Page 778 - Sports
Top golfers to participate in Tata Open
Renowned Indian professionals such as Asian Tour winners Khalin Joshi, Rashid Khan, Chikkarangappa and Chiragh Kumar will vie for top honours in the 17th TATA Open Golf here from December 20-23. The top foreign players in the field are Sri Lankans Anura Rohana (defending champion), Mithun Perera, N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran as well as Australian Kunal Bhasin. The local challenge will be led by professional Karan Taunk of Jamshedpur. The field also features three leading amateurs from Jamshedpur -- Navtez Singh, Aditya Panchamiya and Armaan Parikh.
Apex rifle body, JSW Group join hands; aim for Olympic glory
In order to attain Olympic glory, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has got into a High Performance Partnership with the JSW Group to train the countrys shooters for next years Tokyo Games and the subsequent Olympics in 2024 in Paris. As part of the agreement, the USD 13 billion Indian conglomerate would fund NRAI's high performance resources and expert requirements to hone shooters' skills for the next two Olympic Games, it was announced at a media conference here on Thursday. Hailing the "strategic" partnership along with JSW sports director Parth Jindal, NRAI President Raninder Singh said at the conference the tie-up would help India's shooters achieve Olympic podium finish next year in Tokyo. "We are on the cusp of podium finishes in Tokyo. We had 27 medals in the recent World Championships out of which 24 were bagged by shooters in the 14-19 age group. "We are number one in the world among juniors and number three among seniors and in pistol shooting we
Archery GB submits proposal for inclusion in 2022 CWG
Archery Great Britain Thursday said it has delivered a proposal for archery's inclusion in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games as an additional optional sport, fuelling hopes of its inclusion at the quadrennial event after a gap of 12 years. Archery last featured at the CWG 2010 in New Delhi where India's Deepika Kumari clinched twin gold medals in the women's recurve individual and team event. Archery GB was joined by representatives from World Archery and Archery England to present a vision that would broaden the diversity of the sport programme at the Games and provide exciting opportunities for the growth of archery across the Commonwealth. Hailing the move, Deepika said: "It's an exciting news for the sport. The archers will be more motivated to perform. It will give us more opportunity to earn medals for the country." "Many of our fellow sportpersons were asking 'why we're not going'... It was a sad thing to explain them that archery was no more part of the CWG." The bid ...
Raman preferred over Kirsten for Indian women's coach job
Former opener W V Raman was on Thursday preferred over celebrated South African Gary Kirsten for the post of India's women's cricket coach despite dissension 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. "Kirsten was the top choice for the BCCI ad-hoc selection committee but Raman got the job as the South African was not keen on giving up his plum job with IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. He could not be convinced on choosing between IPL and national team," a BCCI official told PTI. The selection committee comprised former captain Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy. The panel recommended three names -- Kirsten, Raman and Venkatesh Prasad (in order of preference) -- to the Board, a reliable source said. Eventually, the BCCI picked Raman for the job. The appointment was made despite ...
AIFF in talks with corporates for building National Centre of Excellence
All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Praful Patel Thursday said it is in talks with corporate houses to fund the building of its state-of-the-art National Centre of Excellence in Kolkata. Patel said this while chairing its Annual General Body Meeting. "The AIFF is also in the process of developing a state of the art National Centre of Excellence in Rajarhat, Kolkata. The land is in the heart of the city and work is slated to begin soon. It will cost us Rs. 200 crores, and we are in talks with some corporates," Patel said. Wishing luck to the Indian team for its forthcoming campaign in the AFC Asian Cup, Patel recollected the upward journey of the 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 ...
BCCI Treasure corners CoA for conducting women team coach's interview
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Treasurer, Anirudh Chaudhry on Thursday raised question over the decision of conducting interview for the Women cricket team coach and said that the result of the process won't be called an "appointment on behalf of the board."In his email to the Committee of Administrators (COA), the Treasurer said: "Since there is no decision of the COA in the matter of the selection of the women's coach, the process and an appointment if any in the present facts and circumstances, are without jurisdiction and without authority and an appointment that may be a result of this process can in no matter be called an appointment on behalf of the BCCI."While registering his protest against the interview, Chaudhry added: "Who pays for the process? If any payment is made to a candidate from the BCCI account, who is to be debited for the same? Are we, therefore, a financially prudent organisation if payments can be made without proper approvals and decisions? .
Belgium tops FIFA rankings, France finishes close 2nd
Belgium ended the year at the top of the FIFA rankings for December released on Thursday, one point ahead the 2018 FIFA World Cup champions France while Spain came ninth.
No Real Madrid but plenty to enjoy in 2018 Liga Santander matches
The last round of matches in the Liga Santander before the Christmas holidays will not see Real Madrid in action, giving their rivals at the top of the table the chance to open the gap over Santiago Solari's side.
Red-hot Rashid fires 62 at TATA Open
Delhi's Rashid Khan dominated the opening day with a sensational nine-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead in the 17th TATA Open, the PGTI's season finale here Thursday. Rashid, who won the PGTI's last event in Mumbai, carried forward his form into the year-ending Rs. 1 crore event with an outstanding run of 10 birdies that came at the expense of just one bogey at the par-71 Golmuri Golf Course. Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow, the 2014 champion, and Lucknow's Sanjeev Kumar struck sizzling 63s to be placed tied second. Delhi's Tapy Ghai and Noida's Amardip Malik produced scores of 64 to occupy tied fourth. Rashid Khan, who ended his two-year title-drought last week, seemed to continue from where he had left in Mumbai as he drove his way to the top of the leaderboard. The 27-year-old Khan made an impact early on in his round thanks to some excellent driving and tee shots that set up birdies for him on the second, third, fourth, sixth, eighth and 10th. Rashid, who had finished a close ...
NRAI and JSW Group announce high performance partnership
The National Rifle Association of India and JSW Group on Thursday announced the signing of a "high performance partnership" to identify, train and develop shooting talent for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. As part of the agreement, the USD 13 billion Indian conglomerate will fund NRAI's high performance resources and expert requirements, to develop Indian shooters for the two Games. JSW Group will also provide NRAI access to its own high performance resources and experts for training. The partnership opens doors for Indian shooters to be trained at the world-class Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), a premier training facility established by JSW in Karnataka. The agreement was signed by Raninder Singh, president for NRAI and Parth Jindal, Director for JSW Sports. Commenting on NRAI's partnership with JSW, Raninder said, "India has been a powerhouse in the world of sport shooting be it in terms of quality of talent or the tally of medals in various world level championships. "Our ...
Gopi T unveils ASICS 'Race Day Tee' for Mumbai Marathon
Procam International and sport performance brand ASICS on Thursday unveiled the official 'Race Day Tee for the 16th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon.
I-League: Gokulam face Indian Arrows in must-win clash
Gokulam Kerala FC will hope to keep their title hopes alive when they clash with Indian Arrows in a must-win game of the I-League here Friday. Gokulam lost their way a bit in recent encounters after showing some initial spark, picking up two draws at home and suffering a heavy away defeat against Quess East Bengal (QEB). They are currently eighth on the table with 10 points from eight games and need a win and a convincing one at that, to boost confidence and resurrect title aspirations. The Arrows have suffered five losses in their seven games and are languishing in the 10th place on the points table. However, they remain a threat to a side not at the their best, especially after holding former champions Aizawl to a draw in their last game. Arrows coach Floyd Pinto had recently said that it is a matter of time before results follow and a match against Gokulam might be the ideal opportunity for his side. Coach Bino George of Gokulam has fortified his foreign recruits quickly after the .
NBA comes to India: Two pre-season games set for next October in Mumbai
The world's most popular professional basketball league, the NBA, Thursday announced it will bring two pre-season games to India next year, making it the first North American sports league to foray into the country. The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that the Indiana Pacers and the Sacramento Kings will play in two pre-season games in Mumbai on October 4 and 5 next year. The games will take place at the NSCI Dome in Worli, announced NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and NBA India Managing Director Yannick Colaco here. "Our inaugural NBA India Games will help further untap the enormous basketball potential in a country with a thriving sports culture and a growing, young and engaged population," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a media release. "We thank the Kings and Pacers organisations for participating in this historic event," he added. In addition to the games, the league and its partners would conduct interactive fan activities, junior NBA youth basketball ...
Suniel Shetty, Zaheer Khan join hands to Launch Ferit Cricket Bash
Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan and Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty have joined hands to launch Ferit Cricket Bash (FCB), the country's first nationwide cricket league for amateur cricketers. FCB will feature 16 teams representing various regions of the country. Registration is open for players who are 15+ years, and the best performers will be selected, subject to an intensive 22-city talent search. The league aims at discovering the most talented and passionate amateur cricketers from across the country. After two intense selection rounds involving several thousand aspiring cricketers across multiple cities in India, the final 224 players will be divided into 16 teams. These teams, which will be mentored by internationally renowned cricketers and leading coaches from across India, will then compete with each other in an exciting 15-over a side format. Each shortlisted player will receive a participation fee of Rs 1 lakh along with exciting cash rewards for the winning teams. The .
Sushil Kumar sets his eyes on 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Two-time Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar has set his sight on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He says the year 2019 will mark the start of the preparations for the prestigious tournament, for which "I am working really hard."The 35-year-old wrestler from Haryana said that he already has bronze and silver Olympics medals in his kitty. It is the yellow metal that he is aiming for.Speaking to ANI, Sushil said, "Preparations for Tokyo Olympics will start in 2019. I need good wishes from the countrymen to perform well. I have already won the Olympics bronze and silver medal but one thing (gold medal) is left.""I am working hard to achieve that. My coaches are putting in a lot of effort, as well. I just want my countrymen to constantly support me as they have one in the past."Reflecting on the kind of performance Indian wrestlers gave in the year 2018, Sushil said that the year has been great for wrestling as they gave some solid performances."The year 2018 has been really good for ...
BCCI treasurer, Edulji attack CoA chief over women's coach selection
Questioning the selection process of the Indian women's cricket coach, BCCI acting treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and Committee of Administrators member Diana Edulji Thursday launched a joint attack on CoA chief Vinod Rai. With the Supreme Court's next hearing scheduled for January 17, the treasurer said it would have been appropriate to conduct the interviews after the hearing to avoid running into legal tangles. "Would it not be appropriate to wait till the 17th of January, ie; the next date of hearing before the SC and keep the present matter of coach selection in abeyance till then and have either (Ramesh) Powar continue or have someone else take charge till then?" Chaudhry wrote in his letter. "It would avoid unnecessary legal issues and unwanted controversy. India's World Cup-winning former men's coach Gary Kirsten and ex-opener W V Raman have been short-listed for the post, according to a BCCI source. An ad-hoc selection committee, comprising former captain Kapil Dev, Anshuman ...
NBA to stage two pre-season games in Mumbai next October
The National Basketball Association (NBA) Thursday announced the Indiana Pacers and the Sacramento Kings will play in two pre-season games in Mumbai in October 2019, marking the first matches the popular US-based league stages in India. The NBA India Games 2019 would take place October 4 and October 5 at the NSCI Dome in Worli, announced NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and NBA India Managing Director Yannick Colaco here. In addition to the games, the league and its partners would conduct interactive fan activities, Jr NBA youth basketball programming and NBA Cares community outreach events. The Kings, under the leadership of the NBAs first Indian-born majority owner and Mumbai native Vivek Ranadive, currently features 2018 No. 2 overall draft pick Marvin Bagley III, 2017 No. 5 overall draft pick De'Aaron Fox and 2016 No. 6 overall draft pick Buddy Hield (Bahamas). The Pacers roster currently features 2018 NBA All- Star Victor Oladipo, 2016 NBA All-Rookie second team .
Chinese football imposes salary cap in new spending crackdown
Chinese football on Thursday imposed a salary cap of 10 million yuan (USD 1.45 million) a year for domestic players and vowed to kick teams out for so-called "yin-yang contracts". The swingeing measures are part of a ramped-up effort by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) to clamp down on big spending and get teams to toe a tougher financial line. There will also be a limit on bonuses and other financial inducements for domestic players, according to state sports channel CCTV5 and other reports on an end-of-season CFA conference in Shanghai. Foreign players are not affected by the salary cap, which will be in place for the new Chinese Super League (CSL) season when it starts in the spring. However, each club's annual expenditure cannot exceed 1.2 billion yuan in 2019, which will decline to 900 million in 2021. Two years ago, Brazilian attacking midfielder Oscar joined CSL side Shanghai SIPG from Chelsea for an Asian-record 60 million euros and Argentine forward Carlos Tevez signed
Solskjaer arrives at Man Utd training ground
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived at Manchester United's training ground on Thursday to begin his role as caretaker manager after the sacking of Jose Mourinho. United called time on Mourinho's two-and-a-half years at the club on Tuesday, with the club languishing sixth in the Premier League, 19 points behind leaders Liverpool. Solskjaer will be at the helm at Old Trafford until the end of the season, when the club will appoint a full-time successor. Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino is the current front runner. The appointment of Solskjaer, who will take a break from his job as manager of Norwegian club Molde, was confirmed on Wednesday, with Alex Ferguson's former assistant Mike Phelan also returning as first-team coach. The pair link up at United with Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna, who took training on Wednesday. Solskjaer, 45, established his status as a club legend with his dramatic Champions League winner in 1999 to seal the treble. He cut his coaching teeth as reserve ...
Marseille dumped out of French League Cup, Monaco through
Marseille's miserable run of form continued with a penalty shoot-out defeat by Strasbourg in the French League Cup last 16, while Monaco reached the quarter-finals to ease some of the pressure on Thierry Henry. After this latest setback at the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday, Rudi Garcia's OM have lost eight of their last 11 matches, after finishing bottom of their Europa League group with just one point and slipping to sixth in Ligue 1. "We're eliminated, that's what we'll remember, but we didn't deserve it," bemoaned coach Garcia. Jonas Martin gave Strasbourg an 18th-minute lead from the penalty spot, and Dimitri Payet missed a spot-kick for Marseille midway through the second half. Luiz Gustavo levelled for the hosts with 10 minutes remaining to force penalties after a 1-1 draw, but Payet missed again and Marseille's latest tournament exit was confirmed when Adil Rami failed to convert their fourth effort. "Dimitri Payet... In the period we're in, we need players who dare to try, who .