Page 746 - Sports
Prajnesh, Ramkumar eye strong start to new season at big home event
Presenting the home challenge, Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Ramkumar Ramanathan would need to give their all in tackling a superior field at Tata Open Maharashtra, where Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson will be a firm title-favourite. A gritty Prajnesh would be keen to pick up from where he left off at his breakthrough 2018 season while Ramkumar will eye a strong start to a fresh season after getting a taste of what it takes to reach final of an ATP World Tour event. In the 23-year long history of this ATP 250 tournament in India -- across two cities -- a home grown player has never captured the singles trophy till date with Somdev Devvarman's runner-up show in the 2009 Chennai edition being the best. It is an unrealistic expectation from Prajnesh and Ramkumar to re-write history but the two players have shown enough talent and fighting ability to pose a serious challenge to top players. It is the consistency in putting that fight day in and day out in the unforgiving sport -- that tests
Paine says in absence of Smith, Warner, his batsmen failed against top class Indian bowling attack
Comprehensively beaten by India at the MCG to concede a Test series lead, Australia skipper Tim Paine Sunday admitted his batsmen failed to cope with the high quality opposition bowling attack in the absence of banned Steve Smith and David Warner. India beat Australia by 137 runs in the third Test to go 2-1 up in the four-match series and take giant strides towards winning their first ever Test series on Australian soil in seven decades. But Paine sought to explain the defeat to the team's inexperience in the absence of Smith and Warner who were banned, along with Cameron Bancroft, for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in the Cape Town Test earlier this year. Bancroft's ban period ended on Saturday while Smith and Warner will have to wait till March end. "It is inexperience. It is pressure. India's bowling attack being probably as good as probably most of these guys have ever faced. It is pretty clear, if you take 2 or 3 of the best players out of anyone's lineup in the .
Bumrah is the best bowler in world cricket now: Virat Kohli
Skipper Virat Kohli rated Jasprit Bumrah as the "best (fast) bowler in the world" and someone even he would have been "scared to face" on a bouncy Perth wicket. Courtesy Bumrah's match haul of 9 for 86, India beat Australia by 137 runs in the third Test to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series. "Jasprit obviously is the best bowler in the world, as per me. He is a match winner, without doubt, even if he has only been playing (Test cricket) for 12 months," Kohli was lavish in his praise for the Gujarat bowler, who has taken 48 wickets in his memorable season in Test cricket. The skipper then paid a rare compliment which possibly is the one that the pacer would treasure for the rest of his life. "I mean if there was a pitch like Perth, I wouldn't want to face Jasprit Bumrah to be honest because if he gets on a roll, he can really crank it up. The way he bowls is so much more different to anyone and I think he realizes that more than the batsmen. That's why he is so ...
One killed, 10 injured in clash between Awami League and BNP supporters
A Jubo League leader was killed and 10 others injured in a clash between the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP supporters on Sunday in Rangamati's Kawkhali in Bangladesh. The deceased was identified as Md Basir Uddin, the Jubo League general secretary of Ghagra Union, Bdnews24 reported. "Jubo League and BNP activists clashed at 6:30am (local time) in Ghagra Union's Rangipara. Shots were fired," the news website reported, citing an official. "Basir and 10 others were injured in the clash. Basir was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead," the official said. The injured were admitted to Kawkhali Upazila Health Complex, said upazila Awami League General Secretary Ershad Mia. The Jubo League is the youth wing of the ruling Awami League.
Our first-class cricket is amazing which is why we won: Kohli's subtle response to O'Keefe
Virat Kohli attributed emergence of Jasprit Bumrah as a lethal pacer to India's "amazing domestic structure" in a subtle yet classy response to the uncharitable on-air comments made by former Australian cricketers Kerry O'Keefe and Mark Waugh. "Our first-class cricket is amazing, which is why we won. Credit must go to first-class set-up in India, which challenges our fast bowlers in India, and that helps them abroad," the Indian skipper said without taking names. But it was clear that Kohli's comments were meant for former leg-break bowler O'Keefe. Even, man of the match Bumrah (match haul of 9/86) made it a point to mention the contribution of Ranji Trophy behind his success in Test cricket. "We train very hard and we are used to bowling a lot of overs in Ranji cricket, so the body is doing well," Bumrah said after India beat Australia by 137 runs in the third Test here. It all started on the first day of the match when O'Keefe, a mediocre leg-spinner, with modest record of 53 ...
Melbourne Test: India beat Australia, retain Border-Gavaskar Trophy
India out-played Australia by 137 runs to win the third Test and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.The visitors have secured an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the four-match Test series.After declaring India's second innings at 106 for the loss of eight, the hosts were challenged to chase a mammoth total of 399. In its reply, Australia resumed their innings on 258 for the loss of eight after the rain wiped out the morning session of the fifth day.Pat Cummins, who was stranded on 61 on the fourth day, could manage only two more runs before returning back to the pavilion. On an away swinging delivery from Jasprit Bumrah, Cummins was caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip. Soon after, Nathan Lyon, who remained unbeaten on 6 on the fourth day, gifted his wicket to Ishant Sharma on short-ball after adding just one run to his kitty.India scripted history as they won a Test match at MCG for the first time in 37 years after bowling out Australia
India beat Australia by 137 runs in 3rd Test
India took giant strides towards winning their first ever series on Australian soil in seven decades by retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a comprehensive 137-run win in the third Test on Sunday. Taking an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series, India will retain the coveted trophy even if the series is drawn level at Sydney as they have won the previous series at home in 2017. It took only 27 balls on the fifth day afternoon as Jasprit Bumrah (3/53) and Ishant Sharma (2/40) completed the formalities in what turned out to be India's 150th Test victory. After losing out the first session due to steady showers, Australia could onl;y manage to add three runs to their overnight score of 258 for 8 as they were all out for 261 in 89.3 overs. India thus won a Test match at the iconic MCG after 37 long years when Sunil Gavaskar's men beat Greg Chappell's side in the 1980-81 series. Fittingly it was the legendary Kapil Dev, who had then played a major role taking five wickets in
French hero who saved hundreds of Jewish children dies aged 108
French Resistance hero Georges Loinger, who used his ingenuity and athletic prowess to save the lives of hundreds of Jewish children during World War II, has died at the age of 108. A talented athlete and cousin of the famous mime artist and fellow Resistance member Marcel Marceau, Loinger would smuggle the children in small groups across the Franco-Swiss border by throwing a ball and telling them to run after it. Another ruse involved dressing children up as mourners and taking them to a cemetery whose wall abutted the French side of the border. With the help of a gravedigger's ladder the "mourners" would clamber over the wall and head for the border just feet away. Loinger died on Friday, France's Holocaust Memorial Foundation said on its website, describing him as an "exceptional man". The children he saved, whose parents had been killed or sent to Nazi concentration camps, were under the responsibility of the Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants, (OSE) a Jewish children's aid society ...
Nightmare draw for Venus and Azarenka in Auckland
Venus Williams and Victoria Azarenka have been drawn to face each other in a blockbuster first-round clash at the WTA ASB Classic, which starts in Auckland on Monday. The two former world number ones and tournament drawcards were also joined by Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki in the top quarter of the draw, meaning only one of the big-name trio can make the semi-finals. Williams, who won the Auckland title three years ago, may be heading into the twilight of her career at 38 but said she was keen to go as far into the tournament as she could. "I'm looking to win matches here. She is always tough so I'm looking forward to it," Williams said of her clash with the Belarusian Azarenka, who is nine years her junior. Williams and Azarenka have faced each other six times, with the American winning the first four and Azarenka the last two. "It's exciting for me to play against a champion like Venus," two-time Australian Open winner Azarenka said. "It's the first round, so we're ...
'I wanted to kill him': Ranieri rages at Kamara in penalty row
Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri admitted he felt like "killing" Aboubakar Kamara after the French striker ignored instructions and took the missed penalty that almost cost the London side victory against Huddersfield on Saturday. Fulham secured a 1-0 win against their Premier League relegation rivals when Aleksandar Mitrovic scored in stoppage time. Minutes earlier, however, usual penalty taker Mitrovic had seen Kamara's tame effort from the spot saved by Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl with the scores level at 0-0. "The man who should shoot the penalty is Mitrovic, and Kamara did not respect me, the club, the team-mates, the crowd, anybody," said Ranieri. "He take the ball and want to shoot the ball, it is unbelievable. I want to kill him.
We'll do it my way: Defiant Guardiola insists on business as usual
Pep Guardiola says he will never change his football principles even if Manchester City's poor run of form continues into the new year. A run of three defeats in four Premier League matches has seen Guardiola's side slip from first to third in the Premier League table, severely damaging their chances of retaining the title they won with a record 100 points in May. City follow up Sunday's visit to Southampton with a home match against leaders Liverpool on Thursday, before struggling Championship side Rotherham United visit in the FA Cup three days after that. Liverpool are 10 points clear of City after crushing Arsenal 5-1 on Saturday. Guardiola said that even if City lost all three of their next matches, he would not waver from the high-pressing, fast-passing principles with which he has made his reputation as a coach. "That is not going to happen. It did not happen in the first year; it is not going to happen," he said. "Why should I? Because I lost two games? No way. It is ...
'We are all Koulibaly': Napoli fans don masks to support racism victim
Thousands of Napoli fans showed their support for Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly who was subjected to racist chanting at Inter Milan in midweek by wearing masks and holding up his picture before their team's Serie A game against Bologna on Saturday. Posters with the message "Siamo Tutti Koulibaly" ("We are all Koulibaly") were visible throughout the Stadio San Paolo during the game which the hosts won 3-2. Napoli's French-born player Koulibaly was targeted by monkey noises and racist chants at the San Siro on Wednesday, before being sent off for sarcastically applauding the referee. Serie A returned to action three days after the violent clashes in Milan during which an Inter supporter died after being hit by a car. And fans showed their solidarity with Koulibaly, wearing masks with the player's face, as well as t-shirts bearing his name. The home fans also displayed a banner on front of the stadium, "We are all Koulibaly: no to racism!," with fliers in the stadium "Koulibaly ..
Solskjaer keen to convince De Gea, Martial to stay at Man Utd
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may only be in charge of Manchester United for the remainder of this season, but the interim manager wants to see Anthony Martial and David de Gea sign long-term contracts at Old Trafford. United have activated one-year extensions for both players in recent weeks, meaning they are tied to the club until the end of next season. But forward Martial and goalkeeper De Gea remain locked in talks with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over longer deals with no sign of an end to the impasse imminent. Solskjaer, who himself is only under contract with the Premier League club until the summer, may have limited say in United's long-term strategy. But the popular former United forward, who has made an early case for the job on a permanent basis with comprehensive victories over Cardiff and Huddersfield in his first two games in charge, clearly hopes to leave his mark at Old Trafford by helping secure the services of two key players. "I know the club want them to sign, of ..
Ronaldo brace seals new record for Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Juventus closed out 2018 on a high with a 2-1 win over Sampdoria to set a new points record in Serie A before the winter break on Saturday. Not to be outdone, however, Napoli's Arkadiusz Milik also bagged a brace with a 3-2 home win against Bologna to keep the pressure on the champions. Ronaldo-powered Juventus have achieved a record number of points before the three-week winter break with 53 from 19 games. Napoli are nine points behind in second, with Inter Milan a further five adrift in third, days after their clash at the San Siro was overshadowed by the death of a supporter with Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly targetted by racist chanting. Koulibaly was suspended for Saturday's game but fans showed their support in his San Paolo stadium by wearing masks with the defender's face and holding up banners saying: "We are all Koulibaly". Dries Mertens sealed victory two minutes from time after Bologna battled back twice to level Milik's goals on 15 ...
Five-star Liverpool thrash Arsenal, Spurs stunned by Wolves
Liverpool extended their Premier League lead to nine points as Roberto Firmino's hat-trick hammered Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield, while Tottenham's title challenge crumbled in a 3-1 home defeat to Wolves. Manchester City could cut Liverpool's lead to seven points when they look to stop a recent slump at Southampton on Sunday, but ahead of their trip to the Etihad on January 3, Jurgen Klopp's men currently look well on course to deliver a first league title since 1989/90. "For sure Tottenham's result people out there reacted, but not inside the dressing room where they were completely concentrated on the match and not allowed to have that influence on our game," said Klopp. "That is how I want the team to stay which is to be concentrated, nothing else." Liverpool even overcame a rare deficit on home soil as for the first time this season after they trailed in the league at Anfield when Ainsley Maitland-Niles swept Arsenal into an 11th minute lead. However, the hosts were level within three ..
New Zealand crush Sri Lanka by 423 runs for record series win
New Zealand completed their demolition of Sri Lanka on day five of the second Test in Christchurch on Sunday, needing only 14 balls to take the last three wickets for a colossal 423-run victory. The overwhelming victory gave New Zealand the series 1-0 after the first Test in Wellington was drawn. This is the first time in their 88-year Test history that New Zealand have won four successive series, following wins over the West Indies, England and Pakistan this year. Trent Boult and Neil Wagner mopped up the innings to have Sri Lanka 236 for nine with the injured Angelo Mathews not returning to finish his innings. Sri Lanka resumed Sunday on 231 for six and were in immediate trouble. Suranga Lakmal was bowled by Trent Boult on the third ball of the morning without adding to his overnight 18. Neil Wagner had Dilruwan Perera caught in the next over for 22 before Boult came back to finish the innings, trapping Dushmantha Chameera in his second over for three. Wagner, who had struggled for .
Putin takes part in holiday ice hockey game
Russian President Vladimir Putin laced up his skates here on Saturday for what has become a traditional year-end ice hockey match on Moscow's Red Square.
Tanongsak, Rituparna take North Eastern Warriors to second consecutive win
Rituparna Das continued her unbeaten run as North Eastern Warriors registered their second successive win, thrashing Delhi Dashers in the Premier Badminton League Season 4 here Saturday. After Rituparna's thunderous start, Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk put up a spectacular display to beat Delhi Dashers' trump Tommy Sugiarto and put North Eastern Warriors on the path to victory. Delhi Dashers were in search of their first win in what has been a not so good fourth season of the league for the Season 1 champions. After a 0-5 drubbing at the hands of the Mumbai Rockets and a 1-4 defeat to the Ahmedabad Smash Masters, all they needed was a good start. However, World No. 32 Evgeniya Kosetskaya failed to give them that and conceded the women's singles rubber to Rituparna. Despite being ranked only 55th, the Haldia-born shuttler never let the gulf in the rankings come in the way. With team captain Saina Nehwal recovering from a shin injury, she did full justice to the faith that the Warriors had ..
Gerrard ends former boss Rodgers' Old Firm dominance
Steven Gerrard emerged victorious in the Old Firm clash with his former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers as Rangers deservedly beat champions and bitter rivals Celtic 1-0 on Saturday. It was Rodgers first experience of defeat in 13 meetings with Rangers and puts Gerrard's side level on points with Celtic, though the latter stay top courtesy of a better goal difference. Celtic also have a game in hand. Ryan Jack's deflected goal on the half-hour mark proved the difference in a match that Rangers largely dominated against a strangely out-of-sorts Celtic. The visitors were only supported by 750 of their fans as Rangers had slashed their usual ticket allowance of 7,000. A delighted Gerrard, whose decision to take the job is bearing fruit thusfar despite many questioning the wisdom of his choice, said the victory was for the fans who had endured years of frustration. "The players to a man were outstanding, all over the pitch," Gerrard told Sky Sports. "We were better to a man, we were the ...
Stage set for PKL play-offs
The playoffs of Pro Kabaddi League - Season VI will get underway here Sunday with the top three teams from Zone A and Zone B competing against each other. In Eliminator-1, U Mumba faces UP Yoddha, while Dabang Delhi KC takes on Bengal Warriors in the second eliminator. The qualifier 1 and Eliminator 3 will be held on December 31, where Gujarat Fortunegiants faces Bengaluru Bulls in Qualifier 1. The tournament will subsequently move to Mumbai for Qualifier 2 and the grand finale. The match between U Mumba, champions in season-2 and surprise entrants UP Yoddha promises to be an exciting one.