Page 914 - Sports

Pankaj Advani amasses world title number 20

India's ace cueist Pankaj Advani on Thursday won his third straight IBSF billiards crown in the 150-up format, taking his overall tally of world titles to a staggering 20. The 33-year-old from Bengaluru overcame Nay Thway Oo of Myanmar in a high-quality final. After bossing the '150-up' format, Advani will now compete in the longer version, 'Up' format, commences immediately. It was also a proud moment for Myanmar which saw its own player in the title round for the first time. Nay Thway Oo did well to oust multiple world champion Mike Russell in the semifinal with a convincing 5-2 victory. With home support and overall advantage the one thing that was evidently lacking was the experience of competing in a World Championship final as Oo was denied much opportunity to reproduce the magic of his previous match. Up against the man to beat in the world of billiards, Oo wasn't given much breathing space as Advani was clearly on a mission to retain his title. And he did so with absolute ...

Taylor heroics in vain as Bangladesh level series

Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor fought valiantly with his second century of the Test but Bangladesh won the final match by 218 runs to end the series at 1-1 on Thursday. Needing a mammoth 443 to win, Zimbabwe were bowled out in the second session on the fifth day in Dhaka with Taylor remaining unbeaten on 106. Taylor's knock of patience and controlled aggression came from 167 balls and featured ten fours. He had hit 110 in Zimbabwe's first essay of 304. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan was the wrecker-in-chief on the final day as he returned bowling figures of 5-38 -- his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests. Mehidy denied Zimbabwe any chance of repeating their clinical performance of the first match in Sylhet that they won by 151 runs. Taijul Islam added two more wickets to his five in the first innings and finished the series with a career best haul of 18 scalps in two matches. He was named the player of the series. The home side declared the first innings on 522 for seven with Mushfiqur Rahim hitting

Women's World T20: Stafanie Taylor maintains Windies' momentum

Riding on the back of Stafanie Taylor, the West Indies women's team sustained the pressure with the ball and field to seal a 31-run win over South Africa in a group match of the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's World T20 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Ground in Gros Islet.Reflecting on the bowling department, Taylor, who was declared 'player of the match' after registering her career-best figures of 4 for 12, said, "Looking at how we played in Guyana and here, we do have a good bowling unit."After ending their innings, the Carribean side gave a modest run chase of 107.In the second innings, South Africa motored along to 48 runs with one wicket loss by the end of 11th over. However, West Indies' Deandra Dottin brought the hold of her side back as she picked the wicket of Lizelle Lee and hit a direct to run out Dane van Niekerk.From here, Taylor brought herself on and claimed a wicket in each of her four overs and eventually bowled out South Africa for 76 ...

Pezzella to miss Argentina football friendlies

Argentina centre-back German Pezzella has been ruled out of the Albiceleste's upcoming friendlies against Mexico with a leg injury.

India's Sanjana receives a Division I basketball scholarship with NAU Basketball

India's Sanjana Ramesh has received a Division I basketball scholarship with NAU women's team for the 2019-20 season. On Wednesday, Northern Arizona head coach Loree Payne announced Sanjana Ramesh (Bangalore) and Emily Rodabaugh (Lynnwood, Washington) as the newest Lumberjacks after the pair signed their National Letters of Intent. Both Sanjana and Rodabaugh will be incoming freshmen for the 2019-20 season. "With only two scholarships, we had to get two impact players and we did," Payne said. "Sanjana is an athlete who has international and national experience in India. We're trying to get our foot in the door in the international recruiting scene and for us, Sanjana is everything we're looking for. "She's a joyful kid and very thankful for the opportunity to come here and she's going to be a heck of a player. Her potential is limitless." The 17-year-old became the second Indian-born female player to receive a Division I basketball scholarship. In 2017, Sanjana had captained India's ..

Pinto returns for 3rd stint as coach of Colombia's Millonarios

Veteran Colombia coach Jorge Luis Pinto said he turned down offers from abroad to return to Millonarios, where he began his coaching career 34 years ago, because of the winning tradition of the Bogota club.

Priority is to top the pool and make quarterfinal: Hockey skipper Manpreet

India's hockey captain Manpreet Singh said his team is focused on toping its pool and make the quarterfinals of the men's World Cup starting here on November 28. With less than two weeks to go for the prestigious World Cup which will witness 16 top teams battle for supremacy at the iconic Kalinga Stadium, India are busy making final preparations to their campaign. "There is no doubt we want to win every match in the Pool Stage, earn the three points from each match, and top the Pool to make the Quarter Final. That is our first hurdle," said Manpreet. "It's the World Cup and every team will come with an intention of winning and we do not want to take any team lightly, be it South Africa, Canada or World No.3 Belgium." Grouped in Pool C, India will face South Africa on November 28, before taking on Belgium on December 2 followed by their last group match against Canada on December 8. While the Indian team has not faced South Africa in a major tournament in over two years, Manpreet said .

Cilic beats Isner, gets first victory at ATP Finals

Croatian Marin Cilic beat American John Isner, coming from a set down, and achieved his first victory at the ATP Finals in London.

Qatar stuns Switzerland with 1-0 win in friendly

Qatar's national team beat Switzerland 1-0 here as the Swiss were punished for their significant lack of aim, four days ahead of their decisive clash with Belgium to qualify for the next round in the Nations League.

Superb Stokes sparks England fightback before lunch

Brilliant fielding by Ben Stokes enabled England to end a key stand between Dimuth Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva as Sri Lanka reached 139 for 4 at lunch in the second Test on Thursday. Karunaratne, who made 63, put on 96 for the third wicket with De Silva to steady the innings after they slipped to 31 for two early on the second day in Kandy. But Stokes, who on Wednesday had failed with the bat as England's new number three, broke the partnership when he pounced to run out Karunaratne with a direct throw from gully. The star all-rounder then took a stunning one-handed catch low to his left at first slip to dismiss Kusal Mendis for one off the slow left-arm spin of Jack Leach. De Silva was not out 57 at lunch with Angelo Mathews on two as Sri Lanka trail by 146 in response to the tourists' first innings 285. Karunaratne, who started the day on 19, lost partner and nightwatchman Malinda Pushpakumara for four but then played a patient knock to register his 18th Test fifty. Moeen ...

Australia's World Cup stars to miss parts of IPL: CA

Putting country first, Cricket Australia will not allow its players, picked in the World Cup squad, to take part in the last few weeks of the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) so that they prepare well for the big-ticket event. The lucrative IPL Twenty20 tournament is likely to start early than the scheduled time to give the players enough time to rest and prepare for the ODI World Cup, starting in England on May 30. Advancing the IPL dates to March means it will clash with the last part of Australia's domestic season as well as their ODI series against Pakistan. The final round of the Sheffield Shield is scheduled from March 20 to 23, while the Pakistan ODI series, though not confirmed, has been pencilled in for March 15-29. Cricket Australia has made it clear that World Cup remains the priority for the defending champions and the players will have to complete their Sheffield Shield commitments and national duties to get approval to play in the IPL. Cricket Australia also said the 15 .

Taylor fights but Bangladesh surges ahead

Bangladesh bowlers struck twice before lunch on the fifth and final day Thursday as Zimbabwe struggled to avoid defeat in the second Test. The visitors reached 161 for 4 at the break at Sher-e-Bangla stadium with first innings century-maker Brendon Taylor and Peter Moor batting on 54 and 10 respectively. Zimbabwe's hopes of securing a draw rests on the pair, whose 139-run sixth wicket stand in the first innings took the visitors past the 300 mark. If they stave off defeat, Zimbabwe will claim their first Test series win in seven years. Resuming at 76 for 2, Zimbabwe lost Sean Williams for 13 after pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman provided Bangladesh with the first breakthrough. Spinner Taijul Islam dismissed Sikandar Raza for 12 by taking a sharp return catch to reduce Zimbabwe to 120 for 4. But Taylor and Moor saw their side through to the break with an unbeaten 41-run stand for the fifth wicket. Bangladesh need a win to square off series after going down by 151 runs in the first Test

Stenson edges out Westwood in exciting finale to win the 'Hero Challenge' in Dubai

Henrik Stenson took precision to a new level as he edged out Lee Westwood in a high-voltage 'Hero Challenge' under the lights at the Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.Stenson, who received the winner's trophy from Mr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, MD and CEO, Hero MotoCorp, thwarted Westwood's attempt to become the first player to win the 'Hero Challenge' more than once. In the process, the Swede who spends a lot of his time in Dubai, became the seventh new winner of the 'Hero Challenge', which has now been held seven times in three years, beginning in 2016.Westwood won the 'Hero Challenge' at the 2017 British Masters in Newcastle.Hero MotoCorp Ltd - the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer - introduced the Hero Challenge at the British Masters in 2016. The Company reaffirmed its commitment to innovation on the European Tour by extending the Hero Challenge by another three years and to three marquee events - the British Masters, Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and DP World Tour ...

Spain allows Kosovo athletes to use national symbols

The Spanish government has decided to allow athletes from Kosovo to use their national symbols, anthem, and flag while participating in international sporting events being held in the country."The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) wish to publicly express their deepest satisfaction with the decision taken today by the Spanish Government regarding the participation of Kosovan athletes in international competitions to be held in Spain," a joint statement by IOC and COE said.Josep Borrell, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation stated that that Spanish government has allowed the Kosovan sports delegations to compete in the country with the relevant visa and has authorised the athletes to use their own national symbols, anthem, and flag, in accordance with the Olympic protocol.The decision was communicated on Wednesday by a letter to the COE president Alejandro Blanco.The government has also ensured that the ...

Injured Holder ruled out of Bangladesh tour

West Indies skipper Jason Holder has been ruled out of the upcoming tour to Bangladesh due to a shoulder injury.The 27-year-old is "suffering from a partial thickness tear of the subscapularis tendon in his shoulder, will undergo physiotherapy and rehab when he returns back in Barbados," according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).In the absence of Holder, the Carribean side will be led by opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite.Meanwhile, uncapped wicket-keeper Jahmar Hamilton has been included in the squad. He had impressed the national selectors by scoring a ton for West Indies A against England Lions earlier in February.West Indies will take on Bangladesh in two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is, with the Test series beginning from November 22 at Chittagong.

De Villiers headlines new South African T20 league

AB de Villiers will headline South Africa's first city-based Twenty20 league when he leads the Tshwane Spartans in the opening match of the Mzansi (South Africa) Super League against Cape Town Blitz on Friday. The month-long league will get under way barely a month after the official launch, without a title sponsor and with a relatively modest list of international players, partly because some big-name players already had other commitments. Cricket South Africa (CSA) have budgeted for a loss of 40 million rand (about $2.8 mn/2.45 mn euros) for the first edition of a tournament which was first mooted in 2017 before being abandoned in the absence of a television deal or main sponsor, leading to a loss of about $14 mn and the resignation of then chief executive Haroon Lorgat. SABC, the cash-strapped national broadcaster, will televise the tournament. The free-to-air coverage is expected to boost the popularity of cricket, although it is unlikely that CSA are receiving a substantial ...

Pacquiao, Broner to unveil fight details next week

Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao and former world welterweight champion Adrien Broner will announce details Monday in New York about their upcoming bout, expected in January at Las Vegas. Pacquiao owns the World Boxing Association's regular welterweight crown, a step below US unbeaten WBA 'super champion' Keith Thurman, after stopping Argentina's Lucas Matthysse in July at Kuala Lumpur -- his first knockout win since 2009. The southpaw, 60-7 with two drawn and 39 knockouts in a career that began in 1995, turns 40 next month while American Broner is 33-3 with one drawn and 24 knockouts. Broner and Pacquiao are set to talk Monday at New York's Gotham Hall and Tuesday at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills to promote the bout, which is expected to be staged January 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, the only fighter to win world titles in eight different weight divisions, said last month he was 90 percent certain he would next fight Broner, a former four-division world ...

PKL 6: U Mumba defeat Bengaluru Bulls 32-29

Host U Mumba continued with their brilliant run this season as they defeated Bengaluru Bulls 32-29 in an inter-zonal clash of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) at the NSCI stadium here on Wednesday.

Palinder wanted to represent India in 2020 Olympics, says friend

Palinder always dreamt of representing India in the Olympics and had even got the Olympic symbol tattooed on his right hand, says Ajeet Rawat, a mentor-cum-friend of the 18-year-old athlete who allegedly committed suicide at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Wednesday. Mahesh Pal, the father of the athlete, who allegedly hanged himself to death, says he does not know what went wrong and why his son took such an extreme step. Rawat, who knew Chaudhary since 2012, says he was a focused, hard-working person. "He knew what he wanted. He wanted to represent India in the Olympics. He had even got the Olympics symbol tattooed on his right hand. "He had set his sights on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was preparing for it. He would also say if he missed out on a 2020 berth, he would try for the 2024 Paris Olympics," Rawat says. Rawat says Chaudhary was a great friend and it would be hard for him to come to terms with his death. "In fact, I used to speak to him on a daily basis. I spoke with him on ..

ATP Finals: Djokovic overcomes Zverev hurdle

World number one Novak Djokovic has strengthened his position in the ongoing ATP finals tournaments as he defeated Alexander Zverev of Germany in the men's singles event here at the O2 Arena on Wednesday.The 31-year-old defeated Zverev 6-4, 6-1 in a clash that lasted 76 minutes.Eyeing his sixth trophy at the season finale this week, the Serbian player won 75 per cent of his serves to emerge victorious in the match.Zverev earned his first break point at the score of 4-4 in the first set forcing Djokovic into extended rallies. The German player, however, failed to get past the Serbian player and lost the set 4-6.The second set saw Zverev making promising start in the initial stages but it was Djokovic's skillful play on the court that proved too much for the German player. After taking a 3-1 lead in the second set, Djokovic did not look back and raced ahead to victory.Djokovic will seal his spot in the semi-final of the ongoing tournament if John Isner defeats Marin Cilic in their Group