Page 698 - Sports
Indian cricket team does not support views of Hardik, Rahul: Kohli
Breaking his silence on the "sexist comments" made by Hardik Pandya and Lokesh Rahul on a TV chat show, India team captain Virat Kohli on Friday denounced the statements and said the team management is still waiting for a decision on the duo.
2020 Tokyo Olympics seems a realistic possibility: Sania Mirza (IANS Interview)
For Sania Mirza, becoming a mother has been "the most eventful thing" in her life, but she is now working on getting herself back on the tennis court. The tennis star says playing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics seems like a realistic goal, but she doesn't want to put too much pressure on herself.
Pandya, Rahul have brought cricket into disrepute: BCCI treasurer
Criticising cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul following their controversial remarks against women on the chat show 'Koffee with Karan', Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry said that the players have brought the game into disrepute.In a letter to Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrator (CoA) member Diana Edulji on Thursday, Chaudhry said, "The players (KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya) who appeared on the show have definitely brought the game and Indian cricket, and cricketers into disrepute by their words and admitted conduct."He added, "The provisions of the earlier contracts and the practice in place would have required these contracted players to seek permission to appear on the show. Was such permission sought?"Pandya, who shared the couch with Rahul on the latest episode of Karan Johar's show, faced backlash for what netizens termed 'sexist' and 'disrespectful' remarks on women.On the show, Pandya bragged about not asking the names of .
End in sight for magnificent Murray
Reaching world number one in an era of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal speaks volumes about the drive of Andy Murray, who took up the game as a three-year-old. But at 31, excruciating pain from a hip injury is drawing the curtain on a professional career that spanned 14 years and ended a decades-long drought for British tennis. The Scot would prefer to go out in a blaze of glory on home territory at Wimbledon, but may not get that far with next week's Australian Open shaping as potentially his last event. His has been a glittering career, but it may have been very different. In a terrifying twist of fate, an eight-year-old Murray hid himself away during the Dunblane school massacre that claimed the lives of 16 children and one teacher in 1996. A 43-year-old man with 700 rounds of ammunition opened fire on Murray's schoolmates before shooting himself in a gymnasium that Murray had been on his way to at the time. He is a big football fan and could also have gone down that
Kohli not stressed about Pandya situation, says team has Jadeja
India captain Virat Kohli Friday said he is not too stressed about the possibility of a ban on all-rounder Hardik Pandya for his "inappropriate" comments on women as the side has a ready replacement in Ravindra Jadeja. On a high after the maiden Test series triumph on Australian soil, India have been hit by an unsavoury off-field controversy due to Pandya and K L Rahul's controversial comments on women on a TV show. The two are facing the prospect of being banned for a couple of matches. "We played in India against the West Indies with a finger spinner and a wrist spinner. So it's good that we have someone like Jadeja who can do the all-rounder's role if a scenario like that occurs," Kohli said on the eve of the first ODI against Australia. "So we are not too stressed as a team (about the Pandya situation) because you'll always have things that you can do in terms of creating that balance for the side. And hence, we keep players who can provide balance with bat and ball as a backup ...
After Test high, India begin final preparations for World Cup
Hit hard by an unexpected controversy after the high of the Test triumph, India will look to fine tune their World Cup preparations in the three-match ODI series against an under-fire Australia, beginning here on Saturday. Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul has provided a big distraction for the Indian team by making "inappropriate" comments on women during a TV show. In the build-up to the first ODI, skipper Virat Kohli underlined that the team management is still waiting for a decision to be made regarding a ban or punishment to be meted out to the two players. The team management didn't announce a shortlist for this game, as is now the norm, and will wait to hear from the BCCI on the two players' availability. Considering the enormity of this developing situation, it is unlikely that both Pandya and Rahul will be available for at least the first ODI. Rahul was unlikely to get a go owing to both his poor form and the presence of a well-settled opening pair in Rohit Sharma and Shikhar ...
Don't align with Hadik Pandya, KL Rahul's comments on TV talk show: Virat Kohli
India skipper Virat Kohli broke his silence on the ongoing controversy involving Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, who are likely to be banned by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their sexist comments on a TV talk show, Koffee with Karan.Reacting to the comments made by the duo, Kohli said: "We as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers don't align with those views, those were individual opinions. We are still waiting for a decision to be made."Addressing press conference ahead of the first ODI against Australia in Sydney on Friday, Kohli added, "From the Indian cricket team's point of view, this changes nothing in our beliefs in the change room, it does nothing to the spirit we have been able to create. Combinations will have to be thought of once the decision comes out."Pandya, who shared the couch with teammate KL Rahul on the latest episode of Karan Johar's show, faced backlash for what netizens termed 'sexist' and 'disrespectful' remarks on women.On the show,
Spaniard defeats Frenchman to win $5.1 mn at Pokerstars' Bahamas tournament
Spain's Ramon Colillas defeated Julien Martini of France to grab the $5.1 million (rs 36 crore) top prize in the Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure here which ended on day five. Martini, who was the chip leader by a substantial amount during the final table game, got $2.97 million.
Pogba returns as Solskjaer eyes United job boost over rival Pochettino
Paul Pogba will be fit to return from injury for Manchester United's Premier League match at Tottenham this weekend, interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Thursday. The France midfielder linked up late with his team-mates for a warm weather training camp in Dubai this week after being injured in a challenge by Jonjo Shelvey during the 2-0 victory at Newcastle on January 2. Pogba missed last Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup victory over Reading as a result of the knock, but trained well in the United Arab Emirates, according to Solskjaer. "He looked OK towards the end, so he will be fit. He did have some problems but he came through last couple of sessions well, so he should be OK," the Norwegian said. Solskjaer has made a perfect start as United's coach since replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho on December 19, winning each of his first five matches in charge. The former United striker, who is on loan from Norwegian club Molde until the end of the season, has made clear since his return to
Nuns on the run (with Swiss guards): Vatican Athletics gets Olympic blessing
- Faster, higher...holier. The newly-formed Vatican Athletics team, which is aiming to compete in international competitions, including the Olympics, was officially launched on Thursday after reaching a bilateral agreement with the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). So far there are 60 members of Vatican Athletics -- the first Sports Association constituted in the Holy See -- which includes nuns, priests, Swiss Guards and other workers. Monsignor Melchor Jos? S?nchez de Toca y Alameda, president of Vatican Athletics, said at the launch that the Olympic Games were "the dream but not in the short term". "The dream that we have often had is to see the Holy See flag among the delegations at the opening of the Olympic Games," he said. But in the immediate future Vatican Athletics would like to be present at smaller competitions such as the Mediterranean Games. Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) president Giovanni Malago praised the latest initiative at the Holy See which already has football
Indian team doesn't stand by comments made by Pandya and Rahul: Kohli
Captain Virat Kohli on Friday said the Indian team doesn't stand by Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul for making "inappropriate" comments on women during a TV show but insisted that the controversy won't affect the dressing room morale. Kohli said that the availability of both Pandya and Rahul for the ODI series against Australia would depend on any action that the BCCI might take on Friday. "From the Indian cricket team point of view, any inappropriate comments that are made in that scenario are something that we definitely don't support. We definitely as the Indian cricket team do not support views like that and that has been communicated (to the two players)," said Kohli on the eve of the ODI series opener. "I can definitely say that as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers we definitely don't align with those views and those are purely individual views. The two concerned players (have) felt what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude of what's ...
Anday Murray announces retirement plans
Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray on Friday announced that he he plans to retire after this year's Wimbledon but fears next week's Australian Open could be the final tournament of his career.
AFC Asia Cup: India lose 0-2 to United Arab Emirates
After a gruelling competition, it was the host United Arab Emirates which emerged victorious by defeating the Indian National Team in its second Group stage match of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.The Indian side lost the match by a 0-2 score in the match played at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.The Blue Tigers will next be playing Bahrain in their last match on January 14. India Team is presently on three points from 2 matches, the same as Thailand, with UAE currently topping the group with 4 points from 2 matches.It was a day when the Indians hit the post twice in the second half and muffed two in the first-half. Alhamsi's 40th-minute strike much against the run of play, and then Ali Mabkhout's 80th-minute goal played villain on a night where the Blue Tigers gave the hosts the scare of their lives from the first minute itself.It just seemed like fate did not allow India to score.In the first half, India could have almost sealed it. The Blue Tigers started with an attacking ..
Asian Cup: Brave India go down fighting to UAE
A spirited India dominated pre-game favourites the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before going down 0-2 in their second Group A match at the Asian Cup football tournament here on Thursday.
Raptors to face warriors in first PBL semifinal
A day before facing the table toppers Awadhe Warriors in the semi-finals, the Bengaluru Raptors got a huge boost of confidence by beating former champions Chennai Smashers in front of their home crowd at the Vodafone Premier Badminton League Season 4 at the Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, here on Thursday. Bengaluru skipper Kidambi Srikanth recorded his sixth win in as many matches and Sai Praneeth contributed as well to help Bengaluru dethrone the Mumbai Rockets from the third spot as the league stage came to an end. While the Raptors were drawn to face the Awadhe Warriors on the first day of the semi-finals, defending champions Hyderabad Hunters will take on two-time runners-up Mumbai Rockets in the second semi-final on Saturday. With the in-form Son Wan Ho in their line-up, the Warriors will pose some serious threat for last season's runners-up Bengaluru. PV Sindhu, meanwhile, will try her best to inspire the Hunters when they meet the Lee Yong Dae and Sameer Verma-led ...
Asian Cup: Brave India go down fighting
A spirited India dominated pre-game favourites the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before going down 0-2 in their second Group A match at the Asian Cup football tournament here on Thursday.
Federer, Nadal placed in same half of Australian Open draw
Twenty-three times Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal are in the same half of the Australian Open draw. The top seed of the tournament Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, has got Alexander Zverev of Germany in his draw.While Federer will play his opening match of the tournament against Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin, second seed Nadal will take on Australia's James Duckworth in his first round.The defending champion, while talking about the tournament draws, said that his focus is on his first round and is not putting too much pressure on himself with the thought of defending the title."The moment that you find out the draw before you play, you shift your focus to the first round - and not considering whether you can win a seventh title. You simplify your preparations. I can't believe I won the past two titles, so in a way that has to be the goal, but I'm not putting too much pressure on myself," WTA quoted Federer, as saying.When asked about the ...
UAE 'Two Good' for gutsy India
India left their scoring boots and luck behind while hosts United Arab Emirates found both after a subdued opener to record a 2-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup here Thursday. Khalfan Mubarak (41') Ali Ahmed Mabkhout (88') scored for the home team, entering the game in some desperation after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain in the tournament opener. UAE moved top of the table in Group A with four points from two matches while second-placed India still remained in the hunt for a knockout berth with three points from two outings. India had drubbed Thailand 4-1 in their opening encounter Sunday but the Thais got their campaign back on a track with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in the evening fixture. India made a positive start in both the halves and created many chances, but paid dearly for lacking the finishing touch. The Blue Tigers missed three big chances in the first half and while they created opportunities after the break too, India were denied on two occasions by the framework. On expected ...
Khelo: All-round display takes Maha to top in medals tally
Hosts Maharashtra moved into lead in the medal tally as they amassed 11 gold medals Thursday and held a two-gold advantage over Delhi as the battle intensified at the Khelo India Youth Games here. Delhi were a close second with 13 gold medals, while Haryana are placed third with 12 gold medals, a media release said. Maharashtra has so far won 57 medals -- 15 gold, 19 silver and 23 bronze medals. Delhi's medal tally includes 13 gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze medals, while Haryana 40-medal haul comprises 12 gold, 10 silver and 18 bronze medals. Maharashtra's haul Thursday was mainly from gymnastics (five) and swimming (three) while their athletes won two and weightlifters took one gold. Haryana had a massive haul of nine gold from wrestling, of which women won seven, and their only other gold came in Judo. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh hogged the lion's share of medals in gymnastics Thursday. The home state bagged five of the 14 gold on offer, while Uttar Pradesh took ...
Bangalore Raptors beat Chennai Smashers, enter PBL semifinals
Sai Praneeth sealed the semi-final berth for Bangalore Raptors as his win enabled the home team to defeat Chennai Samshers 3-2 in the Premier Badminton League here Thursday. Bangalore lost their first match but roared back into the contention by winning Chennai's trump match, which dashed visitors' semifinals hopes as getting six points from the tie became impossible. After losing the first match, Bangalore came back strongly as Praneeth beat veteran Parupalli Kashyap 15-11 15-12. Earlier, the hosts were off to a dreadful start when Chennai's doubles pair of Chris Adcock and Chin Chung Or beat Bangalore's Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, who are former doubles world champions. Chennai won 14-15, 15-9 and 15-11 after Chris smashed into Setiawan's body for the final point. Maintaining his winning streak in this edition, Bangalore's Kidambi Srikanth won the third and the team's trump match against Chong Wei Feng 15-10 15-10 giving his team a 2-1 lead. Spectators witnessed a ...