Page 939 - Sports
Olympic Qualifying: Indian women held to 1-1 draw by Nepal
The Indian senior women's team opened its 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw against Nepal here on Thursday. The first half was an open affair with India creating more chances than Nepal. However, they did not have the best of starts as centre-back Sweety Devi was forced off due to injury in just the eighth minute and was replaced by Manisha Panna. With the Indian defence still finding its feet after Sweety's injury, the Nepalese forwards made the most of the situation as captain Niru Thapa scored from close range thanks to a low ball from the left flank. India immediately responded to the early setback and created a flurry of chances in the next few phases of play with Grace Dangmei exerting a lot of influence down the right wing and Sanju, Anju Tamang and Bala Devi all coming close to opening the scoring for Maymol Rocky's side. In the 29th minute, coach Rocky made a tactical switch by replacing Anju with the experienced Kamala Devi. The move paid rich ...
Khawaja confident of comeback before Test series against India
Australian opener Usman Khawaja on Wednesday said his recovery from a knee injury is ahead of schedule and he is confident of making it to the team for the four-match Test series against India, beginning next month. The 31-year-old had undergone surgery on October 23 after suffering a meniscus tear in his left knee during the warm-ups on day two of the second Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. "My recovery is going really well so far. I'm trying to keep it cool, but it's actually going really well. I feel like I'm a little bit ahead of where I should be," the experienced left-hander told cricket.com.au. "I'm 10 kilograms lighter than I was in South Africa maybe seven months ago, so I'm sure that helps the knees in some respects," he added. The Pakistan-born Australian, who scored 85 and 141 in the drawn first Test against Pakistan last month, remains a key member of the Australian team which is without the services of banned Steve Smith and David Warner. The first Test begins on ...
Australia drop Starc, Marsh, Lyon for T20Is against India
Australia have named a 13-member squad for the upcoming Twenty20 Internationals against South Africa and India without the experienced trio of Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Lyon.
Undeterred by cancer, Malaysian badminton legend Lee vows to return
Malaysian badminton legend Lee Chong Wei pledged on Thursday to try his best to continue his career for "the love of the sport".
Hockey India announce World Cup squad
Hockey India on Thursday named the 18-member Indian squad for the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2018 which is scheduled to begin on November 28 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhuvaneshwar.
Sensational Saurabh claims gold at Asian Airgun Championships
India's teenage shooting sensation Saurabh Chaudhary continued his incredible run by claiming his fourth individual gold medal in as many months with a top finish in the 10m air pistol junior men's event of the Asian Airgun Championship here on Thursday. The 16-year-old, son of a farmer based in Meerut, first combined with compatriots Arjun Singh Cheema and Anmol Jain to log a total of 1731 to win the team gold and fetched the individual gold with 239.8 in the eight-man individual final to finish with two gold medals. Saurabh won the gold medal at the Asian Games in August, besides bagging golds at the World Shooting Championships in September and the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina last month. Arjun (237.7) secured the silver medal after finishing second, while Chinese Taipei's Huang Wei-Te clinched the bronze with a score of 218.0 to deny India a clean sweep. Anmol finished fourth with a score of 195.1. The Indian trio missed the World and Asian Junior record by a mere ...
Jennings gives England huge lead in Sri Lanka
Keaton Jennings was two runs short of a patient century on Thursday as he and a no-nonsense Ben Stokes gave England a mammoth 351-run lead against Sri Lanka in Galle. At tea on day three in the first Test, the visitors were on 212 for four in their second innings, with opener Jennings unbeaten on 98 and Jos Buttler not out on 14. Having been 38-0 overnight, a somewhat shaky Rory Burns, brought in to fill the huge shoes of the retired Alastair Cook, was run out in the morning session for 23. Moeen Ali, out first ball in the first innings, fared little better, driving straight to Rangana Herath at mid-on off Dilruwan Perera for three. Rangana Herath, in his last game before retiring, then got England captain Joe Root out for the second time in the match, caught behind for three. But Jennings looked comfortable against spin on a wearing pitch that promises Sri Lanka a Herculean task on day four. Stokes's 62 off 93 balls saw three sixes, including one back over Perera's head and an ...
Shuttlers Sindhu, Srikanth advance at China Open
Star Indian shuttlers P.V Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth advanced to the next round, defeating their opponents in the China Open here on Thursday.
Cancer-hit Lee announces badminton comeback bid
Malaysian star Lee Chong Wei Thursday said he plans to return to badminton after successful treatment for nose cancer, insisting he had no intention of retiring. The ex-world number one said he could resume training as early as next month and was targeting a competitive comeback at the All England Open in March. "I finished all my treatment... and have recovered very well," a cheerful and a healthy-looking Lee, 36, told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur. "I want to come back to court," he said, adding: "As of now, I am not retiring." The three-time Olympic silver medallist was making his first public appearance since his shock diagnosis was announced in September. Lee, who returned from treatment in Taiwan last month, said it was his "dream" to play in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which would be his fifth Summer Games. "This is my dream. But health is most important," he said, adding: "I just try my very best because I love my country... and I love badminton." Lee, who enjoys superstar ..
Cricket Australia chaos distracting players: Finch
Disarray within Cricket Australia has distracted the Australian team, one-day skipper Aaron Finch said Thursday as he urged his players to keep their focus on the field. The embattled governing body has been under intense pressure after a scathing review said its "arrogant" culture contributed to players cheating in the pursuit of victory. It has led to an overhaul of the organisation. Chairman David Peever last week followed chief executive James Sutherland out the door, director Mark Taylor quit this week and team performance boss Pat Howard is also leaving. "When there are changes, and there are things being said and written, I think it's hard not to read it sometimes when it's everywhere," Finch said in Adelaide ahead of the second ODI against South Africa. "You might spend a little bit of time reading it, and putting some kind of doubts in your mind." Cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were banned for trying to alter the ball with sandpaper in South Africa
Champions League: Hoffenheim rallies to hold Lyon
Pavel Kaderabek scored an injury time equaliser as Hoffenheim secured a 2-2 draw away in their UEFA Champions League group F match here.
Let people judge whether this is best travelling team: CoA tells Shastri
"India's best travelling team in last 15 years," said Ravi Shastri. "Let people be the judge," retorted the Committee of Administrators when the national cricket coach spoke of the criticism that his team faces, a top BCCI official has said. At a recent meeting between the team management and the CoA in Hyderabad, Shastri reiterated his much-publicised comments that drew sharp reactions from former cricketers such as Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly. "Ravi initially started off by saying that the Indian media always criticises it's own players and how this is one of the best ever teams in the last 15 years," an official present in the meeting told PTI. Shastri's reference to criticism was related to a verbal altercation that Kohli had with a journalist in England after the team lost the Test series 1-3. The skipper, when questioned about Shastri's comment in England, asked for the journalist's view on it. When the scribe said he wasn't quite convinced about the coach's assertion, ...
China Open: PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth cruise into quarterfinals
Ace Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth on Thursday emerged victorious to reach the quarterfinals of the ongoing China Open badminton tournament here.Sindhu hardly broke a sweat and eased to a 21-12, 21-15 win over Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand, while Srikanth made a came back from a game down to defeat Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia 10-21, 21-9, 21-9.In women's singles, Sindhu looked strong right from the opening and raced ahead of her Thai opponent, who fought back hard but her effort was not brawny enough to close the gap. Eventually, Sindhu registered a convincing 21-12 to win the first game.The World number three controlled the proceedings brilliantly and did not waste much time to clinch the set 21-15 in 37 minutes to ensure her progression to the quarterfinals.In men's singles, Srikanth couldn't find a rhythm in the first game and handed an easy advantage to his Indonesian counterpart 10-21.As the game entered into the tight second game, the match turned in favour
Sindhu, Srikanth reach quarterfinals of China Open
Former champions P V Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth recorded contrasting victories to advance to the quarterfinals of the China Open World Tour Super 750 here on Thursday. While Olympic and two-time World Championship silver medallist, Sindhu stamped her authority with a 21-12 21-15 win over Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the second round, Srikanth got the better off Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto in a three-game match. The third seeded Indian, who had clinched the title in 2016, will face tough test against eighth seeded He Bingjiao next. Sindhu lost both the meetings against the world no 7 Chinese and would be eager to avenge her twin loss tomorrow. Srikanth, who had skipped the event due to a muscle strain last season, managed to script a come-from-behind 10-21 21-9 21-9 win over Tommy Sugiarto in a 45-minute men's singles match. The 25-year-old from Guntur had won the China Open in 2014, getting the better of the legendary Lin Dan of China. Next, he will face Chinese Taipei's Chou .
England in control against Sri Lanka
England looked Thursday to be building a commanding position in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, with the visitors leading by 250 at lunch on day three. Opener Keaton Jennings was unbeaten on 60 accompanied by Ben Stokes not out on 14 as the home side struggled to get back into the match. Having been 38 without loss overnight, Jennings's opening partner Rory Burns, brought in to replace the retired Alastair Cook, was run out on 23. Moeen Ali, out first ball in the first innings, made just three before driving straight to Rangana Herath at mid-on off Dilruwan Perera. Perera then quickly claimed his second, getting England captain Joe Root caught behind for three. England made 342 in the first innings thanks to a century from Burns's fellow debutant Ben Foakes. Sri Lanka were then bowled out on Tuesday for 203, leaving them 139 behind.
Real Madrid hammer Plzen in Champions League clash
Real Madrid thrashed Viktoria Plzen 5-0 to move into a tie on points with AS Roma for the lead in Group G of the Champions League football tournament.
Sainz acknowledges Mercedes-Ferrari domination of F1
Winning the Formula 1 driver's championship "is a distant dream" for anyone who doesn't drive for Ferrari or Mercedes, Spain's Carlos Sainz Jr. said ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Ajax hold Benfica in Champions League clash
Ajax Amsterdam earned a valuable 1-1 draw against Benfica here, improving their chances of reaching the Champions League second round and leaving the Portuguese team virtually eliminated.
Man City rout Shakhtar 6-0 in Champions League
Manchester City are nearly through to the Champions League knockout stage after demolishing Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 here.
Man United upset Juventus in Champions League clash
Manchester United got a pair of goals in the last five minutes to defeat Juventus 2-1 and sustain their chances of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stage.