Page 736 - Sports
New sanctions loom as WADA confirm Russia misses doping deadline
Russia faced the possibility of renewed sporting sanctions on Tuesday when the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed the country had missed a December 31 deadline to hand over data from its anti-doping laboratory in Moscow. "I am bitterly disappointed that data extraction from the former Moscow Laboratory has not been completed by the date agreed," said WADA president Craig Reedie. WADA said the independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) will now consider the next step in the long-running saga at a January 14-15 meeting. The end-of-year deadline was set in September, when WADA lifted a ban on the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), paving the way for Russian athletes to return to competition across all sports after a report which uncovered a state-sponsored doping programme in Russia. WADA's confirmation of the missed deadline came as US Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart described Russia's return to the sports fold "a total joke and an embarrassment". However, in his New .
Serena in inspirational message to working mums
Serena Williams has posted an inspirational New Year message to mums and dads juggling parenthood with work, saying "anything is possible". The 23-time Grand Slam champion began 2019 in Perth at the mixed teams Hopman Cup, with baby Alexis Olympia in tow. She posted a picture of herself and her daughter to her 10.4 million followers on Instagram, holding her child as she stretched her leg. Williams, 37, said "it's not about what we can do it's what we MUST do as working moms and working dads". "Anything is possible. I was getting ready for the first match of the year and my dear sweet baby @olympiaohanian was tired and sad and simply needed mama's love. "So if it means warming up and stretching while holding my baby that's what #thismama will do. "My fellow moms and dads working - or stay home it's equally as intense - but you inspire me," she added. "Hearing your stories makes me know I can do this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This year is to you!" The last time Williams ..
New Zealand to use Sri Lanka ODIs as World Cup trial
New Zealand have put a line under their Test series win over Sri Lanka and switched to World Cup mode with the first of three one-day internationals in Tauranga on Thursday. "It's really now about looking ahead to the World Cup, being clear on the game plans we want to use," coach Gary Stead said after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in the Test series to move up to third in the rankings behind India and England. New Zealand, who are also third in the ODI rankings, face eighth-ranked Sri Lanka in the opening round of the World Cup in Cardiff in June. Stead described the home ODI series against Sri Lanka as being "about tweaking, looking at the style of play and how we want to play and looking at the options who fit those roles as well. It's definitely a trial period still". Both sides have made a number of changes from their Test line-up, with Sri Lanka bringing in six new faces including Lasith Malinga, while New Zealand have brought back big-hitting Martin Guptill and are resting ...
'Fantastic' Djokovic eases to opening Qatar win, Thiem crashes out
Novak Djokovic took just 55 minutes to claim his first win of 2019, brushing aside Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-2 in the Qatar Open first round on Tuesday. The world number one showed he was intent on taking his form from last season into the new year with a totally dominant display against the Bosnian world number 47. "It's fantastic to be back and to start off the tournament like I have done makes me very confident and very happy," said the Serb. He added: "Results-wise and time-wise it did look quite comfortable (but) I don't think it's nice and fair to say it's easy because I have respect for Dzumhur." Djokovic, who has won the last two Grand Slams -- at Wimbledon and the US Open to take his majors total to 14 -- completed the match in under an hour by predictably converting his first match point. The 31-year-old, who has made it clear he wants to match or better Roger Federer's record of 20 Grand Slams, was untroubled throughout. Djokovic said he hoped that news of his comfortable ...
Charging Liverpool challenge Man City to prove their greatness
"I start to read and then I start to think 'Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp' and I cannot focus," said Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola last month, admitting Liverpool's charge to depose the Premier League champions has been in his head for some time. But in their very first game of 2019, City already find themselves in must-win territory to haul Liverpool back into view by inflicting the leaders' first defeat of the season and cutting a seven-point lead to four at the Etihad on Thursday. "With the position of Liverpool, if we drop points then it is over, it is finished; it would be almost impossible," said Guardiola after Sunday's 3-1 win at Southampton. Guardiola's obsession with Liverpool and Klopp in particular is not surprising. For a serial winner, no side and no manager has caused the Catalan as many problems as the German. City have won just one of seven meetings since Guardiola joined Klopp in England after locking horns in charge of Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and ...
Bopanna-Divij, Ramanathan start with contrasting wins in Tata Open Maharashtra
Top-seeded pair of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan registered a dominating first round win on Day 2 of the Tata Open Maharashtra at the Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Stadium here on Tuesday.
Ramkumar grinds his way to second round of Tata Open; Kadhe, Myneni out
Ramkumar Ramanathan smartly altered the tactics to tame a seasoned Marcel Granollers in a tough opening round but Arjun Kadhe went down fighting at the Tata Open Maharashtra, here Tuesday. It was Ramkumar's first victory over Granollers, who once figured in top-20 and came into this contest with a 2-0 head-to-head record. From the beginning, Ramkumar, ranked 132, opted for serve and volley tactics but it was Granollers who executed it better throughout. Realising that it is not working for him, Ramkumar chose to stay on the baseline, remaining strong on his serve against his opponent, ranked 36 places above him. The strategy worked and handed Ramkumar a hard-fought 4-6 6-4 6-4 win, his first in the main draw of an ATP World Tour event in three months. The last time he won a match at this level was during the ATP Shenzen Open in September 2018. The 24-year-old Indian fired nine aces in the one-hour and 57 minute match. He will next play fourth seed and world number 45 Malek Jaziri from
Hopman Cup: Roger Federer trumps Serena Williams
Tennis maestro Roger Federer came out on top in his first ever highly anticipated mixed doubles match-up with Serena Williams to help Switzerland clinch 2-1 the Hopman Cup tie against the USA.In the mixed doubles, which also decided the winner of the tie, Switzerland defeated USA 4-2 4-3 (5-3) in a match that lasted 46 minutes.Williams and Frances Tiafoe enjoyed a strong start as two of her serves proved to be difficult to handle for the Swiss star. Soon after, Federer displayed his class performance during the quick-fire rallies with Belinda Bencic.Earlier in the men's singles, Federer gave his side a 1-0 lead with a 6-4 6-1 win over Tiafoe. However, to level the tie, Williams defeated Bencic by 4-6 6-4 6-3 in women's singles.Switzerland, who have won both of their ties, will meet Greece, who defeated the USA in their opening tie, on January 3.
Sindhu, Caljouw take Hyderabad Hunters to top of PBL standings
P V Sindhu began the new year with a win over Saina Nehwal and Mark Caljouw defeated North Eastern Warriors trump Tian Houwei to give Hyderabad Hunters their third win in Premier Badminton League here Tuesday. The victory means defending champions Hunters would end the Pune leg of the cash-rich tournament on top of the leader-board. While the match was important for both teams in their quest for the semi-final spot, the added attraction for the fans on the first day of the new year was the clash between India's two shuttle queens, Saina and Sindhu. Sindhu, who had lost her last two matches in the PBL against Sung Ji Hyun and Beiwen Zhang, emerged victorious 11-15 15-9 15-5 win. Saina, who had sat out the earlier three matches of North Eastern Warriors due to a shin injury, was not 100 percent and was seen struggling for stamina following long rallies. But the way she fought back from a 7-10 deficit to clinch seven straight points and then wrap up the opening game showed that the ...
Venus Williams outlasts Victoria Azarenka in Auckland opener
American tennis star Venus Williams outlasted Belarusian player Victoria Azarenka in a thrilling first-round match at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Tuesday.After surviving a scare, the number six seed had to dig deeper in the match that lasted over two hours to register her first win 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 over the two-time Australian Open champion."Tonight was not easy, maybe one of the toughest first rounds I have ever played. She (Azarenka) has the experience, and for the first match of the year...my goal was to get past this first round, and we need these matches going into the Australian Open. I am hoping that the next round will be fruitful for me, and I already got a goal for 2019," Women's Tennis Association quoted Williams, as saying."I would say that my first serve percentage dropped a lot, and she made fewer errors. Both of us, our ranking is not as high, but it doesn't mean that we can't play, regardless of whatever the ranking is," she added.In a match between two former world ...
Gavaskar could miss trophy presentation ceremony after final Test
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar could miss the presentation of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India captain Virat Kohli will receive, regardless of the result of the fourth and final Test against Australia. Gavaskar said he has not received invitation from Cricket Australia. Visiting India have taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-Test series, and will retain the trophy they won at home last year. "I was sent a letter by Cricket Australia's Chief Executive, James Sutherland in May asking about my availability to present the Border-Gavaskar trophy and I would have been happy to go. But he stepped down and there has been no further contact," Gavaskar told India Today. Border and Gavaskar were the first two to touch the 10000-run mark in Test cricket. Cricket Australia has since undergone an overhaul in the aftermath of the ball-tampering controversy in March, with Sutherland being one of the employees to depart the scene. India won the first Test in Adelaide before being humbled ..
PBL-4: Sindhu registers comeback win over Saina
World Championship silver medallist PV Sindhu began the New Year with a morale-boosting win over compatriot Saina Nehwal to give defending champions Hyderabad Hunters a 3-1 lead over North Eastern Warriors in the fourth edition of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) at the Balewadi stadium here on Tuesday.
US kids golf Kolkata leg on Jan 3
Fifty kids in the age group of six to 18 years will vie for top honours in the fourth leg of the US Kids Golf at the Tollygunge Club here from Thursday.
Vardy rings in New Year with acrobatic display
Jamie Vardy rescued a dire match with an eye-catching celebration as his goal secured Leicester City a 1-0 win away at Everton in their New Year's day Premier League fixture on Tuesday. The 31-year-old showed remarkable agility after scoring in the 58th minute for a result that sees The Foxes move into seventh, seven points adrift of Arsenal who occupy the Europa League fifth-placed spot. Vardy has been rumoured to have strained relations with Leicester manager Claude Puel and was taken off in the defeat by Cardiff last Saturday and said the acrobatic display had not been a spontaneous one. "I have had it in my locker for a while," he told Sky Sports. "I saved it for a special occasion, what better one than New Years Day. New year, new me." Despite the rumours surrounding their relations Vardy has been the most effective goalscorer since Puel took over in October 2017 taking his Premier League tally to 22, double the number of the next highest Foxes scorer. Whilst Leicester have found
Federer on winning team after facing Serena for 1st time
Roger Federer won the bragging rights over fellow tennis great Serena Williams as they faced each other on court for the first time on Tuesday, with Federer spearheading Switzerland's 4-2, 4-3 (3) victory over the United States in a mixed doubles decider at the Hopman Cup. "I was nervous returning. People talk about her serve so much and I see why it is such a wonderful serve because you just can't read it," Federer said. "It was great fun. You see how determined and focused she is, and I love that about her." Federer and playing partner Belinda Bencic overcame Williams and Frances Tiafoe in the Fast4 format as Switzerland beat the U.S. 2-1 in front of a 14,000 capacity crowd. Federer and Williams shared a good-natured interview afterward and then engaged in a selfie. "It was so fun. This is super cool that we get to do it at such a pinnacle point of our careers," Williams said. "I was so excited, and literally it was the match of my career. Just playing someone so great, and someone .
Sindhu earns bragging rights with three-game win over Saina in PBL
P V Sindhu began the new year with a morale boosting win over Saina Nehwal to give defending champions Hyderabad Hunters a 3-1 lead over North Eastern Warriors in the Premier Badminton League here Tuesday. Sindhu, who had lost her last two matches in the PBL against Sung Ji Hyun and Beiwen Zhang, was keen to start the year with a win and there couldn't have been a bigger opponent across the net than the other shuttle queen of Indian badminton. Sindhu ended the match with a 11-15 15-9 15-5 win. Saina, who had sat out the previous three matches of North Eastern Warriors due to a shin injury, was definitely not 100 percent and was seen struggling for stamina following long rallies. But the way she fought back from a 7-10 deficit to clinch seven straight points and then wrap up the opening game showed that the former world number one was not going to go out without a fight. However, Sindhu simply managed to raise the tempo in the second game as she raced to a 8-3 lead and though Saina ...
Ashwin has bowling session ahead of Sydney Test
Racing against time to be fit for the fourth and final Test against Australia starting Thursday, India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin underwent a solo indoor bowling session at the SCG on Tuesday. Ashwin, who was accompanied by physiotherapist Patrick Farhart and another support staff, bowled at the indoor centre facilities of the Sydney Cricket Ground while rest of the India squad took the day off. The 32-year-old off-spinner missed the second and third Tests because of a side strain he sustained during the first Test win in Adelaide, where he claimed 6 for 149, his best match figures in seven Tests in Australia. With the SCG pitch expected to be a turner, India are hoping for Ashwin's quick recovery before the final match of the four-Test series.
Ramkumar grinds his way to second round of Tata Open
Ramkumar Ramanathan smartly altered his tactics to tame seasoned Marcel Granollers in a tough opening round match after Saketh Myneni pulled out of the Tata Open Maharashtra due to a foot injury, here Tuesday. It was Ramkumar's first victory over Granollers, who once figured in top-20 and came into this contest with a 2-0 head-to-head record. From the beginning, Ramkumar, ranked 132, opted for serve and volley tactics but it was Granollers who executed it better throughout. Realising that it was not working for him, Ramkumar chose to stay on the baseline, remaining strong on his serve against his opponent, ranked 36 places above him. The strategy worked and handed Ramkumar a hard-fought 4-6 6-4 6-4 win, his first in the main draw of an ATP World Tour event in three months. The last time he won a match at this level was during the ATP Shenzen Open in September 2018. The 24-year-old Indian fired nine aces in the one-hour and 57 minute match. He will next play fourth seed and world ...
Punjab pugilists dominate Day 2 of 3rd women's nationals
The New Year started on a great note for young boxers from Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab as they recorded the majority of the wins on the second day of the 3rd women's national boxing championships at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) here on Tuesday.
Vidarbha enter Ranji quarters; MP, Punjab close in
Vidarbha became the first team to seal a Ranji Trophy quarterfinal spot after thrashing Mumbai by an innings and 145 runs within three days of their penultimate league game, even as Madhya Pradesh and Punjab also registered comprehensive victories in their respective Round 8 games on Tuesday.