Page 642 - Sports
Minerva resume I-League with return-leg clash against Shillong Lajong
Their hopes of defending the title now quashed, Minerva Punjab FC resume their I-League campaign with a 14th round clash against bottom-placed Shillong Lajong here Friday. The first-leg at the JLN stadium in Shillong ended in a 2-2 stalemate. Minerva have not won in over a month and a half and the last points Shillong picked up was against their Friday hosts in the first leg over two months back. Minerva managed a last-gasp equaliser in their previous game at the same venue against Gokulam Kerala and their search for goals and goal-scorers continue this season. Three of the mere seven goals that Minerva have scored in the 13 games played so far, have come from defenders, including last week's lone goal against Gokulam. Irish coach Paul Munster will be a worried man with the AFC Champions League games getting closer by the day. He seemed to be acknowledging the problem in the pre-game presser, when he said, "We have used seven strikers and it wasn't good enough. We lacked in ...
AC Milan sign five-season contract with Piatek
AC Milan have signed Poland striker Krzysztof Piatek from Genoa on a five-season contract, the club has confirmed.
River Plate lose to Union Santa Fe
River Plate's lacklustre domestic form continued with a 1-2 home loss to Union Santa Fe in the Superliga Argentina football meet.
Dominant Australia in charge against Sri Lanka
Some fine pace bowling from Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins put a dominant Australia firmly in charge after the first day of the day-night Test against Sri Lanka in Brisbane on Thursday. Newcomer Richardson took three wickets and Cummins four as the home side dismissed Sri Lanka for just 144. Australian opener Marcus Harris then batted assuredly to finish on 40 not out at the close of play as the home side finished the day 72 for two. Australia lost opener Joe Burns on 15 during the difficult night session to a fine outswinger from Suranga Lakmal, while Usman Khawaja (11) chopped on a ball from off-spinner Dilruwan Perera 10 minutes before the close. Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal earlier won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot and humid Brisbane afternoon but the visitors were forced to battle hard against the Australian attack. The 22-year-old Richardson bowled with real pace and found just enough movement to trouble the Sri Lankans, who struggled to come to terms with ..
Solskjaer hopeful over new Man Utd contract for Martial
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes Anthony Martial will agree a new contract with Manchester United in the coming weeks as the club look to tie down a clutch of top players. France forward Martial and goalkeeper David de Gea are both out of contract at the end of next season after United triggered 12-month extension options shortly before Christmas. The club are in talks with both players as well as forward Juan Mata, whose contract expires this coming June. Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, is known to be keen to get the futures of all three players sorted out while he works on appointing a permanent manager before the start of next season. Martial is understood to be close to agreeing a five-year contract, while Spain international De Gea has made it clear he wants to remain at Old Trafford. Solskjaer, United's caretaker manager for the rest of this season following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December, has received indications that strong progress has been made with ...
Ruthless Nadal routs Tsitsipas to reach Australian Open final
Rafael Nadal handed rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas a tennis lesson Thursday as he drubbed him 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in the Australian Open semi-final. Greek 14th seed Tsitsipas had enjoyed a fairytale run to his first Grand Slam last four, including a win over Roger Federer, but found Nadal in ruthless form as he won in 1hr 46min. The Spanish second seed has not dropped his serve for an astonishing 63 straight games and has not lost a set on his way to the final, where he will face either Novak Djokovic or Lucas Pouille. "It's been a great match, a great tournament," Nadal said after a breathtaking display of almost perfect tennis. "I think I have played very well every day. After a lot of months without playing is probably this court, this crowd it gives me that unbelievable energy." The 20-year-old Tsitsipas had been hailed as a new Greek god of tennis after beating Federer, but his ascent to the summit of his personal Olympus was comprehensively halted by the colossus called Nadal. Nadal's
Pantsulaia snatches lead, Pranesh secures IM norm
Georgia's Levan Pantsulaia defeated tournament leader and fellow GM Maxim Lugovskoy (Russia) in the ninth and penultimate round Thursday to snatch the lead with eight points in the 11th Chennai Open International Grand Master chess tournament here. Sharing the second spot with 7.5 points was Grandmaster Lugovskoy Maxim (Russia). Tamil Nadu lad M Pranesh shocked GM Erigaisi Arjun, thereby achieving his International Master Norm in style. Requiring a draw to achieve the norm, he defeated Arjun in a Sicilian game that lasted 62 moves. Earlier, tournament leader Lugovskoy went down to in-form Pantsulaia on the top board. Employing the "c3" Sicilian, Pantsulaia grabbed the initiative with original middle game play. The sheer energy he brought into his pieces undid Lugovskoy, who lost the plot in a rook and pawn ending. Saurabh Anand continued his good form, as he brought down International Master P Shyaam Nikhil, increasing his norm chances. The tournament concludes tomorrow ..
Smriti stars in India's 9-wkt win over New Zealand in tour opener
India rode on opener Smriti Mandhana's fourth ODI ton and a disciplined bowling effort from the spin twins of Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav to outclass New Zealand by 9 wickets in the first ICC Women's Championship One-day International at the McLean Park here on Thursday.
Pre-season NBA games will make huge impact, says Lewis
The historic and first-ever pre- season games of the widely followed National Basketball Association (NBA), involving Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings, in Mumbai later this year will create a huge impact, feels former NBA star Rashard Lewis. "I am expecting it to create a major impact. First games played here in India between 2 young teams Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings, two very good teams for the future. "I expect the kids and the fans to come out and support them, said the 6-foot 10-inch former forward during an interaction with the media here on Thursday. I think they will have a lot of fun and learn a lot of things. "A lot of camps and clinics will also be conducted by both the teams when they are in town," added Lewis, who won the NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2013. The two pre-season games, announced in December last by the NBA, are scheduled on October 4 and 5 at the indoor stadium of the National Sports Club of India in Worli here. Asked ...
PCB decries Sarfraz's racial slur
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday expressed regret over racist slurs by national team captain Sarfraz Ahmed against South African pacer Andile Phehlukwayo.
Starc becomes 17th Australian to register 200 Test wickets
More than seven years after he claimed his first Test wicket at the Gabba, pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has become the 17th Australian to register 200 Test wickets after striking on day one of the series opener against Sri Lanka at the same venue on Thursday.The 28-year-old, who entered his 50th Test one shy of the personal milestone, scalped the wicket of Suranga Lakmal to join the illustrious club. With his 200th wicket, Starc has equalled with former right-hand fast bowler Jeff Thomson, who played 51 Tests.Starc's first wicket in the longest format was former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. He has been most successful against Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka, Murali Vijay of India and English pair Alastair Cook and Jonny Bairstow.The paceman's strike rate of 51.2 is the second-best by any Australian with 200 or more wickets, behind his former team mate Mitchell Johnson's 51.1.
Windies women to tour Pak after 15 years, play three T20I series
In a major step towards the revival of international cricket in the country, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that West Indies women's cricket team will play three-match T20I series in Karachi in the build-up to the ICC Women's Championship fourth round fixture. This will be West Indies' first tour to Pakistan in 15 years. The last time the Caribbean side played a drawn Test in Pakistan and won a seven-ODI series 5-2 in 2004.As part of their series preparation, the 2016 ICC World T20 champions will arrive in Dubai on January 26, before travelling to Karachi on January 30. Meanwhile, Pakistan women's cricket team has already begun preparations for the series, attending a training camp in Karachi.The news of the West Indies tour to Karachi comes at the back of the commitment from around world's 35 leading men's cricketers, including AB de Villiers, to participate in the Pakistan Super League 2019 matches in Lahore and Karachi."The visit of the West Indies women's .
Neymar suffers recurrence of fifth metatarsal injury
Brazilian football superstar Neymar has suffered a recurrence of an injury to the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, the Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain announced on Thursday.
Bhupathi's captaincy on line in Italy tie
The national tennis federation may not renew the contract of Mahesh Bhupathi as captain of the Indian Davis Cup team if it fails to qualify for the World Group Finals, it has been learnt. India are up against formidable Italy but playing the hard-court specialists on grass at the Calcutta South Club gives the hosts some chance of an upset. Incidentally, the only time India won against Italy in five meetings was at this very venue way back in 1985. The winner of the tie will compete in the inaugural World Group Finals, to be held in Madrid in November this year. It has been learnt that the All India Tennis Association (AITA) may look for a new captain, if the team will remain in the Asia/Oceania Group I, as Bhupathi's term will be over after this contest. "Yes, it will be extremely difficult for Mahesh to remain captain if the result is not favourable. The regional matches will not begin before next year, so AITA will have some time to ponder over the next skipper," an AITA source told
Courageous Kvitova completes 'long journey' after knife attack
Brave Petra Kvitova admitted Thursday it had been "a long journey" to make the Australian Open final after a knife-wielding burglar slashed her racquet hand in an attack that left her traumatised and scared to be alone. The 28-year-old feared she may never play tennis again after the 33-year-old man broke into her apartment in the eastern Czech town of Prostejov just weeks before the opening Grand Slam of 2017. She suffered career-threatening injuries to her left hand as she fought him off. Despite grim forecasts by doctors, who even warned she might lose her fingers, the 2011 and 2014 Wimbledon champion never gave up believing and miraculously returned to the sport in time for the 2017 French Open. But she was still struggling mentally, admitting it took time to regain her confidence. "It wasn't only physically but mentally very tough," she said. "It took me really a while to believe (in the) people around me again, and especially the men, for sure. "So I wasn't pretty confident to .
Osaka beats Pliskova to reach second straight grand slam final
Fourth seed Japanese player Naomi Osaka advanced to the Australian Open final after beating Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 on Thursday.
Barcelona sign Dutch midfielder de Jong
Barcelona said they have signed 21-year-old Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong from Ajax for 75 million euros ($85.5 million).
Hope Chhetri stays actively involved with national team after retirement: Luis Garcia
Former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Luis Garcia Thursday said for Indian football to improve, a player of Sunil Chhetri's calibre should be actively involved with the national team even after he hangs up his boots. The 40-year-old Spanish winger, a Champions League winner with Liverpool and who has also turned out for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, called Chhetri a "special player". "He is there now and the rest of players look up to him, you need someone, you have to have an idol and here in India you don't have many," Garcia said. "At this stage, the passion for football in India is growing. So, follow him, he must be a mentor in the next two-three years. We know he is still playing but when he retires, he should be the player who is next to the national team and be actively involved. Garcia, who once represented Indian Super League franchise Atletico de Kolkata, felt it is imperative for ISL to strike the right balance between foreign recruits and domestic players. He said ...
Kvitova beats Collins in straight sets to reach Australian Open final
Petra Kvitova defeated Danielle Collins 7-6 (2), 6-0 to reach her first Australian Open final here on Thursday.
Asian Cup performance will have huge impact on Indian football, says Gurpreet
India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu feels the country's recent performance in the AFC Asian Cup will have a huge impact on Indian football. India began their campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Thailand. But thereafter, the Blue Tigers bowed out in the first round after losing back-to-back matches against hosts UAE and Bahrain. "21 out of the 23 players in the team were playing at such a stage for the first time. Now, we want to take it from here. It is important for us to deliver at the big stages and we shall do so. The impact of the competition will be huge for Indian football," Gurpreet was quoted as saying by All India Football Federation's (AIFF) official website. "This team can go places if we remain united, and the game plan is in the right place. We are out of the tournament but we can certainly do more than we did," he added. The Indian football team and its fans were left heartbroken after it lost 0-1 to Bahrain by conceding in the final minutes. The result meant