Page 827 - Sports
Belgium's midfielder withdraws due to bronchitis
Belgium's midfielder John-John Dohmen on Friday withdrew from the rest of the Men's Hockey World Cup due to a respiratory infection, International Hockey Federation (FIH) said in a statement.The former World Player of the Year contracted bronchitis weeks before arriving in India. After undergoing different tests at a hospital, the team's medical staff, in consultation with the respiratory specialist in Belgium and with Dohmen, has decided to send the midfielder back home, where he will undertake more tests, the FIH statement added.After seeking approval from the FIH, Belgium have replaced Dohmen with fellow midfielder Augustin Meurmans, who arrived in the state earlier on Friday.Belgium are slated to meet South Africa in their final Pool C league on December 8.
SAI appoints 14 Olympians and Paralympians as coaches
In a move that promises to empower both elite sportspersons and young athletes, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Friday appointed 11 Olympians and three Para Olympians as Coaches and Assistant Coaches.The appointments have been made with an effort to ensure that experienced and elite sportspersons can continue to contribute to the progress of sport in the country during their tenure as active sportspersons and even after they retire. This will also secure the sportspersons financially while allowing them to continue with their regular training and participation in competitions.Neelam Kapur, Directorate-General of SAI, said, "This is our way of acknowledging the contribution made by these sportspersons to the country. We want sportspersons who have represented the country in the most competitive, elite events of the world, to be associated with sports throughout their professional careers and even after they retire. We want to harness their vast experience towards training young,
Mourinho reveals why he is not picking Fred in Man Utd team
Jose Mourinho suggested Friday that Manchester United must get stronger defensively before he is ready to give Fred more games. United spent 52 million pounds (USD 66 million) on buying the Brazil midfielder from Shakhtar Donetsk in June but he has made just six Premier League starts. Fred was left on the bench this week as United drew at Southampton and was dropped from the squad altogether on Wednesday as Mourinho's side twice fought back from behind to secure a point against Arsenal. The midfielder, who has not featured in any of United's past four league matches, has lost his place in the Brazil squad after struggling to make an impression at Old Trafford. Mourinho used Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba in a three-man midfield for the 2-2 draw at Southampton, with no place in the team for the fourth-most expensive signing in United's history. The manager then elected to use Herrera and Nemanja Matic in front of a five-man defence against Arsenal, with Pogba and ...
Pakistan recall Amir for South Africa Test series
Pakistan selectors Friday recalled fast bowler Mohammad Amir in the 16-member squad for the three-match Test tour of South Africa starting later this month. Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the side, which opens the tour with the first Test at Centurion from December 26. Pakistan will also play five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals on the tour, for which squads will be announced later. The second Test will be played at Cape Town from January 3 to 7 next year, while the third and final match is in Johannesburg from January 11 to 15. Amir was dropped from the side after failing to get a single wicket in three Asia Cup matches in United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September this year. He missed Pakistan's two-match Test series against Australia and then three Tests against New Zealand -- both in UAE -- but chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq believes the left-armer has regained his form in domestic matches. "Amir makes a comeback in the team after regaining his form in domestic ...
We are still in the game, insists Harris
Despite India making inroads on the second day of the opening cricket Test here, debutant Australian opener Marcus Harris insisted they are still in the game.
National police athletics championship in Delhi from Dec 10
The national capital will host the 67th edition of the All India Police Athletics Championship from next week, with an estimated 1,100 sports personnel of various security forces participating. The event is being hosted by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), a paramilitary force that guards major civil airports and other vital installations of the country. A total of 34 teams from state police and central forces will take part in the event that will be held between December 10-14 at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Delhi. About 1,100 sportspersons are expected to participate, CISF Additional Director General A K Pateria told reporters here. He said various disciplines of athletics like long jump, high jump, shot put, triple jump, hammer throw, pole vault, marathon and others will be part of the annual event. "About 60 ex-athletes as technical officials, 50 technical officials of Delhi athletics association and two technical delegates of athletics federation of India have been
Windies can lift World Cup trophy: Dwayne Bravo
Ahead of the upcoming 2019 World Cup, former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo on Friday gave thumbs up to the Caribbean side for the good chance to lift the prestigious trophy."With those, young talents like Shai Hope, Hetmyer, they have a lot of talent and they showed that in the short time that they have been playing. It is just a matter of nurturing those talents. They have a chance. Everybody has a chance going into the World Cup," International Cricket Council (ICC) quoted Bravo, as saying."It is a young team. It is a very young team, and the likes of Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels will be the senior players. Although the team hasn't been selected yet, I think they both will be there. Jason Holder, the captain (is also there)," he added.West Indies team, which is currently placed at the ninth spot in the ICC men's One-Day International (ODI) team rankings, last won the World Cup in 1975 and 1979.While picking another potential side, Bravo, who retired from international cricket .
Arsenal players filmed using 'hippy crack'
Arsenal said Friday they will "remind players of their responsibilities" after a video emerged that appears to show a number of stars inhaling nitrous oxide. Players including Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Matteo Guendouzi feature in the footage, which appears to come from CCTV footage and was published by the Sun newspaper on Friday. In a statement Arsenal said: "The players will be spoken to about this and reminded of their responsibilities as representatives of the club." Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or "hippy crack", is freely available although it is technically illegal to sell it for recreational purposes. In the video, which reportedly comes from a London venue shortly before the start of the current season, other Gunners players including Henrikh Mkhitaryan can be seen rejecting the offer to use the gas. The footage is the latest to show top players being linked with nitrous oxide. Raheem Sterling was warned by his then club ...
Hockey World Cup: HI lodge complaint against Pakistan assistant coach Danish
Hockey India has initiated an inquiry against Pakistan's assistant coach Danish Kaleem for breaching security protocol, adding to the list of off-field issues plaguing the former champions at the ongoing men's Hockey World Cup here. With the World Cup nearing halfway stage, Pakistan's campaign is getting from bad to worse due to a host of issues, which include injury blow to skipper Muhammad Rizwan Senior and a one-match suspension to his deputy Ammad Butt. As if that was not enough, Hockey India has now lodged an official complaint with International Hockey Federation's Technical delegate Christian Deckenbrock of Germany against Danish for breaching security protocol and misbehaving with security persons inside the stadium. Pakistan's chief coach Tauqeer Ahmad Dar admitted things are far from rosy for his side on and off the field ahead of their crucial Pool D match against Netherlands on Sunday. "The last few days have been very hard. Most energies are being wasted on things other ..
We're still fighting and still in the contest, insists Harris
Australia are "still fighting, still in the contest", debutant Marcus Harris insisted Friday, after India nosed ahead by snaring seven wickets and leaving the hosts with some rallying to do in the first Test. The opener though said that they are still in the game on account of being just 59 runs behind India's first innings' score of 250. At the same time he praised the Indian attack for keeping things tight and restricting them to 191 for seven at stumps. "I thought they bowled really well - the run rate's only two and a bit, so I thought they bowled really well. We stuck at it pretty well. It was a tough day. It wasn't easy to score, so I thought we fought well. "Travis Head batted well, Peter Handscomb looked good and Mitchell Starc batted well at the end. I think we're in a decent position," Harris said. He said that Australia did want to get on the front foot and attack but the Indian bowlers kept relentless pressure to force them into fending off overs. "You can only put ...
First Test still neck-and-neck: Ashwin
Far from getting excited after having Australia in a spot of bother, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said Friday the first Test is "extremely well poised" and every run in the remaining days will be worth its weight in gold. A relentless Indian bowling attack restricted Australia to 191 for seven on the second day. "I thought we really bottled them up, soaked them up and put on pressure from both ends," said Ashiwn, the most successful visiting bowler with figures of 3/50. "We don't isolate it as a fast bowling or spin bowling pack. We identify it as a bowling unit together because one cannot exist without the other. Today was another perfect attrition day for us," he said at the post-match press conference. Australia trailed by 59 runs and Ashwin said the Test was still on equal terms. "I bowled an extended 22-over spell even before and after tea to make sure that we do not give away more runs. "I see it as neck-and-neck in the game. Whoever can get momentum from hereon has the
Somerville double brings New Zealand close to victory
Debutant off-spinner Will Somerville took two wickets off successive balls to bring New Zealand within sight of a series-clinching victory as Pakistan slumped to 55-5 in the third and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Somerville dismissed Haris Sohail (9) with the third ball of his first over and then had Asad Shafiq caught off the next to leave Pakistan tottering at lunch on the fifth day, chasing a 280-run target. Opener Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed for 22 in the last over before lunch by spinner Ajaz Patel. Babar Azam was not out on four as Pakistan were rocked. New Zealand now need another five wickets in the remaining 58.2 overs to clinch the series, their first away series win against Pakistan since 1969. The series is currently tied at 1-1. Pakistan were off to another disastrous start when Mohammad Hafeez was bowled by fast bowler Tim Southee for eight, his last innings in Test cricket. Hafeez had announced he will retire from Tests after this match. Medium pacer Colin de ...
Adelaide Test: Australia 191/7 at stumps, trail India by 59 runs
The last-wicket pair of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah resumed India's innings on Day Two of the ongoing first Test against Australia here at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.Pacer Josh Hazlewood, with the figures of 3/52, wrapped up the Indian innings at 250 runs on the very first ball.Aaron Finch, along with debutant Marcus Harris, came in the middle to open the Australian first innings. However, pacer Ishant Sharma struck Finch for a golden duck on the third ball to set the tone for the match.Usman Khawaja, who came in at number three, along with Harris, held the fort for Australia for quite some time as the duo kept hitting boundaries at regular intervals. To provide the breakthrough to India, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Harris for 26 runs as he gave a comfortable catch to Murali Vijay.Having lost two wickets, Australia posted a meagre score of 57 at lunch. The home team trailed India by 193 runs, with Khawaja and Shaun Marsh present in the middle.Resuming from the score ..
Head half-century helps Australia post 191/7 vs India as wickets tumble (Roundup)
Travis Head's fighting 61 off 149 balls helped Australia reach 191/7 at stumps on Friday, the second day of the first test against India, after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took three top-order wickets and helped the visitors dominate the day's play.
AC Milan monitoring Brazilian duo
AC Milan are monitoring Brazilian pair Everton Soares and Rodrigo Dourado as they seek to bolster their squad in the January transfer window.
Under pressure East Bengal hope to turn tide vs Gokulam Kerala
Time running out fast for them to bounce back and remain in the reckoning, East Bengal would look to snap their hat-trick of defeats when they face Gokulam Kerala FC in a home I-League fixture here Saturday. In pursuit of their maiden I-League title, the red-and-gold brigade had a dream start to their campaign with successive wins but suffered a string of losses later on and they have now slipped to eighth place in the points table. With this being their last match before the I-League derby against Mohun Bagan, East Bengal coach Alejandro Menendez will be under pressure to get his combination right and gain some momentum before the marquee December 16 clash. East Bengal's midfield looked in complete disarray and the Spaniard has used a total of eight players but he is yet to find the right combination even after five matches. The East Bengal gaffer is expected to ring in a few changes with an eye on the match against Mohun Bagan. The home side will be boosted by the joining of ...
I-League: Under-fire East Bengal look to steady ship against Gokulam (Preview)
Under-fire East Bengal will be desperate to snap a three-game losing streak when they take on resurgent Gokulam Kerala FC in an I-League encounter at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Saturday.
Maharashtra Kesri wrestling tournament at Jalna from Dec 19
The Maharashtra State Wrestling Championship will be held at Jalna from December 19 to 23. The tournament will be held at Azad ground in the town, said state Dairy Development Minister Arjun Khotkar at a press conference Thursday. It is being organised by the Maharashtra State Wrestling Association and District Wrestling Association. The championships will see participation of over 900 wrestlers from 45 associations across the state, the minister said. The winner of Maharashtra Kesri title will get prize money of Rs 2 lakh and a silver mace.
CONMEBOL rejects appeal filed by Boca after Copa Libertadores altercations
The South American Soccer Confederation (CONMEBOL) on Thursday announced that their appeals committee dismissed the appeal filed by Boca Juniors on November 30, following decisions after the aggression against some of the team's players before the second leg final of the Copa Libertadores.
Advantage India on Day 2 as Ashwin, pacers keep Aussies on tight leash
India had the slight edge in a sedately-paced battle of attrition after senior off-spinner R Ashwin cleaned up the Australian top-order and a meticulous pace effort kept the home team's scoring in check on the second day of the opening Test here. Travis Head (61 batting) and Pat Cummins (10) kept Australia in the game with a 50-run partnership in the last session but India walked away with the advantage after the latter fell towards the end of day's play. At stumps, Australia were 191/7 in 88 overs with Ashwin being their primary tormentor, securing figures of 3/50 in 33 overs. He was aided well by the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah (2/34) and Ishant Sharma (2/31). Mitchell Starc (8 batting) was giving Head company at close of play with Australia trailing by 59 runs against India's first innings effort of 250 all out, the highlight of which was Cheteshwar Pujara's fighting hundred. Post tea, the hosts lost two wickets for 10 runs in a passage of play spanning eight overs. It was credit to