Page 655 - Sports
Messi outshines Dembele in 3-1 Barcelona win over Leganes
What started as the first big night for Ousmane Dembele with Barcelona turned into another shining exhibition by Leo Messi, who was only half hour in the game but time enough for him to power the team to a 3-1 win over Leganes.
3-member committee to probe Bengal U-19 hockey squad's tonsuring
A three-member committee will be formed by the Bengal Hockey Association (BHA) to investigate the matter of Under-19 Bengal hockey squad players being asked to shave their heads following a defeat in a junior level match.
Focus only on Olympic medal: Bajrang (IANS Interview)
Having slowly emerged from shadow of star wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, two-time World Championships medallist Bajarang Punia has now set his sights on the biggest prize in the world of sports and is confident on finishing on the podium at the Tokyo Olympics next year.
Osaka, Svitolina cruise into Australian Open quarters
Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Monday cruised into the quarter finals of the Australian Open beating Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova (13) and Madison Keys (17) of the US respectively.
South Korea blow as Ki ruled out of Asian Cup
South Korea's Asian Cup hopes have suffered a blow after Premier League midfielder Ki Sung-yueng was ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury. The 29-year-old Newcastle United man played less than an hour at the tournament before being taken off during South Korea's opening win over the Philippines in Dubai. Ki's withdrawal was announced as South Korea, two-time winners of the tournament and the 2015 runners-up, prepare to take on Bahrain in the round of 16 on Tuesday. The pull-out has prompted speculation that Ki may announce his international retirement, after clocking up more than 100 appearances since making his debut in 2008.
'It made me feel better' says racquet-smasher Zverev
Furious fourth seed Alexander Zverev crashed out of the Australian Open Monday but said he "felt better" after smashing his racquet to pieces in frustration. Zverev erupted in the second set of a 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) fourth-round humiliation by Canadian 16th seed Milos Raonic, hammering his racquet into the ground eight times to leave it a mangled mess. "Yeah, it made me feel better. I was very angry, so I let my anger out," he told reporters. And the volatile German was surprised when asked if he had done it before. "You never watched my matches? You should watch my matches," he smiled. Zverev was tipped as a future Grand Slam champion after a breakthrough 2018 that saw him win the ATP Tour Finals, beating Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the process. Instead it was a familiar tale of woe as he failed to make the last-eight of a major for the 14th time in 15 majors. The world number four broke former world number three Raonic's formidable serve at the start of the match but then ...
Three-member committee to investigate Bengal hockey players' head-shaving incident
The Bengal Hockey Association (BHA) will form a three-member committee to look into the matter of state U-19 players being asked to shave their heads following a defeat in a match. "The committee will be formed by tonight and whoever is responsible will be taken to task," BHA Secretary Swapan Banerjee told PTI. The Bengal U-19 team lost to Namdhari XI 1-5 in the quarterfinal of the Junior National Championship (B Division) in Jabalpur. Coach Anand Kumar had allegedly told the players during half-time that he will have their heads tonsured if they lost. While some members of the squad said they did it after returning to Kolkata out of respect and disappointment, a few said they were forced. The U-19 squad comprised 18 players and it was learnt that all of them except two had shaved their heads. A dozen of the players were from SAI's Eastern Regional Centre at Salt Lake. "I scolded them during the match and never said anything after that. Why will I force them? I will talk to the ...
Athletic Club plays to 1-1 draw against Villarreal in La Liga
Athletic Club squandered an early lead and settled for a 1-1 draw against host Villarreal in La Liga action.
How cricket helped tennis star Barty over sticky wicket
Australia's Ashleigh Barty believes a decision to take a break from tennis and play professional cricket revived her career, giving her the drive to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in Melbourne this week. Barty will became the first local hope to play in the last eight at the Australian Open in a decade when she faces Czech rival Petra Kvitova on Tuesday. The 22-year-old has already claimed her biggest scalp yet with a three-set triumph over five-time major champion Maria Sharapova on Sunday in front of a frenzied Melbourne Park crowd. But Barty's career was in crisis a few years ago, when the Queenslander walked away from the sport she had played since she was a toddler. Jaded with the constant travel and loneliness of being on tour, as well as the pressure from Australian fans desperate for Grand Slam success, Barty decided tennis was not for her. She retired and in 2014 made the stunning announcement that she would instead play professional cricket in Brisbane, preferring a team ..
David Warner to undergo surgery on injured elbow
Banned former Australian vice-captain David Warner is expected to undergo minor surgery on his elbow Tuesday after returning home from the Bangladesh Premier League with an injury. Warner, alongside former skipper Steve Smith and batsman Cameron Bancroft, was suspended from international cricket over a ball-tampering scandal during a Test match in South Africa last March. The 32-year-old returned to Australia last week following a stint with the Sylhet Sixers in the Bangladesh Twenty20 tournament after he reported pain in his right elbow. Warner's elbow will be assessed in Melbourne on Tuesday, before he is expected to undergo minor surgery, cricket.com.au reported Monday. Cricket Australia's website said Warner's condition was not believed to be as serious as the elbow injury sustained by Smith, also in the Bangladesh tournament. Smith, 29, underwent surgery last week and is expected to spend six weeks in a brace before extensive rehabilitation. Both players' bans end in late March. .
Raonic into Open last eight as Zverev self-destructs
Milos Raonic kept his cool to reach the quarter-finals Monday as young Alexander Zverev went into meltdown and crashed out of the Australian Open. The fourth seed erupted in frustration and fury during the second set of a 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) drubbing by the Canadian 16th seed, hammering his racquet into the ground eight times to leave it a mangled mess. "I just tried to stay composed, "said Raonic. "It worked extremely well for me today. "I played incredibly good, did a lot of things extremely well." Zverev was tipped as a future Grand Slam champion after a breakthrough 2018 that saw him win the ATP Tour Finals, beating Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the process. Instead it was a familiar tale of woe as his much vaunted-talent deserted him again before he could reach the sharp end of a major. The 21-year-old's miserable record in Slams was extended to just one quarter-final, at the French Open last year, in 15 appearances. All seemed well when the world number four broke former ..
This is how WBBL helped Ashleigh Barty beat Maria Sharapova
Australia tennis player Ashleigh Barty, who reached the quarterfinals of ongoing Australian Open, once turned her hands to cricket and represented Brisbane Heat in the inaugural Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season.The 22-year-old had taken a break from tennis for 18 months in 2014. Barty, who played nine games in the first WBBL, said her time away from the game has made her a better tennis player."I needed to take that time away. For me, having that 18 months off was vital. I feel like I came back a better person on and off the court, a better tennis player," ICC quoted Barty, as saying."There has never a lonesome moment on the cricket field if you are struggling. There are 10 other girls that can help you out and get you through the tough times," she had said after signing for Heat.Barty's best performance for Heat came against Melbourne Stars, scoring quickfire 39 off 27 balls. She went onto amass 68 runs in seven innings in the tournament before switching her focus back to ...
Napoli beat Lazio to keep sight of Juventus
Napoli beat 10-man Lazio 2-1 to close the gap on leaders Juventus to six points and consolidate second place in Serie A. First-half goals from Jose Callejon and Arkadiusz Milik ensured all three points for the southerners before champions Juventus host bottom club Chievo on Monday. Napoli have 47 points from 20 games and are now seven ahead of third-placed Inter Milan who were held to a goalless draw at home by Sassuolo on Saturday. But it was a damaging defeat for Lazio who drop out of the Champions League places into fifth at the expense of city rivals Roma. Eusebio Di Francesco's Roma are one point ahead of Lazio who host seven-time reigning champions Juventus next weekend. Napoli were without suspended defender Kalidou Koulibaly, captain Marek Hamsik and forward Lorenzo Insigne. But Carlo Ancelotti's side could have won by a larger margin with Milik and Fabian Ruiz both hitting the woodwork early. Spanish forward Callejon scored his first Serie A goal this season after 34 minutes .
Dembele sparkles but Messi needed off bench to rescue Barca
Ousmane Dembele gave Barcelona a glimpse into the future but Barcelona still needed Lionel Messi to beat Leganes 3-1 and restore their five-point lead at the top of La Liga. Messi had started on the bench, rested by coach Ernesto Valverde, and for just over an hour at the Camp Nou, Dembele filled the void by scoring the opening goal in a sparkling individual display. The 21-year-old, however, limped off with a sprained ankle in the 69th minute, shortly after Leganes had equalised through Martin Braithwaite and Valverde responded by introducing Messi. He needed only seven minutes to make an impact as his bending shot was followed up by Luis Suarez, who poked the ball in ahead of Leganes goalkeeper Pichu Cuellar. Messi then rounded off the win by scoring himself in injury-time. Leganes had protested against Suarez's finish, convinced that Pichu had been fouled by a high foot. "It was a clear foul," coach Mauricio Pellegrino said. "Barca don't need these kind of decisions to help ...
'Hugely excited' England boss Southgate cools Man Utd talk
Gareth Southgate insisted his work as England manager was far from done as he indicated he had no interest in taking charge at Manchester United any time soon. A recent report in Britain's Sunday Telegraph said Southgate was on a shortlist being drawn up by Old Trafford chiefs as they sought a permanent replacement for the sacked Jose Mourinho. But with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the caretaker manager, having won his first seven games in charge of United, the Red Devils may have a ready-made successor in their former striker. In any case Southgate, who last year in Russia took England to their first appearance in a World Cup semi-final since 1990, and has since guided them to qualification for the inaugural Nations League finals, has unfinished business with the Three Lions. The former England centre-back made that clear when, at a Football Writers' Association dinner in London on Sunday he was asked, following the United speculation, if he felt fulfilled by the England post. - 'Job is not
Osaka sets up Svitolina last-eight test, Serena faces showdown
Japanese US Open champion Naomi Osaka ground her way into an Australian Open quarter-final with sixth seed Elina Svitolina Monday ahead of Serena Williams facing her biggest tennis test since giving birth. As the second week of the opening Grand Slam of the year got underway, fourth seed Osaka was still standing after emerging from an error-strewn first set against crafty Latvian Anastasija Sevastova to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The victory left the bubbly 21-year-old with a last-eight clash against ambitious Ukrainian Svitolina, who battled past American Madison Keys 6-2, 1-6, 6-1. It will be a new experience for whoever wins that showdown, with neither of them going beyond the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park before. This contrasts with the massively experienced Williams who has made the last eight or better 11 times on her way to seven Australian Open crowns. The 37-year-old 23-time Grand Slam winner has a blockbuster last-16 evening clash against world number one Simona Halep on Rod ...
Australia call up in-form Patterson for Sri Lanka Tests
In-form Kurtis Patterson was added to Australia's squad on Monday for the upcoming Tests against Sri Lanka as selectors try to fix a batting line-up that failed to fire during the home Tests against India. The 25-year-old New South Wales batsman scored back-to-back centuries for a Cricket Australia XI in Hobart last week. National selector Trevor Hohns said Patterson had been "pushing his case for selection for some time". "We have been asking batters around the country to score hundreds if they want to be considered for selection," Hohns added in a statement. "Given Kurtis' consistent performances for NSW and his two unbeaten centuries in last week's tour match against our upcoming opponent, Sri Lanka, we believe he deserves to be added to the Test squad." The hosts had a poor Test series with the bat against India and no Australian reached triple figures at home in a series of four Tests or more for the first time since 1882-83. The first Test -- a day-nighter -- starts Thursday in
Cristiano flashback as Iran book Asian Cup quarter-final spot
Title-chasing Iran survived a first-minute penalty in a chaotic start to eventually dispatch Oman 2-0 and reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals. Beanpole goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand saved from the spot before goals from Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Ashkan Dejagah in Abu Dhabi sent Iran through to face China. Vietnam were the first to book their place in the last eight after they bundled out Jordan on penalties in Dubai before the Chinese joined them by squeaking past Thailand 2-1. Beiranvand saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at last year's World Cup and plunged to his right to brilliantly deny Oman captain Ahmed Al-Mahaijri, preventing Oman taking a shock lead moments into the game. "To be honest, I thought of Cristiano for a fraction of a second before the kick," Beiranvand told AFP. "I didn't want people to think that save in Russia was a fluke. But saving penalties is my job and my responsibility is to help the team." Iran, who are looking to end a 43-year-old Asian Cup title drought, ...
Man City ease past Huddersfield to cut Liverpool's lead
Manchester City reduced Liverpool's lead at the top of the English Premier League table to four points as they eventually found top gear to win 3-0 away to basement club Huddersfield Town on Sunday. This was by no means City's most outstanding display of the season but, ultimately, goals from Danilo, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane ensured they did not trip up in the latest leg of their quest to keep the Premier League title-race alive. Liverpool's captivating 4-3 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday ensured this was a crunch fixture for Pep Guardiola's side, yet any hopes Huddersfield could pull off a shock win never materialised. The embarrassment of riches available to City manager Guardiola meant Gabriel Jesus, who had scored seven goals in three matches, dropped to the bench alongside David Silva while Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero returned to his starting line-up. That depth of quality would be difficult for any side to counter, especially a team struggling as much as ...
China roar back from behind to reach Asian Cup quarters
China flirted with disaster before mounting a second-half revival as they fought back from behind to beat Thailand 2-1 and reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. The giant nation were all at sea as they fell behind to Supachai Jaided's opener but they hit back after the break through substitute Xiao Zhi and Gao Lin's well-taken penalty. It meant China live to fight another day under Marcello Lippi, who is expected to step down after the Asian Cup, while Thailand exit with their heads held high. In an open start, Theerathon Bunmathan saw a free kick tipped over and Wu Lei had an attempt smothered by Thai goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen before Thailand went ahead on 31 minutes. From a corner, in front of Thailand's drumming and singing fans, Thitiphan Puangjan's miscued shot fell to Supachai Jaided, who turned and rammed it past Chinese goalie Yan Junling from close range. The chances were falling thick and fast for Thailand and the "Thai Messi" Chanathip Songkrasin was adjudged ..