Page 860 - Sports
Tim Paine responds to Clarke's criticism of new Australia
A day after former Australian skipper Michael Clarke criticised the national side for trying too hard to be liked, current captain Tim Paine has clarified that the team want Australian public and cricket fans to love and support them.He further said that they are not at all "concerned about being liked one bit" by opposing teams.Paine also asserted that the team will continue playing the "hard Australian cricket" for which they are known. "No one has spoken about being liked, certainly by the opposition. We've spoken about wanting to get the Australian public's trust and make sure that clearly, you want the Australian public and cricket fans to like or love the Australian Test team. Certainly, there's that aspect, but from an opposition perspective we're not concerned about being liked one bit," ESPNcricinfo quoted Paine, as saying."We're still going to play hard Australian cricket, as Michael put it, that's not going to change," he added.Expressing faith in senior players, the ...
Puneri Paltan make superb comeback to beat Haryana Steelers
Puneri Paltan produced a superb comeback to beat Haryana Steelers 35-33 in a thrilling Pro Kabaddi Season 6 match here Wednesday. It was a solid all-round effort by Puneri Paltan as they picked up their game in the second half. Haryana Steelers were left ruing a disappointing second half performance. Sandeep Narwal scored seven points for Pune while G B More chipped in with six points. Monu Goyat got 11 points for Haryana but their second half performance let them down. Monu opened Puneri Paltan's account with a two-point raid in the first minute. Haryana Steelers leveled the match at 4-4 with a couple of raid points. Haryana Steelers tightened their grip on the match in the next few minutes as Vikas Kandola's brilliant raid in the ninth minute inflicted an all out on Pune. Puneri Paltan could not recover from that all out in the first half as they struggled to put points on board. Harayan Steelers asserted further domination with another all out in the 17th minute to lead 20-7. Monu .
PKL: Pune beat Haryana in thriller
Puneri Paltan staged a superb comeback to beat Haryana Steelers 35-33 in a thrilling Pro Kabaddi League match here on Wednesday.
33rd Pune International Marathon to be held on Dec 2
The 33d edition of the Pune International Marathon will be held here on December 2, the organisers said on Wednesday. The marathon will be organised in the name of noted agriculturalist Dr B V Rao, advocate Abhay Chhajed, trustee of the Pune International Marathon Trust, was quoted as saying in a media release. Chhajed said prizes worth Rs 30 lakh will be given to the winners and the race will be held in eight different categories, including full marathon and half marathon. He added that the event will be aired on YouTube and those who complete the race will be awarded medals and certificates.
Gautam hits 93 as Rajasthan end day 1 at 221/5 against UP
Opener Amitkumar Gautam struck a patient 93 as Rajasthan ended the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group C match against Uttar Pradesh at a decent 221/5 here Wednesday. Rajasthan came into the game after winning their first three encounters on the trot and are placed at the top in the points table for the Group. Asked to bat, the visitors lost two early wickets and were reduced to 17-2. But No 4 Robin Bist (68 retired hurt off 138 balls) joined forces with Gautam, a promising right-handed batsman, as the duo steered the side out of trouble. Gautam paced his innings well as he and Bist took the UP bowlers to task at the Green Park Stadium. During his 232- ball stay at the crease, the 23-year-old hit 10 fours and three sixes to compile 93. But he was unlucky to miss out on what could have been his fifth first-class hundred, falling short of the three- figure mark by just seven runs. Rajasthan skipper Mahipal Lomror also chipped in with a valuable 36, but his team, which .
Female racers Mira Erda, Sneha Sharma earn call-ups for W Series trials
Indian racer Mira Erda has made it to the list of over 50 elite drivers who will get a shot at next year's W Series, world's only all-women racing championship. The 18-year-old Indian was among the youngest girls to be selected from 30 different countries to fight for a place in the final grid of 18 in the championship, starting in May next year, organisers said on Wednesday. Mira broke the glass ceiling in 2017 when she entered the Euro JK category of India's premier racing event, the JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship. Another JK Tyre stalwart, Sneha Sharma, who competes in the LGB-4 class, has also been invited from a pool of 100 applicants. The W Series boasts of a total prize fund of USD 1.5 million, with the overall winner taking home a cool USD 5,00,000. It will also take care of travel and subsistence costs of all the drivers, giving a unique opportunity to racers from all economic background. The shortlisted ladies have two months to prepare for the next step in the ..
Impressive India maul South Africa 5-0 in hockey WC opener
Hoping to recreate history after 43 years, hosts India started their hockey World Cup campaign on a rousing note, blanking South Africa 5-0 in their opening Pool C match in front of a packed Kalinga Stadium here Wednesday. World number five India are eyeing to reclaim the World Cup after 43 years, a title which they won only once way back in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur. Simranjeet Singh (43rd, 46th minutes) scored a brace, while Mandeep Singh (10th), Akashdeep Singh (12th) and Lalit Upadhyay (45th) were the other goal getters for India against a South Africa, ranked 10 places below India. The Indians toyed with the South African defence in the first quarter as they mounted numerous attacks on the opposition goal and to their credit succeeded on two occasions to take a comfortable 2-0 lead early on. India's first chance came in the third minute when skipper Manpreet Singh found an unmarked Mandeep alone inside the box with a defence-splitting pass but the striker failed to get his stick to ...
India hammer S.Africa in hockey World Cup opener
India started their 2018 Hockey World Cup campaign on a thunderous note, hammering minnows South Africa 5-0 in the opener at the Kalinga Stadium here on Wednesday.
Hockey WC: Defending champs Australia not taking Ireland lightly
Three-time world champions Australia are all set to take on Ireland in their opening clash of the ongoing 14th edition of the Men's Hockey World Cup here on Friday. Coach Colin Batch, however, warned his side against taking the Irish team lightly in the match.He said that any team participating in the tournament is capable of creating an upset. "Any team can cause an upset in the tournament. Ireland will be a very competitive and difficult opponent. We cannot take them lightly. Consistency has been the key to Australia's success. We hopefully have brought that consistency with us to India as well," Batch said.The Australian coach, while expressing his views about the Indian team, said that the hosts are one of the best Indian sides they have met so far. "Everybody in the hockey world respects them," he added."We met India at the Champion's Trophy and they've been the best Indian team we've played for quite some time now. This is one of the best Indian sides so far. There will ...
Smriti takes two-shot lead in 17th leg of Hero WPG Tour
Veteran golfer Smriti Mehra bogeyed the last hole, but still managed to hold a two-shot lead at the end of the opening day of the 17th leg of the Hero Womens Pro Golf Tour at the even par 72 at the Noida Golf club.
South Africa qualifies for FIFA Women's World Cup
The South African government on Wednesday congratulated the women's national football team (Banyana Banyana) for qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time.
Meghalaya take day one honours; Pankaj seven-for rattles Mizoram
Left-arm spinner Aditya Singhania (4/42) claimed four wickets to help Meghalaya bundle out Manipur for 211 in their Ranji Trophy Plate Group match here Wednesday. Meghalaya ended day one proceedings with 82/1, trailing Manipur by 129 runs, with opener Raj Biswa remaining unbeaten on 47 at the Jadavpur University Second Campus ground. Opting to field, Meghalaya made early inroads, dismissing Lakhan Rawat (8) and Priyojit K (5) cheaply to reduce Manipur to 23/2 inside seven overs. But opener Prafullomani Singh steadied the innings in a patient 64 from 108 balls and added 83 runs for the third wicket with skipper Yashpal Singh (33). Fresh from his five-for against Nagaland, Singhania cleaned up Prafullomoni to give the breakthrough. Chengkam Sangma (2/25) claimed two including the last match centurion Yashpal (33) to keep the pressure on Manipur who eventually folded in 64.1 overs at the stroke of tea break. In reply, Manipur's Thokchom Singh trapped Meghalaya opener Tarique Siddique ...
Hockey WC: Belgium beat Canada 2-1 in inaugural clash
Belgium made a winning start to their campaign at the ongoing 14th edition of the Men's Hockey World Cup after defeating Canada 2-1 in the opening Pool C match here at the Kalinga stadium on Wednesday.The Belgian side made their intentions clear in the first quarter as they scored their first goal in the third minute of the match. A ferocious flick from striker Tom Boon was deflected beautifully by midfielder player Felix Denayer which resulted in the first goal for the Belgian side.The leading side continued to play an attacking game as Canada could not get the possession of the ball. They, however, got a free hit by the end of the quarter but could not capitalise on the same.Canada, who were aiming to build their momentum at the start of the second quarter, got another jolt as Belgian skipper Thomas Briels scored another goal for his side on a penalty corner. Despite trying hard, the Canadian side could not manage to deceive the strong defense wall of their opponents as they ...
Unimpressive Belgium battle past Canada 2-1 in hockey WC opener
Olympic silver medallist Belgium's quest for a maiden men's World Cup title started with a fighting 2-1 win over minnows Canada in the opening match of the hockey's showpiece event here on Wednesday. Ranked third in the world, Belgium started as overwhelming favourites against world no. 11 Canada in the Pool C opener but they looked far from impressive. Even though Belgium controlled the proceedings in the first two quarters by showcasing fast-paced attacking hockey, they lacked the sting after the change of ends. The Red Lions sounded the board as early as in the third minute through a fine field strike by Felix Denayer. In the 12th minute, captain Thomas Briels found the back of the net again for Belgium but the goal was disallowed after Canada went for the referral, claiming the ball hit his hand before rolling on to the goal. But Briels was not to be denied in the 22nd minute as he scored with a brilliant strike after he was set up by Arthur van Doren. Belgium completely dominated
Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere: Sreesanth's wife
Bhuvaneshwari, wife of 'tainted' Indian speedster S. Sreesanth, has written on her twitter handle that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Hockey World Cup 2018: Belgium pip Canada 2-1 in tournament opener
Belgium pipped Canada 2-1 in the opening match of 2018 Hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium, here on Wednesday.
Mithali was "aloof, difficult to handle": Powar tells BCCI committee
The Indian women's cricket coach Ramesh Powar Wednesday conceded to having a "strained" relationship with senior player Mithali Raj but insisted that her contentious dropping from the World T20 semifinal was based solely on cricketing logic, a Board official has claimed. Powar met BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim a day after he was accused of bias by Mithali. He met the two Board officials at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. The seniormost batswoman of the Indian team, in a scathing e-mail to Johri and Karim, alleged that Powar humiliated her during the World T20 in the West Indies and she was left in tears after the axing from the team. "Ramesh admitted that his professional relationship with Mithali was strained as he always found her aloof and difficult to handle," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. However, the official said Powar insisted that Mithali's axing from the semifinal, which India lost to England by eight wickets, was based on .
Baba Aparajith, Kaushik Gandhi help TN post 218 for 7
: A fighting knock of 81 not out by Baba Aparajith and a half century by M Kaushik Gandhi helped Tamil Nadu post 218 for 7 on the opening day against Bengal in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match here Wednesday. Batting first after winning the toss, the home team got off to a slow start with openers Gandhi and Abhinav Mukund negotiating the Bengal new ball attack cautiously. However, Mukund fell for 9 to a catch by Kousik Ghosh off Ishan Porel's bowling. Aparajith, who joined Gandhi added 73 runs as Tamil Nadu looked to consolidate. Bengal struck two quick blows, dismissing Gandhi (51) and captain B Indrajith (0). Jagadeesan and Aparajith put on a half century partnership to steady Tamil Nadu. Aparajith held firm even as wickets fell around him to see the day through. The talented young Porel was the best bowler for Bengal with three wickets. Brief scores: Tamil Nadu 218 for seven in 90 overs(M Kaushik Gandhi 51 (128b, 6x4s), BAparajith 81 batting (231b, 5x4, 1x6), ...
Ranji: Dubey's ton helps Mumbai post 297 against Gujarat
All-rounder Shivam Dubey struck a brisk 110 as Mumbai fought back to post a modest 297 against Gujarat on the opening day of their Elite Group A Ranji Trophy game here. Dubey, who got a life on 14, made most of it to bring up his second first-class hundred at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. The left-handed batsman was dropped by Rujal Bhatt in the slips and he did not look back after that. Dubey had hit his maiden first-class hundred against Railways in New Delhi. In his 128-ball knock, Dubey struck eight fours and six towering sixes as he bailed Mumbai out of trouble after the hosts were teetering at 74-5. Dubey first joined hands with Siddesh Lad (62 in 141 balls) and then captain Dhawal Kulkarni (23 in 66 balls). He forged a 74-run sixth wicket stand with Lad and added 84 runs for the seventh wicket with Kulkarni. Earlier, put into bat on a greenish wicket, Mumbai had a disastrous start as they lost both their openers Akhil Herwadkar (0) and Jay Bista (8) ...
Merchant, Bharadia waltz into final of snooker tourney
Yasin Merchant of the Khar Gymkhana and Mukund Bharadia of the Cricket Club of India Wednesday breezed into the snooker finalof the BSAM Maharashtra State Senior Snooker & Billiards Selection (leg-2) Championship here. In the semi-final, Merchant,a former two-time Asian snooker champion, potted steadily and fluently to outplay Anand Raghuvanshi of the Hindu Gymkhana 4-0 (55-46, 68-59, 78-9 and 69-37 to take his place in the summit round. Bharadia alsoenjoyed a good run of the balls and breezed past Shivam Arora of the Khar Gymkhana by a 4-1 margin in the other semi-final. He quickly won the first three frames totake a 3-0 lead, but lost the fourth, before winning the fifth to complete a 87-53, 75-55, 64-33, 56-78 and 66-1 win. Earlier, CCI's Sparsh Pherwanis fantastic winning streak came to a grinding halt as he succumbed to the crafty play of Yasin Merchant, who clinched an authoritative 4-1 win in a quarter-final encounter. Results: Semi-finals:Yasin Merchant (Khar