Page 649 - Sports
Head shaving incident: Committee meets hockey coach, manager
The three-member committee formed to probe the head shaving incident by the Bengal Hockey Association (BHA) on Tuesday met the coach and manager of the team. The three members in the panel are former hockey Olympian Gurbux Singh, BHA council member Jahangir Khan and former player Gopinath Ghosh. BHA secretary Swapan Banerjee said the committee will meet the players separately and take a decision by January 29. "We heard the coach (Anand Kumar) and the manager. Now we will hear the players," he said. Most members of the U-19 Bengal hockey squad had last week shaved their heads after being scolded by their coach for poor performance at the Junior Nationals.
Aman Khan's blistering ton for DYP 'B'
Aman Khan slammed the first hundred of the 15th DY Patil T20 Cup, a blistering 137, for hosts DY Patil B on Tuesday against Future Group in Nerul, Navi Mumbai. Asked to bat first, D Y Patil B posted 234 for 6 in their 20 overs, banking on the 60-ball onslaught by Mumbai's Aman Khan, inclusive of 14 sixes and five fours. Future Group were never in the contest during the run chase, finishing at 154 for 7 to lose by 80 runs. Earlier in the day at the D Y Patil Stadium, BPCL- led by former Mumbai Ranji Trophy skipper Surya Kumar Yadav (82 not out in 56 balls) - registered a narrow 14-run win over Western Railway. In the other games, Air India went down by six runs to RBI at the University Ground while CAG easily chased down Mumbai Customs' 165 for 4 with six wickets to spare. Brief scores: At DY Patil Stadium: Group C: BPCL 158-3 in 20 overs (Surya Kumar Yadav 82 n.o., Eknath Kerkar 41; Drushyant Soni 2-26) bt Western Railway 144 in 18 overs (Mrunal Deodhar 38, Asad Pathan ...
Son's Korea survive Bahrain scare to reach Asian quarters
Son Heung-min's South Korea needed an extra-time winner to beat world ranked 113th Bahrain 2-1 as they stumbled into the Asian Cup quarter-finals in unconvincing fashion on Tuesday. Kim Jin-su's diving header at the end of the first extra period proved the difference as the two-time champions met unexpected resistance before winning in Dubai. But Paulo Bento's side, runners-up in 2015 and one of the favourites for the title, survived to reach the last eight, where they will face Qatar or 2007 winners Iraq. Tottenham star Son took a boot to the head as he weathered some robust challenges in a first half which South Korea dominated with 73 percent of possession. Bahrain nearly stunned the Koreans with Mohamed Marhoon's stinging early shot as South Korea took time to settle into their rhythm. But from the half-hour Son started to make his presence felt with some typically direct running which caused panic in the Bahrain defence. South Korea broke the deadlock two minutes from half-time, .
IPL will help players prepare for World Cup: Gautam Gambhir
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir believes that participating in the 2019 India Premier League (IPL) will help the national players to prepare for the ICC Cricket World Cup, which will start soon after the end of the domestic T20 tournament.Gambhir's comment comes at a time when teams around the world, including India, are mulling to rest their main players from the T20 league, keeping in mind the injury concerns and fatigue factor before the major tournament.But Gambhir said that since the bowlers bowl only four overs in the match, they should not feel the physical burden. He further stated that tournaments like IPL provide the players with an opportunity to perform in difficult situations which would help them to be in good shape for the World Cup.The left-hand batsman asserted that a lot of high-quality players participate in the tournament which makes the tournament a "blessing in disguise." "IPL is a fabulous opportunity for most of the boys because you are only bowling four
Russia avoids new doping penalties over missed deadline: WADA
Russia will not face new penalties for missing a December deadline to allow investigators access to the Moscow laboratory at the centre of alleged state-sponsored doping, the World Anti-Doping Agency said Tuesday. "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. Reedie said "significant progress" had been made in "resolving the Russian doping matter", but WADA warned though that if any doping data from Russia was tampered with, it would take swift action. Jonathan Taylor, who heads WADA's Compliance Review Committee, said: "If that review were to confirm tampering, the CRC would consider that to be extremely serious non-compliance and can be expected to recommend that WADA pursues the most stringent sanctions." This is the latest chapter in an affair that surfaced with Richard McLaren's July 2016 report detailing doping in Russia ..
PWL: Aleksander helps Haryana win third straight tie
Aleksander Khotsianivski of Ukraine won the 125 kg super heavyweight category bout against Satender Malik 7-0 to give Haryana Hammers their third straight win in the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) here on Tuesday.
Aleksander powers Haryana Hammers to third straight win
Aleksander Khotsianivski of Ukraine won the 125kg super heavyweight category bout against Satender Malik 7-0 of Delhi Sultans, leading Haryana Hammers to their third straight win in the Pro Wrestling League Season 4 here on Tuesday. Hammers won 4-3, sending Delhi's hope of making the semis into a tailspin. Aleksander picked three points in the first round against the defensive Satender and added four more in the next with a near fall and a takedown to clinch the decider after Sakshi Malik got the better of double world championships bronze medallist Tatyana Omelchenko of Azerbaijan in the previous bout. It was Sakshi's toughest test so far in PWL-4 and she put up a determined effort to beat Tatyana 2-1 in a strategically planned 62kg bout by the Indian make the team score 3-3 before the last bout of the day. Sakshi played a very calculated bout mixed with aggression and caution to hold the Azerbaijan wrestler at bay. Earlier, Delhi Sultans captain and current Russian champion Khetik
3-member committee speaks to coach, manager on tonsuring issue
The three-member committee, formed by the Bengal Hockey Association (BHA) to investigate the incident where junior players were allegedly asked to shave their heads after a loss, met the coach and the team manager on Tuesday and heard their versions of the story.
Subhankar makes it to main draw of Indonesia Masters
Indian shuttler Subhankar Dey notched up successive wins in the men's singles qualifying round to make it to the main draw of the USD 350,000 Indonesia Masters here Tuesday. Subhankar, who had clinched his maiden title at Saar LorLux Open last season in Germany, defeated Australia's Daniel Fan 21-11 21-15 before overcoming local hope Gatjra Piliang Fiqihila Cupu 21-18 21-18 in the second World Tour Super 500 tournament of the year. He will face former world champion Viktor Axelsen, seeded sixth, in the opening round of main draw on Wednesday. However, the Indian mixed doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy crashed out of the tournament after losing 15-21 15-21 to the fourth seeded Indonesian pair of Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir. Former Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap, who has been promoted to the main draw, will again clash with Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, seeded seventh, in the opening round. The Indian had lost to Ginting at the Malaysia Masters last
Tvesa, Gaurika pose challenge to Neha in 2nd leg of Hero WPGT
Golfer Neha Tripathi will come back and add to her comprehensive win in the season-opener of the Hero Womens Pro Golf Tour 2019, when she tees off in the second leg at the Oxford Golf Resort here from Wednesday.
Davis Cup preparations in full swing at South Club
As the Indian team arrived in the city on Tuesday for their Davis Cup World Group qualifier rubber against Italy, preparations at the South Club -- which is hosting the competition after a gap of 16 years -- were in full swing with a tubular gallery being constructed.
Ashwin must be considered for 2019 World Cup: Gambhir
Former opener Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday backed Ravichandran Ashwin's return to the ODI squad ahead of the World Cup, saying a finger-spinner like him could be as effective as a wrist-spinner in English conditions. Ashwin last played for India in coloured clothing in July 2017. Wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have since then become frontline spinners for India in limited overs format. While Ravendra Jadeja has managed to make a comeback in the shorter formats, Ashwin has not. "Both wrist-spinners (Kuldeep and Chahal) have done well in the last one year. But I still feel that Ashwin is somebody we should look at. I've always believed that a quality spinner is a quality spinner irrespective of whether he is a wrist-spinner or a finger-spinner," said Gambhir at a promotional event. Gambhir cited the example of premier Australia tweaker Nathan Lyon, who recently made an ODI comeback following his stellar performances in the longest format. "He (Lyon) is probably the best
Hasan Ali rescues Pakistan innings in second ODI
Pakistan tailender Hasan Ali hit a fighting half-century after his top-order teammates failed in the second one-day international against South Africa at Kingsmead on Tuesday. Pakistan were bowled out for 203, a total which seemed unlikely when Hasan, batting at number ten, came in with his side in desperate trouble at 112 for eight. Hasan hit a career-best 59 off 45 balls, with five fours and three sixes, and shared a ninth wicket stand of 90 with captain Sarfraz Ahmed (41). South Africa, beaten by five wickets in the first match in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, sent Pakistan in and dominated the early exchanges. Four batsmen succumbed to short-pitched bowling from South Africa's seam bowlers, while three fell to left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. Medium-pacer Andile Phehlukwayo had career-best figures of four for 22. Shamsi took three for 56. Kagiso Rabada started Pakistan's slide when he dismissed Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam, both caught off mistimed pull shots against short ...
PWL: Clash of titans as Bajrang takes on Aliyev (Preview)
The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) will witness the highly anticipated clash of the current season when defending champions Punjab Royals Bajrang Punia takes on debutant MP Yodhas Haji Aliyev in the last tie of the second leg at the Municipal Corporation Indoor Stadium here on Wednesday.
South Club preparing to host Davis Cup tie between India and Italy
Davis Cup preparation was seen in full swing at the Calcutta South Club days ahead of India's World Group Qualifier against Italy. The prestigious South Club is hosting the competition after a gap of 16 years. The grasscourts of South Club was chosen as the venue only after the All India Tennis Association (AITA) secured two key exemptions from the International Tennis Federation (ITF), one being the seating capacity of 4,000 which is required. Non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi, who is scheduled to arrive in the city on Wednesday, was keen to play on grass considering that the Italians are solid hard court players. The South Club -- which has previously hosted 14 Davis Cup ties -- has a seating capacity of 3,000. "Work is going on at good pace and we are ready," Giri Chaturvedi, secretary of the club, told reporters. "We are expecting a good crowd and the ground conditions are also good. India wanted to play here and they won't be disappointed," he added. Ticket prices have been ...
Not getting carried away with Hong Kong win: women's football coach
Indian women's football team had registered a convincing 5-2 victory over Hong Kong in their first friendly match against the hosts but national head coach Maymol Rocky said that though the victory was clinical in nature, they are not getting carried away with it."We took our chances and we scored. It was a clinical performance by the team but that does not mean that we dwell on the result," AIFF quoted Rocky, as saying."There are still a lot of things to be worked upon and things to be rectified but I am happy with the way the team played and performed. Now we gear ourselves for the next match tomorrow (January 23) once again against them (Hong Kong)," she addedIndia will face Hong Kong again in their next match and the coach is hoping to continue with the winning momentum."We will use tomorrow's match once again as an area to experiment with our tactics, hoping to continue our winning momentum," she said.India forward player Dangmei Grace, who opened the goalscoring floodgates for ..
Australian Open: Nadal sweeps Tiafoe to storm into semis round
World number two Rafael Nadal ended the fantastic run of French player Frances Tiafoe in the Australian Open to advance into the semi-final round of the men's singles event here on Tuesday.The 32-year-old swept aside his French opponent 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in their quarters clash that lasted one hour and 47 minutes.The Spaniard showed complete dominance in the match as he won 84 per cent of his service points and smashed 29 winners to outclass Tiafoe who committed 34 unforced errors in the clash.In the first set, Nadal won 14 of the first 17 points to push his opponent on the backfoot. Tiafoe, who was trailing 0-3 in the set, tried making a comeback but Nadal did not leave much scope for the French player and won the set 6-3.Tiafoe came with an improved sense of rhythm in the second set but Nadal hit back with an equal amount of intensity. With set tilted 5-3 in Nadal's favour, Tiafoe did well to resist the Spanish player on the court. Nadal, however, played hard and sealed the second set ..
Poland's Baszak enters pre-quarters of ITF Juniors
Top seed in the girls singles draw, Weronika Baszak of Poland, whitewashed Priyanshi Sharma to enter the pre-quarter finals of the ongoing ITF Juniors tennis tournament, held at the red clay courts of the Dakshin Kalikata Sansad here on Tuesday.
Shooter Apurvi wins gold at Meyton Cup
Star Indian shooter Apurvi Chandela won gold in the women's 10 metre Air Rifle event at the ongoing Meyton Cup here.
FIFA, UEFA blast piracy network with alleged Saudi ties
FIFA, UEFA and several of the world's top football leagues on Tuesday condemned alleged piracy of television rights by the "beoutQ" network, which Qatar claims is backed by Saudi Arabia. Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup, and the Doha-based beIN Media Group have described beoutQ as a vast and sophisticated Saudi bootlegging network that has been transmitting stolen programmes via Riyadh-based satellite provider Arabsat. FIFA, UEFA, the English Premier League, La Liga, the German Bundesliga and the Asian Football Confederation weighed in on Tuesday by blasting beoutQ's actions as "a clear and flagrant breach of our intellectual property rights". "Collectively, we, as rights-holders in various football competitions, condemn the pirate entity beoutQ, which continues to abuse the operations of rights holders and legitimate broadcasters through its persistent and illegal screening of events for which it has made no effort to secure the rights," the powerful football bodies said in a joint .