Page 779 - Sports
South Korea not top favourites at Asian Cup: Bento
South Korean football coach Paulo Bento Thursday named his squad for the upcoming Asian Cup, seeking to downplay expectations despite a string of impressive performances by his side in recent months. Tottenham's Son Heung-min is included in Bento's 23-man roster for next month's 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), alongside homegrown talent he has tested in recent friendly matches. South Korea have remained undefeated since the Portuguese took over the helm in August, collecting three wins and three draws in friendlies, including with Chile and Uruguay. The squad includes seven players active in Europe including Tottenham's Son, midfielders Ki Sung-yueng of Newcastle United, Hwang Hee-chan of Hamburger SV and Lee Chung-yong of Vfl Bochum as well as striker Hwang Ui-jo of Japan's Gamba Osaka. "I'm confident that we'll play well, but I also know we're not the only team chasing the title. Other teams will be ready, too. I don't think we're
Shaqiri proves his worth for Klopp's Liverpool
Xherdan Shaqiri proved his quality to Liverpool fans almost as soon as he arrived in July but it is only now that he is starting to suggest he can be a key figure in their Premier League title bid. Shaqiri's two goals as a substitute on Sunday secured a 3-1 victory over Manchester United that took his team back to the top of the league and he hopes his reward will be a return to the starting line-up away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday. The Switzerland international was arguably fortunate to get a move to Anfield five months ago, having been part of a relegated Stoke City side, even though he finished as their leading scorer in the Premier League with eight goals. There were questions too over whether he had the necessary work ethic for the demanding Jurgen Klopp. Answering those questions has taken time, but he is getting there, as the Liverpool boss himself has acknowledged. "Shaq needs time, it's normal," Klopp said. "He knows that he has so much potential still to improve. ...
Joe Root sees BBL stint as 'head start' for Ashes
England Test cricket team captain Joe Root, who is all set to make his maiden appearance in the ongoing eighth edition of the Big Bash League, believes that the tournament would help him gain a "head start" for the next year's Ashes series against Australia.The 27-year-old, however, cautioned that there is still a lot of time for Ashes and he is looking to get as much information as possible about the Australian players playing in the tournament."I will keep an eye on things while I'm out here," he told presspersons. "[I will] get a close view of certain players within this tournament and watching the Test matches on the tele," ICC quoted Root, as saying."There's a lot of time between now and that Ashes series and a lot of things can happen and change quite drastically in that space of time. So [it's about getting] as much information as you can now, but understanding that it doesn't always carry forward into six months' time. Any head start you can get ahead of a big series like that
Real Madrid has no comparison, says Rodrygo
Real Madrid-bound teenager Rodrygo has revealed he is already seeking advice from fellow Brazilians Marcelo, Casemiro and Vinicius Junior about how to adapt quickly to life at the Bernabeu.
Socceroos aim to defend Asian Cup as 23-man squad finalised
Australian men's national team looks to defend its title at 2019 AFC Asian Cup as the head coach Graham Arnold has announced the 23 players to play at the 17th edition of the tournament on Thursday.
Eintracht Frankfurt ink deal with Chinese women's football club
Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt signed a three-year cooperation agreement with Zhengzhou's Henan Huishang football club on Thursday.
Spanish footballers draw record crowds to Japanese stadiums
The participation of two Spanish football stars, Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres, in Japan's JLeague since July has been a major contributing factor to the rise in the number of spectators in Japanese stadiums, according to the data released on Thursday.
Sindhu, Saina remain Indian badminton's biggest stars in low on titles 2018
P V Sindhu struck gold just in time to shake off the choker's tag, Saina Nehwal's second coming kept getting better and Lakshya Sen was the proverbial one for the future in Indian badminton's continuous onward march globally even though the title count took a hit. In a year when the world body (BWF) introduced a new tournament structure, under which events were graded on stature based on prize money, Sindhu dominated the headlines with silver medals in all major events before a World Tour Finals crown. Five silver medals would count for success in most books but not in the case of Sindhu, who faced criticism and pressure for finishing runners-up way too often after putting in the hard yards to make the finals. She finally redeemed herself with the World Tour Finals gold. On the other hand, Saina, whose recovery from a career-threatening knee injury began with a World Championship bronze last year, also produced some impressive performances this year. The highlights were without doubt .
Disgraced Aussie Smith barred from Bangladesh T20 league
Bangladesh's Cricket Board said on Thursday it has barred former Australian captain Steve Smith from the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament following an objection raised by some franchises. Smith, serving a one-year ban from international cricket and Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League, had signed for Comilla Victorians to play in the next edition of the BPL starting on January 5. He was expected to join the team in mid-January for the second phase of the BPL as a replacement for Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. "The rule of the tournament is that if a franchise takes a replacement, his name should be in the list of initial players' draft. But Smith's name was not there, " said Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Nizamuddin Chowdhury. "Some franchises raised objection about it. So we have to bar him from playing the BPL," he said. Australia's ex-vice captain David Warner will however play in the BPL -- which concludes on February 8, 2019 -- ...
Kirsten, Raman shortlisted for Indian women's coach's job
India's World Cup-winning former men's coach Gary Kirsten and ex-opener W V Raman were on Thursday short-listed for the post of the women's team coach. The BCCI's ad-hoc committee comprising former captain Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy recommended the shortlisted names to the Board. However, a cloud of uncertainty remains over Kirsten's appointment as the South African is not keen on giving up his plum job with Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. Efforts are being made to convince him, according to sources. The other shortlisted candidates out of the 28 applicants who were interviewed are Venkatesh Prasad, Manoj Prabhakar, Trent Johnston, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Brad Hogg and Kalpana Venkatachar. According to reliable sources, three were interviewed in person, five candidates, including Kirsten, on Skype and one over phone. It was under Kirsten's watch that India's men's team won the 2011 World Cup. The South African had been head coach of ...
Viaan Industries telecasts Match IPL Season 3 in partnership with MTV
Match IPL which recently concluded its live-event is now ready to be telecast on national television on the 19 and 20 of December at 9 PM. Day 1 of Match IPL which was aired on 19 December, received a positive response from viewers, Day 2 which is scheduled to air on the 20 December will reveal the winning team of the league.
Tottenham, Chelsea advance to Carabao Cup semis
Tottenham Hotspur beat arch-rivals Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium to claim a berth in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they will face Chelsea.
BCB bars Steve Smith from participating in BPL
Banned Australian cricketer Steve Smith has been barred by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) from participating in the upcoming sixth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).The board confirmed it in a letter saying that keeping the Players' Draft Rules in mind they have decided to uphold the decision of BPL Governing Council to withdraw the inclusion of Smith in the domestic T20I tournament."Given that the Players' Draft Rules does not allow any franchise to replace any directly signed player from outside the players' Draft list and in view of the decisions taken by majority of the Franchises on 11.12.2018, the Board has upheld the decision of BPL Governing Council to withdraw the inclusion of Mr. Steve Smith in Comilla Victorians for upcoming 6th edition of BPL T20 tournament 2019. In view of the above, Mr. Smith will not be eligible to register for Comilla Victorians for the 6th edition of BPL T20 tournament 2019," ESPNcricinfo quoted an official letter from BCB as ...
PSL spot fixing row: Sharjeel Khan to take PCB rehabilitation programme
Pakistan opening batsman Sharjeel Khan, who is serving a five-year suspension sentence for his role in the 2017 Pakistan Super League (PSL) spot-fixing row, has decided to take up the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rehabilitation programme in order to make his cricketing comeback after the end of his suspension period.According to PCB anti-corruption code, a banned player can participate in domestic matches prior to the end of the eligibility period if he takes into account the procedures laid down in the code. Moreover, Sharjeel could be eligible to play for the national side if he cooperates with the board."Sharjeel has no intentions to challenge his suspension and is willing to enter the PCB rehabilitation programme. The left-hander has formally assured the PCB of his cooperation in this regard," Dawn quoted a source privy to the developments, as saying."He (Sharjeel) wants an early return to domestic cricket, prior to the culmination of the 30-month ban, like Mohammad Amir", the ...
Ribery's late goal boosts Bayern
FC Bayern Munich got a late goal by substitute Franck Ribery in a 1-0 victory over RB Leipzig, a win that leaves the Bavarian giants just six points behind Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund.
Kohli consolidates number one position in Test ranking
Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who played a valiant first innings knock of 123 runs in the second Test against Australia at Perth, has consolidated his number one spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test ranking after gaining 14 points to reach the 934 points mark.The 30-year-old has thus increased his lead over New Zealand captain Kane Williamson from seven to 19 points.Second-ranked Williamson too has something to cheer about after scoring 91 in the drawn first of two Tests against Sri Lanka, which ended in Wellington on Wednesday. He has reached a personal best of 915 points, the joint-25th highest ever and equal with ICC Hall of Famer George Headley of the West Indies.Apart from Kohli, India's vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (up two places to 15th) and wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant (up 11 places to a career-best 48th) have also moved up among batsmen. While fast bowlers Mohammad Shami (up two places to 24th) and Jasprit Bumrah (up five places to a career-best 28th) have advanced
Lehmann backs 'excitable character' Kohli
An "excitable character" who wants to win at all times, that's how former Australian coach Darren Lehmann described Virat Kohli and said there was nothing wrong with the Indian captain's on-field conduct. Kohli and Australian skipper Tim Paine clashed on several occasions during the second Test in Perth which India lost by 146 runs. Their exchanges have been perceived differently everywhere. The BCCI and Cricket Australia have been quick to douse the fire by saying that the banter was civil but some former Indian and Australian cricketers criticised Kohli's aggression. Lehmann said Kohli is entertaining to watch. "Virat Kohli is very passionate. So that's what you get from him on the field and that's what he will always give you. He is an excitable character. He enjoys his challengers, and he wants to win," Lehmann told PTI. "Not only for himself, he wants his country to win. It was good to see out there and I thought it was good banter," he said. Lehmann made light of Kohli's ...
Our tail takes a lot of pride in scoring runs: Starc
Australian tail-enders contributing crucial runs in the first and second Test of the ongoing four-match series against India was one of the bright spots in the performance for the visitors and their paceman Mitchell Starc admitted that this is something that their lower batting order is proud of.Starc said that small partnerships towards the end of the innings helped them add some more runs to their scoreline and made India bowl extra overs."It's something our tail takes a lot of pride in. And then with the ball, we're trying to do the exact opposite for them and try to get them out really quickly. Those partnerships make India bowl a lot more overs and then the other three of us we just try and hang around a bit and score a few runs and face a few balls," ICC quoted Starc, as saying."It's something that we all work really hard at and we have done for a long time. Pat [Cummins] is obviously fantastic at No.8. He plays a bit more like a batter than the other three of us. He can bat for
I have future without Manchester United: Jose Mourinho
Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who was sacked recently from the club, has stated that he has a future without the team and so does the United's squad.Refusing to comment on the circumstances that led to his dismissal from the position, Mourinho said that he is not someone who goes on to reveal the details about what actually happened."I think you know me, I don't change. What I did when I left Chelsea, for example, is that same that I'm going to do now. I keep the good things and I don't speak about anything that happened in the club. I could speak about not as good but that's not me. Manchester United has a future without me and I have a future without Manchester United," goal.com quoted Mourinho, as saying."It's over, that's me and that's how I've always been. I was always very critical of managers that leave clubs and then they come out and they speak about the details of what happened, who is to blame. That's not me. Until I get back to football I feel I have to ..
Cricket needs passionate characters like Virat Kohli: Allan Border
Former Australia captain Allan Border defended Virat Kohli's aggression, saying cricket needs characters like the Indian skipper who exude passion on the field. "There's not many characters in our game at the moment. The professional era has sort of beaten that out to a certain degree," Border said on Fox Cricket's podcast -- The Follow-on. Kohli has received severe criticism from the likes of Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson and Sanjay Manjrekar for his aggressive celebrations in the ongoing Test series in Australia. The Indian skipper was also involved in a series of heated exchanges with his Australian counterpart Tim Paine, which prompted umpire Chris Gafaney to intervene during the second Test here. "I haven't seen anyone sort of carry on so much as a captain when his side takes a wicket. It's really over the top but it's good in a way. You can see some passion about what he's trying to do," Border said. Border added that perhaps Kohli's aggression stems from the desire to cement ..