Page 597 - Sports
Injured Naomi Osaka pulls out of Qatar Open
World number one Naomi Osaka pulled out of the Qatar Open due to a back injury.Making the announcement, the 21-year-old expressed disappointment over the development and hoped that she would participate in the next edition of the tournament."I am sorry to have withdrawn from Doha this year as I was looking forward to playing and seeing my fans there," the Australian Open champion said in a statement," WTA quoted Osaka, as saying."I wish everyone a great week and hope to see everyone next year," she added.The back pain had caused trouble to Osaka earlier also when she had to miss last year's Hong Kong Open.Meanwhile, Qatar Open is all set to see the participation of players like Simona Halep, Karolina Pliskova, Angelique Kerber, and Kiki Bertens.
I-League: Real Kashmir edge past Gokulam Kerala FC 1-0
Debutants Real Kashmir FC continued their fairytale and secured a pole position on the points table with 1-0 return leg victory over Gokulam Kerala FC here at the TRC Turf Ground on Wednesday.Ivorian beanpole striker Gnohere Krizo, scored his third goal of the season in the 51st minute of the second half to help his side log all three vital points in tough underfoot conditions.David Robertson, Kashmir's Scottish coach has more or less settled on his first team for the season and played Krizo, who was suspended for the last game, on the day in place of Ritwik Kumar Das, who started in their last game.Gokulam coach Stanley Rosario, on the other hand, made as many as three changes to his starting XI, prominent among them being the induction of another Trinidadian forward Russel Alfred to partner Marcus Joseph upfront.The game was played under constant snow and therefore a lot of long ball play was on display, which was also naturally advantageous to the hosts given their height and ...
I-league: FC Pune City beat Aizawl to set a final date with Minerva
Nikhil Prabhu and Akhil Rawat struck apiece to hand FC Pune City a comfortable 2-0 win over Aizawl FC here at the Nagoa Ground on Wednesday to set a final date with Minerva Punjab FC.Nikhil Prabhu converted a low cross from left to send the FC Pune City dugout into delirium in the 22nd minute. Akhil Rawat, who came as a substitution, nailed the final one in Aizawl FC's coffin in the added time.Aizawl FC started on a positive note and could have opened the scoreline in the 7th minute of the match but Lalthanmawia could only hit the side-netting.Five minutes later, FC Pune City came agonisingly close to open the scoring but Lelsemba's cross failed to find anyone inside the 6-yard box.The white-outfit did not need to wait long as Nikhil exploited the defender's mistake to head it in from handshaking distance.After the changeover, they started to show more urgency to double the gap but the Reds were able to stave off the danger.At the hour-mark, Lelsemba put in an deft cross but it was ...
Delhi Cabinet approves Rs 140 crore sports complex at Najafgarh
The Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday gave administrative approval and expenditure sanction of Rs 140 crore for the construction of a sports complex at Najafgarh.
Ghavri backs Shami as key bowler for India at ODI World Cup
Former India pacer Karsan Ghavri believes that speedster Mohammed Shami, who is in peak form, would be a key bowler for the country during the upcoming ODI World Cup, to be hosted by England. Heaping praise on the Bengal fast bowler, Ghavri, who used to open the bowling with the legendary Kapil Dev, also said that Shami has got a variety of deliveries in his arsenal. "(Mohammed) Shami is an improved bowler (now) and is more focused on cricket. After whatever has happened to him in the last two years, he has come back very strongly. He is bowling (at) the best of his career," Ghavri told PTI. Asked whether Shami is an important contender for the World Cup squad, Ghavri replied: "100 percent". "He should be in the (Indian) squad for the World Cup because in the English conditions, he will be a key bowler," said Ghavri. 28-year-old Shami became the fastest Indian to claim 100 wickets in ODIs, when he achieved the feat during the first game of the five-match rubber against ..
Want to create world class players in India: FC Basel president (IANS Interview)
Having signed a deal with current I-League leaders Chennai City FC, Swiss giants FC Basel are aiming at creating world class footballers in India over the next few years.
: Telangana surprised Services
: Telangana surprised Services 2-1 in a Group B match of the South Zone qualifier of the 73rd Santosh Trophy football tournament at Bharathi stadium here Wednesday. Telangana's win provided a lifeline to defending champion Kerala, who were held to a goalless draw earlier in the day by Puducherry. Kerala now needs to beat Services in its final match to qualify for the main rounds. Only the group winners advance to the main rounds. The Telangana-Services match saw the former go ahead in the seventh minute through a goal by Shaun Campbell. They increased the lead in the 45th minute when Shafique Mohammed scored. Harikrishna reduced the margin for Services in the dying minutes. Results: Telangana 2 (Shaun Campbell 7, Shafique Mohammad 45) beat Services 1 (Harikrishna 89). Kerala drew Puducherry 0-0.
I-League: Real Kashmir edge past Gokulam to go atop points table
I-League debutants Real Kashmir FC continued their fairytale performance, securing pole position on the points table with a 1-0 return leg victory over Gokulam Kerala FC here on Wednesday.
Vidarbha stand on the cusp of retaining Ranji title
Vidarbha put themselves in pole position to retain the title by blunting Saurashtra's challenge on the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy final here on Wednesday.
Golfer Tvesa fires sub-par round, takes 8-shot lead in 3rd leg of Hero WPT
Golfer Tvesa Malik fired the days only sub-par round to take a massive eight-shot lead at the end of the second round of the Rs 8 lakh third leg of the Hero womens Pro Golf Tour at the Kensville Golf and Country Club here on Wednesday.
ISL: Delhi can put a spanner in NorthEast's work (Preview)
A win will be very important for NorthEast United FC as they host unpredictable Delhi Dynamos FC in a Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Indira Gandhi Athletic stadium here on Thursday.
India draws Pakistan for away tie in September, may be played at neutral venue
The Indian Davis Cup team was on Wednesday drawn to meet Pakistan in away tie, which could well be shifted to a neutral venue provided the central government sticks to its current policy of not allowing sporting teams to travel to the neighbouring country. No Indian Davis Cup squad has travelled to Pakistan since March 1964 and in that tie, held in Lahore, India had won 4-0. The draw for the tie, which will be held in September this year took place in London. The winner will move to the World Group Qualifiers. The Indian cricket team has also not been allowed by the government to travel to Pakistan for any bilateral contest. The PCB had filed a compensation case with ICC tribunal but eventually lost to BCCI. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) said it will approach the government to know if the team will be allowed to travel. "AITA does not have a choice. We have to follow the government policy. We will speak to the government to know. They have not allowed any sports team to ...
UAE says British-Sudanese man charged in Qatar jersey claim
A British-Sudanese man who activists say was detained for wearing a Qatari soccer jersey in the United Arab Emirates during the recent Asian Cup tournament has been charged with "wasting police time and making false statements," Emirati officials say. The allegations and counter-allegations in the case involving Ali Essa Ahmed mirror the wider dispute still roiling Gulf Arab countries as the UAE and others continue to boycott Doha. Qatar ended up winning the tournament in a match that saw Emiratis throw shoes at players on the pitch, something deeply offensive in Arab culture. Activists, including the for-hire advocacy group Detained in Dubai, allege Emirati police arrested and beat Ahmed for wearing the jersey. Since the diplomatic dispute began in June 2017, the UAE has made showing sympathy to Qatar a criminal offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a USD 136,000 fine. Qatari citizens were barred from attending the Asian Cup amid the dispute. Activists say Ahmed's arrest
Amardip fires 62 to equal course record at Golconda Masters
Noida's Amardip Malik fired a sparkling nine-under-62 to take the first round lead at the PGTI's season-opening Golconda Masters Golf Championship here Wednesday. In the process, Malik also equalled two-time Golconda Masters champion and good friend Ajeetesh Sandhu's course record which the latter had set in 2016. Patna's Aman Raj, who recently qualified for the Asian Tour and Bengaluru's M Dharma were both placed tied second thanks to their top-notch efforts of seven-under-64. Amardip Malik, a two-time champion on the PGTI, had an action-packed day as he sank an incredible 12 birdies in exchange for a bogey and a double-bogey. The 33-year-old had a disastrous start to the tournament after he hit it out of bounds on the first hole to drop a double-bogey. Thereafter, it was one-way traffic for Amardip barring a bogey on the fifth, as he not only staged a remarkable comeback but also finished with the best round of the day, courtesy his exceptional ball-striking and iron-play and ...
Foreign coaches to be hired for junior chess players: AICF
Hiring foreign coaches for Indian junior/sub-junior chess teams and for senior women players and providing international exposure to top performers are some of the measures being considered by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) to take Indian chess to the next level, said top officials.
Maharashtra's Arantxa wins bronze in National billiards
Maharashtra's Arantxa Sanchis has clinched the bronze medal in the billiards event of the 26th Ladies National Billiards and Snooker Championship 2019 played in Indore. The left-handed Pune-based cueist defeated Chitra Magimairaj of Karnataka 2-1 in the race to 75 points best of three frames third place match, a media release said on Wednesday. The former IBSF World Women's Billiards Championship in 2015 and twice National billiards champion (2012, 2015) was engaged in a keen tussle with Chitra and won a close first frame to take the lead. But Chitra fought back to narrowly win the second to level match scores and force the decider. In the third frame, Arantxa was a bit more consistent and managed to comfortably pocket the decisive final frame to complete a satisfying 75-62, 72-77 and 76-58 victory to secure her position as the third ranked player in the country, it said. Earlier in the semi-finals, Arantxa lost to eventual champion R Umadevi of Karnataka 0-2 (73-75, ...
Steve Smith likely to be fit for 2019 World Cup
Former Australian skipper Steve Smith, who has recently undergone elbow surgery, is likely to be fit for the upcoming 2019 cricket World Cup.Smith's manager Warren Craig said that the right-hand batsman remained in braces after the surgery but expressed confidence that he would be ready to play in a few weeks' time."Until the brace comes off we don't know for sure but all current opinion is that he'll then have about three and a half weeks (before being ready to play)," Cricket.com.au quoted Craig, as saying."The intent is that he will play in the IPL and then the World Cup and then the Ashes," he added.Smith had sustained the elbow injury during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) following which he had to cut short his association with the T20 tournament.The Australian cricketer is currently serving a 12-month suspension punishment for his role in the massive ball-tampering scandal during a Test series against South Africa in March, last year.His suspension period will expire on ...
Conceding runs in middle overs became crucial: Krunal Pandya
Fielding restrictions in the first six Powerplay overs is challenging for any bowler but according to Krunal Pandya it was the middle overs that proved costly during India's 80-run loss to New Zealand in the first T20 International. "In the Powerplay as well as in the middle overs also, we gave away plenty of runs," Krunal said at the post-match media conference after India folded for 139 while chasing 220. He maintained that the target wasn't easy to chase. "Yes, obviously I guess, when you are chasing 218 (220), it's not that easy. Initially, we gave away (too many) runs and kept on leaking runs in the middle overs as well. So no matter how the pitch was, the scoreboard pressure was obviously there," the Baroda all-rounder said. Krunal felt that India's defeat was "a combination of both poor bowling and some great batting by the Black Caps". "They batted really well and we bowled a few loose deliveries as well. So it was a combination of both." A couple of catches were dropped ...
Delhi govt approves Rs 139cr sports complex in Najafgarh
In good news for sportspersons, the Delhi government on Wednesday approved a Rs 139 crore "ultra-modern" sports complex in Najafgarh. The proposed complex will have features like a synthetic athletic track, a jogging track, a tennis court, a basketball court, a swimming pool, sports lighting for cricket ground, an athletic and football ground and an uninterrupted power supply system, an official statement said. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Directorate of Education (DoE) felt that it does not have any sports stadium/sports complex in rural areas of Najafgarh and its nearby villages. It owns a small stadium in the heart of Najafgarh which is surrounded by eight government schools and does not fulfill the requirements of sports needs of Najafgarh itself, the statement said. The DoE also felt that the excellence in sports is best possible only when the sportspersons receive training in specialised sports residential ...
ISL: NorthEast look to avoid hiccups against Delhi
NorthEast United FC will look to avoid any hiccups and strengthen their position in the top four when they host an unpredictable Delhi Dynamos FC in a Hero Indian Super League fixture here Thursday. The Highlanders currently occupy the last play-off spot, having tallied 23 points from 14 games. With just four more games left to be played and Jamshedpur FC and ATK breathing down their neck, NorthEast United need to make the most of their home games. Eelco Schattorie's side have won just two of the seven matches they have played at home. Dropping points at this juncture could potentially endanger their bid to reach the ISL play-offs for the first time. "It is difficult for them (Delhi) to qualify. They can play without any pressure. It is always a completely different mindset if you have to deliver something. "We are in a position where we need to win and they are in a position where they will try to get a result. If you can score quickly against such a team, you can break them down ...