Page 752 - Sports
Bumrah credits Rohit for slow yorker idea
Having destroyed the Australian batting line-up with a career best six wicket haul, pacer Jasprit Bumrah credited Rohit Sharma for advising him to deliver the slow yorker which got rid of Shaun Marsh.
India women's hockey team do not fear top-ranked teams anymore: Rani
India's success against top-ranked nations this year has instilled a new self-belief and helped the women's hockey team shed its underdog tag, feels skipper Rani Rampal. Indian women's hockey team won a historic silver at the 18th Asian Games and another silver at the Asian Champions Trophy this year. They also finished at the quarterfinals at the World Cup in London and ended at the fourth place at the Commonwealth Games. "Though we would have preferred to win gold medal at the 18th Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang as well as the Asian Champions Trophy, I believe overall, we had a good outing in 2018," Rani said. "Beating England 2-1 at the Commonwealth Games, a 1-1 draw against them at their home turf during the Women's World Cup in London and a 0-1 loss to Australia in the semi-final at Gold Coast has given the team tremendous confidence and a self-belief. "We can give top teams a run for their money in big-ticket tournaments. We are no longer considered an underdog team by our ...
Marin Cilic pulls out of Tata Open Maharashtra
World no. 7 Marin Cilic Friday pulled out of next week's Maharashtra Open tennis tournament, citing a nagging knee injury. Portugal's Pedro Sousa will now enter the main draw after the withdrawal of the second-seeded player from Croatia, who made the announcement through his social media accounts. "I am sad to announce I have had to pull out of the Tata Open Maharashtra. My sincerest apologies to the fans and organizers," Cilic posted on his Instagram account. "I was looking forward to returning, however, my knee pains that began toward the end of the season have escalated. "Treatments during the short off season have been helping but there is still a ways to go and I cannot go into this tournament knowing I am not currently able to give 100%." The former US Open champion, however, hoped to return next year for the tournament. "I will miss celebrating New Year's in India this year as I have done for so many years now, but I hope to continue my New Year's tradition there next ...
We have to bat like Virat, Pujara in second innings: Cummins
Australia pacer Pat Cummins asked his fellow teammates to bat like Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara after they were skittled out for a paltry 151 in the first innings of the third Test here.
Defence Ministry to organise 'Drone Olympics' to encourage UAV production in country
Seeking to encourage indigenous manufacturing of UAVs, the Defence Ministry is organising a Drone Olympics along with the Aero India air show in Bangalore where both national and international players would showcase their capabilities."Drone Olympics would be open to both national and international players where they would be showcase their capabilities in surveillance, dropping of supplies and formation flying of drones," a Defence Ministry official said here.The Drone Olympics will not only encourage manufacturing of drones in the country but will also provide an opportunity to armed forces to assess the capabilities that exist across the world in this field, the officials said.The market for drones is rapidly expanding across the globe.In the defence sector, there is an increasing demand of UAVs for varied uses, such as surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and combat strike missions.As part of the competition, the defence ministry has also launched a new web page for ...
Working on consistency has always been my main goal: Bumrah
Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah gave a fire-packed performance against Australia on Day Three of their ongoing third Test by scalping a six-wicket haul but the right-arm bowler is not surprised by his figures. He said that he has always been confident about his bowling and has worked hard on maintaining the consistency.Asserting that he is not meant just for the limited-overs cricket, Bumrah said that he holds a lot of first-class experience and was always interested in playing Test cricket.Speaking at a post-match press conference Bumrah said, "I always wanted to play Test cricket. People have only seen me playing white ball cricket but I played a lot of first-class cricket, earlier. I was always confident that whenever I get a chance, I will be able to do well. The start has been good for me. Hopefully, I will keep learning and keep getting better".He added, "There is no new delivery that I have added into my armoury but yeah working on consistency has always been my main ...
I'm not interested in their age but abilities, says Constantine
Chief coach Stephen Constantine on Friday made it clear that he believes in the ability of his players and not their ages, saying he can foresee a team which can serve Indian football for the next 10 years. India is fielding the second youngest side with an average age of 25 in the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup in UAE slated to begin from January 5. "I never differentiate between seniors and juniors. They are all playing for India. I'm not interested in their ages, but their abilities. Our average age is about 25. The situation is fantastic for Indian Football where we can foresee a team for the next 10 years," Constantine said, the morning after India played a goalless draw against Oman in an international friendly. "After this tournament, we'll have a young Indian squad with an experience of playing in an Asian Cup," he added. Referring to the goalless draw against Oman, Constantine said he was pleased with the efforts of his side. "It was a very good game for us. Oman were a very ...
Controversy as South Africa close in on victor
A dropped catch and a controversial umpiring decision thwarted Pakistan as South Africa made progress towards victory on the third day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Friday. Chasing a target of 149, South Africa were 81 for one at lunch after a tense morning. Pakistan made an ideal start when Hasan Ali trapped Aiden Markram leg before wicket before a run had been scored. Hasan and Mohammad Amir did not concede a run off the bat until Hashim Amla clipped Hasan for four in the sixth over. There were two crucial incidents with the total on 16, either of which could have swung the game in Pakistan's favour. Amla, on eight, was dropped by Fakhar Zaman at third slip off Hasan when he slashed hard at the ball, which flew at chest height to the fielder. In the next over, Dean Elgar, on four, edged new bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi low to first slip where Azhar Ali appeared to take a diving catch. On-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Sundaram Ravi conferred before referring to television .
Follow Pogba's example, Solskjaer tells lacklustre star trio
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned Manchester United stars Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez they should follow Paul Pogba's example if they are to revive their careers at the club. Lukaku and Sanchez suffered a dramatic loss of form in the last months of Jose Mourinho's tempestuous spell in charge at Old Trafford, while Martial was criticised by the Portuguese coach before finding his scoring boots. World Cup winner Pogba was another key player who became a symbol of the club's decline in the final weeks before Mourinho's two-and-a-half year tenure came to an end before Christmas. But the 25-year-old Frenchman has responded superbly to Solskjaer's first week in charge and made big contributions to a 5-1 win at Cardiff and 3-1 home victory against Huddersfield. Lukaku missed those games, having been given 'compassionate leave' by the cub, as did Sanchez who has been sidelined since late November with a hamstring injury. Solskjaer says Pogba deserves all the credit for ...
Arsenal chairman responsible for hiring Wenger dies
Former Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood, who signed off on hiring a then largely unknown Arsene Wenger as manager, has died aged 82, the Premier League club announced on Friday. The former Army officer and successful banker was chairman of the Gunners -- the third member of his family to fill the role after his grandfather and father -- from 1982-2013. Under his chairmanship, Arsenal enjoyed two successful eras with starkly contrasting styles of play. The conservative defensive strategy of George Graham secured the club two league titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup between 1986 and 1995. However, the club was to enjoy a complete makeover when Hill-Wood and the board rubber-stamped their dynamic vice-chairman David Dein's recommendation to hire Wenger in 1996. The Frenchman was to revolutionise English football and in the process win three Premier League titles -- including the 'Invincibles' season in 2003/04 -- and four FA Cups. "It is with deep regret that ..
Ability of players matter, not their age: Coach Stephen Constantine
Indian football team coach Stephen Constantine who has always been vocal in "building the team for future", on Friday stressed that he believes in the "ability of his players, and not their age".Blue Tigers, with an average age of 25, are fielding the second youngest side in the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019."I never differentiate between seniors and juniors. They are all playing for India. I am not interested in their ages, but their abilities. Our average age is about 25. The situation is fantastic for Indian Football where we can foresee a team for the next 10 years. After this tournament, we'll have a young Indian squad with experience of playing in an Asian Cup," the coach said.Talking about the goalless match in an international friendly against mighty Oman, Constantine explained that the "boys worked very hard.""It was a very good game for us. Oman were a very difficult opponent and have been unbeaten in the last 12 months. The boys worked very hard and I am very pleased ..
Ranji Trophy experience helped me to reverse swing: Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah said his experience of getting reverse swing on slower pitches in first class cricket helped him get the best out of a docile MCG track after his six-wicket haul put India in command in the third Test here. Bumrah's produced a career-best effort of 6/33 in 15.5 overs, becoming the first bowler from the subcontinent to take a five-for or more in South Africa, England and Australia in the same year. "When I was bowling there, the wicket had become really slow and the ball had become soft... I tried to bowl a slower one, a fuller slow ball. Maybe it will dip or go to short cover. It worked because the ball had started reversing," Bumrah said on Friday. "When we play on similar wickets back home, the ball reverses. So you try to make the most of it. We were trying to use our experience in First-Class cricket where we have bowled with reverse-swinging balls. That was the plan," he added. Bumrah's exploits helped India bowl out Australia for a meagre 151 in the first innings .
CA warns MCG fans against racist chants
After Indian cricketers were subjected to racist chants, Cricket Australia on Friday warned a section of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) crowd to avoid such slurs in the ongoing third Test here.
Saga of missed chances continues to hurt Indian hockey in 2018
It was touted as the year which could herald a change in the fortunes Indian hockey, but 2018 turned out to be yet another saga of missed opportunities for the sport. Much was expected from the three big ticket events -- the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the World Cup -- but rather than living upto expectations, 2018 turned out to be a year of 'what-could-have-been' for the eight-time Olympic champions. At the start of the year, India were expected to defend their Asian Games title and directly qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. They were also expected to make the semifinals at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar, but all those hopes never turned into reality. In world rankings, India started the year at number six and ended at fifth, summing up an unaccomplished 2018. The only constant in Indian hockey in the year was frequent "chopping and changing" -- from player to coach -- after every debacle. The year started with the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia where veteran ..
Need to bat like Pujara, Kohli in second innings: Cummins
Bundled out for a paltry 151 in the first innings, pacer Pat Cummins on Friday said Australian batsmen need to learn a lot from India captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara on how to pace their knocks on this MCG pitch. Pujara and Kohli had put on 170 runs in the first innings to help India declare at a mammoth 443 for seven and Cummins said the Australian batsmen need to take a cue from the visiting duo's temperament. "It was obviously not ideal. We turned up thinking of a good first innings score and be right in the game. We wanted to take this result away from them. This is a young batting group and they are working hard. They are trying their best, but it is just one of those things. Today it didn't come off," Cummins said after the day's play. "What we saw from India's first innings, we saw temperament of Pujara and Virat and how they pace their innings. They absorb pressure because on this kind of wicket, it is hard to score runs. "You have to face a lot of balls to get big ..
Naomi Osaka hits with Andy Murray in Brisbane
US Open tennis champion Naomi Osaka enjoyed a practice session with the three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray ahead of her 2019 campaign at the Brisbane International.The world number five took to her Instagram to share the picture from her friendly match with Murray."I don't know why you let me hit with you but thank you," Osaka said on Thursday.Heaping praises on the Japanese tennis star, the British player in his reply posted a picture captioned: "Thanks for the hit today @naomiosakatennis I think you missed about 2 balls in 30 minutes...and also for the advice on Japanese."The Brisbane International is slated to begin on December 31 and will conclude on January 6.
Injured LeBron James expected to miss several games
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is likely to miss multiple games due to a strained left groin.
Ex-Brazil defender Rever rejoins Atletico Mineiro
Former Brazil international centre-back Rever has returned to his former club Atletico Mineiro after parting ways with Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo.
Murray happy with decision not to quit tennis
Former world number one Andy Murray says he has no regrets about not walking away from tennis despite missing 11 months of the year with a hip injury. The three-time Grand Slam champion was speaking ahead of his return to the sport at the season-opening Brisbane International, which gets underway at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Monday. Murray, who won the Brisbane title in 2012 and 2013, enters the tournament with a world ranking of 256. The 31-year-old Scot had intended to play in Brisbane at the beginning of 2018, but was forced to withdraw on the eve of the tournament and pull out of the Australian Open with a hip injury. He had surgery soon after, which kept him out of the game for much of the year. "You want to go out on your own terms," he said when asked about a possible retirement after practising with Grigor Dimitrov. "If I decided to stop six months ago, having not played or gotten back to a level where I can compete again, I would have looked back and regretted that. "I .
Liga MX's Veracruz signs English forward Kazim-Richards
English forward Colin Kazim-Richards, who played for the Turkish national football team and Mexico's Lobos BUAP, has signed with Liga MX club Veracruz, the team's management said.