Page 665 - Sports
Real Kashmir look to continue unbeaten run in Shillong
Real Kashmir FC would look to continue their five-match unbeaten run when they take on Shillong Lajong in their 13th round I-League fixture here on Saturday. In the five games that Real Kashmir have been on the road over the last month, they have won two and drawn three to make themselves title contenders in their debut season. The Srinagar-based side would like to get the job done against a struggling Lajong, which has copped 10 defeats in their 10 league games so far, before heading home. With five points adrift from leaders Chennai City FC, Real Kashmir (22 points from 12 matches) would want to return home with full three points from Saturday's match at the JLN Stadium. After a slow start, Real Kashmir have also found their scoring boots, netting 15 goals which began with a 6-1 drubbing of their Saturday opponents in the first leg fixture at Srinagar a month back. The memories of that game will weigh heavy on the home side, as will the record of the weakest defence in the league ...
Srivastava bags 3rd title in Gurugram leg at US Kids Golf India Tour
Arshvant Srivastava claimed his third title in the boys 9 category at the US Kids Golf India Tour here Friday. Srivastava topped once again for the third time with a disciplined score in the back 9. Dense fog engulfed the Classic Golf and Country Club but it hardly proved a dampener as young golfers turned out in large numbers to show their mettle here to play the 5th event of the US Golf kids India tour 2018-19. Krishnav Chopra, 14, posted a brilliant score of one-over par to top the table in his category of Boys 13-14, while his fellow Delhi golfer Anshul Kabthiyal looked good with a two-over par in the same category. Aryaman Mahant from Delhi was impressive in Boys 15-18 year old and topped the group with a score of 75. Shlok Jain all the way from the US had enough reason to cheer by winning the boys 12 with a score of 75. The girls equally fought the biting cold as they showed some exceptional class in their stroke play. With scores of 78 and 79, Ragini Navet and Sifat Sayal ...
Ranji QF: Vidarbha in total control against Uttarakhand
Reigning champions Vidarbha were in complete control of their Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Uttarakhand here after taking a huge 274-run first innings lead and then striking big blows later on the fourth and penultimate day of the game Friday. At stumps, Uttarakhand were struggling for survival at 152 for 5 in their second essay with India pacer Umesh Yadav having grabbed three of those wickets in a fiery exhibition of fast bowling. The visitors were adrift by 122 runs with five wickets in hand and would need to bat out of their skin to force a draw which will, however, be enough for Vidarbha to enter the semis. Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 559/6, Vidarbha added 70 runs to their tally before their innings ended with a massive tally of 629. After Wasim Jaffer (206) and opener Sanjay Ramaswamy (141), Aditya Sarwate became the third centurion for the hosts when he made 102 in 185 balls, striking 11 fours, after resuming at his overnight score of ...
Gopi, Sudha aim to attain World Championship qualifying time
Last year's top Indian finishers, Gopi Thonakal and Sudha Singh, are aiming to attain the qualifying standards for men and women set for this year's World Championship in Doha, Qatar, when they run in the Tata Mumbai Marathon on January 20. The men's qualifying mark has been set at 2:15:00 by the world athletics governing body IAAF, while the women have to clock 2:37:00 to qualify for the Doha World Championships scheduled from September 27-October 6. Both Gopi, the reigning Asian Champion in the 42.195- km race, and 3000m steeplechase specialist Sudha Friday expressed confidence of attaining the IAAF-set marks when taking part in the 16th edition of the Mumbai Marathon. "I am training well on my own and have fully recovered from the hamstring injury that I sustained two-three weeks ago. I am aiming to attain 2:15 and qualify for the World Championships," Gopi told reporters here. "Participation in Mumbai Marathon was the turning point in my life and I have gained a lot .
Churchill Brothers take on Neroca FC in big game for both sides
On a roll after a three-match winning streak, Churchill Brothers face Neroca FC in a crucial I-League return-leg match here on Saturday. After losing to East Bengal on December 20 here, Churchill have notched up three wins on the trot and that took them to the second spot in the league table with 22 points from 12 matches. Churchill are five points adrift from leaders Chennai City FC (27 from 12 matches) and they would want to collect as many points as possible in the remaining eight matches to have a shot at the title. In that context, Saturday's match at Tilak Maidan is crucial as Neroca, currently at fourth with 21 points from 12 matches, are also not yet out of title contention and the Imphal-based side would want to collect full three points. In the the first-leg fixture in Imphal on December 15, Neroca rode on a Katsumi Yusa brace to beat Churchill but the Goan side have regrouped since then. With the form their striker Willis Plaza has demonstrated so far, a joint highest ...
No more in title race, Punjab take on Gokulam in next I league clash
Already out of the title race, defending champions Minerva Punjab would look to plug gaps before an impending AFC Champions League campaign when they take on Gokulam Kerala FC in their next I League match, here Saturday. The hosts have not won in five games and Kerala have been torrid on the road losing four on the trot and It promises to be competitive with both teams playing for pride and future. Gokulam also, will be under a new Technical Director in Gift Raikhan, roped in as the new Technical Director from Aizawl FC and he too would want to start off with a bang. Minerva have made crucial signings in the ongoing transfer window, bringing in quality in the midfield with players like Mahmoud Al Amna of Syria and Juan Quero of Spain but the duo will not be available for tomorrow's match. Irish coach Paul Munster seemed well aware of his team's problems in front of goal. "I am sure we can with this game. We will be concentrating on the attacking area so that we can score. The players .
Neha Tripathi starts 2019 season with win
Beginning the new season in a tremendous fashion, Neha Tripathi held on to her massive lead to script a five-shot win on the final day of the first Leg of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour, here Friday. Neha shot a final round of one-over 72 to complete the week in one-under 212 and take home prize purse of Rs 1,44,000. Amateur Pranavi Urs, who at one stage seemed to be inching close to the leader, ultimately finished second after carding one-under 70 and an aggregate of four-over 217. Diksha Dagar (73) and Amandeep Drall (72) were third and fourth, while Afshan Fatima shot the day's best score of two-under 69 to rise to fifth. Starting the final day with a six-shot lead over the field, Neha did not have the best of starts as she double bogeyed the first. Playing in the lead group with her was Diksha, who parred the hole, and Pranavi, who birdied the hole for a three-shot swing. Pranavi, who was seven behind Neha at the start was now four behind. When Diksha birdied the second and both .
Chile holds Bolivia in South American U-20 football
The Chilean and Bolivian national football teams debuted at the South American U-20 Championship here with a 1-1 draw.
Have seen Sachin get angry but not Dhoni, says Shastri
Ravi Shastri has seen Sachin Tendulkar get "angry at times" but not Mahendra Singh Dhoni, "a once in 40 years player" who will be very difficult to replace once he bids adieu to the game, according to India's head coach. The 37-year-old Dhoni, who was panned by critics for 51 off 96 balls in the first ODI against Australia, showed glimpses of his golden days by anchoring India to a series win with scores of unbeaten knocks of 55 and 87 in the next two. "He is a legend. He will go down as one of our great cricketers. I have never seen an individual so sound. I have seen Sachin at times get angry. Not this man," Shastri told the 'Daily Telegraph'. Shastri made it clear that a player of Dhoni's calibre can't be replaced. "You can't. Such players only come once in 30 or 40 years. That is what I tell Indians. Enjoy while it lasts. When he goes you will see a void that will be very hard to fill," he said. The coach is hopeful that Rishabh Pant would live up to the hype surrounding him but ..
Malaysia Masters: Saina tames Okuhara to enter semis, Srikanth loses
Saina Nehwal scripted a hard-fought straight-game win over former world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan to enter the women's singles semifinals but a fighting Kidambi Srikanth crashed out of the USD 350,000 Malaysia Masters here Friday. Seventh seeded Saina, who had a 8-4 head-to-head record against Okuhara before Friday, fought back from 9-15 and 14-18 down in the two games to extend her dominance over the second-seeded Japanese with a 21-18 23-21 win in a 48-minute quarterfinals at the Axiata Arena. "Again a great match with @nozomi_o11 .. nice to b on the winning side ..21-18 , 23-21 #quarterfinals #malaysiamasterssuper500," tweeted Saina after the match. The 28-year-old from Hyderabad, who had won the title in 2017 and was a runners-up in the 2011 edition, will face a tough test next when she faces three-time world champion Carolina Marin of Spain on Saturday. Saina has defeated Marin five times and has lost to the Spaniard as many times in the last 10 meetings. However, Srikanth
I'm ready to bat at any position: Dhoni
Former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Friday said he has no preference in the Indian batting order and is ready to bat at any position as per the need of the team. Dhoni was adjudged the Man of the Series after he guided India to a comfortable seven-wicket win in the third ODI, thus securing a maiden 2-1 series win in Australia. Batting at number four, Dhoni, who generally bats at number six, anchored India's chase with a 114-ball 87 not out which was studded with six boundaries. "I am happy to bat at any number. The important thing is where the team needs me," said Dhoni, when asked where he wants to bat. "Whether I play at 4 or 6, we need to see if the team balance can be retained. I'm happy to bat lower down at 6. I can't say I can't bat at No. 6 after playing 14 years," he said after the match. Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav shared a 121-run partnership for the unconquered fourth wicket while chasing a tricky target of 231. Asked what the game plan was, Dhoni said: "It was a slow wicket, so
Chahal, Dhoni help India to claim maiden ODI series in Australia
Yuzvendra Chahal's deadly spin bowling and MS Dhoni's dazzling batting on Friday ensured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Australia in the third and final ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, winning the series for the first time on Australian soil by 2-1.India, which was set the target of 231 by Australia, made 234 for the loss of three wickets, with four balls remaining.Dhoni scored an unbeaten 87 off 114 balls and was supported by Kedar Jadhav, who made 61 off 57 balls and remained not out.With this win, India registered their maiden historic Test and ODI victory.Opting to bowl first in the rain-hit final ODI, India did not give Australian batsmen a chance to settle in and wrapped up the first innings within 49 overs. Chahal claimed six wickets, his second five-wicket haul in the format, as India bundled out the hosts Australia for 230 runs within 49 overs. Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with two wickets each. For Australia, Peter Handscomb was the top scorer
Wozniacki disappointed but defiant after Open loss
A bitterly disappointed Caroline Wozniacki said she was leaving Melbourne Park with her head held high Friday, despite arch-rival Maria Sharapova ending her dream of defending the Australian Open title. Sharapova upset her in a three-set thriller to reach the last 16 at the Dane's expense 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. World number three Wozniacki spent more than a decade chasing her maiden Grand Slam and said it was tough to accept she was now out of the running to retain the trophy. "I'm a competitor, I love to win, I hate to lose -- I hate losing more than I love winning," she said. But the 28-year-old refused to beat herself up about the loss, saying she had left everything on the court in her third round clash against the Russian. "Some days you lose," she said. "As long as you give it your all, as long as I fought for every point and was really trying to do everything in my power to win, I can't really blame myself. "Of course, I'm disappointed that I'm not through to the fourth round... I did .
A death, arrests and a Chinese football club in meltdown
When Brazilian star Alexandre Pato jetted out of China for his holidays he played for Tianjin Quanjian. Two months and a dozen arrests later, the club as he knew it is gone. In its place is a new incarnation, although whether Pato is still there when the Chinese Super League (CSL) season opens in the spring remains to be seen. A discredited subsidiary of the Quanjian Group remain the owners, according to corporate records, but the club was this week renamed Tianjin Tianhai and placed under the control of the local sports authorities, state media say. Pato's side is facing a deeply uncertain future, hunting investment and reportedly needing to sell players to survive. The affair is a microcosm of the worst of football: excessive spending, unpredictability and an overreliance on questionable corporate owners. Tianjin Quanjian's troubles came to light late last month when its owners, self-styled experts in traditional Chinese medicine, came under scrutiny for their treatment of a young ..
Ruthless Nadal romps past De Minaur at Open
Rafael Nadal hailed Alex de Minaur as "one of the best in the world" but still showed the teenager the Australian Open door 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in the third round on Friday. The relentless Spanish 17-time Grand Slam champion dragged the 19-year-old Australian 27th seed over every inch of Rod Laver Arena as he romped to victory in 2hr 22min. The Spaniard limped out of last year's Australian Open at the quarter-final stage, cut short his 2018 season to have surgery on a foot injury and pulled out of his Brisbane warm-up with a thigh niggle. But in the third competitive match of his comeback he was back to his barnstorming best with his all-action game hardly allowing his young rival a sniff. De Minaur, to his eternal credit, did little wrong and never gave up the fight. At fleeting moments he even had a glimmer of hope of applying the brakes to the runaway Nadal juggernaut, saving six match points -- one after chasing down ball after ball in a lung-bursting 24-shot rally. "He is a big ...
Vintage Dhoni, Chahal star in India's maiden ODI series win Down Under (Roundup)
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal's heroics with the ball were complemented well by former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's third consecutive half-century as he anchored India's run chase to beat Australia by 7 wickets in the third ODI, and clinch their first ever bilateral series win here.
Standing tall Down Under: Dhoni anchors, Kedar finishes as India win ODI series
Mahendra Singh Dhoni rekindled his love affair with final flourishes, anchoring India to their maiden bilateral ODI series triumph in Australia for a perfect finish to a historic trip Down Under here Friday. Virat Kohli's men became the first country to return from Australia without losing a single series having won the Test series 2-1 and drawn the T20 Internationals 1-1. From a dasher, to a finisher to finally the anchor in the last leg of his career, Dhoni 3.0 was in full flow during India's successful chase of 231 on a sluggish Melbourne pitch after Yuzvendra Chahal set it up with a career-best 6 for 42. Dhoni's unbeaten 87 off 114 balls was a testimony to his high quality match awareness as the street-smart Kedar Jadhav (61 no, 57 balls) donned the role of a finisher. The former India skipper's role going into the business end of his illustrious career is that of an anchor, who takes the game deep. He performed his role to perfection with world class exhibition of running between
India win 3rd ODI to claim series
India rode a third consecutive half-century by former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to defeat Australia by seven wickets in the third One-Day International (ODI) here on Friday.
Dhoni leads India to historic ODI series-win in Australia
Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck an unbeaten 87 to guide India to a historic ODI bilateral series win against Australia as the visitors beat the hosts by seven wickets in the decisive third match, here Friday. Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav (61) shared an unbeaten 121-run stand for the fourth wicket as India overhauled the tricky 231-run target on a slow wicket with four balls to spare. Before this, India had become first team from the sub-continent to win a Test series Down Under. Brief Scores: Australia: 230 all out in 48.4 overs (Peter Handscomb 58, Shaun Marsh 39, Yuzvendra Chahal 6/42). India: 234 for 3 in 49.2 overs. (MS Dhoni 87 not out, K Jadhav 61 not out, V Kohli 46; J Richardson 1/27).
Espanyol in Copa del Rey quarter-finals
RCD Espanyol defeated Villarreal 3-1 in the second leg of their Copa del Rey knockout stage tie to advance to the quarter-finals 5-3 on aggregate.