Page 967 - Sports
Coro's absence the talking point as Jamshedpur face Goa
FC Goa coach Sergio Lobera is banking on his team's collective effort to tide over star striker Ferran Corominas' absence when they take on Jamshedpur FC in the Hero Indian Super League here Thursday. Last season's Golden Boot winner Corominas has once again been a key for Goa with the Spanish forward currently the joint top-scorer with six goals and four assists to his name. However, Lobera will have to make do without his services after Corominas picked up a straight red card in the side's 4-2 win over FC Pune City. This is the first time that the Spaniard will not feature for Goa since he made his debut in the ISL against Chennaiyin FC last season. "It's a collective effort. It is important to put up a collective effort on the field and get the result," said Lobera. Jamshedpur FC coach Cesar Ferrando also felt that FC Goa, as a team, are much more than just Coro. "He is a good player. Goa is good as a team. I didn't have any separate plan for Coro. I am preparing for Goa as a team.
India aim to extend dominance over Windies in final ODI (Preview)
Brimming with confidence after the massive 224-run win in the penultimate game, India will be eyeing to register their eighth straight series win over the West Indies when they face off in the fifth and final contest of the rubber at the Greenfield international stadium here on Thursday.
PCB defends Akram's appointment in cricket committee despite Qayyum report taint
The Pakistan Cricket Board has defended Wasim Akram's appointment in its cricket committee despite his indictment for non-cooperation in the Justice Qayyum probe report on match-fixing, saying the former captain has established himself as an acknowledged legend since retirement. "The Qayyum commission report did not bar Wasim Akram from working for the betterment of cricket and for the PCB," PCB's statement said. "The former captain has, since his retirement, established a reputation as a cricket commentator, coach and mentor all around the world and is widely acknowledged as a legend of the game...," it added. PCB also said that Akram's involvement will prove beneficial for Pakistan cricket due to his vast experience. "The aim of PCB is to benefit from the vast experience of former cricketers in managing the game and Wasim, being an ICC Hall of Famer, has the requisite expertise to help Pakistan Cricket in its path to improvement," the statement said. The PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani ...
River Plate beat Gremio 2-1 to reach Copa Libertadores final
Argentina's River Plate defeated Brazil's Gremio 2-1 in Porto Alegre to advance to the Copa Libertadores final.
Dream start: Real Kashmir stun holders Minerva Punjab in I-League
Real Kashmir FC Wednesday stunned defending champions Minerva Punjab FC in a sensational start to their maiden I-League campaign, taking the first step towards realising the beginners' dream of making the 'Paradise on Earth' a "paradise for football". The first team from the Valley to play in the country's top-flight, Real Kashmir FC scored the game's only goal through Gnohere krizo's 73rd minute strike, giving the rival goalkeeper no chance to stop the ball that was travelling in great speed. While the result left coach David Robertson and his players ecstatic, the heads totting the stands at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium also applauded the visiting team, moments after it humbled the fancied opponents in their own den. The emergence of Real Kashmir and their elevation to the I-League is the most fascinating story of Indian football in recent times. Formed three years ago, Real Kashmir last season won the second division league to get promoted into the top flight. Living up to their ...
'Too many matches' on WTA tour, laments tired Wang
China'a number one Wang Qiang has been left "really tired" at the end of a punishing season on the WTA tour and believes she has played "too many matches". The world number 22 has been on a spectacular run of form recently that has seen her leapfrog Zhang Shuai to become China's top singles player. But the gruelling schedule at the season's climax has left the 26-year-old feeling fatigued -- mentally and physically. "It's really too much," she told AFP at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai. "Too many tournaments for me, too many matches. Especially the last two months." Wang won the Guangzhou Open in September, her second career title after beating compatriot Zheng Saisai at the Jiangxi Open in July. She made the semis at the Wuhan Open but had to retire with an injury. And she impressed again in mid-October by staging an outstanding comeback to defeat former Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza to reach her first Hong Kong Open final. Asked about her eye-catching 2018 season, the modest .
Kvitova, Pliskova to lead Czechs in Fed Cup final
Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova will lead the Czech Republic against defending champions the United States in the Fed Cup final in Prague on November 10-11, the team captain said Wednesday. The world number seven and eight, respectively, will team up with 31st-ranked Katerina Siniakova, the world number one in doubles, and 33rd-ranked Barbora Strycova, who is fifth in doubles. "I'm really excited, I appreciate having the strongest team I could put together," said captain Petr Pala, quoted by the CTK news agency. The final pitting the two most successful nations in Fed Cup history -- the USA with 18 trophies and the Czech Republic with 10 including five as the former Czechoslovakia -- will be played on the hardcourt of the sold-out 15,000-capacity O2 Arena. Holders the USA beat Belarus in Minsk last year after seeing off the Czechs in the semi-final. Led by Kvitova and Pliskova, the Czechs have won five of the last seven editions including all three finals they have played on ...
'Why not?' FIFA boss says 48 teams 'feasible' for Qatar World Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said expanding the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams was "feasible" on Wednesday, as hosts Qatar pledged to come to a decision in the early part of next year. Infantino said "Why not?" bring forward the expansion from 32 teams to 48, which is currently due at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. "We have decided... to increase the number of teams participating in the World Cup final tournaments from 32 to 48," Infantino told the Asian Football Confederation's annual congress in Kuala Lumpur. "It will happen in 2026. Will it happen in 2022? You know me. It is possible. It is possible. Why not?" he added. Infantino said an expanded tournament would see Asia's allocation rise from 4.5 places to 8.5, raising cheers from the delegates assembled at a luxury hotel in the Malaysian capital. "You will have (a bigger) chance. It is possible. It is feasible. We are discussing with our Qatari friends. We are discussing with many other friends in ...
WTA releases calendar for 2019 season
Ahead of its 46th anniversary, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has released the calendar for its 2019 season.The new season will have a total of fifty-five tournaments and four Grand Slams across twenty-eight countries, WTA reported.According to the revised calendar, Zhuhai will host the WTA Elite Trophy from October 22 to 27, while Shenzhen, home of the season-finale event for the next 10 years, will host the WTA Finals from October 27 to November 3.The WTA has also included two new International level events- Hua Hin is set to host the WTA Thailand Open from January 28 to February 3, while Italy will host the Palermo Ladies Open from July 22 to July 28.The Qatar Total Open (Doha), to be held from February 11-16, will return as a Premier event, while the Dubai Tennis Championships, to be held from February 17-23, will return to Premier 5 status.Meanwhile, the Rogers Cup will shift its location from Montreal to Toronto and the JiangXi Open will move to the week following the US ..
Wrestling set for overhaul with national rankings, int'l events and central contracts
The Wrestling Federation of India is set to introduce a national rankings system next year, host major international tournaments and identify 24 Olympic medal prospects for special assistance from a pool of 150, who will be offered central contracts. "About 150 wrestlers will be given contracts but there will be 24, who will not only get contracts but also assistance through a separate initiative for their preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris," a source in the WFI said. The finer details of the planned central contracts are not yet officially known but the WFI is set to become only the second national sports body after the BCCI to offer such financial security to its athletes. In fact, the WFI will be the only National Sports Federation, recognised by the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Ministry, to hand out contracts to junior and sub-junior grapplers as well. "We will also introduce national rankings in different categories. We were perhaps the only major NSF ..
Advani wins Asian Snooker Tour title
Nineteen-time world champion Pankaj Advani on Wednesday sent out a strong message before the upcoming world championships by winning the second leg of the Asian Snooker Tour in Jinan, China. Advani delivered a power-packed performance to outclass China's Ju Reti 6-1 in the final and become the first Indian to win an Asian Snooker Tour event. The IBSF World Billiards and Snooker Championships is less than a fortnight away and the Indian star cueist is the defending champion in both sports. The new 10-red format of the Tour was well-received by all players as some fine performances were on display throughout the second leg. It was, however, Advani who shone the brightest in this particular event as he registered one-sided victories in every match, be it league or knockout. After dropping two frames each in a league match and in the last-16 knockout ties, every other match saw Advani concede one frame or none. The final was no different. After winning the first two frames, Reti showed ...
PCB launches inquiry into biscuit trophy fiasco
"Embarrassed" by the biscuit-shaped trophy that became a social media joke before the T20 series against Australia, the Pakistan Cricket Board Wednesday launched an inquiry into the fiasco and its marketing head resigned. Social media was flooded with jokes ridiculing the PCB after a biscuit-shaped trophy was unveiled for the series earlier this month that Pakistan won 3-0. "The silverware was an embarrassment for us and investigation is being held as to how the concerned department allowed this to happen," a PCB official said on condition of anonymity. Another source said the head of PCB's marketing department, Naila Bhatti, has now resigned. "The PCB is subsequently planning a revamp in its marketing department," he said. The silverware for the T20 series was trolled across social media platforms, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) added fuel to the fire by comparing it with the Champions Trophy silverware. The source said the Board has ordered the inquiry into the ...
No Misbah-ul-Haq in Pakistan Super League from next season
Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has decided to end his playing days in the Pakistan Super League and his franchise Islamabad United is now keen to have him on board as its mentor. Misbah, 44, has been part of the Islamabad United franchise in the first three seasons of the PSL and has seen them winning the title twice. The country's most successful Test captain, Misbah led Islamabad in the first season while South African, JP Duminy, took over the captaincy duties in the third due to the Pakistani's fitness issues. "Misbah has informed us he will not play in the PSL 4 but he is keen to continue his association with the Islamabad United franchise in any other role," a franchise source said. Misbah and the franchise is presently negotiating a pay package for the former captain to continue as mentor. Misbah represented United in 26 matches in the first three editions, scoring 381 runs at an average of 25.40. Duminy has already announced that he will not take part in the next ...
Odisha to host sports literature festival ahead of Hockey World Cup
Before the Hockey World Cup begins later in November in Bhubaneswar, the city is set to invite sports lover from across the country to witness 'Ekamra International Sports Literature Festival'. Organised by Department of Sports & Youth Services, Govt of Odisha, in association with sports-management company Emerging Sports, the literature festival will be organised from November 2 at Mayfair Lagoon in Bhubaneswar. While the Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, is slated to inaugurate the event, famous names from the field of sports including Olympic medalist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, gymnast Deepa Karmakar, former cricketer Mohammed Kaif are also expected to speak during the two-day festival. "Ekamra Sports Literary Festival 2018 marks a new chapter in the history of Odisha, during its period of progression towards being the sports hub of the country. It is wonderful that such a prestigious event will be held as a run up to the Men's hockey World Cup, Bhubaneswar 2018," Chandra Sarathi ..
India's fast-bowling stock looks exciting and so does Khaleel: Arun
India's bowling coach Bharat Arun Wednesday said the team's fast-bowling strength has never been more "exciting" with new find Khaleel Ahmed being the latest addition to the stocks. "We have a very good fast bowling quartet. And also, the bench strength is very exciting," Arun said ahead of the fifth and final one-dayer against the West Indies here on Thursday. Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneswar Kumar along with Khaleel make up the pace battery currently in operation against the West Indies. Arun praised Khaleel, calling the 20-year-old a bright prospect. "Khaleel looks a very exciting prospect. He is sharp and has the skills to do well in international cricket. He is a very exciting prospect," he told reporters here. Khaleel took 3 for 13 in the fourth ODI in Mumbai to trigger the West Indies' collapse in pursuit of a mammoth 378 for victory. Arun, without naming specific players, said the bench strength in Indian fast bowling is making it easier for the team management to ...
Sarfraz should be relieved of Test captaincy: Mohsin
Chairman of newly-formed Cricket Committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Khan believes leading Pakistan in all three formats have put too much pressure on Sarfraz Ahmed and he should be relieved of Test captaincy. The former Test batsman suggested that the PCB can hand over the Test captaincy to any other senior player to allow Sarfraz to focus completely on the 50-over and T20 formats. "I have only made a suggestion because I personally feel there is too much pressure on Sarfraz as he wicketkeeper-batsman in the team. He looked exhausted during the test series with Australia," Khan said. Mohsin, who is also the chief selector and head coach of Pakistan cricket, said some relief should be given to Sarfraz. "Sarfraz's body language was so down in the tournament (Asia Cup) that I felt sorry for him. I was saying you got a new guy in, don't put the burden of (captaining the side in all) three formats on him. It will make him exhausted," he said. Mohsin said he had already given ..
Will Ranji Trophy produce another first-time champion?
A record 37 teams, including seven debutants from the northeast, participating in the Ranji Trophy beginning Thursday pose a massive logistical challenge for a cricket board going through administrative chaos. The new teams -- Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya , Bihar and Puducherry -- did feature in the recently held 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy but playing red-ball cricket will be a tougher challenge. Some argued that the new teams should have made a gradual progression to the Ranji Trophy, starting with age group cricket rather than rushing them into the country's premier first-class competition. However, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators went for an all-out approach and the newbies now find themselves thrown in at the deep end. The nine teams will compete against each other in the plate group, just like they did in Vijay Hazare Trophy where Bihar, who returned to domestic cricket after 18 years, and Uttarakhand, gave
Hockey India names 34-member core group for National Camp
Ahead of the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup, Hockey India on Wednesday named the 34-member core group for the final National camp.The National Camp has given Chief Coach Harendra Singh the chance to work with the core group and allowed him to pick the final 18-member men's team for the tournament.After having been declared as the joint winners at the recently-concluded 5th Men's Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat, the team will undergo intense training sessions under Singh, who is confident that the National Camp will give all the 34-members the chance to prove their mettle and book a place in the final squad."Our campaign at the 5th Men's Hero Asian Champions Trophy Muscat 2018 served as good preparation for the team before the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, but now is the most critical time for us as we look to reinvigorate our spirits and work on the areas which need improvement. The National Camp will give all the 34 Core Group players the chance to work hard and ...
The making of Virat Kohli's first sneaker with PUMA, one8 Basket
Indian skipper Virat Kohli dropped his first sneaker collaboration with global sportswear brand PUMA earlier this week.Grabbing the country and fans by storm, PUMA has released a special video that gives a glimpse into the making of the one8 Basket. Tailored specially for Indian consumers, the video was unveiled by Virat on his Instagram account/handle.In a candid video, for the first time ever, you see Virat's creative side where he's actually sketching the shoe. Created by Street Style Spotlight, the video has been executed flawlessly.It shows Virat in conversation with PUMA team, picking the detailing for the shoe and even creating the designs. In the video, Virat walks you through the detailing he has incorporated, the thought behind the logo placement and the inspiration behind the design of the shoe.Taking inspiration from a game that he loves, Virat tells you how his first sneaker collaboration features aesthetic influences from cricket. Further translating his passion for ...
World no. 6 Kevin Anderson to participate in 2019 Tata Open
World number six Kevin Anderson has confirmed his presence in the second edition of the Tata Open Maharashtra in 2019. The Wimbledon runner-up is expected to be a top draw at the ATP 250 event to be played at the Mhalunge Balewadi Stadium. The 32-year old just became the first South African in over two decades to qualify for the season-ending ATP Tour Finals after beating Japan's Kei Nishikori in the finals of Vienna Open on Sunday. On the back of his fifth ATP title, Anderson rose to World No. 6 joining Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro, Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev in qualifying for the elite event. Prashant Sutar, Tournament Director, Tata Open Maharashtra was ecstatic after bringing back the in-form South African for the event. "I happened to meet Kevin during Wimbledon and he expressed his willingness to come back to Pune as he was happy about how our event was conducted overall. We are delighted to have him back and will be one our star attractions for ...