Page 580 - Sports
Japan Olympic poster girl Ikee diagnosed with leukaemia
Japan's swim queen Rikako Ikee, a poster girl for next year's Tokyo Olympics, has been diagnosed with leukaemia, the 18-year-old tweeted on Tuesday. In a shock announcement, Ikee said: "After feeling unwell I returned in haste from Australia and following tests I was diagnosed with leukaemia. I still can't believe it myself and I'm in a state of confusion." Ikee shot to fame at last year's Asian Games, where she captured a record six gold medals to fire a warning for the 2020 Olympics in her home city. The teenage superstar, who holds a string of national records, has been tipped to push for gold on several fronts, in particular in the women's 100 metres butterfly. Ikee told fans she was determined to beat her illness after being forced to abandon her training camp in Australia. "If treated properly it's a disease that can be beaten," said Ikee, who confirmed she will withdraw from the Japanese championships in April. "I will devote myself to my treatment and strive to be able to ...
Injured Starc hopeful of international return
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who sustained a pectoral injury during their recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, is hoping to make international return during his side one-day tour of UAE, next month.The 29-year-old, who will be missing Australia's tour to India, said that if rehabilitation went as per his plans then he would be available for the UAE tour."The UAE is around the 15th of March so if all goes to plan I should be pretty sweet to be available for that one. Obviously the boys go to India, hopefully it's a good tour for them there. I don't think I'll be ready for any stage of that," Cricket.com.au quoted Starc, as saying."So it's up to the rehab group and the selectors and see how the rest of this summer goes," he added.Australia are slated to play a five-match ODI series against Pakistan from March 22 to 31. Before that, the team will travel to India for T20 internationals and a five-match ODI series from February 24 to March 13.
Badminton's Lee delays cancer comeback until April
Badminton great Lee Chong Wei aims to make his comeback in April at the Malaysia Open after a cancer battle, a month later than he originally hoped, an official confirmed Tuesday. The three-time Olympic silver medallist and former world number has been on the sidelines since July last year when he was diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer. The Malaysian star underwent a gruelling programme of specialist treatment in Taiwan but pledged not to retire and resumed training last month. The 36-year-old had previously said he wanted to make a return to competitive play at the All England Open in March. But on Monday Lee told local media he was targeting a return to action on home soil at the Malaysia Open, which he has won 12 times, from April 2 to 7. "I have got another appointment with my doctor in Taiwan next month. Once I get the green light from him, then I will make a full comeback, hopefully at the Malaysia Open," he told the New Straits Times newspaper. "It isn't time to make a full
Nationals will help in preparation for All England: Praneeth
A crammed BWF calendar affecting his fitness last season, Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth says he will pick his tournaments carefully in the Olympic qualification year and is eyeing a national title to prepare for the All England Championship next month. With defending champion HS Prannoy and finalist Kidambi Srikanth withdrawing due to fitness issues, former champion Praneeth will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy at the 83rd Senior Nationals, which got underway with the qualifiers here on Tuesday. "Last season, I struggled with my fitness and confidence because there were too many tournaments. So I couldn't maintain fitness. From June to December, I played continuously, so it was all about fitness. I am fine now and fortunately no injuries," Praneeth told PTI. "I am looking forward to All England next month and Nationals will be good match practice to prepare. It will help my confidence ahead of the international events. You have to beat all the top Indian players to win it
Refugee Bahraini footballer returns to Australia
Refugee Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi landed in Melbourne on Tuesday after spending more than two months in detention in Thailand as his home country sought his extradition.
Nadal eyes participation in Davis Cup Finals, 2020 Olympics
Former world number one Rafael Nadal has revealed that he is looking forward to being a part of the upcoming Davis Cup Finals and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.The 32-year-old, however, added that the events are too far away to make any predictions regarding his participation, at the moment."I would like to be there (Davis Cup Finals), but there are still a lot of months to go, seven or eight months, almost nine," Sport24 quoted Nadal, as saying. "It's very difficult to predict what is going on in nine months, but my hope is to be there." The Davis Cup Finals are slated to be held in Madrid in November this year but top tennis player like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have already announced their unavailability for the selection.As far as 2020 Olympic Games are concerned, Nadal said that Tokyo is going to be spectacular and assured that he would do his best to be there."You are talking about more than a year and a half away. I don't know what is going to happen but, as I already said, my ...
Roger Federer rules out Monte Carlo participation
Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer has ruled out his participation in the upcoming Monte-Carlo Masters tournament.The 37-year-old has skipped the entire clay season, including the French Open, in recent years to prepare well for the Wimbledon championship, but after his fourth-round ouster from the recently-concluded Australian Open, Federer had confirmed that the trend would change this time.But it seems like Monte-Carlo Masters is not part of Federer's plans. He said that he does not want to overdo things and that participation in Monte-Carlo is "too early" for him."I do not want to play much more. I'd rather train more and prepare well for the grass-court season, I do not definitely want to overdo it. What tournament should we look at? Monte Carlo is probably too early," Sport24 quoted Federer, as saying.The Monte Carlo Masters is slated to get underway on April 13 which means that Federer might participating in the following clay tournaments that include Madrid Open and Italian ...
Hero Gold Cup: India suffer 1-2 defeat against Nepal
Indian women's football team suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Nepal in their second game of the ongoing Hero Gold Cup here at the Kalinga Stadium on Monday.Nepal's Sabitra Bhandari struck two early goals to breeze past the Indian eves. Although Ratanbala Devi of India hit the target from a free-kick, it couldn't deter the away team from gathering all three points to stay afloat in the four-nation championship.After the second game day, Myanmar stay firmly seated at the top of the table with 6 points from 2 games whereas India and Nepal are locked in second place with 3 points each. Iran are yet to open their account having played an equal number of games.The Nepalese forward Sabirtra Bhandari took only four minutes to score her first goal followed by another two minutes later. Indian skipper Aditi Chauhan made a terrible mistake grabbing a cross from the right flank which eventually left Sabitra an easy opportunity to score her second and she did no mistake pushing the ball into .
Bangladesh like 'underdog' tag against Black Caps: coach
Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes said his charges were relishing being underdogs as they chase a maiden victory over the Black Caps on New Zealand soil on Wednesday. The tourists have never beaten the hosts in any format during four previous tours to New Zealand but Rhodes said they should not be written off ahead of the first one-day international in Napier on Thursday. "We know it's going to be very difficult, we've got to be realistic," the Englishman told reporters. "But we quite like being underdogs. We can surprise a few people being an underdog and I think New Zealand know they've still got to play some very good cricket to beat us." Rhodes said Bangladesh's task had been made tougher by the injury-enforced absences of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and paceman Taskin Ahmed. He said the gruelling Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament had been a mixed blessing for his players as they prepare for a New Zealand tour that includes three one-day internationals and three ...
Newcastle denied as Dubravka howler rescues Wolves
Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka damaged his side's bid to avoid relegation for the second successive match as his late howler gifted Wolves a 1-1 draw on Monday. Rafael Benitez's side were seconds away from a valuable victory after Isaac Hayden's first goal since 2017 put them ahead in the second half at Molineux. Hayden's goal had come via a weak attempted save from Wolves keeper Rui Patricio. But it was Dubravka's clanger at the other end that stole the headlines when the Slovakian allowed a cross to slip through his grasp as Willy Boly headed home deep into stoppage-time. Dubravka will be public enemy No.1 on Tyneside after his latest gaffe, which came just days after he let Son Heung-min's shot squirm through his legs to give Tottenham a late winner. With controversial Newcastle owner Mike Ashley watching from the stands, it was a bitter pill to swallow for Benitez, who refused to protect Dubravka when asked about the equaliser. "We could do better. These kind of balls you ...
Japan's Osaka in shock split with tennis coach Bajin
World number one Naomi Osaka has split from her coach Sascha Bajin just weeks after winning the Australian Open to complete back-to-back grand slam victories, the Japanese player said Monday. "Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha. I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future," the 21-year-old tweeted in a shock announcement. Bajin, a former hitting partner to Serena Williams, responded: "Thank you Naomi. I wish you nothing but the best as well. What a ride that was. Thank you for letting me be part of this." Osaka, who became the first Asian to hold the top ranking after beating Czech Petra Kvitova in the Melbourne final, had worked with the German for just over a year. No reason was given for the decision to part ways. The Japanese player captured her first slam by stunning Williams at last year's US Open in a final remembered as much for the American's astonishing rant at the chair umpire following a coaching violation. Based in the ...
Confident Man Utd can inflict more Champions League pain on PSG
Paris Saint-Germain must cope without the injured Neymar and Edison Cavani to halt the surge of a revitalised Manchester United if the French champions are to avoid more pain in the Champions League last 16. PSG's trip to Old Trafford Tuesday's first leg could not have come at a worse time for Thomas Tuchel's side as injuries to key players have pilled up for the Parisians, just as United have hit form under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Neymar will miss both legs of the tie due to a foot injury and will joined on the sidelines by Cavani due to a hip problem and Belgian international Thomas Meunier with concussion. Midfielder Marco Verratti, who returned from a three-week injury layoff for Saturday's 1-0 win over Bordeaux, and new signing Leandro Paredes are also lacking match sharpness. Such stretched resources is not what the club's Qatari owners had in mind when a near 400 million euros was splurged on Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in 2017 with the intention to carry PSG to a ...
Arsenal's Ramsey signs four-year Juventus deal
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has signed a four-year deal to join Juventus on a free transfer from next July, the Italian champions said on Monday. The 28-year-old Wales international will arrive in northern Italy on July 1 with his contract running until June 30, 2023. As his contract will have ended, Arsenal will not be entitled to a transfer fee. "As a result of the registration of the player, Juventus will incur additional costs of 3.7 million euros ($4.1 million), to be paid by July 10," the Serie A champions said. The move brings to an end Ramsey's 11-year spell with the Gunners having moved from Cardiff City in 2008. Over the past decade he has played 256 Premier League games, scoring 38 top-flight goals, and winning three FA Cup and two Community Shield. He also had two loan spells at Nottingham Forest in 2010, and back at former club, Cardiff in 2011. "I wanted to issue a personal statement for all the Arsenal fans who have been extremely loyal and supportive," Ramsey wrote
Root century anchors rampant England assault
Joe Root's 16th Test century highlighted England's first day of complete dominance in an otherwise disappointing Caribbean campaign as the captain anchored his team to an unassailable position by the end of the third day of the third and final Test against the West Indies at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Monday. His workmanlike unbeaten 111 off 209 deliveries included just nine boundaries and typified the tourists' effort to make amends for previous failures in reaching stumps at 325 for four in their second innings, an overall lead of 448 runs with two days still available to push for a consolation victory having already surrendered the series and the Wisden Trophy with heavy defeats in the first two matches in Barbados and Antigua. With the home side short-handed in the bowling department on the day due to an early injury to Keemo Paul, England took full advantage of the situation. Root had never gone through an entire Test series without at least registering a ...
Wawrinka through as Paire switches off
Stan Wawrinka benefitted from a Benoit Paire collapse, with the Swiss carving out a 7-6(7/4), 6-1 win on Monday at the Rotterdam Open. After fighting through a 45-minute first set the 33-year-old Wawrinka needed just 26 more minutes to salt away the first-round victory as the moody Paire had unleashed a trademark racquet smash after dropping the opening set. The frustrated 58th-ranked Frenchman made little effort in the second set, phoning it in with apparent disinterest as Wawrinka took complete charge. Breaking four times on his way into the second round Wawrinka made a date against either Milos Raonic, who beat him in four tiebreak sets at the Australian Open, or German Philipp Kohlschreiber. "It's tough to play a friend whose game you know so well," Wawrinka said of Paire, "I didn't start well, but I lifted my level and got better and better. "I'm happy to win this match. "It's tough to play Paire but I was able to regain my focus. I fought hard to find my rhythm." Wawrinka said ..
ISL: Mumbai, North East in battle to enhance playoff hopes
After two back-to-back defeats, Mumbai City FC would be keen to get back to winning ways when they clash with an equally strong North East United FC in an Indian Super League encounter here on Wednesday. Mumbai's unbeaten run of nine games ended when they suffered a 2-0 loss against FC Goa here at the Mumbai Football Arena in their previous home game. The next 'away' outing against Jamshedpur FC also proved to be a damp squib as they lost 1-0. Mumbai coach Jorge Costa would be eyeing to grab three crucial points from this game. At present, after 15 games, Mumbai are in the second spot in the standings with 27 points, just behind league leaders Bengaluru FC (31 points). North East United FC are in the fourth position with 24 points from 15 games and a win would enhance their chances of reaching the playoffs. For the hosts, their best bet would be Senegalese medio Modou Sougou, who has nine goals to his name so far. He has formed a lethal combination with Congo striker ...
Dominant England build lead over Windies
England built on an already dominant position in reaching 207 for three in their second innings, an overall lead of 330 runs, at tea on the third day of the third and final Test against the West Indies in St Lucia on Monday. With the home side short-handed in the bowling department on the day and without regular captain Jason Holder for the match, the tourists took full advantage of the situation in adding another 99 runs in the afternoon session for the loss of Joe Denly's wicket. Under pressure to deliver after a modest start to his Test career in the second match a week earlier, Denly rode his luck in getting to 69 before falling to Shannon Gabriel to end a 74-run second-wicket partnership with Joe Root. Although troubled by a slight hamstring strain, the fast bowler continued to charge in at pace and was eventually rewarded with the wicket via a catch to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich. Captain Root was then joined by Jos Buttler and the pair have progressed without too many ...
Stay motivated, ambitious, Roma's coach tells team ahead of UCL clash vs Porto
AS Roma's head coach Eusebio Di Francesco on Monday called on his players to stay motivated ahead of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) round-of-16 first leg match against Portugal's FC Porto.
Sindhu, Sameer top seeds for badminton Senior Nationals
Rio silver medallist P.V.Sindhu and former national champion Sameer Verma were on Monday marked as the top seeds of the women and men's singles, respectively, as the 83rd Senior National Badminton Championships 2018-19 gets underway here on Tuesday.
Lyon, Stoinis, Maxwell receive top honours at Australian Cricket Awards
Spinner Nathan Lyon bagged Test Player of the Year award at the Australian Cricket Awards in Melbourne on Monday for his sterling performance with the red-ball.As one of only four players along with skipper Tim Paine, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh to have played all 10 Tests during the voting period, Lyon polled a combined total of 25 votes from his teammates, umpires and media representatives, Cricket Australia reported.The fact that no other finger spinner has won the award in its 20-year history, and that leg spinner Shane Warne was only crowned Test Player of the Year in 2006, provides a clear indicator of Lyon's feat.Having established himself as a regular member of the 50-over game, allrounder Marcus Stoinis was named ODI Player of the Year. He made four half-centuries in 13 innings among his 376 runs and claimed 13 wickets to cement his position in the team. Stoinis earned his Test call-up last week and is expected to be part of the Ashes squad later this year.Elsewhere, ...