Page 782 - Sports
17-year old Kashmiri pacer to feature in IPL 2019
Rasikh Dar, 17, a teenager from south Kashmir's Kulgam district will feature in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 edition after being pocketed by Mumbai Indians in the just concluded auctions held in Jaipur.
FIH to remove goalkeeping privileges for substitute field player
The Rules Committee of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Wednesday removed the goalkeeping privileges for a substitute field player in order to regulate the game.In a mandatory experiment, taking out the option for teams to play with a field player with goalkeeping privileges will come into effect from January 1. Teams have now two options, they either play with a goalkeeper who wears full protective equipment comprising at least headgear, leg guards and kickers and is also permitted to wear goalkeeping hand protectors and other protective equipment, or they play with only field players.Any change between these options should be treated as a substitution. It is hoped that this experimental rule will enhance safety as field players will no longer have goalkeeping privileges so will not be entitled to use their body to stop shots at goal. It also enhances the promotion of the sport by eliminating the issue of outfield players wearing other shirts to indicate goalkeeping ...
Kirsten, Gibbs, Powar to appear for women's coach interviews on Thursday
The next step in the hunt for India's new women's cricket coach will be taken here Thursday when short-listed candidates, including Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs and incumbent Ramesh Powar, appear for interviews before the BCCI selection panel. The other shortlisted candidates out of the 28 applicants who will be interviewed are W V Raman, Venkatesh Prasad, Manoj Prabhakar, Trent Johnston, Mark Coles, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Brad Hogg. The high-profile short-list which will be interviewed by an ad-hoc panel comprising ex-India players Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy. It is learnt that most of the foreigners will give their presentation via Skype while locals like Powar will appear in person. "The ad-hoc panel comprises former players of high repute. I have no doubt that the committee will pick the best one," a BCCI official told PTI. The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (COA), comprising chairman Vinod Rai and former India captain Diana Edulji, ..
Some steps forward but no end to Indian tennis' stagnation in mixed 2018
The resurrection and rise of some players could hardly fill the overall vacuum in Indian tennis which endured its familiar share of disappointment and drama in 2018 amid a glimmer hope for the future. That the vacuum is real can be gauged from the fact that a 45-year-old Leander Paes is still India's biggest player, winning titles even this year, dropping no hints of retirement. It is a tribute to his longevity but also a reflection of the lack of depth in Indian tennis. This is not to say that the younger lot did not take strides forward, they did, but none was big enough to shake up the circuit. Prominent among the movers was Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who is a heartwarming tale of rising from the ashes. For someone who appeared destined to be lost after being hampered by career-threatening knee stress fractures, Prajnesh's perseverance pulled him through. From starting the year at 243rd in the rankings, the gritty left-hander overtook both Yuki Bhambri and Ramkumar Ramanathan to be the .
Dhawal boost for Mumbai against Saurashtra
Former champions Mumbai, languishing way down in the points table, got a boost with the return to the squad of senior pacer Dhawal Kulkarni for their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A game against Saurashtra. Kulkarni, who was out of action following an injury, has been named in the squad of the 41-time champions for their game against Saurashtra beginning here on Saturday. The squad, announced by the Mumbai Cricket Association on its website on Wednesday, would be led by in-form batsman Siddhesh Lad. Mumbai need to defeat Saurashtra and get full points to stay in the hunt for a berth in the quarter-finals. They are in the 13th spot in the combined Group A and B points table with 8 points in their kitty. Only the top five teams from the combined table will make it to the last eight. Mumbai squad: Siddhesh Lad (Captain), Shreyas Iyer, Dhawal Kulkarni, Aditya Tare, Eknath Kerkar, Shivam Dube, Jay Bista, Akash Parkar, Vikrant Auti, Shubham Ranjane, Karsh Kothari, Dhrumil Matkar, ...
AC Milan play goalless draw with Bologna
AC Milan managed only a 0-0 draw against 18th-place Bologna, missing a chance to solidify their grip on the fourth spot in Serie A football league.
Coaching Santos biggest challenge of my career: Sampaoli
Jorge Sampaoli said during his first press conference as coach of Santos that it is "incredible" to be with the team where the legendary Pele became a star.
Grace Harris smashes fastest ever WBBL century
Brisbane Heat opener Grace Harris smashed the fastest ever century in the fourth edition of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) on Wednesday.The 25-year-old reached unbeaten triple figures (101) from just 42 deliveries at the Gabba, surpassing Sydney Sixers' right-handed batter Ashleigh Gardner's previous record of 114 runs off 52 deliveries in last year's league.Batting on 95 runs, the powerful all-rounder struck a six down the ground to reach her century. Harris' innings included six sixes and 13 fours, as she helped her side defeat the Melbourne Stars inside 10.5 overs with 10 wickets in hand.The right-handed batter has also become the first player to score two tons at the WBBL, having already scored 103 off 55 balls during the first edition of the league. Meanwhile, for Beth Mooney, who remained unbeaten on 28 runs off 25 balls, it was a matter of sitting back and enjoying the Harris show.
Marcelo dodges question on return of ex-coach Mourinho
Real Madrid defender Marcelo has avoided discussing the possible return of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho to the Spanish club.
Fortuna shock Bundesliga leaders Dortmund
Fortuna Düsseldorf topped previously undefeated Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund 2-1.
Cricket Ireland to offer professional contracts to women
In a first, Cricket Ireland on Tuesday announced that they will be offering professional contracts to women cricketers.The move comes in the wake of the Irish women's team's early exit from the recent International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup."We are delighted to become one of a very select number of sports in Ireland to offer professional contracts to women players. It has been an ambition of ours for a number of years, and we now find ourselves in the position to push ahead with this much-needed improvement to our sport," ICC quoted Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom, as saying.A small number of part-time contracts will be offered in early 2019, and subsequently, the programme will be expanded in the near future."The professionalism shown by our senior women's team during preparation, qualification and performance at the recent ICC T20 World Cup was a demonstration that this side of our sport is ready to progress and grow," Deutrom added.Recognising the necessity
Solskjaer set for United interim role after website gaffe
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to replace Jose Mourinho as Manchester United's interim manager after the club appeared to accidently announce the appointment on their website. Mourinho was axed on Tuesday after just two-and-half years in charge at Old Trafford and the troubled Premier League club are reportedly ready to bring back one of their old heroes to take his place on a temporary basis. Solskjaer, currently in charge of Norway's Molde, was widely reported to be United's leading candidate for the interim role for the rest of the season while they search for a permanent appointment in the close-season. There has been no official announcement from the club, however a video appeared on United's official website celebrating Solskjaer and seeming to confirm his appointment. A video of him scoring the winner for United in their 1999 Champions League final triumph against Bayern Munich was accompanied with the headline 'The most famous night of Ole's career'. Norwegian Prime Minister ..
League Cup holder PSG scrapes through to quarterfinals
French League Cup holder Paris Saint-Germain scraped through to the quarterfinals of the competition with a late goal in a 2-1 win at second division Orleans. Four minutes after coming off the bench, midfielder Moussa Diaby dribbled his way through the penalty area to score an 81st-minute winner on Tuesday. PSG, which won the domestic treble last season, took the lead in the 41st when striker Edinson Cavani latched on to Angel Di Maria's quick pass and lobbed the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area. A mix-up in PSG's defense resulted in midfielder Joseph Lopy getting the ball some 20 meters out and striking a low shot past goalie Gianluigi Buffon in the 70th. Buffon came on at halftime after Alphonse Areola appeared to hurt his back. Di Maria was helped off the pitch by PSG staff in the 58th after hurting his ankle. In the French league Tuesday, midfielder Faycal Fajr converted a penalty nine minutes into injury time to give Caen a 2-1 win over fellow struggler Toulouse and .
10-man AC Milan draws 0-0 at relegation-threatened Bologna
Following a week in which it was eliminated from the Europa League and hit with a financial fair play penalty, AC Milan didn't do much to help itself with a 0-0 draw at relegation-threatened Bologna in Serie A. Milan finished with 10 men after midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko was sent off after picking up his second yellow card in three minutes on Tuesday. Gonzalo Higuain and Hakan Calhanoglu both missed chances for Milan. Desperate to qualify for the lucrative Champions League, Milan is fourth in Serie A, two points ahead of fifth-place Lazio. The top four teams qualify for the elite European competition. Last week, Milan was fined 12 million euros (USD 13.6 million) by UEFA and threatened with a one-season ban from European competition for breaking financial fair play rules. UEFA said its club finance panel ruled the ban will be activated if Milan fails to break even on soccer-related business in June 2021. If Milan fails to comply, it will be banned for the next UEFA competition it ...
Ibrahimovic re-signs with LA Galaxy as designated player
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy have put to rest any rumors about his future. The team announced Tuesday that the Swedish superstar has signed a new contract that will make him one of the club's three designated players. Major League Soccer's designated player rule allows a club to sign up to three players to higher salaries that do not count against the salary cap. Ibrahimovic, who made $1.5 million in 2018, was already under contract for next season, but there were some rumors about whether he would return to Europe. "There were a lot of talks, rumors and whispers, but I never left. I have stayed here and I'm not finished," Ibrahimovic said in a video supplied by the club. Ibrahimovic was named the MLS Newcomer of the Year after scoring 22 goals and 10 assists in 27 games this season. He was just the third player in league history to record a 20-goal, 10-assist season. The Galaxy were 9-2-4 in matches where he scored a goal. He was also named to the league's Best XI team and ...
Man City reaches League Cup semifinals after shootout win
On a tumultuous day for beleaguered Manchester United, crosstown rival Manchester City advanced to the English League Cup semifinals to keep in the hunt for trophies on four fronts this season. Man City beat Leicester 3-1 in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to stay on course to retain the title and give Pep Guardiola another piece of silverware, hours after his great managerial rival Jose Mourinho was fired by United. The game finished 1-1 in regulation time, with Kevin De Bruyne marking the first start of his latest comeback from injury with the opening goal from the edge of the area for Man City before Marc Albrighton equalized. City was surprisingly joined in the semifinals by third-tier Burton Albion, which won 1-0 at second-tier Middlesbrough to keep its fairytale run going in the competition. Burton became the first team from the third tier or lower to reach the last four of the League Cup since Sheffield United did so under manager Nigel Clough in 2014-15. Clough now coaches ...
Bangladesh's Shakib fined for shouting at umpire
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was fined 15 percent of his match fee for shouting at the umpire during Monday's opening Twenty20 international against West Indies, the International Cricket Council said. Shakib was also handed one demerit point, his second such penalty since the introduction of the system in September 2016, for the offence during hosts' eight-wicket defeat. Shakib now has two demerit points, having been handed one for an offence during a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in March this year. Shakib showed dissent while batting after the umpire did not call a wide in the 14th over of the Bangladesh innings. "He first shouted at the umpire and then got involved in a prolonged discussion," said an ICC statement issued late Tuesday. "After the end of the match, Shakib admitted the offence and accepted the sanction," it said, adding no formal hearing was required. Shakib scored 61 off 43 balls in the game in Sylhet but could not prevent a humiliating loss for his side. West ...
With Olympic boxing on the ropes, Japan fighters fear dashed dreams
Yudai Shigeoka has long dreamed of becoming a world boxing champion, but a decision that could see the sport excluded from the 2020 Olympics might deal his hopes a knockout blow. The International Olympic Committee said last month it was suspending preparations for boxing at the Tokyo 2020 Games over governance concerns, leaving Japanese boxers in limbo. "All of us have been practising for the Tokyo Olympics," the 21-year-old told AFP after an evening training session at the Takushoku University gym in the Tokyo suburb of Hachioji. "Honestly, it'll be shocking for boxers if a dream that is right in front of us just disappears." The IOC took the decision over concerns about the sport's troubled governing body, the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which is now under investigation by the Olympic committee. IOC President Thomas Bach declined to promise that boxing would be part of the 2020 Games, though he pledged at a Tokyo press conference to "make all efforts to protect the ...
Rain, epic stand save Sri Lanka in New Zealand Test
Sri Lanka battled to a rain-affected draw in the first Test against New Zealand on Wednesday after the Black Caps were unable to break an epic stand by Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews. The tourists were 287 for three in their second innings -- still nine runs away from an innings defeat -- when the umpires called time with only 13 overs bowled on the final day. Mendis was unbeaten on 141 and Mathews 120 not out at stumps after a 274-run stand that, along with the weather, allowed Sri Lanka to salvage a draw. New Zealand will view the draw as a missed opportunity after they took control of the Test with a mammoth 578 in the first innings, anchored by Tom Latham's unbeaten 264. Latham's epic effort overhauled former England captain Alastair Cook's 244 as the highest score by an opener carrying their bat in Test history. The emphatic performance should have given the New Zealand bowlers two full days to attack a Sri Lanka line-up that showed little fight in the first innings, but Mathews
Prayas sold for Rs 1.10 cr, Riyan Rs 20 lakh at IPL auction
Bengal leg-spinner Prayas Ray Barman became the youngest 'crorepati' (millionaire) following the conclusion of the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction held here on Tuesday.The 16-year-old entered the auction with a base price of Rs 20 lakh. Just when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) seemed to snap Barman up for Rs 1.10 crore, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) came in the fray, with the two franchises setting off a brief bidding war. However, Bangalore sealed the deal and bought the youngster for Rs 1.50 crore.Barman made his debut for the senior side earlier this year in Vijay Hazare Trophy and impressed by scalping 11 wickets in nine games at an economy rate of 4.45. His most imposing effort came against Jammu and Kashmir, where he bagged four wickets and gave away 20 runs to lead his team to a convincing six-wicket victory.Another teenager who made it to the cash-rich league for his exceptional performance is Riyan Parag. The 17-year-old top-order batsman from Assam was sold to Rajasthan