Page 858 - Sports
Usman Khawaja will just pip Virat Kohli: Ricky Ponting gives series' projection
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting on Thursday gave a series projection for the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy and declared that Australian top-order batsman Usman Khawaja will outscore Indian skipper Virat Kohli.The 43-year-old, while speaking to cricket.com.au, not only tipped a 2-1 series result in favour of Australia for the four-Test match campaign against India, also suggested that Khawaja will be the leading run scorer and the player of the series."He's (Khawaja) on top of his game, his record in Australia is outstanding. As much of a threat that the Indian fast bowlers might pose, I think he's got a game that can cope with it here in Australia. I'm going with him to be the leading run scorer and man of the series," Ponting said.Ponting's forecast is based on history as India have never won a Test series down under in 11 attempts, while they've won only five of 44 Tests in Australia. "We're talking 40 years of history with India coming to Australia and not being able ..
AIBA set to introduce 'protest system' at 2019 men's world c'ships
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) is set to introduce a "protest system" for coaches and boxers in next year's world championship for men, which will also be a qualifier for the 2020 Olympics. Its system of scoring criticised by no less than the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the AIBA Thursday said a provision of protest will be introduced at the 2019 world event to held in Moscow. "Noteworthy, is the establishment of a protest system for Coaches and Athletes which has been approved, tested and is set to be implemented in 2019 at the AIBA Men's World Championships," the world body said in a statement. The AIBA said it has worked hard towards reforming its systems, most notably scoring, which has often been lambasted as opaque by critics. "Like any other International Sport Federation, AIBA will continuously seek to improve its refereeing and judging and will remain ever vigilant to the fact that we serve our athletes in the first place," AIBA Executive Director Tom ..
Eyeing hat-trick of WC titles, Australia start campaign against lowly Ireland
Seeking a hat-trick of titles, defending champions Australia begin their campaign against minnows Ireland in the hockey World Cup here Friday. The world number one Kookaburras would start as overwhelming favourites against 10th ranked Ireland in the Pool B match. Australia have won the World Cup thrice -- 1986, 2010 and 2014 -- and they have been a dominant side in world hockey for quite a few years now, though the few Olympic medals did not reflect it. The world champions have just passed through a transition phase with some senior players like Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles hanging up their boots. But come Friday, Australia would be looking to beat Ireland by a big margin to boost their confidence ahead of the remaining two pool matches. The Kookaburras have 10 new players in their squad and co-captain of the side Aran Zalewski said they were taking the opportunity as a "challenge". "This is completely a different group. We have now got 10 guys making their debut at World Cup. For us
PKL: Dabang Delhi gear up for home leg
Pro Kabaddi League franchise Dabang Delhi KC is all set to give their fans an enthralling experience as they get ready for the home leg at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex here from Friday.
258 runners accused of cheating during Shenzhen Half Marathon
A total of 258 runners were penalised for cheating in a recent Shenzhen Half Marathon, event organisers said on Thursday.
River Plate president urges Boca Juniors to play Libertadores final
River Plate president Rodolfo D'Onofrio poked fun at his Boca Juniors counterpart Daniel Angelici urging him to reconsider and play the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final.
FIH announces partnership with Dream11
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has signed a four-year partnership agreement with Dream11, Indias sports gaming platform, it was announced on Thursday.
Atletico Madrid reach Champions League knockout stage
Atletico Madrid punched their ticket to the Champions League knockout stage with a comfortable 2-0 win against AS Monaco.
Napoli thump Red Star 3-1 to lead Champions group
Napoli took the lead in Champions League Group C with a 3-1 win against Red Star Belgrade.
Barça win their group in Champions League
It wasn't pretty, but Barcelona got the job done in a Champions League contest with PSV Eindhoven, prevailing 2-1 to clinch the top spot in Group B heading into the knockout stage.
PSG gets big win over Liverpool in Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Liverpool 2-1 in a Champions League Group C action, a win that greatly improves its chances of reaching the tournament's knockout stage.
Dortmund's draw goalless against Brugge
Borussia Dortmund failed to achieve more than a goalless draw against Brugge, enough for them to qualify for the Round-of-16 of the Champions League, but also made Atletico Madrid the leader of Group A with a matchday to go until the end of the first round.
Paranaense beat Fluminense to reach Copa Sudamericana finals
Atletico Paranaense will face their first Copa Sudamericana final against Colombian rivals Junior Barranquilla or Independiente Santa Fe after beating Fluminense 2-0 at the Maracana stadium.
Mexico beat Canada, in final of U-17 Women's World Cup
Mexico qualified for the first time to a final of the Women's U-17 World Cup by defeating Canada 1-0, thanks to a goal by Nicole Perez from a penalty kick, to face Spain in the title match.
Mithali should stop blackmailing coaches and putting her interest first over team: Ramesh Powar
Ramesh Powar, the India women's team coach, alleged ODI skipper Mithali Raj of ignoring her role and batting for own milestones in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 at West Indies.In his e-mailed report on India's performance, addressed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO Rahul Johri and General Manager cricket operations Saba Karim, Powar called the senior player with "minimum inputs in team meetings," adding, "not a single word of appreciation came from her after finishing at the top of the table."Mithali, in a letter to the BCCI on Tuesday, had accused Powar and Committee of Administrators (CoA) member Diana Edulji of discrimination.Powar, who took charge as interim coach, replacing Tushar Arothe in July, in his defence voiced that Mithali "could not understand and adapt to team plan. She ignored her role and batted for her own milestones. Lack of keeping the momentum going which was putting extra pressure on other batters. Worked really ...
Deeply saddened, hurt by aspersions cast on me: Mithali Raj
Responding to the India women's team coach Ramesh Powar's report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), wherein he had accused Mithali Raj of being selfish and putting her interest first over the team, the India ODI skipper on Thursday stated that she was deeply saddened and hurt by the aspersions cast on her."I'm deeply saddened & hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game & 20yrs of playing for my country.The hard work, sweat, in vain. Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned & all the mudslinging- it's the darkest day of my life. May God give strength," Mithali tweeted.Replying to Mithali's tweet, her manager Annisha Gupta wrote, "As an admirer of her commitment to the country for 20yrs, of hard work & winning, when the game finally gets some limelight, we push her under it's shadow. You did right by the blue jersey @M_Raj03 , It will too. The country loves you."Powar in his ten-page tour report entirely focussed on the ..
Tour game: Kohli, Shaw score fluent half-centuries, India 358
In-form skipper Virat Kohli (64) and teenage prodigy Prithvi Shaw (66) were among the five Indian batsmen who struck fifties before the visitors were bowled out for 358 on the second day of the rain-hit practice game against Cricket Australia XI here. In response, Cricket Australia XI finished the day at 24-0 in four overs. For India, Cheteshwar Pujara (54), Ajinkya Rahane (56), and Hanuma Vihari (53) were the others to post half-centuries. Rain finally relented and the match got underway earlier in the morning with play extended to 98 overs for each of the remaining three days. Cricket Australia XI won the toss and invited India to bat. The visitors left out Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Parthiv Patel and Kuldeep Yadav from the 14-man team selected for this practice game that doesn't have first-class status. On account of high moisture in the ground, there was a lack of pace and bounce in the morning but 19-year-old Shaw set a hectic pace as he hit 11 fours during his 69-ball ...
More than hurt, I was surprised by sudden ouster as India coach: Oltmans
India is a closed chapter now for Roelant Oltmans but the legendary Dutch coach said more than hurt he was surprised by the way he was unceremoniously shown the door by Hockey India, especially after investing his time in the country for nearly five years. Oltmans came to India as High Performance Director in 2013 and played an instrumental role in reviving Indian hockey before taking up the position of men's team's chief coach. Oltmans' association with Indian hockey for nearly five years came to an end in September last year after he was sacked by the national federation for lack of results. "I was not hurt (about the sudden sacking). That is part of our coaching job but I must admit I was surprised," the 64-year-old master tactician told PTI in an exclusive interview here. "There are certain moments people take decisions and you need to accept the decisions the way they are," said Oltmans, who is here as the head coach of Malaysian team participating in the World Cup. During his ...
Darkest day of my life: Mithali on Powar's charges on attitude
"It's the darkest day of my life," said senior Indian woman cricketer Mithali Raj, responding to coach Ramesh Powar's allegations that she threatened retirement over a batting position, threw tantrums and created chaos in the side during the World T20. The war of words, which started with Mithali alleging that Powar was out to destroy her, intensified on Wednesday when the coach, in his tour report, questioned her conduct during the tournament in the West Indies. India were knocked out following a semifinal loss to England, a match from which Mithali was controversially dropped despite being fit. Mithali reacted to Powar's report by posting a brief statement on her official Twitter page on Thursday. "I'm deeply saddened & hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game & 20yrs of playing for my country," she wrote. "The hard work, sweat, in vain. Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned & all the mud slinging- it's the darkest day of my life. May .
Ousted from Test squad for Australia, 'Gabbar' Dhawan has finally moved on
Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan stressed that he has "moved on" after feeling sad about his omission from the Test squad for the four-match series in Australia."I was a bit sad, but I have moved on and I am in a good frame of mind. I am in a happy, positive mood. I am enjoying my game. I have got a bit of off time, and I am going to enjoy my training and get myself, fitter. I am happy, and once I am happy, things go well for me," he added.The 32-year-old, who was adjudged Player of the Series after the Twenty20 Internationals in Australia, was left out of the 17-member squad named in October, with Murali Vijay, Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul included as openers.With 117 runs at a fine strike rate of 182.81, Dhawan in his last four T20I innings has scored 41, 76, 92 and 43 runs.Although Dhawan won't be around, he is backing his side to win the Test series. "We have got a very good chance to win the series here," he said."We have to play good complete cricket in all three departments whether .