Page 990 - Sports
Asian Champions Trophy: India ride Harmanpreet hat-trick
Harmanpreet Singh scored a hat-trick of penalty corner conversions to give India a 4-1 victory over South Korea in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Muscat 2018 hockey tournament, knocking their opponents out of semi-final contention.
DJ Bravo signs off from international cricket but will play T20 club cricket
A big-hitter on the field and a hit DJ off it, West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo Wednesday retired from international cricket to prolong his career as a professional player available for Twenty20 franchise events all over the world. The 35-year-old Bravo, who is not a part of the team which is currently engaged in a series in India, played 40 Tests, 164 ODIs and 66 T20Is since making his debut back in 2004. His last appearance for the West Indies was more than two years ago. Outside cricket, he also found fame for his hit track 'Champions' that became the West Indies' anthem during their triumphant 2016 T20 World Cup campaign in India. "Today I want to confirm to the cricket world that I have officially retired from international cricket in all formats of the game...I will continue my professional career as a cricketer and entertainer living as a true champion," Bravo, who has competed for Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in the IPL, said in a statement. "After 14 years when .
India A look to complete clean sweep
Having already won the series, India A women will aim to complete a clean sweep when they take on their Australian counterparts in the third and final T20 match here Friday. Holding an unassailable 2-0 lead, the women's team will again go with all guns blazing at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex facility before they head to the Carribean for the all-important ICC T20 World Cup. The match, only of academic interest, also provides an opportunity for the other batters like Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, D Hemalatha, who haven't fired yet, to get runs under their belt. Smriti Mandhana, who notched up a half-century in the first match before a rare failure in the next, will be eager to continue her form before heading to the World T20 competition. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and veteran Mithali Raj are two others who would also like to continue their good form. Raj had, in fact, scored a record-breaking, unbeaten match-winning 105 in the last game. The team
Need to channelise Chhetri's energy with encouraging words: Gurpreet
Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Thursday said star players like skipper Sunil Chhetri needs words of encouragement to channelise his energies in the right direction and prosper. Gurpreet said he shares a very good relationship with Chhetri and tries to be honest with his skipper always. "I make it sure that players are in positive frame of mind. Players like Chhetri can get frustrated. So you just need to channel his energies by saying you are good enough and a legend. The next moment, he shows up and scores goals," Gurpreet told PTI in an interview here. "I and Chhetri share a good relationship. I always try to be very honest with him. I do not try to sugarcoat my captain because he does the same to me. This helps in building relationship with some like Chhetri," he added. Gurpreet said BFC is very lucky to have senior players like Sunil Chhetri and Miku in the team. "Chhetri and Miku are very good examples on and off the field. They help new players to settle down," he
Ozil still a Germany fan despite bitter departure
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has pledged his support for the German national team despite bitterness from both sides over his retirement from international football. "I've always been supporting the DFB Team since my childhood and I've still many friends playing for the German national team," Ozil said in a Twitter Q&A session on the eve of Arsenal's Europa League clash with Sporting Lisbon. "Of course I'm still supporting the team!" Ozil was a key member of the Germany side that won the 2014 World Cup. But the 92-times capped midfielder retired from international football following Germany's humiliating exit from the World Cup finals in Russia last summer, citing "disrespect and racism" within the German football federation (DFB). Ozil, born in Germany to Turkish parents, had been targeted with xenophobic comments and singled out for criticism by angry fans. Months earlier the 30-year-old had courted controversy when he and Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who is also .
Tuchel faces up to PSG limits after Di Maria rescues draw against Napoli
Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel accepted that his side have to improve in Europe after requiring an injury-time Angel Di Maria goal to draw 2-2 with Napoli in their Champions League match. PSG looked beaten until Di Maria curled home in the third minute of time added on, salvaging a point from a game in which they had been second-best for long spells on Wednesday. Prior to that it looked as though goals from Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens, either side of a Mario Rui own goal, would give Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli the victory in the French capital. Instead, the biggest beneficiaries of this result are surely Liverpool, who move to the top of Group C after easing to a 4-0 win over Red Star Belgrade in the night's other game. PSG are third, a point behind Napoli with a trip to Italy up next before Liverpool visit Paris next month. That means there is a real risk that a club with ambitions of winning the Champions League could be sent packing in the group stage. "We can improve,
We need to be more consistent as a team, says Hope
Shai Hope's unbeaten century salvaged a confidence-boosting tie for the West Indies in the thrilling second ODI against India here but the wicket-keeper batsman said the visitors need to put up more consistent performances as a team in the remainder of the series. Hope hit only his second ODI century on Wednesday to help West Indies tie the match after India had put on an imposing 321 fort six after opting to bat. "Definitely, such knocks improve your confidence. You have to gain after every innings. It was a matter of time before I got a big score," Hope said at the post-match press conference. "(But) we need to be more consistent as a team." Chasing 322 to win at the start of innings and five off the last ball, Hope cut India seamer Umesh Yadav for a boundary through point to level the scores. He later said his aim was to just put bat to ball in the last delivery. "Last ball I knew a wide yorker was coming at the end, and I had to get bat on the ball. I didn't get enough bat but it .
Dortmund thrash Atletico as Sancho scores first Champions League goal
Borussia Dortmund stunned Atletico Madrid with a 4-0 thrashing to move to the verge of the Champions League knockout stage, as English teenager Jadon Sancho scored his first goal in the competition. Wednesday's loss was the heaviest Champions League defeat ever suffered by Diego Simeone in seven years as Atletico head coach and put Dortmund top of Group A after both teams had previously beaten Club Brugge and Monaco. "You couldn't have imagined that. Huge compliment to the team, because it is not every day that you score four goals against Atletico," said Dortmund captain Marco Reus. He singled out teenage defender Achraf Hakimi, on loan from Real Madrid, for special praise after he set up two of the goals in an outstanding display. "Achraf is extremely important for us on the wing, he's quick and times his runs well into the box," added Reus. Axel Witsel gave Dortmund the lead at Signal Iduna Park when his first-half shot took a wicked deflection, before Raphael Guerreiro, who scored
Pochettino pessimistic as PSV pummel Spurs' Euro hopes
Mauricio Pochettino conceded Tottenham Hotspur will need little short of a miracle to get past the group stage after the Premier League giants' Champions League hopes were dented by a 2-2 draw away to PSV Eindhoven. With no points from their opening two Group B fixtures, this was make-or-break for both Spurs and PSV at the Philips Stadion on Wednesday. A dominant Spurs looked to have the points wrapped up after England striker Harry Kane nodded past Jeroen Zoet to give the visitors a 55th-minute lead having seen Lucas Moura level Hirving Lozano's 30th-minute opener for PSV minutes before the interval. But when Lozano threatened to catch a through ball in the 78th minute, Spurs 'keeper Hugo Lloris came rushing out of his goal and caught the Mexican winger with his knee. The French World Cup winner was immediately shown a red card, with Spurs manager Mauricio Pocchettino taking off Heung-Min Son for second-choice 'keeper Michel Vorm. Vorm's first task was to push away a superb free-kick
Barca cruise past Inter without Messi
Rafinha replaced Lionel Messi and helped Barcelona win without him as the Brazilian scored the opener in a 2-0 Champions League victory over Inter Milan. With Messi out for three weeks and Real Madrid next up at the Camp Nou on Sunday, the question was whether Barca could cope without their star player and captain. The answer may not have been resounding -- they lacked some punch before Jordi Alba added a late second -- but this controlled performance will certainly send them into the Clasico with a spring in their step. Luis Suarez, Arthur and Philippe Coutinho were all excellent in Messi's absence on Wednesday. Victory all-but secures Barcelona's passage to the Champions League last 16 too. They have nine points from three games and now sit top of Group B. Messi was watching in the stands with his son Thiago and his fractured right arm in a sling. As soon as the ball left the centre circle, the fans sang his name. Barca had drawn with Athletic Bilbao in the only other match this ...
Salah hits 50 as Liverpool ease past Red Star
Mohamed Salah continued his return to scoring form by taking his tally for Liverpool to 50 goals as the five-time European champions eased past Red Star Belgrade 4-0 at Anfield. The Egyptian ended a four-game goal drought with the winner at Huddersfield on Saturday and struck twice to open his Champions League account for the season after Roberto Firmino had opened the scoring. Sadio Mane added Liverpool's fourth soon after missing a penalty as Jurgen Klopp's men bounced back from defeat to Napoli in their last Champions League outing to move a point ahead of the Italians at the top of Group C. Liverpool are now two points clear of free-spending Paris Saint-Germain who needed an injury-time equaliser to draw 2-2 with Napoli in the French capital. In stark contrast to last season's thrilling run to the Champions League final, Liverpool have struggled for goals in recent weeks with a new-found defensive stability instead keeping them joint top of the Premier League. Klopp tinkered with .
Babar, Wasim propel Pakistan to biggest T20 win over Australia
Opener Babar Azam struck an unbeaten 68 while spinner Imad Wasim capped a return to international cricket with three wickets as Pakistan crushed Australia by 66 runs in their opening T20 match in Abu Dhabi. Azam hit five fours and a six in his 55-ball innings as Pakistan made 155-8 before Wasim (3-20) ripped apart Australia's top order as they slumped to 89 all out -- their joint-third lowest T20 score -- at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday. The win gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and also their biggest T20 victory over Australia, improving upon the 45-run win they achieved in Harare in July. Only twice have Australia scored fewer runs in a T20 international, making just 79 against England at Southampton in 2005 and 86 in a defeat by India at Dhaka four years ago. Left-arm spinner Wasim, playing his first match for Pakistan since October last year, bowled both Australian openers, Aaron Finch (nought) and D'Arcy Short (four), in the first over of their ...
Hamilton faces nerve-wracking world title showdown
Lewis Hamilton faces a nerve-wracking scrap in Mexico's power-sapping altitude this weekend before completing the apparent formality of claiming his fifth Formula One world title. Just a week after a bruising defeat in Texas, where a resurgent Ferrari out-performed them at the United States Grand Prix, Hamilton and Mercedes have licked their wounds in readiness for an even more challenging contest. "We have a battle on our hands," admitted Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. "But it provides us with an opportunity to learn and come back stronger." That view is shared by 33-year-old Briton Hamilton, and the entire Mercedes team, as they seek to recover enough lost performance to retain both the drivers' and constructors' championships. "We will have to keep pushing to win both (team and driver's) titles," said Wolff. "The United States Grand Prix confirmed what we said before the race - this year's championship fight is far from over." Given that Hamilton has won six of the last eight races
Cricket Australia reappoints chairman ahead of ball-tamper findings
Cricket Australia reappointed its controversial chairman David Peever Thursday, before the release of two reviews prompted by a ball-tampering scandal that sullied the sport's reputation during his tenure. Peever, a polarising figure criticised for his handling of a bitter 2017 pay dispute, is the one of the few senior executives left standing at the organisation after this year's ball-tampering fiasco. The scandal involved Australian players using sandpaper to alter the flight of the ball in a Test match against South Africa last March. Coach Darren Lehmann quit in the wake of the uproar and then-captain Steve Smith, deputy David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft were banned from the game. Cricket Australia said Wednesday that team performance boss Pat Howard will step down next year. Meanwhile, outgoing Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland is being formally replaced on Thursday by insider Kevin Roberts -- the lead negotiator during last year's acrimonious pay ...
Harmanpreet hat-trick helps India beat South Korea
Harmanpreet Singh scored a hat-trick of penalty corner conversions to give India a 4-1 victory over South Korea in the Asian Champions Trophy Muscat 2018 here on Wednesday.
India beat Korea 4-1 to remain unbeaten, storm into semis of ACT
Dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh scored a hat-trick as defending champions India defeated South Korea 4-1 in their final round robin match to keep a clean slate and storm into the semi-finals of the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) here on Wednesday. By virtue of this win, India are presently atop the standings with 13 points from five games. Both India and Malaysia have already qualified for the last four stage of the tournament. Malaysia still has a game left against Pakistan on Thursday while Asian Games gold medalist Japan will take on hosts Oman. Harmanpreet (4th, 47th and 59th minutes) converted three penalty corners for India, while Gurjant Singh Singh scored the other from a field effort in the 10th minute. For South Korea, Lee Seungil scored a brilliant field goal in the 20th minute. The final semi-final line-up will be decided after last round robin matches on Thursday. India had earlier thrashed hosts Oman 11-0 before outclassing arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1. In their last two match, .
Had to get bat to ball, Hope says after match ends in tie
Centurion Shai Hope said his aim was to just put bat to ball in the last delivery after the final-ball boundary helped West Indies steal a draw from India in the second ODI here Wednesday. Chasing 322 to win at the start of innings and five off the last ball, Hope cut India seamer Umesh Yadav for a boundary through point to level the scores. "Last ball I knew a wide yorker was coming at the end, and I had to get bat on the ball. I didn't get enough bat but it was enough," Hope told reporters at the post-match press conference. This was Hope's second century in this form of the game, the unbeaten 123-run knock coming at a crucial juncture. Hope joined forces with Shimron Hetmyer after West Indies lost three wickets and added 143 runs for the fourth wicket to keep his team in the hunt. However, first game centurion Hetmyer (94) got out with the visitors still requiring 101 runs in 18 overs. "There was a change in approach after that (Hetmyer's dismissal). We needed to take the innings ..
PKL: Puneri Paltan end home-leg on losing note
U.P. Yoddhas tasted their second win in the ongoing edition of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) after defeating host Puneri Paltan 29-23 in an inter-zonal challenge match here on Wednesday.
French Open: Srikanth, Saina sail into second round
Defending champion Kidambi Srikanth and his compatriot Saina Nehwal advanced to the second round of the French Open with straight-game wins at the USD 750,000 BWF World Tour Super 750 event on Wednesday.The first set was tough for the World No 6 Srikanth as Vincent was leading the game with 11-7. Eventually, after a close encounter, Srikanth seized the first game 21-19. Showing his prowess in the second set, he dominated the Hong Kong player with an 8-6 lead. Later, Srikanth raced to a 16-10 lead and then ended the match with 21-13 scoreline.Saina, who finished runner-up in the Denmark Open last week, comfortably overwhelmed Japan's Saena Kawakami in the women's singles. The Indian was too good in her 21-11, 21-11 victory against Kawakami.India's Sameer Verma, who had reached the quarterfinals in Denmark Open, went down fighting 21-16, 17-21, 15-21 to Asiad gold medallist Jonatan Christie of IndonesiaMen's doubles duo of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy outplayed Korean duo of Min Hyuk .
It was very difficult bowling in the dew: Kuldeep
India spinner Kuldeep Yadav Wednesday said bowling in the dew was a big problem as the thrilling second ODI against the West Indies ended in a tie here. India put up 321 for six with Virat Kohli (157) surpassing Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest player to reach 10000 runs in one-day internationals. West Indies then rode Shai Hope's unbeaten century and Shimron Hetmyer's 64-ball 94 to level the scores at the YSR ACA-VDCA Stadium. "It was very difficult to bowl in the dew, the square was quick and there the ball was wet. I was having difficulty gripping the ball. But you have to consider these situations, we need to practice a lot," Kukdeep told reporters at the post-match press conference. The chinaman bowler was India's most successful, returning figures of three for 67. He said skipper Kohli told him to just bowl in the good areas and contain the runs. Kuldeep, who was not played in the first ODI, defended the team's seamers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, who were wayward in ...