Page 871 - Sports
Pak high commissioner welcomes hockey team in India
Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood Sunday welcomed the Pakistani hockey team visiting India for the Hockey World Cup. "Mahmood extended a warm welcome to members of the Pakistan Hockey contingent," the Pakistan embassy said in a release. The high commissioner, senior officials of the Pakistan mission and representatives of Hockey India were present at the airport here during the team's transit on its way to Bhubaneswar, it said. The team entered India through the Wagah-Attari border, according to the release. For their part, team manager Hasan Sardar and Captain Muhamad Rizwan thanked the high commissioner and other senior officials for their support. "High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood extended best wishes to the Pakistani hockey team for success during the Hockey World Cup," the release said. The Pakistani team will play its pool matches against Germany on December 1, Malaysia on December 5, and the Netherlands on December 9.
Banned Smith, Warner help Australia pacers prepare for Test series against India
They might have been banned from turning out for Australia but disgraced batting duo of Steve Smith and David Warner are going out of their way to prepare their bowlers for the upcoming four-Test series against India. Both former skipper Smith and Warner have agreed to turn out at the Australia nets to bat against the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazzlewood and Pat Cummins to prepare them to face Virat Kohli and Co in the upcoming four-Test series. Any hopes of Smith and Warner wearing the baggy green this summer were dashed when Cricket Australia board upheld the bans last week but the former captain and his deputy is still playing a big role behind the scenes. Smith is expected to face Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins at the Sudney Cricket Ground nets this week as Australia round off their preparations for the first Test starting December 6 at Adelaide. "He's (Smith) someone the three of us have bowled a fair bit to over the last little while at training," Starc told Fairfax ...
Harmanpreet Kaur named captain of Women's World T20 World XI
India's batting star Harmanpreet Kaur was on Sunday named captain of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 XI, which also featured opener Smriti Mandhana and leg-spinner Poonam Yadav. A selection panel comprising former players and commentators Ian Bishop, Anjum Chopra and Ebony Rainford-Brent, journalist Melinda Farrell and ICC's General Manager - Cricket, Geoff Allardice, picked up the team on the basis of the players' performances in the tournament, which concluded on Sunday with Australia winning the title. Three players from England, two from Australia and one each from Pakistan, New Zealand and the Windies have also been named in the eleven. India skipper Harmanpreet was one of two captains to make the squad along with Pakistan's Javeria Khan with player of the tournament Alyssa Healy of Australia and England's Amy Jones nominated to bat ahead of her. All-rounders Deandra Dottin of the Windies and Allyse Perry of Australia, and England pacer Anya Shrubsole are the seam bowlers in the ..
Hamilton wins crash-hit final race
New five-time champion Lewis Hamilton claimed his 11th win of the season on Sunday when he drove his Mercedes to a well-judged triumph in an incident-filled season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 33-year-old Briton, who started from his 83rd pole position, came home 2.5 seconds ahead of his main title rival four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari. The win came after a race that began with an horrific opening lap crash from which Nico Hulkenberg escaped unhurt, his blazing Renault car having barrel-rolled into the barriers. Dutchman Max Verstappen finished third ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, in his 100th race for Red Bull and 150th overall before moving to Renault, and Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes. Carlos Sainz came home sixth for Renault ahead of Ferrari-bound Charles Leclerc of Sauber, Sergio Perez of Force India, Romain Grosjean, who had tangled with Hulkenberg on the opening lap, and his Haas team-mate Kevin Magnussen. Retirement-bound ..
Sri Lanka sack selectors as England cruise toward whitewash series win
Sri Lanka sacked their selectors Sunday as the national team headed toward a whitewash defeat in their Test series against England. The home side were reeling at 53-4 at the close of the third day of the third and final Test, chasing an unlikely 327 to avoid another crushing defeat. The selection panel headed by former Test bowler Graeme Labrooy and also including Gamini Wickremasinghe, Eric Upashantha, Chandika Hathurusingha and Jeryl Woutersz were only appointed in June. Sri Lanka's Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapa summoned the panel on Sunday and "thanked them for their services", said a national cricket board statement. Sri Lanka Cricket said a four-member panel headed by former Test player Asantha de Mel, 59, will choose the squad to play two Tests, three one day internationals and a T20 game in New Zealand starting next month. De Mel will be backed up by former players Brendon Kuruppu, Hemantha Wickramaratne and Chaminda Mendis. Sri Lanka will be lucky to get through the fourth .
Churchill Brothers thrash Mohun Bagan 3-0 after Plaza's brace
The visiting Churchill Brothers embarrassed Mohun Bagan 3-0 after former Trinidad and Tobago international Willis Plaza made a stunning return to the city, heading in a brace in the I-League on Sunday. Forced to leave the Maidan after parting ways with East Bengal earlier this year, Plaza looked in ominous form and struck in a space of four minutes (51st and 55th) to become the leading scorer with five goals to his name. He had scored a hat-trick in their 4-2 win over Shillong Lajong in the previous match. Captain Dawda Ceesay drew the first blood in the 21st minute with an easy tap-in long before the Goans jumped to second spot with nine points from five matches. Mohun Bagan (8) slipped to fourth in the table. Mohun Bagan were bolstered by the inclusion of their star Haitian forward Sony Norde who had a fine attempt in the 16th minute but his grounded shot from the edge of the box hit the woodwork. Five minutes later the Goans went up when Lamgoulen Hangshing's cross for Willis Plaza
Manu wins double gold in junior; Ravi, Rahi crowned national champions
Teen sensation Manu Bhaker of Haryana won a double gold in junior sport pistol while Ravi Kumar and Rahi Sarnobat were crowned national champions in the men and women's events respectively here on Sunday. The 16-year-old Bhaker claimed the individual gold in junior girl's sport pistol with 24, a yellow metal in junior team and a silver in senior team. Ravi and Rahi were crowned national champions in the men's 10m air rifle and women's 25m pistol events respectively in the ongoing National Shooting Championship. Ravi, representing Indian Air Force, shot 250.2 in the final to quell the challenge of Army's Sandeep Singh, who shot 249.6 for silver. Keval Prajapati of Gujarat won bronze. Maharashtra's Rahi shot 36 in the final to leave behind Pushpanjali Rana of the CRPF, who shot 30. Bhaker had earlier topped qualification with a 581 and Rahi took the fifth spot with 576 in the women's senior pistol event. But the Asian Games champion was too strong for the field in the end. Both shooters
ISL: All eyes on Chhetri as Bengaluru face Delhi (Preview)
Most of the eyes will be focused on Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri as he makes his 150th appearance for the club against bottom-placed Delhi Dynamos in an Indian Super League (ISL) tie at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Monday.
Syed Modi Open 2018: Sameer Verma defeats chinese Guang Zu, defends title
Ace Indian shuttler Sameer Verma defended his Syed Modi International Super 300 tournament title by defeating China's Lu Guang Zu from China here on Sunday.
Maradona blames Argentine President for violence ahead of River-Boca match
Argentine football legend Diego Maradona held the government and President of Argentina Mauricio Macri responsible for incidents which led to the rescheduling of the second leg of the 2018 Copa Libertadores 2018 final between Buenos Aires clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors.
Jibran Khan of EIRS wins Equestrian Premier League 2018
Jibran Khan of Embassy International Riding School (EIRS) emerged champion of the ninth edition of the Equestrian Premier League (EPL) here on Sunday.
Mary named best boxer of World Championship
India's M C Mary Kom, who won a historic sixth world title, was adjudged the best pugilist of the 10th World Women's Boxing Championships here. The AIBA panel which chose the Indian as the best among the competitors was a richly deserved honour to the 35-year-old Manipuri, whose endurance, perseverance and the never-say-die attitude is unparallel in history. Speaking at the official press conference, Mary Kom recalled her participation in the New Delhi event held in 2006. "At that time, boxers from fewer countries had participated. It was not even included in Olympics. Though we won eight medals, four gold included but competition is much tough nowadays and considering the fact, our results here (one gold, a silver and two bronze medals) were great," said Mary. "As for as organization, this one was better than what it was in 2006." Asked to compare the win here with earlier gold medals, the Manipuri said it was difficult to remember. "But this one was very special. I was under ...
Indian equestrian's unending saga of controversies continues
Despite the historic twin silver medal feat by the Indian equestrian team as well as in the individual event at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, controversies refuse to take backseat in the system that governs the sport in the country.
Syed Modi Badminton C'ship: Sameer defends title; Saina suffers defeat
Former three-time winner Saina Nehwal suffered a shocking straight game defeat while reigning champion Sameer Verma managed to defend his title to win the Syed Modi International World Tour Super 300 finals here on Sunday.Saina, ranked at number nine in the world, suffered a shocking 21-18, 21-8 defeat against Han Yue of China.Han, ranked 27, showed the doors to Saina without breaking a sweat in the women's finals game that lasted 34 minutes.Meanwhile, third-seeded Sameer had to work hard to retain his title and thrashed Lu Guangzu of China 16-21, 21-19, 21-14 in the summit clash.Commonwealth Games silver medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and Gold Coast bronze medallists Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy also lost their summit clash in men's doubles and women's doubles events, respectively.The Indian duo of Satwiksairaj-Chirag, who had won a Super 100 title at Hyderabad, was thrashed by the Indonesian combination of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto 11-21, ...
Last minute Dembele goal saves Barca, frustrates Atletico with 1-1 tie
A goal by Ousmane Dembele at minute 90 saved Barcelona from defeat and frustrated Atletico Madrid with a last-minute draw after the home team was feeling it had victory in the bag, thanks to Diego Costa's goal earlier in a game almost totally lacking in offense.
Syed Modi International: Sensational Sameer defends title, erratic Saina sinks
A gritty Sameer Verma produced a sensational performance to defend his men's singles title, making up for the failure of his compatriots in the other finals at the USD 150,000 Syed Modi International here Sunday. World no 16 Sameer defeated China's Lu Guangzu 16-21 21-19 21-14 in a pulsating summit clash to lift the trophy for the second successive time even as Saina Nehwal, men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and women's doubles combination of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy bite the dust. Former champion Saina failed to produce her best, losing 18-21 8-21 to young Chinese Han Yue -- a 2017 world junior championship silver medallist -- in a lop-sided women's singles summit clash. Saina, who won a gold and a bronze at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games respectively, had ended second best at the Indonesia Masters in January and Denmark Open in October this year. Earlier, Commonwealth Games silver medallists Satwiksairaj and Chirag also went down 11-21
I can help India qualify for 2020 Olympics: Asiad silver medallist
Fouaad Mirza, who shot to fame by winning two silver medals in equestrian at the 2018 Asian Games, Sunday said he has the best chance to help India qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games. "I have a good chance to help India qualify for the 2020 Olympics," Fouaad told PTI ahead of the ninth edition of Equestrian Premier League conducted by Embassy International Riding School (ERIS) here. The school has been holding the league for the past eight years. The event is a platform for young and talented riders to encourage them to pursue the sport as professionals. Jibran Khan, a product of EIRS, won the open category title event this year. Out of the many competing Asia-Pacific countries in Group F, the real contest will be between India and China for making the Olympics by picking up the required points, he stated. India is placed in Group F, in which it has to compete with Japan, Thailand, Korea, Indonesia, China and few other countries. "Japan, New Zealand and Australia have already ...
Hopefully we will be able to stop Kohli in Test series: Alex Carey
Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey said Sunday Virat Kohli's unbeaten half-century put them under pressure in a tight chase and the hosts will have to improve to stop his run-scoring in the upcoming Test series. Kohli's unbeaten 61 off 41 balls paved the way for India to beat Australia by six wickets in the third T20 International and level the series 1-1. "He obviously played really well tonight he was put under a little bit of pressure towards the end but they started well in the powerplay and it was hard to peg them back. "We've seen him do that before and he did it again tonight. Hopefully in Tests, it will be a different story we've got some good pacer bowlers and Nathan Lyon. It will be a really good summer of cricket ahead," said Carey. Australia won the first match in Brisbane while the second game in Melbourne was washed out. On Sunday, India were set a target of 165. "It was a competitive target, probably like Virat said 180. They like chasing. They chased that really ...
Pakistan post big total after Haris, Babar notch hundreds
A career-best hundred from Haris Sohail and a maiden century from Babar Azam helped Pakistan post a big total to boost their chances of a series-levelling win against New Zealand in the second Test in Dubai on Sunday. Sohail knocked a snail-paced 147 in nine hours and 34 minutes while Azam made an unbeaten 127 to steer Pakistan to an imposing 418-5 declared on day two at Dubai stadium. New Zealand negotiated nine overs without losing a wicket for 24 under lights in overcast conditions before umpires called off the day with two overs remaining. Openers Jeet Raval was unbeaten on 17 with three boundaries while Tom Latham was five not out. With the Dubai stadium pitch starting to turn ace leg-spinner Yasir Shah could be the key to Pakistan gaining a big first innings lead. New Zealand, who lead the series 1-0 after a narrow four-run win in the first Test in Abu Dhabi last week, still trail by 394 runs with all ten wickets intact. Sohail improved on his previous best of 110 scored against
I had to convince myself I belong here after Brisbane thrashing: Krunal
He went for big runs in the opener but came back strongly to help India level the series against Australia here Sunday and all-rounder Krunal Pandya said it was difficult to convince himself he belongs to the big stage after the thrashing in Brisbane. Krunal said that he was down and out after a poor showing in the first T20 and needed to set the record straight for a consistent showing at the international level. Krunal registered career-best figures of 4-36 as he helped India beat Australia by six wickets in the final T20 match to level the three-match series 1-1. "It is very difficult when you play your first game in Australia and you get hammered for 53 from 4 overs. To come out of that was not easy. It took me a while to back myself much more, especially when you have hardly played any game at this level," he said at the post-match press conference. "Giving away 50-plus runs in Brisbane was very tough for me and the next 24 hours were tough. I had to convince myself again. ...