14 points from 15 games. The Mizoram team has now picked up five points since new coach Stanley Rosario took over and have a game in hand over their Saturday opponents Mohun Bagan. Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan, on the other hand, are currently sixth after 16 games with 23 points and they would want to finish as high up the table as possible in the closing stages of the league. Aizawl go into the game as favourites in their home game. The first leg in Kolkata ended in a 2-2 draw, thanks to a brilliant freekick by David in added time and that was probably the game which started Mohun Bagan's slide. Aizawl have also defeated Minerva Punjab FC in their previous match, which would boost their confidence, while Mohun Bagan have lost one and drawn two, going into Saturday's ...
Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul back for Australia series
Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul are set to return for India when they take on Australia in the limited-overs home series, starting February 24.The series comprise two T20Is, which are to be played in Bengaluru on February 24 and in Visakhapatnam on February 27, followed by five-match ODIs on March 2 in Hyderabad, March 5 in Nagpur, March 8 in Ranchi, March 10 in Mohali and March 13 in Delhi.Fast bowler Bumrah, who picked up 21 wickets at an average of 17 and strike-rate of 44.9 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was given rest from Australia and New Zealand away ODI series due to workload.Meanwhile, fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been picked up only for the final three matches. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been rested from the T20I series with legspinner Mayank Markande replacing him.Opening batsman Rahul has been selected for the ODI squad. He was also part of India A in the first four-day game against England Lions following the lift of suspension which was imposed in the wake of his ...
Chawrasia, Kapur make cuts at Perth
India's SSP Chawrasia survived some anxious moments before making his first cut of the year at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth golf tournament here Friday. Chawrasia, who was tied fifth after the first round, shot two-over 74 and was placed tied 37th after two rounds of the tournament, which is a mix of stroke play and match play. It was Chawrasia's first cut in three starts in 2019. Also making the 36-hole cut was another Indian, Shiv Kapur (73-70) who was placed tied 49th after the second round. However, four other Indians, Ajeetesh Sandhu (71-73), S Chikkarangappa (73-71), Khalin Joshi (73-72) and Viraj Madappa (74-75) missed the cut. Chawrasia had three birdies against five bogeys, while Kapur made five birdies and two bogeys. Thailand's Panuphol Pittayarat is placed at the top of the leaderboard after firing seven birdies against one bogey to share the second round lead with New Zealand's Ryan Fox, Matthew Griffin of Australia and Belgium's Thomas Pieters. Starting his round ..
Markande earns maiden India call-up; Kohli returns
Hours after his exploits helped India A win the second unofficial Test against England Lions by an innings and 68 runs, rookie leg-spinner Mayank Markande was on Friday picked for the two-T20I series against Australia even as skipper Virat Kohli returned to lead the side following a break.
Jamshedpur on the edge in must-win match against Pune
Jamshedpur FC will have their task cut out when they host FC Pune City in a crunch Indian Super League clash at the JRD Tata Sports Complex here on Saturday. With as many as five teams battling it out for three play-off spots, Jamshedpur cannot slip in the remaining three league games. Cesar Ferrando's men currently find themselves out of the top-four and anything other than a win on Saturday could see hopes of making the play-offs for the first time take a beating. The 'Men of Steel' had to wait until the 80th minute for Memo to strike the winning goal against Mumbai City in their last match to keep their last four hopes alive. "Both teams will want to win obviously. If we want to make top-four, we need to win. The team is working very hard and is very well prepared. To deliver under pressure is important. The fans have supported as well throughout and we are ready to win," said Ferrando. The head coach will welcome back Carlos Calvo who is set to return after his three-game ...
Du Plessis and De Kock stretch South Africa Test lead
Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock hit half-centuries as South Africa stretched their lead on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Friday. South Africa were 227 for five in their second innings at lunch, a lead of 271 runs. Du Plessis was unbeaten on 72 while De Kock made 55 before being leg before wicket to debutant left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya at Kingsmead. Resuming on 126 for four, South African captain Du Plessis and wicketkeeper De Kock were largely untroubled on an easy-paced pitch until De Kock went back to a ball from Embuldeniya which spun into the left-hander and kept low. De Kock was the more aggressive partner in a stand of 96 which eased South African nerves after the hosts had been struggling at 95 for four. De Kock made his runs off 62 balls with six fours. Du Plessis had faced 139 deliveries by lunch, hitting ten fours. Embuldeniya had figures of three for 51.
Rahul recalled, Karthik dropped, Markande new face for Australia engagements
Batsman K L Rahul was Friday recalled for the ODI and T20 home series against Australia but the selectors dropped Dinesh Karthik while picking rookie leg-spinner Mayank Markande as the new face. India will play two T20 Internationals and five ODIs, starting February 24, in what will be their last international assignment before the World Cup, which begins in England on May 30. Rahul fought his way back after a couple of good innings for India A against England Lions in the two unofficial Tests, which concluded hours before the national selection committee met here. Battling indifferent form in Australia, the opener was called back after the unsavoury comments on women in a TV talk show, following which he was asked to regain his form by concentrating on domestic cricket. The 21-year-old Markande was rewarded soon after his five-wicket haul, which powered India A to an innings and 68-run victory over England Lions in the second unofficial Test. He has also been a part of the IPL ...
16-year-old Aryaan become first Indian tennis player to flunk dope test
Aryaan Bhatia became the first Indian tennis player to fail dope test and has been put under provisional suspension, the National Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday. 16-year-old Bhatia's urine sample was taken during the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship held here in October last year. The NADA had collected samples for the first time from tennis players during the championship. The national doping watchdog also provisionally suspended seven other sportspersons last month for flunking dope tests. They are Sandeep Kaur (powerlifting), Ankit Gosai (handball), Jithu Thomas (volleyball), Yaiphaba (canoeing), Vishan Singh (kayaking and canoeing) and Shivam Kasana (cycling). Middle distance runner Monika Chaudhary, who had moved Delhi High Court to secure a trial ahead of last year's Asian Games and later tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO), has been handed a four-year ban by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP). The ADDP also handed four year bans to hockey player Bharat .
Karnewar's ambidextrous action grabs many eyeballs
Vidarbha's Akshay Karnewar, who is playing the Irani Cup match against Rest Of India (RoI), has taken everyone by surprise after bowling using both his hands. The unorthodox ambidextrous action might be new for many people but Karnewar has been bowling in such a way since he was 16.
SAI urges CBSE to allot fresh dates for shooters Manu, Vijayveer to appear in two subjects of Class XII examinations
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has written to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to allot fresh dates for young shooters Manu Bhaker and Vijayveer Sidhu to appear in two subjects of their Class XII final examinations.The two athletes are participating in Asian Airgun Championships in Chinese Taipei from March 25 to April 2, the dates of which coincide with the CBISE's Class XII board examinations schedule announced for this year."This initiative by the SAI is a part of the on-going efforts of the government to ensure that young athletes can balance both their sporting career and academics," said SAI in a press release. SAI has written to CBSE chairperson Anita Karwal to look into the matter leniently. Bhaker, 16, who is an ace pistol shooter and is part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), would have to take her History examination on March 25 and Physical Education on March 30, and these two dates are coinciding with the championships.Sidhu, 16, who is .
Injured Sophie Molineux ruled out of NZ series
Australia's promising young all-rounder Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of the upcoming one-day international series against New Zealand after sustaining a shoulder injury while diving during a fielding drill for Victoria.The 21-year-old excelled in Australia's T20 World Cup win last year and played a crucial inning for Melbourne Renegades during their Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) semi-final."Sophie suffered a right shoulder subluxation whilst diving during a fielding drill at training earlier in the week," Cricket Australia quoted the Australian Team Physiotherapist Kate Mahony, as saying on Friday."A scan has revealed significant soft-tissue injury and as a result, she is unavailable for the upcoming series against New Zealand. She will be reviewed over the coming days to determine rehabilitation and return to play time frame," she said.Molineux made her ODI debut against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur in October last year, collecting six wickets and conceding 39 runs during the ...
Markande's fifer hand India 'A' innings victory over England Lions
Young Mayank Markande scalped five wickets to spun India 'A' to a convincing innings and 68-run win over England Lions in the second unofficial Test to clinch the two-match series 1-0 here Friday. Leg-spinner Markande (5 for 31) spun a web around the visitors to bowl them out for 180 in the second innings after following on. Resuming at 24 for no loss and faced with the daunting task of handling the Indian spinners on a turning wicket, the Lions batsmen came a cropper with only Ben Duckett (50) and Lewis Gregory (44) showing some fight. Besides Markande, Jalaj Saxena (2/40) claimed two wickets. The 21-year old Markande, who performed creditably for Mumbai Indians in the IPL last year, troubled most of the England batsmen with his guile. The talented Ollie Pope was Markande's first victim, trapped leg-before. But opener Duckett mixed caution with aggression in an effort to defy the India 'A' bowlers. He hit four boundaries and two sixes in his half-century and was involved in a 40-run .
SAI requests CBSE to reschedule exam dates of shooters Bhaker, Sidhu
The Sports Authority of India has requested the Central Board of Secondary Education to reschedule the class 12 exam dates of shooters Manu Bhaker and Vijayveer Sidhu to avoid a clash with the upcoming Asian Airgun Championships. In a letter, the SAI has asked the CBSE to consider Bhaker and Sidhu's case and give fresh dates for two subjects, as both the shooters are scheduled to participate in the Asian Airgun Championships in Chinese Taipei from March 25 to April 2. The initiative by SAI is part of ongoing efforts of the government to help young athletes balance their sporting career and academics. Bhaker, 16, who is an ace pistol shooter and is part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), would have to appear for her history paper on March 25 and Physical Education exam on March 30, and both these dates are coinciding with the championships. Sidhu, also 16, and who is in the watchlist of TOPS and has won a silver medal in the Under-21 event at the Khelo India Youth Games, too ..