Page 609 - Sports
Ashwin deals with injuries: It has not missed even Bradman or Tendulkar
Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that injury is not something that "one should hold against any player" as it is an inevitability that even Sir Don Bradman or Sachin Tendulkar couldn't avoid during their playing days. Ashwin missed three Test matches on the tour of Australia due to left-sided abdominal strain, something that also made him miss a Test match in England. Ashwin's injuries prompted a "concerned" skipper Virat Kohli to urge the Tamil Nadu bowler focus on "correcting" this. "The injury has come and I have to deal with it in a certain way. I have to get my best know how. Injury is not something you can hold up against a certain player," Ashwin, who recently returned in action during a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) league match, said on Saturday. "Injury has not missed Sachin Tendulkar, injury has not missed Don Bradman and it will not miss players in the future... Whenever I have done a fitness test or yo-yo test, I am at the top of the list. I am doing ..
ICC Rankings: Mandhana becomes number one ODI batswoman
India opener Smriti Mandhana on Saturday moved up three places to become number one in the ICC women's ODI rankings, joining men's team skipper Virat Kohli at the top of the standings. Mandhana was player of the series in the three ODI series against New Zealand. The southpaw had scored 105 and 90 in the first two ODIs, helping her team to rare series win in New Zealand. Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning of Australia are second and third respectively. India ODI captain Mithali Raj has slipped to the fifth spot. Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami is fourth in the bowlers' rankings while spinners Poonam Yadav and Deepti Sharma are eighth and ninth respectively. Deepti is also fourth in the all-rounders standings and is the sole Indian in the top-10.
Spurs strike late again to climb above City
Tottenham left it late again, but Son Heung-min's strike seven minutes from time earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday to leapfrog Manchester City into second place in the Premier League. Spurs also struck at the death to beat Fulham and Watford in recent weeks to ensure they have kept pace in the league since Harry Kane and Dele Alli were injured. Mauricio Pochettino's men close to within four points of leaders Liverpool, who are in action at West Ham on Monday, but just as significantly open up a 10-point lead on Arsenal and Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish and Champions League football next season. In keeping with a season of struggle, Tottenham were forced all the way by a dogged Newcastle, buoyed by a stunning 2-1 win over Manchester City in midweek that carried the Magpies five points clear of the relegation zone. Club record 20 million signing Miguel Almiron did not have international clearance to make his debut so Rafael Benitez named the same side ..
Anjali aims to defend Kolkata Full Marathon title
Defending champion Anjali Saraogi will aim to retain her title and better last year's time when she competes in the IDBI Federal Life Insurance Kolkata Full Marathon here on Sunday. Anjali, the only woman in a team of seven Ultra-Runners who represented India at the 100km World Championships in Croatia in September last year, won the race in 3 hours 30 minutes and 53 seconds. Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who is the brand ambassador of the meet, motivated the runners here Saturday. The Kolkata Full marathon will see participation from over 15,000 runners across four categories for a total prize purse of Rs 6 lakh. This edition will also witness several inspirational runners in different categories. Shubhashis Ghosh, who suffers from a rare heart ailment, will be competing in the 10K run, along with the visually impaired Mohammed Asif Iqbal. The half marathon category will also have 86-year-old Bylahalli Janardan inspiring the participants.
Li lands four eagles; Bhullar moves up 30 places to T-27th
China's Li Haotong created history with four eagles in a single round while Sergio Garcia was disqualified for "serious misconduct" on day three of the Saudi International golf tournament here Saturday. Amidst all the action, India's Gaganjeet Bhullar finally saw putts dropping and shot four-under 66 to get to four-under and Tied-27th, up 31 places from the cutline at T-58th. Li, starting the day three shots behind, closed eagle-eagle to join overnight leader Dustin Johnson at 16-under. He now plays in final group for the second successive week. Last week, he was penalised two shots as his caddie was deemed to have lined up behind him on the 18th and he tumbled from third to T-12th. As the 2017 Masters champion Garcia exited before time, the 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed made three trips to the water and scored a 10 on 18th but still carded 72. The Tour put out a statement, saying, "Sergio Garcia has been disqualified from the third round of the Saudi International powered under .
I want Bale to perform how he knows he can - Solari
Santiago Solari has challenged Gareth Bale to hit top form ahead of what could prove a defining period in Real Madrid's season. Madrid face a double-header against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals in the next month, as well as two legs against Ajax in the last 16 of the Champions League. After Alaves on Sunday, they also play city rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga before a third Clasico at the start of March. Madrid are 10 points adrift of Barca already and cannot afford to let the gap widen further. Bale has just come back after three weeks out with a calf injury but his return to the starting line-up is not guaranteed, given his team have won six out of their last seven matches. "The spotlight is always on Gareth," Solari said at a press conference on Saturday. "But I see him focused, connected, plugged in. "I want him to perform how he knows he can, like he did in the Club World Cup and against Roma. He is an important player for us and I think he is determined to do ...
Hamilton defeat and Wellington result shouldn't worry India (Column: Just Sport)
The defeat in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) at Hamilton may have raised a question or two about Indias batting on juicy pitches and the importance of Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, both of whom did not play in the match.
Dimuth Karunaratne discharged from hospital after blow to neck from Pat Cummins' bouncer
Sri Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who was rushed to a hospital after getting hit on the back of the neck off Australian pacer Pat Cummins' bouncer, has been discharged. "Dimuth has been discharged from Canberra hospital following assessment and all cleared. A further update will be provided on his playing status tomorrow prior to play," ICC quoted the statement issued by Cricket Sri Lanka, on Saturday.Earlier in the 31st over on the second day of the Canberra Test at the Manuka Oval, Cummins' angled bouncer was clocked at 142 kmph and in spite of Karunaratne's attempt to move away from the line of the ball he could not evade it.Karunaratne fell to the ground and received immediate treatment from the medical staff of both the teams. He was put in a neck brace, stretchered off the ground before being rushed to the hospital.Providing an update on Sri Lankan player's condition, Cricket Australia tweeted: "Dimuth complained of pain in the neck and tingling to his hands following being .
Men's Natl Hockey: Punjab & Sind bank win, Services held
Punjab & Sind Bank beat Punjab National Bank by a solitary goal while the formidable Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) were held to a 3-3 draw by Hockey Chandigarh. In Pool A match, Maninder Singh (32', 59') scored twice for Chandigarh while Captain Preetinder Singh (36') scored once. For SSCB, Rajant (45'), AP Siraju (58') and Sayyed Rahim (60') scored to ensure that teams split points. Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) drew with CRPF 2-2 in a Pool B match. In the only match that yielded a decisive outcome, Punjab & Sind Bank scored through Parvinder Singh (3'), Gaganpreet Singh (8'), Ashish Sharma (21') while PNB could score twice courtesy Gurjinder Singh (35') and Shamsher Singh (51'). In a Pool D match, Hockey Odisha drew with Canara Bank 0-0.
BP XI vs Lions: Chance for young hopefuls to impress
Young hopefuls will look to impress in the three-day warm-up game ahead between Board President's XI and the England Lions ahead of the two-match unofficial Test series beginning here Sunday. The England Lions have had a tough tour thus far, losing four of the five limited-overs game and will expect to put up an improved show in the longer version. Led by Sam Billings, who was part of the Chennai Super Kings squad in the IPL last year, the team comprises a handful of players who have featured in international matches. The lanky Jamie Overton, twin brother of Test player Craig Overton, has performed well on the tour and will look to trouble the host batsmen with his pace and bounce. Billings has scored runs and led well and would be expected to continue in the same vein as against a varied bowling attack of the BP XI. The talented young Ishan Kishan leads a young BP XI squad, which includes a number of players who have done well in domestic cricket. Jharkhand's left-arm spinner Pappu ..
3X3 basketball will help produce more players in India: NBA champion Rashard Lewis
NBA champion Rashard Lewis thinks popularising 3x3 basketball in India will boost the sport in the country. He says it will not only help players improve but will also teach them the nuances of the game in a better way.
TOPS should also support men's singles players: Bhupathi
Indian Davis Cup captain Mahesh Bhupathi Saturday rued that tennis had never got the kind of support that boxing or wrestling got from the government, urging them to include men's singles players in Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Keeping the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in mind, the sports ministry has included the doubles duo of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan, who won the Asian Games gold last year, have been kept in TOPS scheme. "I know Rohan and Divij have been approved by TOPS but the singles boys need to get that support. That's the bottomline," Bhupathi told reporters after India's 1-3 defeat to Italy in the Davis Cup Qualifiers at Calcutta South Club. "The government needs to step up and support tennis. I know they are supporting a lot of sports. They are supporting hockey, wrestling, boxing but tennis has not got that support yet," Bhupathi lamented. "It's not easy for AITA to support them as they don't have a revenue source of money. I think the government have a lot of schemes .
Davis Cup: I adapted well to grass: Italy's Seppi
Italy's seniormost player Andreas Seppi on Saturday said he adapted well to the grass and liked playing on the surface after helping his side breeze past India 3-1 to qualify for the Davis Cup Finals.
ATK, Jamshedpur battle to keep playoff hopes alive
Former champions ATK and Jamshedpur FC will look to keep their hopes for a play-off berth alive when they lock horns in the Indian Super League here Sunday. Bengaluru FC and Mumbai City have sealed two spots in the play-offs with the two clubs firm on the table. While the third and fourth places are up for grabs and are being contested by four different clubs. Hosts ATK, who are sixth in the league table with 17 points from 13 matches, are coming off a 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters while Jamshedpur are placed fifth with 20 points to their credit and are unbeaten in five straight matches. All eyes will be on ATK coach Steve Coppell as he takes on his former side. The Englishman will rely on Spaniard Edu Garcia whose form will be decisive in Sunday's clash. Attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzarote will be back in the team after he missed the match against Blasters. The duo of Garcia and Lanzarote form a potent force for the Kolkata side. Nigerian forward Kalu Uche, who is coming back ...
Pucovski released from Test squad over mental health issues
Cricket Australia (CA) has released rising batsman Will Pucovski from the ongoing Test squad against Sri Lanka after the 20-year-old asked to continue his rehabilitation over mental health issues at home.
Dimuth Karunaratne out of danger, confirms SLC
Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne has been declared in "no danger" after being stretchered off in a neck brace while handling a nasty hit from Australia pacer Pat Cummins on Day 2 of the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka here on Saturday.
Dhoni to return for final ODI, confirms Bangar
India's assistant coach Sanjay Bangar on Saturday confirmed the return of in-form Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Sunday's fifth and final ODI against New Zealand, after the former skipper was declared fit.
Davis Cup: Boys respect me enough, will keep giving feedback: Bhupathi
India captain Mahesh Bhupathi on Saturday said he would continue giving feedback to the boys and they respect him enough to take it, amid reports of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) not wanting to extend his contract after India lost 1-3 to Italy in the Davis Cup World Group Qualifier tie here.
Smriti rockets to No.1 in ICC WODI rankings
After stunning performances in the first two ODIs against New Zealand, India's opening batswoman Smriti Mandhana has rocketed to the No.1 spot in the latest ODI women's batters rankings, the ICC announced on Saturday.
Bangar backs Indian middle-order after Hamilton debacle
After India suffered a humiliating eight-wicket defeat in the fourth ODI of the five-match series against New Zealand, assistant coach Sanjay Bangar has backed the middle-order batsmen saying they step up whenever it is needed.