Page 986 - Sports
Sindhu enters quarters, Praneeth bows out of French Open
India ace P V Sindhu advanced to the quarterfinals with a straight-game win over Japan's Sayaka Sato but B Sai Praneeth crashed out of the French Open BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament here. Sindhu, seeded third, dished out a compact game to outwit Sayaka 21-17 21-16 in a second round match on Thursday to set up a clash with seventh seeded Chinese He Bingjiao. However, Praneeth was no match for Asian Games champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia, going down 16-21 14-21 in a men's singles match. The men's doubles pairs of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy too put up a good show, progressing to the quarterfinals with straight game wins. While Satwik and Chirag defeated China's He Jiting and Tan Qiang 21-13 21-19, Manu and Sumeeth stunned third seeded Chinese combination of Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan 21-14 21-16 in another match. However, it was curtains for Meghana Jakkampudi and Poorvisha S Ram as the duo went down 15-21 13-21 to fourth seeded .
Japan thrash Oman in Asian Champions Trophy
Asian Games gold medallists Japan scored a 5-0 victory over hosts Oman in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Muscat 2018 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex here.
Gillespie eyes Australian selector role
Former Test fast bowler Jason Gillespie revealed his ambition to become a selector on Friday as Australia rebuilds after this year's ball-tampering scandal. The current Sussex coach is well regarded after he led the Adelaide Strikers to their maiden Big Bash League T20 title this year, and took Yorkshire to back-to-back Division One crowns in 2014 and 2015. Gillespie, touted as a possible Australia head coach before Justin Langer's appointment in May, has also coached as a consultant for Cricket Australia in the past. "I'd certainly love to be involved in selection at some point in the future," he told cricket.com.au. "It's certainly a challenging role and it's not to be underestimated how challenging it is. "You only have to look at recent times, with the 50-over domestic one-day competition in Australia played very early in the season. "And then players are being selected almost on the back of Big Bash form, because it's hard for the selectors to judge how a player is going in ...
Real Betis beat AC Milan in Europa League
Real Betis fended off a furious comeback attempt by AC Milan to win 2-1 in Europa League group-stage action at the San Siro here and earn its first ever victory at that storied stadium.
Bolt has 'touch like a trampoline' - A-League striker
Former Ireland striker Andy Keogh blasted Usain Bolt as having "a touch like a trampoline" Friday as the coach of the Central Coast Mariners refused to say whether he believes the sprint star can make it as a footballer. Keogh, who plays for Perth Glory, said it would be a "kick in the teeth" to footballers if the eight-time Olympic champion earns a professional contract with Australia's Mariners. The 32-year-old Jamaican, who retired from athletics last year, has been on trial with the A-League club since August but contract negotiations have stalled and he is no longer training. Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported this week that Bolt's representatives were initially seeking Aus dollars 3 million (USD 2.1 million) but the Mariners have offered closer to Aus dollars 150,000. The Mariners have said it appears unlikely the Jamaican will sign unless a third-party agreement can be found to deliver him more money. Keogh, who used to play for Wolves and Cardiff, was blunt in his assessment of
World Wrestling C'ship: Pooja Dhanda wins bronze
Indian wrestler Pooja Dhanda has won a bronze medal in women's 57kg freestyle category at the ongoing World Wrestling Championship after defeating Grace Bullen of Norway.Dhanda thrashed Bullen 10-7 to finish third on the podium.While Rong Ningning of China clinched a gold medal, Bulgarian Bilyana Zhivkova Dudova settled for a silver medal in the event.The medal is India's second in the ongoing prestigious tournament.Earlier, India's Bajrang Punia had won a silver medal in men's 65 kg freestyle category.
De Villiers 'excited' to make a cricketing comeback
Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers, who will be returning to the field for the upcoming edition of the Mzansi Super League, has expressed excitement over his comeback.The 34-year-old, while admitting that he is still in the process of getting back into the swing of things, said that he is looking forward to the challenges that cricket brings along."I am extremely excited. I haven't played cricket for a while, but I am getting back into the swing of things. I have had these kinds of breaks before and it is always a challenge to get fit and hit balls again. I am really looking forward to that, and what will be a really good challenge in the Mzansi Super League," Sport24 quoted De Villiers, as saying.Expressing his view on the Mzansi Super League, the right-hand batsman termed it a "huge step" in the development of South African cricket.He further stated that all the players would give their best to make the league a big success."It is a huge step in the right direction for ...
Hamilton says Mercedes will have earned F1 title
Lewis Hamilton said Thursday that another Formula One championship would be one earned by him and Mercedes not one thrown away by Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel won the first two races of 2018 to set up what promised to be a dramatic chase for a fifth career championship between him and Hamilton. Now Hamilton's dominant second half of the season, helped by a rash of mistakes by Vettel and Ferrari, has the Mercedes driver set to win the crown even if he finishes as low as seventh Sunday. "I see a lot of people write a lot of stories saying things have been 'handed'" to Mercedes this season, Hamilton said. "That naturally takes away from the job the team and I have done." Vettel has taken criticism over Ferrari's season of miscues. That includes last week at the U.S. Grand Prix, won by his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen while Vettel missed the podium. Vettel said the driver with the most points at the end of the season deservedly wins the title. Saying another driver lost it wouldn't be ...
Brazil to play Cameroon in last friendly of 2018 in London
Brazil will play its last friendly of the year against Cameroon in London on Nov. 20, its soccer confederation said on Thursday. The last time the teams met was during the group stage of the 2014 World Cup when Brazil won 4-1 in Brasilia with a Neymar double. On November 16, Brazil will face Uruguay in London. Coach Tite will announce his squad for the two friendlies on Friday. Brazil has won all four friendlies since the 2018 World Cup in Russia, against United States, El Salvador, Saudi Arabia and Argentina. Tite is preparing his players for the 2019 Copa America tournament that Brazil will host.
Infantino says women justified protesting cash inequalities
FIFA President Gianni Infantino understands why female footballers are unhappy about the lack of gender equality in World Cup prize money but said Thursday that doubling the cash for finalists to USD 30 million represents significant progress. Ahead of the FIFA Council on Friday ratifying the financial package for the 2019 Women's World Cup, players unions in Australia, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand wrote to world soccer's governing body to raise concerns about why there is more vastly more cash set aside for the men's showpiece. "Critical comments are perfectly justified because ... the unions and the players they defend their own interests which is a fair point," Infantino said. "We need to try to find what is the most balanced way and I think we made a step and there will be many more steps going ahead. Maybe one day women's football will generate more than men's football." For now, the men's World Cup now generates most of FIFA's billion income and that is reflected in the prize .
After upstaging United, Juve and Ronaldo eye Empoli scalp
Fresh from upstaging Manchester United at Old Trafford in midweek Juventus resume their quest for an eighth consecutive Serie A title at strugglers Empoli on Saturday. Cristiano Ronaldo may not have scored against his former employers but he played a pivotal role in Paulo Dybala's winner as Juventus opened up a five-point lead over United at the top of their Champions League Group H. Ronaldo did score in last week's 1-1 stalemate against Genoa for the 33-year-old Portuguese's 400th career goal in Europe's top five leagues, making him the first player to reach that tally. Turmoil of rape allegations appear not to be unsettling Ronaldo on the pitch with last weekend's goal his fifth since leaving Real Madrid for Turin. Against Saturday's hosts who are in relegation territory with defeats in five of their nine matches Juve are aiming to regain the winning thread after Genoa ended their eight-game blemish free run in the Italian championship. "We were a little careless against Genoa and ..
Buoyant Dortmund host Hertha, Bayern out to build on mini-recovery
Jadon Sancho will be looking to maintain his perfect record for rampant Borussia Dortmund on Saturday when the in-form Bundesliga leaders host top-six rivals Hertha Berlin. After Wednesday's 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid, Dortmund have now won six games in a row, and Sancho has chalked up either a goal or an assist in each of those wins. Dortmund are three points clear at the top of the league, and four points ahead of fourth-placed Bayern Munich. The champions are still searching for their best form, with Mats Hummels complaining of "fundamental problems" in midweek. Elsewhere, Borussia Moenchengladbach striker Alassane Plea will be seeking to write himself into the record books against Freiburg on Friday, while Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen remain mired in the early-season blues. Here are five things to look out for in the Bundesliga this weekend: Dazzling Dortmund ================= League leaders Dortmund are in such superb shape that some are already casting them as title ...
Barca await stumbling Madrid as Lopetegui looks for lifeline at Camp Nou
Julen Lopetegui said it was the happiest day of his life being named coach of Real Madrid but he could not have imagined this. Four and a half months, 138 days, nine La Liga games. One defeat at Camp Nou on Sunday and that might well be that. If Florentino Perez's mind is already made up, the result against Barcelona may not matter. A draw, or even a Madrid win, is not beyond the realm of possibility. After all, this game rarely has much respect for form and Lionel Messi is injured. "It's a great game for us in this moment because we have no choice but to stand up," Toni Kroos told AFP this week. "We have to show how good we are against a difficult opponent and I think we can do it." A surprise success would make sacking Lopetegui harder to justify but five games without a win, more than eight hours without a goal, these are not quickly forgotten either. There were disgruntled whistles at full-time on Tuesday, the home fans deflated after watching a team that featured UEFA's best ...
Everton latest threat to Man Utd, Man City eye another Wembley win
Another meek performance in losing for the fifth time this season in midweek to Juventus has put Jose Mourinho's position as Manchester United manager back in peril ahead of in-form Everton's visit to Old Trafford on Sunday. On a run of just one win in seven games in all competitions, United already look out of the title race, nine points adrift of Manchester City and Liverpool, but are also in danger of missing out on the top four with Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham also just two points off the top. There is the chance for United to make up some ground as Tottenham host City on Monday, but Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will be confident of maintaining their strong starts to the season against struggling Cardiff, Burnley and Crystal Palace respectively. Here, AFP Sport looks at what to watch out for in the Premier League this weekend: Little home comfort =================== In Mourinho's prime he once went 151 games across four different clubs without losing a home league match ...
Loftus-Cheek treble fuels Chelsea as Arsenal streak hits 11
Ruben Loftus-Cheek capitalised on a rare start for Chelsea by scoring a hat-trick in Thursday's 3-1 Europa League victory over BATE of Belarus, while Arsenal extended their winning run to 11 games away to Sporting Lisbon. Loftus-Cheek, part of England's World Cup squad in Russia, started for just the second time this season under Maurizio Sarri and struck twice inside the opening eight minutes as Chelsea dominated at Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old midfielder drilled in a low Davide Zappacosta cross as the Blues led after two minutes, and Loftus-Cheek doubled his tally when he hooked in from a corner. He completed his hat-trick with a side-footed effort from the edge of the area on 54 minutes, although BATE left with a consolation goal after an unmarked Aleksei Rios turned in from a late free-kick. "It feels really good," Loftus Cheek told BT Sport after he became the first Chelsea player to score a hat-trick in Europe since Didier Drogba 12 years ago. "It's up there, it's my first .
India focused on retaining Asian Champions Trophy: Harmanpreet
India's ace penalty corner shooter Harmanpreet Singh said the team is focused on retaining the Asian Champions Trophy Muscat 2018, which is currently underway at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex here."The Indian team goes out looking for early goals every time," said Harmanpreet, who scored three goals to give India a 4-1 victory over South Korea in their last league outing on Wednesday night.India stayed on top of the league standings with 13 points from five outings. Their semi-final opponent will be determined after the last round of league matches tonight, although Malaysia, Pakistan and Japan have earned enough points to push South Korea and Oman out of the frame."The team is maintaining its structure and focused on retaining the title," said Harmanpreet, whose coach considers him as one of the ace penalty corner takers."The support from Indian fans here in Muscat has been wonderful,' said Harmanpreet, adding that Indian fans boost the morale of the team in all parts of the ...
Pooja takes bronze at wrestling Worlds
Pooja Dhanda joined the elite Indian company of women grapplers to take the bronze medal at the Worls Championships here on Thursday.
I-League: Chennai City host Indian Arrows in opening clash
Chennai City FC will host All India Football Federation (AIFF)'s developmental side Indian Arrows in the first game of the I-League season at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.
ISL: Jamshedpur squander chances against 10-man NorthEast United
NorthEast United climbed back to the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) after an eventful 1-1 draw against Jamshedpur FC at the India Gandhi Athletic stadium here on Thursday.
Pooja lights up day for India at Worlds with bronze medal
Pooja Dhanda became only the fourth Indian woman grappler to win a medal at the World Championship, grabbing a bronze with a stunning 10-7 win over the 2017 European champion Grace Jacob Bullen, here on Thursday. One of the two wrestlers in a medal contention, the 24-year-old Pooja executed a four-point throw in each of the two periods in the 57kg contest to deliver the best performance of her career. It is second big medal for Pooja this season, having won a silver the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. Only Alka Tomar (2006), Geeta (2012) and Babita Phogat (2012) have won bronze medals for India at the Worlds before Pooja's memorable medal victory. She opened up a 4-1 lead with a throw, which she found on counter attack. She consolidated it with a roll and took a 6-1 lead after the end of first period. After conceding a point for a step out, Pooja Stunned the Norwegian with another four-point throw, to zoom to a 10-2 lead. Grace reduced the gap with a take down and a couple of push