Page 648 - Sports
Barcelona coach compliments new player Boateng ahead of Sevilla clash
FC Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde has praised the experience and character of the club's newest player, former Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng, terming him a "strong player".
Bolt hanging up boots on football dream
Usain Bolt is giving up on his dream of forging a career as a professional footballer following his try-out last year with Australian side Central Coast Mariners. In remarks reported by Jamaican media outlets on Tuesday, the eight-time Olympic sprint champion said he had drawn a line under his hopes of playing football as a professional. The 32-year-old athletics icon had told reporters last month he had not given up hope of becoming a footballer. However at an event in Kingston on Monday, Bolt said he now planned to concentrate on his business career. "I don't want to say it wasn't dealt with properly, but I think we went about it, not the way we should and you learn your lesson, you live and you learn," he was quoted by Television Jamaica as saying. "It was a good experience. I really enjoyed just being in a team and it was must different from track and field and it was fun while it lasted. "The sports life is over, so I'm now moving into different businesses, I have a lot of things
1st ODI: Discipline bowling restricts New Zealand to 157
India rode chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and pacer Mohammed Shami's exceptional bowling effort on Wednesday to restrict New Zealand to a paltry 157 runs in the first of the five-match ODI rubber at the McLean Park here.
Pressure on Brazil, Argentina as Copa America draw looms
They may boast seven World Cup victories between them and two of the game's biggest stars in Lionel Messi and Neymar, but Argentina and hosts Brazil will be under immense pressure when the Copa America begins in June. First they have a nerve-wracking wait ahead of Thursday's draw in Rio de Janeiro to see who they will face in the group stages. Argentina haven't lifted a major tournament trophy in 26 years and while it has only been a dozen years for hosts Brazil, the trauma of their 2014 World Cup humiliation on home soil is still fresh in their collective memory. The 7-1 thrashing inflicted by Germany in the semi-finals left a wound that only trophies could heal. The two South American giants can ill afford a false step in such a competitive tournament. Brazil failed to even make it out of the group stages last time around, their only victory coming against Haiti, while a 1-0 defeat to Peru sent them packing. They haven't gone beyond the quarter-finals since last lifting the trophy ..
Japan's Osaka powers past injured Svitolina into Open semis
Japanese fourth seed Naomi Osaka routed an injured Elina Svitolina to reach the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday. The US Open champion beat the Ukrainian sixth seed 6-4, 6-1 to set up a final four clash with either Serena Williams or Czech seventh seed Karolina Pliskova. It was the 21-year-old's second straight Grand Slam semi-final after her triumph at Flushing Meadows and she is the first Japanese woman in the final four at Melbourne Park since Kimoko Date in 1994. Svitolina received treatment for a neck or shoulder injury in the second set and looked a shadow of the player that won the WTA Finals in Singapore last October. "I tried to be consistent, it's unfortunate that she got injured but playing against her even when she was injured was still really tough," Osaka said. She was pleased to maintain her composure in a simple straight sets win after previously losing her cool on court when her last two matches went to three sets. "I just had one goal, to try as hard I can ..
Serena dumped as Pliskova reaches Open semis
Serena Williams was sensationally bundled out of the Australian Open Wednesday after an epic three-set fight with Czech seventh seed Karolina Pliskova for a semi-final spot. Pliskova won 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to set up a final four clash with Japanese fourth seed Naomi Osaka, ending the American great's dream of claiming a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park this year. The 26-year-old survived four match points in a rollercoaster third set that Williams led 5-1 before collapsing to defeat in two hours 10 minutes. "I was almost in the locker room, now I'm standing here as the winner. It's a great feeling," an exhausted Pliskova said. "My mind was in the locker room. I wasn't playing very well in the third set but I thought let's try, this game at 5-2. She got a little bit shaky in the end so I took my chances and I won." Williams, 37, had blazed through the early stages of the tournament, seeing off world number one Simona Halep in the fourth round. But against Pliskova ...
CWG gold medallist weightlifter Sanjita's provisional suspension revoked
The International Weightlifting Federation has revoked the provisional suspension on weightlifter K Sanjita Chanu for a failed dope test, a major reprieve for the two-time Commonwealth Games gold-medallist who has claimed innocence. In a case that has dragged on for almost a year and has been marred by an "administrative" goof-up in Sanjita's sample number, the IWF informed that a final decision on the matter is expected in the coming days. "On the basis of the information at its disposal, the IWF has decided that the provisional suspension of the athlete (Khumukcham Sanjita) shall be lifted as of today (22 January 2019)," IWF's legal counsel Eva Nyirfa said in an e-mail sent to the national federation and Sanjita. "The IWF Hearing Panel will render its decision on the athlete's case in due course," it added. The 25-year-old Sanjita, who had won a gold in the women's 53kg category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, had tested positive for anabolic steroid testosterone. Her .
India bowl out NZ for 157 in first ODI
India bowled with clinical precision to bundle out New Zealand for a paltry 157 in the first One-day International here Wednesday. Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler for India, returning figures of 4/39 in 10 overs, while seamer Mohammed Shami finished with an excellent 3/19 in six overs. There were also two wickets for leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Captain Kane Williamson top-scored for the hosts with 64 off 81 balls at the McLean Park. Opting to bat, the New Zealanders were off to an inauspicious start, losing both openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro within the first five overs with just 18 runs on the board. Shami was the successful bowler on both occasions as he went through Munro with an indipper from round the wicket, moments after he forced Guptill to play one, which moved in on landing, onto his stumps. By sending back Guptill in his 56th match, the 28-year-old Shami became the fastest Indian to reach 100 wickets in ODIs. Entering the series after a .
Shami becomes fastest Indian to reach 100 ODI wickets
Seamer Mohammed Shami Wednesday became the fastest Indian to claim 100 wickets in One-day Internationals, reaching the mark in the opening match against New Zealand here. This was his 56th game in the 50-over format. Shami' wicket number 100 was New Zealand opener Martin Guptill, who played onto his stumps a delivery that moved in after pitching on a good length. With his brilliant opening burst at McLean Park, the 28-year-old Shami continued his good showing in the limited overs format, having impressed in Australia prior to this five-match ODI series. Before Shami, Irfan Pathan reached the 100-wicket mark in 59 ODIs, while Zaheer Khan (65 matches), Ajit Agarkar (67) and Javagal Srinath (68) are the other Indian bowlers to complete a century of wickets in the quickest time.
Alonso urges Chelsea to hit back in Spurs showdown
Marcos Alonso has challenged his Chelsea team-mates to prove they are motivated to arrest their alarming slide in Thursday's League Cup semi-final showdown against Tottenham. Furious with the latest in a growing list of punchless displays, Blues boss Maurizio Sarri launching a scathing attack on his Chelsea stars after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal. Questioning their mental strength and revealing he finds it "extremely difficult" to motivate his players, Sarri risked alienating a squad that had already rebelled against his predecessor Antonio Conte last season. The Italian's blast was entirely understandable after so many tepid efforts from Chelsea this term. But Sarri must shoulder some of the blame himself after making a pair of tactical decisions that have contributed to Chelsea's malaise. Deploying Eden Hazard as a central striker has neutered the Belgian playmaker, who has been far more effective in his natural wide role. That move was born out of Sarri's frustration at the ...
Woods raring to go ahead of 2019 bow
Tiger Woods makes his 2019 debut here Thursday, having replaced the trepidation of a year ago with an eagerness to capture an eighth Farmers Insurance Open crown in California. Woods got his first look at the Torrey Pines course on Tuesday when he played a nine-hole practice round in the company of Jordan Spieth. It was a happy return to the clifftop course overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where he won the last of his 14 Majors at the US Open more than a decade ago. "I haven't played on the Tour since September, so it's been a while and looking forward to getting started, looking forward to getting out there and playing," said Woods. "This is a golf course property that I've always loved. Jordan asked me today as we were playing, he said, 'How long have you been coming down here?' I said, 'Well, 10 years longer than you've been alive,'" the 42-year-old quipped. "I've been coming out here quite a bit. This is the first PGA Tour event that I ever attended with my dad when this was the old
New Zealand opt to bat in first ODI
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat in the first ODI against India here on Wednesday.
'I'm not his dad' - Guardiola won't change much-loved Mendy
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists he will not crack down on Benjamin Mendy's prolific social media output as the French defender returns to action following a two-month injury layoff. Mendy, who also missed most of last season due to a cruciate knee ligament injury, has become better known for his larger than life personality and fondness for Instagram and Twitter since moving to Manchester from Monaco for Pound 52 million in July 2017. Earlier in the campaign, Guardiola encouraged the French World Cup winner to "forget a little bit the social media" to concentrate on his football. However, the Catalan coach has admitted defeat in that battle and is embracing Mendy's much-loved character among his teammates. "I'm not unhappy about Mendy," said Guardiola. "I'm not here to change his mentality because the way he lives is what it is. We knew that when we bought him. "He's active on social media and it is what it is. We've tried to convince him but I'm not his father. I am ...
Cardiff striker Sala feared dead after suspected plane crash
Premier League club Cardiff City's record new signing, Emiliano Sala, is missing presumed dead after a light aircraft he was travelling in disappeared over the English Channel, with a search to find the plane being called off on Tuesday. The Argentine striker, signed on Saturday from French club Nantes for a reported fee of 17 million euros (USD 19.3 million), was flying to Cardiff aboard the plane that disappeared from radars around 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of the island of Guernsey on Monday night. The search continued throughout Tuesday before being suspended for the night, with police on the British island warning that survival chances were "slim" if the aircraft landed on water. A 15-hour search covering a 1,155 square-mile (3,000 square-kilometre) area in the Channel spotted "a number of floating objects in the water", Guernsey police added. "We have found no signs of those on board. If they did land on the water, the chances of survival are at this stage, unfortunately, ..
Sri Lanka aims for 1st test win in Australia
Sri Lanka may have its best chance to win a cricket test in Australia when it faces an unsettled Australian lineup in a day-night match in Brisbane from Thursday. The teams have met only 13 times in Australia since Sri Lanka joined the ranks of test nations and the home team has won 11 of those matches, the other two having been drawn. Sri Lanka last toured Australia six years ago, losing that series, but when the teams last met in Sri Lanka in 2016, Sri Lanka won the series 3-0. Those results point to the fact that both teams struggle in the other's conditions. But the first day-night test between the teams may have a leveling effect. Sri Lanka won it's only previous day-night test, against the West Indies in Barbados last year. The visitors may also count in their favor the current instability in the Australia team. Australia's test lineup has been in a state of flux in recent years, a condition made worse by the suspensions for ball-tampering of captain Steve Smith, vice-captain ...
New Zealand opt to bat against India in first ODI
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat against India in the first One-day International of the five-match series here Wednesday. Both wrist spinners - Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal - figured in the India playing XI, apart from all-rounder Vijay Shankar. Dinesh Karthik has been dropped at the expense of Ambati Rayudu, while Kedar Jadhav retained his place. Mitchell Santner and Doug Bracewell returned for New Zealand. Teams: India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (captain), MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu, Vijay Shankar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham, Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.
Russia avoids new doping penalties over missed deadline
Russia remains under scrutiny even though it will not be punished for missing a December deadline to allow access to the Moscow laboratory at the centre of alleged state-sponsored doping, the World Anti-Doping Agency said Tuesday. WADA's Executive Committee decided to take no further action at a meeting earlier in the day. "Several members of the (Executive Committee) voiced their disappointment that the deadline had been missed but agreed that no sanction in that regard should be imposed," WADA President Craig Reedie said. WADA had conditionally lifted a ban on RUSADA in September last year, with one of the conditions being the granting of access to thousands of samples at the tainted Moscow lab by the end of 2018. But when a WADA team arrived last month, Russian authorities raised issues with the certification of their equipment under Russian law. The data was eventually extracted this month. Reedie and Jonathan Taylor, who heads WADA's Compliance Review Committee (CRC), both said ..
South Africa beat Pakistan by five wickets to level ODI series
South Africa beat Pakistan in the second one-day international on Tuesday in Durban to level their five-match series as unbeaten half-centuries from Rassie van der Dussen and Andile Phehlukwayo guided the hosts to a five-wicket victory. Tailender Hasan Ali's quickfire 59 dragged Pakistan to a total of 203 all out batting first, but despite a top-order collapse, the Proteas made the series 1-1.
South Korea make Asian Cup quarters, defeat Bahrain 2-1
The South Korean national football team took until extra time to defeat Bahrain 2-1 in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup round-of-16 contest, advancing to the quarters after both teams were tied 1-1 in regular time on Sunday.
Arsenal's Bellerin to miss rest of season with knee injury
Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a knee cruciate ligament injury, the Premier League side announced on Tuesday.