Page 581 - Sports

Nepal ride on Sabitra's brace to beat India in Hero Gold Cup

Sabitra Bhandari struck two early goals as India slumped to a 1-2 defeat against Nepal in their second game of the Hero Gold Cup women's football tournment at the Kalinga Stadium here Monday. Sabitra (4th, 6th minutes) scored early for Nepal before India found a late consolation goal through Ratanbala Devi (83rd) as the home suffered its first defeat 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 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 an open net. Maymol Rocky's girls ...

Lakshya, Ramchandran-Pardeshi guide AAI to title at 74th Inter State-Inter Zonal Badminton

Asian Junior Champion Lakshya Sen along with mixed doubles pair of Shlok Ramchandran and Shriyanshi Pardeshi put up a brilliant show to guide the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to its seventh Inter State-Inter Zonal Badminton Championships title here Monday. AAI registered a narrow 3-2 win over Railways in a thrilling final of the Yonex-Sunrise 74th edition of the tournament. The 17-year-old Lakshya battled for 55 minutes before he could subdue Subhankar Dey 21-17 21-17 in the men's singles clash to start off AAI's challenge with a bang. In a face-off between two rising women's singles stars of the country, Aakarshi Kashyap notched up a sublime 21-12 21-14 win over Railways' Anura Prabhudesai to hand AAI a 2-0 lead. Just when it looked like AAI was cruising to victory, the Railways put up an incredible fightback. The men's doubles pair of Kabir Kanzarkar and Hemanagendra Babu held their nerves to eke out a tight 21-18 17-21 21-18 win over Shlok Ramchandran and Chirag Sen. In ...

Denly nears fifty as England consolidate lead

England made the most of a morning of errors and misadventures to extend their second innings to 108 for two at lunch on the third day of the third and final Test against the West Indies at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Monday. After the combination of Mark Wood's pace and Moeen Ali's spin earned them a healthy first innings advantage of 123 runs on an eventful second day, the tourists now have an overall lead of 231 runs with eight wickets in hand going into the afternoon session as they pursue a consolation victory having already surrendered the series and the Wisden Trophy after massive defeats in the first two Tests in Barbados and Antigua. Resuming at the overnight position of 19 without loss, England suffered an immediate setback when Rory Burns clipped the first delivery of the morning to Alzarri Joseph at square-leg to give Keemo Paul immediate success. However the young all-rounder, drafted into the final eleven for this match due to the suspension of regular ...

Kochi Blue Spikers edge out Chennai Spartans in thriller

Kochi Blue Spikers beat Chennai Spartans 3-2 in a thrilling Pro Volleyball League match here on Monday. The Kochi side won 12-15, 10-15, 15-11, 15-13, 15-10. It was Spartans' second defeat in three matches. They had beaten Black Hawks Hyderabad after having lost the opening round to Calicut Heroes. Spartans, who are still in the race for a spot in the play-offs, will conclude their league engagements with back-to-back matches against U Mumba Volley (February 16) and Ahmedabad Defenders (February 17) after the competition shifts to Chennai for the business end.

All-round Pakistan clinch series, surge up ICC Women's Championship table

Sidra Ameen's 52 and three-wicket hauls from Diana Baig and Nashra Sandhu set Pakistan up with a four-wicket win over West Indies in a cliff hanger finish to the third ODI match at the ICC Academy, handing Pakistan a 2-1 series victory on Monday.With chasing down the target of 160 in 47.2 overs, Pakistan have moved into the top four of the ICC Women's Championship table, pushing West Indies and England down a place to fifth and sixth position respectively.As West Indies opted to bat, their opener Kycia Knight was dismissed for a duck in the very first over by pacer Baig. Their captain Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin injected some momentum by putting on a 34-run partnership before the latter's run-out for 28.Taylor continued with support from Shemaine Campbelle and the duo put up a crucial 52 by the end of 12 overs.However, the match turned its table when Campbelle was stumped off for 26, which opened the remaining batting line-up. Chedean Nation (3), Natasha McLean (2) and Chinelle

Vikram Rathour appointment put on hold

Former India opener Vikram Rathour's appointment as the batting coach of India A and U-19 team has been put on hold after his Conflict of Interest was brought to the notice of the Committee of Administrators (CoA). Rathour was supposed to start with India A assignment in Wayanad but for now his appointment has been stalled indefinitely. Rathour is the brother-in-law of current India U-19 national selector Ashish Kapoor and his appointment would have been a case of Conflict of Interest. "Yes, the CoA had given a go ahead for Rathour's appointment but today Rathour gave a written declaration of his relation with Kapoor," a senior BCCI official told PTI on Monday. "Now the matter was discussed with Mr Rai and it was concluded that only an Ethics Officer could have decided if Rathour working with U-19s during Quadrangular series would tantamount to Conflict of Interest," he said. However with no Ethics officer in BCCI, it was thought Rathour's appointment would have sent out wrong ...

PSPB retain men, women titles in national team chess

The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSBP) has retained the national team chess championship by clinching both the men's and women's sections, here on Monday.

BCCI-COA spat over Indian A batting coach out in the open (IANS Exclusive)

In yet another major difference of opinion emerging out of the vacuum that exists in Indian cricket management, the appointment of Vikram Rathour as the India 'A and U-19 batting coach has run into rough weather with questions of conflict of interest erupting since he is a relative of U-19 national selector Ashish Kapoor.

Cummins races ahead Lyon to claim coveted Allan Border Medal

Fast bowler Pat Cummins on Monday got the much-coveted Allan Border Medal at the Australian Cricket Awards in Melbourne in recognition of his excellence in the Test arena.The 25-year-old collected 36 wickets in eight matches across the voting period from January 9, 2018 to January 7, 2019. He totalled 156 votes to win the medal ahead of Nathan Lyon (150), Aaron Finch (146), Marcus Stoinis (102), Usman Khawaja (102) and Andrew Tye (85).In Australia's 2-0 Test series against Sri Lanka, the first match at the Gabba saw Cummins, named as joint vice-captain, collecting the figures of 10/62.Cummins is the first bowler to have earned the honour since Mitchell Johnson was crowned in 2014, in the wake of his stunning home Ashes summer, Cricket Australia reported.With becoming the recipient of the medal, the fast bowler has joined the elite club that includes Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, and David ...

Clouded Leopard will be mascot for National Games 2022 in Meghalaya

Meghalaya's state animal Clouded Leopard will be the mascot for the National Games 2022 coinciding with the 50th year of the creation of the state.

Postponed Real Kashmir-EB I-League match to be played on Feb 28 in Srinagar

The I-League match between title contenders Real Kashmir and East Bengal which was scheduled for last Sunday but was postponed due to thick snow cover on the ground in Srinagar will now be played on February 28. East Bengal were to travel to Srinagar to play there on February 10 but after an inspection visit by a team from the All India Football Federation, the match was postponed and that game will now be played at the TRC ground on February 28. The I-League on Monday announced new dates of the postponed matches on its official Twitter handle. Real Kashmir are currently at the second spot in the I-League table with 32 points from 16 matches, two adrift of leaders Chennai City FC, while East Bengal are at fourth with 28 points from 14 matches. The match between Gokulam Kerala FC and Aizawl FC, which was to be played in Aizawl on Sunday but was postponed later, will also be played on February 28. Gokulam played in Srinagar against Real Kashmir on February 6 amid snow and rain. The ...

We want to be so good that India are forced to to play us: New PCB MD

Pakistan has no other way than raising the standard of its game if it has to force superpower India to resume bilateral cricketing ties, feels the new PCB dispensation. India and Pakistan have not played a full bilateral series since 2007 owing to tense relations between the neighbouring countries. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown eagerness to resume cricketing relations but the BCCI has maintained that the Indian government calls the shots in the case. "I think when (Pakistan become a top team) that happens, it can create a situation where India asks us to play a bilateral series," new PCB MD Wasim Khan said in a media interaction in Lahore. In the absence of bilateral series, both teams have only met in ICC and Asian Cricket Council multilateral events, most recently in the Asia Cup held in the UAE last September. In 2012, Pakistan did go to India for a short tour but it did not play Tests. Ehsan Mani, who took charge as PCB Chairman last August, has already said that Pakistan

I-League: 6-goal thriller sees Neroca earn crucial point against leaders Chennai

Neroca FC and Chennai City FC shared the spoils in a thrilling 3-3 tie that by all means opened the I-League title race wide open here on Monday.

Healy, Cummins claim major honours at Australian Cricket Awards

Pacer Pat Cummins and women's wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy claimed the major honours at the 2019 Australian Cricket Awards announced on Monday.

PM Imran not interfering in cricket affairs: PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani

PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani has rejected the impression that Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had led the country to 1992 World Cup triumph, is meddling in cricket affairs. "He doesn't interfere at all. But he has made it clear that he wants to see a cricket system in Pakistan free of politicisation and a internal structure which is based on quality rather than quantity," Mani said in Lahore. Imran, in his position as patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), nominated Mani for the position of PCB Chairman after Najam Sethi resigned last year. Mani admitted that the PCB was a very politicised institution and time was required to change the culture and working in the board. "The task given to me is to make our domestic structure a quality one and to streamline things in the board to such an extent that it becomes an exemplary institution and is second to none among the boards of the world." Mani also sought to dispel the impression that because of pressure from Imran, the PCB ...

PSPB retains National Team Chess Championships titles

Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) retained the National Team Chess Championship crown by emerging victorious in both the men's and women's categories here Monday. Surya Sekhar Ganguly and Aravindh Chithambaram spearheaded the challenge and won four out of eight games as PSBP finished with 17/18 to reign supreme in the 39th National Team Chess Championship. Airport Authority of India (14/18) and Railways Sports Promotion Board-B (13/18) finished second and third respectively. IM Padmini Rout won seven out of seven to lead PSPB's charge in the women's section en route to retaining the 17th National Women Team Chess Championship title. Air India and Airport Authority of India finished second and third respectively.

Ashley Young signs new Man Utd deal

Ashley Young has signed a new one-year contract with Manchester United, the Premier League club announced on Monday. The versatile Young, 33, had only a few months left on his existing deal but had stated his desire to stay at Old Trafford. The England international joined United in 2011 from Aston Villa and has made 227 appearances for the club, scoring 17 goals and winning a clutch of trophies including the Premier League and Europa League. He has established himself as a key member of the United squad and has made 25 appearances this season, scoring once. Last year Young, whose contract will keep him at Old Trafford until the end of the 2019/20 season, helped England reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, and he has been capped 39 times.

Middlesex sign Afghan teen Rahman for T20 Blast

Afghan spin-bowling teenage sensation Mujeeb Ur Rahman will play for English county Middlesex in their T20 campaign next season, the club announced on Monday. The 17-year-old -- who has taken 54 international wickets in all formats since making his debut aged 16 -- will hope to make the same impact his compatriot Rashid Khan did at Sussex last year. Khan took 17 wickets at an average of 14.35 to play a major role in Sussex reaching the knockout stages for the first time since 2015 -- although he was unable to play in the latter rounds due to international duty. Rahman has enjoyed a successful Big Bash campaign with Brisbane Heat, picking up 12 wickets and returning best figures of three for 16. "Middlesex Cricket is today delighted to announce the signing of Mujeeb Ur Rahman for this season's Blast campaign," the county said in a statement. "The 17-year-old spinner becomes head coach Stuart Law's first signing of the summer and will be available for the entire Blast campaign. "He will

RSPB's fine show continues in Senior National Women's Hockey

Defending champions Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) continued its fine form and defeated Karnataka 4-0 to register its third consecutive win at the ninth Hockey India Senior Women National Championship (Division A) here Monday. Besides RSPB, Odisha also registered its first win in Pool A by beating Rajasthan 5-2. In Pool B, Hockey Madhya Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy played out a competitive 1-1 draw while Hockey Gangpur-Odisha also drew 2-2 against Chhattisgarh. Uttar Pradesh registered its first win of the competition by defeating Hockey HIM 4-2 in Pool C, while Jharkhand registered its third consecutive win, beating Punjab 2-1 in Pool D.

Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane in contention for World Cup

India's chairman of selectors MSK Prasad revealed that both Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane are in contention list for the upcoming 2019 World Cup.Calling Pant a "healthy headache", Prasad said that the progress of the wicket-keeper batsman has been phenomenal in last one year across all the formats."Undoubtedly he (Pant) is in contention. A healthy headache. The progression of Rishabh in the last one year is phenomenal across the formats. What we actually felt is he needs a bit of maturity now, gain more experience. That is the reason we have included him in India A series wherever possible," ESPNcricinfo quoted Prasad, as saying.The chief selector admitted that he used to think of Pant as a "thick-skinned person" but now he sees him as a mature player who has shown a lot of commitment to the team's cause.Talking about Rahane, Prasad said that the middle order batsman has shown some good from in domestic cricket, and is definitely an option for the World Cup."In domestic cricket he ..