Page 776 - Sports
Kohli-Paine verbal exchange within limits: Hussey
Former Australia batsman Michael Hussey might have criticised Virat Kohli for his aggressive celebrations in the ongoing Test series but feels that the verbal exchange between the India captain and his counterpart Tim Paine was within the limits of the game. Reacting to Kohli's celebrations at the fall of Australian wickets in the second Test in Perth, Hussey had said that the India captain "was out of control". But asked about the heated verbal exchange between Kohli and Paine in the same Test, Hussey said, "It did not go over the top. It was not aggressive or abusive. This is a tough series and you expect the odd thing to be said. It did not get out of hand. "I thought both players handled it well. It was nipped in the bud before it could escalate and get emotional. It showed both teams will play tough cricket and they are not going to back down. They will stand up for what they believe but doing it in the right way, not getting abusive or over the top," he told PTI. Hussey, who ...
Landmark 2018 fuels Olympic medal hopes for Indian table tennis
Indian table tennis earned the world's respect in a watershed 2018 when the country won a historic two medals at the Asian Games after Manika Batra's unprecedented showing at the Commonwealth Games. Sharath Kamal, arguably India's finest player who is still going strong at 36, summed up the year aptly. "At the start of the year, if anyone would have said we will win one, let alone two medals at the Asian Games, I would have laughed it off. It has been that kind of year. Best ever year for me and best ever for Indian table tennis," the veteran told PTI. The Sharath-led men's team exceeded its own expectations by winning a bronze at the Asian Games in Jakarta after stunning the mighty Japan in the quarterfinals. His younger teammate G Sathiyan delivered under pressure by winning both his singles against higher-ranked opponents. The dream run did not end there as Sharath and Manika landed a mixed doubles bronze which has given them the belief that they are good enough to win an Olympic ..
Smith hopes to recover lost ground before World Cup with strong IPL show
Former Australia captain Steve Smith Friday said he is desperate to recover lost ground ahead of next year's World Cup by competing in the IPL after being left so deflated by the ball-tampering scandal that getting out of bed became a struggle. Smith and former vice-captain David Warner were handed year-long international bans for their role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March which forced a review of Australia's cricket culture. "Now the way the One Day game is played it's almost like an extended T20. So I think T20 cricket is a good way to prepare and the IPL is one of the best tournaments around the world," Smith said in his first press conference after the tearful breakdown following the return from South Africa. While serving his ban, Smith has participated in several T20 competitions, including in Canada and the Caribbean, in a bid to get play time. The IPL is scheduled to be held in April-May followed by the World Cup in England starting May 30. The ...
Cardiff return a reminder of the challenge facing Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first test as Manchester United's caretaker manager will come in familiar surroundings as the Norwegian returns to Cardiff City on Saturday, hoping to fare better than he did during an ill-fated nine-month spell with the Welsh side in 2014. Solskjaer's appointment was described as designed to put a smile back on the face of everyone at the club after the confrontational end to Jose Mourinho's two-and-a-half years in charge. The new man's first act on his return to the club's Carrington training ground was reportedly to gift a bar of Norwegian chocolate to the club's long-serving receptionist -- a gesture of the human qualities United know they are getting. "The smiling assassin sums him up," former United midfielder Darren Fletcher, who played with Solskjaer, told the BBC. "He's a lovely fella but Ole will let people know if he's not happy with them." The best way for him to lighten to mood quickly will be with results on the pitch. A 3-1 defeat by Liverpool ...
Roma desperate to avoid nightmare before Christmas at Juve
Embattled Roma travel to Turin on Saturday desperate to bring some Christmas cheer back to their beleaguered fans in the capital by pulling off an upset against Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus. Unbeaten Italian champions Juventus have had a record-breaking start to the season since their blockbuster signing of Ronaldo in the close-season for 100 million euros ($117 million). The 33-year-old has started every one of Juventus' 16 league games, scoring 11 goals, being substituted just once, in the final ten minutes against Fiorentina this month after he scored the third goal from the spot. Massimiliano Allegri's side have dropped just two points at home against Genoa, and are on course for an eighth consecutive Scudetto -- eight points clear of second-placed Napoli, with Inter Milan a further six points adrift in third. By contrast Roma, after finishing third last season, are in the doldrums after the departure of key players including goalkeeper Alisson and midfielders Radja Nainggolan and
Man City's De Bruyne upbeat as he bids to put injuries behind him
Kevin De Bruyne's timely return to action for Manchester City is a major boost for Pep Guardiola as his team brace for a punishing programme over the festive period. The Belgium international, who has been limited to just 96 minutes of league football so far this season, started the midweek League Cup quarter-final against Leicester, which City won on penalties. He completed 70 minutes in only his second outing since injuring his knee for a second time this season in a League Cup tie with Fulham on November 1 and scored City's goal in the 1-1 draw. "I've been out so long, so to play 70 minutes is a really good sign for me personally," he told the club's official website. "I feel a little bit stiff but I'm happy to contribute again." City's home match in the Premier League against Crystal Palace on Saturday is the first game in a run of six matches in 16 days in three competitions so Guardiola will be desperate to have all his major stars at his disposal. In more good news for the City
AIFF president recollects the journey of national team
Wishing luck to the Blue Tigers for their forthcoming campaign in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel on Thursday recollected the upward journey of the National Team from 173 to 97 in the FIFA Rankings."The Indian Football Team have been doing well and have stitched a string of victories. I wish them good luck in their campaign in the forthcoming Asian Cup. We have been drawn in Group A and there are tough matches ahead. Nonetheless, we will definitely hope that team comes out with flying colours," he said at the AIFF's Annual General Body Meeting in the capital.Talking about the growing interest in the game in India, Patel said: "It is visible from the interest among Clubs, and teams to play - starting from the youth leagues. That is such a healthy sign as we need participation from all over, and not just from certain pockets. Sports have always been a great leveller. The I-League matches in Kashmir have been greeted with great .
WV Raman new women cricket team head coach
Former Indian cricketer WV Raman has been chosen by the Board of Control for Cricket in India-appointed ad-hoc committee as the head of women cricket team, a BCCI official said on Thursday.After a series of interviews conducted by a three-member panelist including legendary cricketers Kapil Dev, Shantha Rangaswamy and Anshuman Gaekwad, the ad-hoc committee zeroed on the 53-year-old, the official told ANI.Raman, who is known for being the first Indian to score a century in South Africa during the 1992-93 tour, is the current batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.He has played 11 Tests and 27 ODIs and coached Ranji Trophy teams like Tamil Nadu and Bengal. He also had a brief stint with the India U-19 team.Other candidates who were in the race for the position were Gary Kirsten, Venkatesh Prasad, Brad Hogg, Ramesh Powar, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Trent Johnson, Herschelle Gibbs, Manoj Prabhakar and Kalpana Venkatachar.Earlier today, BCCI Treasure Anirudh Chaudhry in
WV Raman new women cricket team head coach
After a series of interviews conducted by a three-member panelist including legendary cricketers Kapil Dev, Shantha Rangaswamy and Anshuman Gaekwad
Raman named women's cricket coach; Edulji, Rai spar on selection process
Former opener W V Raman was Thursday preferred over celebrated South African Gary Kirsten for the post of India's women's cricket coach amid a bitter war of words among the administrators over the selection process. The 53-year-old Raman is currently a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. His first assignment is the tour of New Zealand beginning next month. "His selection was based on recommendations of the ad-hoc committee comprising Mr Kapil Dev, Mr Anshuman Gaekwad and Ms Shantha Rangaswamy," the BCCI said in a statement. The panel recommended three names - Kirsten, Raman and Venkatesh Prasad (in order of preference) - to the Board. "However, Mr Kirsten was unable to take up this assignment due to his ongoing contract with an Indian Premier League franchise, which would have entailed Conflict of Interest as per the BCCI constitution," the Board stated. "Kirsten was the top choice for the BCCI ad-hoc selection committee but Raman got the job as the South .
BCCI confirms Raman as next women's team coach
The BCCI has confirmed the appointment of former India batsman W.V. Raman as head coach of the women's team.
Jayant Yadav traded to Mumbai Indians from Delhi Capitals
Indian off-spinner Jayant Yadav has joined the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise the Mumbai Indians after being traded by the Delhi Capitals on Thursday."Jayant Yadav will play for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League 2019 after being traded by the Delhi Capitals. The right arm off-spinner has been part of the Delhi franchise since 2015 playing in 10 IPL matches," the BCCI official statement said.In domestic cricket, Yadav plays for Haryana. The trading window will remains open until 30 days prior to the start of the IPL 2019 season.
Raman selected as next India women's team coach: Reports
Former India opener W.V. Raman has reportedly been selected as the chief coach of the India women's cricket team by the BCCI's three-member ad-hoc committee headed by first World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev.
IOC issues letter affirming AIBA's troubles
The International Olympic Committee confirmed Thursday that it had sent a letter to National Olympic Committees expressing "concern" with recent claims made by boxing's troubled governing body AIBA. The letter from IOC director-general Christophe De Kepper, first revealed by the Inside the Games website, was reportedly a response to a separate letter sent by AIBA's president Gafur Rakhimov, a controversial Uzbek businessman. The IOC press office confirmed to AFP that the letter had been sent. According to Inside the Games, Rakhimov had written to all 206 NOCs indicating that AIBA had "left the troubled past behind us". Last month, the IOC froze preparations for boxing at the 2020 Tokyo Games and launched a probe into AIBA, warning it could be stripped of the right to run the competition. That probe was triggered by the IOC's concerns about the AIBA's governance, ethics and financial management as well as the leadership of Rakhimov, whom the US Treasury Department has linked to ...
Shakib's all-round show sinks West Indies
Shakib Al Hasan starred with both bat and ball as Bangladesh edged West Indies by 36 runs in the second Twenty20 international to level the three-match series in Dhaka on Thursday. Sakib claimed 4-21, his maiden five-wicket haul in T20I, helping Bangladesh bowl out West Indies for 175 runs after his unbeaten 42 off 26 balls played a hand in Bangladesh's record score of 211-4. Rovman Powell hit highest 50 off 34 balls but succumbed to the pressure of a huge asking rate as West Indies folded their innings in 19.2 overs -- despite a late cameo by Keemo Paul, who made 29 off 16 balls. In-form Shai Hope gave West Indies a rollicking start, picking up 24 runs from one over of Mustafizur Rahman before he was dismissed by off-spinner Mehidy Hasan for 36 off 19 balls. Shakib bowled Fabien Allen for seven to complete his five-wicket haul -- becoming only the third Bangladeshi to achieve the feat -- before Mustafizur, who finished with 2-54, gave a decisive blow by removing Powell and Paul. "If .
San Jose win first Bolivian league title in 11 years
San Jose clinched the Bolivian league's 2018 Clausura football title with a 1-1 draw against Royal Pari on the final match day.
Pakistan hockey captain lashes out at team management
Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan senior has lashed out at the team management and authorities, saying it is unfair to blame senior players for the national team's debacle at the men's hockey World Cup in India. "The people in the management are now trying to blame six or seven of the senior players for what happened in the World Cup which is totally unfair," Rizwan said. "The fact is that we have to stop these ad-hoc arrangements of appointing local coaches and management for short term periods. We need to have a foreign coach and qualified staff from one World Cup to the next if we want to get good results," he said. Pakistan had crashed out of the hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar after suffering a devastating defeat at the hands of Belgium. Rizwan said that whenever foreign coaches had been brought in they had tried to improve the system and structure of hockey in the team and performance of players had improved. "Unfortunately they come for short periods and so we don't get required
PKL: Delhi play thrilling tie against Jaipur
Jaipur Pink Panthers ended their home leg with a 37-37 tie against Dabang Delhi in the Vivo Pro Kabaddi League here on Thursday.
Dabang Delhi play out 37-37 draw with Jaipur Pink Panthers
Dabang Delhi played out a thrilling 37-37 tie against Jaipur Pink Panthers in a Pro Kabaddi League season 6 fixture at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here Thursday. Selvamani's four-point raid was the brave moment of the match, while Sandeep Dhull showed immense strength and high fitness levels to score 6 tackle points. Deepak Hooda scored 8 points for Jaipur, while Chandran Ranjit (11 points) and Pawan Kadian (9 points) were among the top scorers for Dabang Delhi. Dabang Delhi made a strong start and led 5-0 after four minutes as they picked up a couple of raid and tackle points. A super tackle in the 5th minute opened Pink Panthers' account. They were kept alive in the match because of their defence as they forced another super tackle in the 8th minute to level the match at 6-6. Dabang Delhi took the lead once again, inflicting an all out in the 11th minute to lead 11-7. Selvamani's super raid in the 13th minute got Jaipur back in the match once again. It was a see-saw of a match with ...
PSG extends goalkeeper Areola's contract until 2023
Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday announced that France international goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has signed a four-year contract extension, tying him to the club until June 2023.