Page 775 - Sports
Banned Smith eyes comeback in 2019 ICC World Cup
Banned for a year for his role in the ball tampering scandal earlier this year, former Australia skipper Steve Smith is eyeing a return to the side as the Kangaroos prepare to defend their title at the upcoming 50-over ICC World Cup in England and Wales next year.
Phillip Cocu favourite to coach Belgium's Anderlecht
Former Barcelona football player Phillip Cocu of the Netherlands is the favourite to coach Belgium's Anderlecht, the Belgian press reported on Friday.
Saina says playing in end-of-year PBL sometimes affects body
The Premier Badminton League (PBL), starting here on Saturday, is being held at the end of the year after a hectic season and at times it does affect the players' bodies, feels star Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal. "Everyone gives their 100 per cent, that's for sure, and wants to win. But it's the end of the year and sometimes it gets to the body. It's not easy for all the players. It's one of the toughest tournaments, but everyone gives their best," said Saina at a PBL pre-season 4 media conference here. Saina, who would be leading North Eastern Warriors in the nine-team League, was responding to a query whether the players could replicate in the PBL the intensity with which they normally play in the Super Series events. "It's not the same as a tournament. It is a team event. You enjoy playing a team event. For us it's sometimes like a festival. We see so many matches. Youngsters also benefit. Badminton is growing now because of the performances (of the top shuttlers) and .
Laxman's 281 is the greatest innings played by an Indian cricketer: Dravid
Rahul Dravid had the "best seat" in the house when VVS Laxman scored his epic 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens, an innings that the former captain termed as the "greatest innings by an Indian". "Without a doubt, I think, the 281 was probably one of the most significant and greatest innings played by an Indian cricketer, in terms of the context, the consequence, the innings was played in, Dravid said at the launch of Laxman's autobiography "281 and Beyond" late Thursday evening here. "I really had the best seat in the house for the greatest Indian innings ever played," he added. Dravid also lavished praise at his stroke-making capabilities during the epic knock. "I was still imagining him and visualising him, stepping outside the leg-stump and hitting Shane Warne through the covers, for a ball that is pitched yards outside the legs-stump. Or to be able to flick a ball on the middle and off-stump on a turning track in Kolkata, across the line, against a great bowler like Shane .
We wanted Kumble to continue but he wanted to quit: Laxman
BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee member and batting legend VVS Laxman Friday said the their panel wanted Anil Kumble to continue as India's coach but the former captain was bent on quitting after his fallout with skipper Virat Kohli last year. Reflecting on the tumultuous phase that gripped Indian cricket during last year's Champions Trophy, Laxman said the episode left a "bitter taste in the mouth". "I don't think Kohli crossed the line. We at the CAC thought Anil should continue as coach but he thought the right decision was to quit and move ahead. It left a bitter taste in the mouth," Laxman said at the 'India Today South Conclave' here. The CAC, comprising Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, picked Kumble as national coach in 2016. However, the appointment didn't quite work out as Kumble and Kohli's difference of opinions spiralled into a full-blown public fallout which culminated into Kumble stepping down. The former captain went on to say that his relationship with ...
IOA Secy Gen Mehta becomes president of South Asian fencing body
Fencing Association of India (FAI) president Rajeev Mehta has been made the head of the South Asian body for a four-year term. FAI secretary general Bashir Ahmed Khan will also hold a similar post at the South Asian Fencing Federation. Mehta, who is also secretary general of Indian Olympic Association, and Khan were elected at a recent meeting of the SAFF held in Hyderabad. Mehta informed in the meeting that the game of fencing has been included in the list of events for the South Asian Games to be held in August next year in Nepal. It was also decided to conduct the South Asian Fencing Championship every year. The first South Asian Fencing Championship 2019 will be held in Chhattisgarh.
Nine teams to slug it out in PBL 4 from Saturday
An array of top stars, including Olympic and World Champion Carolina Marin of Spain, and India's Rio Olympics silver medalist P V Sindhu are all set to slug it out in season 4 of the Premier Badminton League that begins here on Saturday. The other top international stars, who will be seen in action in the nine-team PBL featuring 90 players from 17 countries in all, which is set to conclude in Bengaluru on January 13, are Dane Viktor Axelsen, Lee Yong Dae of Korea and Indians K Srikanth, H S Pranoy and Saina Nehwal. Pune 7 Aces, spearheaded by Marin, is the new franchise team in the league that will see eight Olympic medalists in action in five cities, including Pune and Ahmedabad, which will be hosting matches for the first time. The nine teams Delhi Dashers, Ahmedabad Smash Masters, Awadhe Warriors, Bengaluru Raptors, Mumbai Rockets, Hyderabad Hunters, Chennai Smashes, North Eastern Warriors and debutantes Pune 7 Aces would be slugging it out for a total prize fund .
Iran to play Palestine, Qatar in Asian Cup warm-up games
Iran's national football team will play two friendly matches against Palestine and Qatar in Doha before heading to the United Arab Emirates for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Botafogo sign former Brazil goalkeeper Cavalieri
Botafogo have announced the signing of former Brazil international goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri for the 2019 season.
River Plate deny Real Madrid interest in midfielder Palacios
River Plate president Rodolfo D'Onofrio has denied speculation linking highly rated midfielder Exequiel Palacios to Real Madrid.
Kohli's stomach to compete still makes India favourites to win series: Viv
Virat Kohli will drag his team to a series win against Australia despite the Perth setback, cricket legend Vivian Richards prophesied on Friday.
Will love to be challenged by Lyon: Viv Richards (IANS Interview)
Having dominated the best of bowlers during his time, cricket legend Vivian Richards said on Friday he would enjoy a challenge against Australian offie Nathan Lyon the most among the modern day exponents of the cherry, while also keeping India's chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in that list.
Only thinking about Bayern Munich, says James Rodrigues
Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez has refused to speculate about his future beyond this season, saying he is focused only on performing well for Bayern Munich.
FIFA research says 3.5B people viewed some World Cup action
FIFA says more than 3.5 billion people viewed some of the 2018 World Cup, with 1.12 billion watching at least one minute of France beating Croatia 4-2 in the final. A FIFA-commissioned review of World Cup viewing says the final's television audience was 516.6 million by the traditional measure of "global average in-home audience." More watched on digital devices and out-of-home screenings in public spaces, bars and restaurants. The global TV audience for the 64-game tournament in Russia averaged 191 million per game up from 187 million for the 2014 edition in Brazil. FIFA says "each game was a global televisual event in its own right." FIFA's research suggests most viewers also watched for longer than they did four years earlier.
Solskjaer says he would 'love' to be full-time Man Utd boss
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told his first official press conference as Manchester United's caretaker manager on Friday that he would relish the opportunity to be the permanent boss. The 45-year-old Norwegian, a legendary former player at Old Trafford, has been appointed interim boss until the end of the season, replacing Jose Mourinho, who was sacked on Tuesday. Solskjaer, on loan from Norway's Molde, conceded that he has not looked beyond the end of the current campaign with the club where he spent nearly 15 years as a player and coach. But he said he would be interested in taking the job permanently should the opportunity arise. "When you get a job like this and they ask you to sign for six months, you say 'yeah'," he said. "I'm happy to help out and my job now for the next six months is to do as well as I can and move the club forward as well as I can. "I understand there are so many managers who would love to be manager of Manchester United and I am one of them. But it is not something .
A medal in Olympics is my dream: Bajrang Punia
Star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has had a terrific 2018. Apart from becoming the world's top-ranked freestyle wrestler in the 65 kg category, the 24-year dominated some of the top competitions that were held in 2018, and the next thing on his mind is a medal in the Olympics.Speaking exclusively to ANI from Georgia, where he is currently training, Punia said that like every other player, it is his dream to win a medal for his country in the Olympic Games, and he is working hard to achieve the same."It is my dream to win an Olympic medal for my country. If I look back at the kind of performances I have given throughout the year, I get this sense of confidence that my preparations are going well and I am on a right track. I would like to continue my good run in terms of performance till 2020 Tokyo Olympics," Punia said.Revealing more about his plans for the Tokyo Olympics, the Asian Games gold-medallist said that he is currently focused on performing well in the 2019 Wrestling World ..
Hope to stay fit and give my best in 2019: Sindhu
Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu ended the year 2018 on a high note with a gold medal in the World Tour Finals. She is now hoping to carry the momentum in the upcoming year as well. When asked about her New Years' goals, Sindhu said that she is hoping to stay fit, healthy and giver her best on the court.The 23-year-old, while speaking to ANI, said that there will be Olympics qualifications next year, for which she is preparing to give her 100 per cent. She further stated that there are some important super series tournaments in 2019 and she is hoping to see herself in a top form.Speaking to ANI exclusively, Sindhu said, "The year 2018 ended on a very good note for me. I would like to carry the same confidence in 2019 as well. I hope that I stay fit, healthy and give my best in 2019. Olympics qualifications will be held next year. So I have to give my 100 per cent there.""There are some super series and important tournaments in 2019 where I want myself to be in top form and get some ...
Steve Smith opens up about 'dark days' post ball-tampering saga
Banned Australian cricketer Steve Smith has opened about the "tough" and "dark" days that he endured after being suspended for 12 months for his involvement in the massive ball-tampering scandal during a Test series against South Africa in March this year.The 29-year-old said that he has had his ups and downs and there were days when he did not want to get out of his bed. A close group of friends and family is what kept him going during the "difficult times", he added.Admitting the "big mistake", the right-hand batsman said that he is trying to move on and improve as a person."I'm going OK. I've had tough days. I've had my ups and downs. But I've been really fortunate to have a close group of people around me to help me through those difficult times. There have been some dark days where I haven't wanted to get out of bed and things like that," Cricket.com.au quoted Smith, as saying."But I've had a close group of people around me to help me know that it's OK. I've made a mistake and it
Salas says Colo Colo job a dream come true
Mario Salas said he is living out a dream after being selected as the new manager of Chilean club Colo Colo, the Andean nation's most popular and successful club.
Colombia's James denies friction with Bayern coach
Colombian international James Rodriguez said that he has no problem with his coach at Bayern Munich, Niko Kovac, dismissing rumours about dissension inside the German club.