Page 1703 - Sports
IPL betting racket busted, seven held
An IPL betting racket was busted at Palladam in nearby Tirupur district and seven persons arrested in this connection, police said today. Based on information, police rushed to a room near the Palladam bus stand around late last night and arrested seven persons, who were involved in betting on the Indian Premier League, a T20 cricket tournament. Cash totalling Rs 1.6 lakh was seized from them following a raid, police said adding they were on the lookout for seven more persons involved in the racket.
Rashid, Tamim confirm participation for ICC World XI against Windies
Top-ranked bowler Rashid Khan of Afghanistan and Bangladesh stars Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal have confirmed their participation for the ICC World XI, which will play lone T20I against the West Indies at Lord's on May 31.Rashid, who is ranked number one in the ICC T20I Player Rankings and is second in the list of One-Day International bowlers, will be one of many big names to watch in the Lord's match, which is being organised to raise funds for stadia in the Caribbean which were damaged due to hurricanes last year.Shakib, the top-ranked all-rounder in ODIs and third in T20Is, and left-handed opener Tamim also come in with huge reputations and Bangladesh fans would be following their fortunes with interest. The trio joins three other Asians who have already confirmed for the match - Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik and Thisara Perera of Sri Lanka.More big names are likely to be confirmed in the coming days for the ICC World XI side, which is being led by England's limited
Nadal eyeing to build on 11th Monte Carlo title
After picking up his 11th Monte Carlo Masters title by beating Japan's Kei Nishikori in the finals, world number one Rafael Nadal has said that he is looking forward to carry on his momentum from this 'special' win to rest of the clay-court season.Yesterday, the top-seed continued a rich vein of form as he eased past his Japanese opponent Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 in the Monte Carlo Masters final to clinch his 31st Masters title.Reflecting on the same, Nadal said that the victory at the Monte Carlo means a lot to him as it is the first tournament of the year that he finished without an injury."Of course it is a special day for me. Winning again this title here in Monte-Carlo means a lot, especially because it is the first tournament in the year that I finished. To have the victory in a Masters 1000, especially in Monte-Carlo, that for me is one of the most important ones in terms of personal feeling and in terms of history of our sport," the ATP website quoted Nadal, as saying.Prior to Monte
Man City celebrate EPL title with 5-0 win over Swansea
Manchester City, who have already wrapped up the English Premier League (EPL) title, celebrated early by thrashing Swansea City 5-0.
Pak coach backs bowlers for Ireland, England Tests
Pakistan cricket bowling coach Azhar Mahmood believes his pacers are fully fit and in good form ahead of the next month's Test matches against England and Ireland.Expressing his optimism about his side's chances in the upcoming Test series, Mahmood insisted that the pacers who have been named in the 16-man national squad are absolutely fit and are likely to be available with the team throughout the series."The pacers who have been selected have all been playing quite a bit of cricket lately and they are all in form. The fitness tests have shown that the players are fit and will hopefully be available throughout the series," the Express Tribune quoted Mahmood, as saying.Mahmood further added that his side's focus would not be on pace this time around and that their bowlers --including pace spearheads Mohammad Amir and Hasin Ali-- would rather rely on technique."This is a game of minds and you have to tire the batsman out and then attack his weak areas to dismiss him. These players will
Marquez wins sixth consecutive MotoGP in Austin
Spain's Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda RC 213V) won his sixth consecutive Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas here.
Italian Serie A standings
Following are the Italian Serie A standings after Sunday's late match between Juventus and Napoli, reports Xinhua news agency. The standings are tabulated under matches played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points:
Atletico draw to leave Barcelona even closer to title
Atletico Madrid warmed up for their Europa League clash with Arsenal by playing out a 0-0 draw with in-form Betis in La Liga, a result that left Barcelona closer still to the Spanish title. Antoine Griezmann was left out of the starting line-up by coach Diego Simeone and Atletico drew a second blank in four days, following their 3-0 defeat away at Real Sociedad on Thursday. Atletico remain second but with four games left they are 11 points behind unbeaten La Liga leaders Barcelona, who can clinch the title next weekend when they go to Deportivo. Barcelona won the Copa del Rey at Atletico's Wanda Metropolitano with a 5-0 rout of Sevilla on Saturday, but there was decidedly less drama at the same stadium 24 hours later. Saul Niguez struck the woodwork for Atletico in the second half, not long after Cristian Tello had hit the post for Betis at the other end. Griezmann came off the bench just after the hour mark, but Simeone's side could not get the breakthrough and they are four points .
Cologne hold Schalke to 2-2 draw in Bundesliga
Bottom-placed team Cologne is on the brink of relegation after playing a 2-2 draw with Schalke in the Bundesliga football championship.
Feyenoord clinch Dutch Cup after beating AZ Alkmaar 3-0
Feyenoord Rotterdam have captured the Dutch Cup after beating AZ Alkmaar 3-0 here in the 100th final of the football tournament.
After CWG, Satwik-Chirag now eye Thomas Cup gold
After a stupendous performance in badminton's mixed team and men's doubles events at the 21st Commonwealth Games, young Indian pair of Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty has now trained their eyes on returning with the coveted gold from next month's Thomas Cup. A week after becoming the first Indian men's doubles pair to win a silver at a Commonwealth Games, 17-year-old Satwik is now busy preparing for his 12th standard board exams while his partner Chirag is attending all the felicitation programs. Once the exams are over, Satwik will join the camp in next 10 days, while Chirag, on the other hand, will start his training from Wednesday with the duo aiming another good performance at the Thomas Cup to be held from May 20 to 27 in Bangkok. "I am preparing for 12th exams and I will join camp in 10 days for our preparation for Thomas Cup. We have a great chance to win the team event as we have three strong singles and two doubles," Satwik told PTI. Chirag, who has gone to Mumbai to ...
Neymar must join Real Madrid to be world's best: Rivaldo
Brazil great Rivaldo has said that his compatriot Neymar will not be voted the world's best footballer if he remains at Paris Saint-Germain.
Atletico held goalless by Betis in La Liga
Atletico Madrid were held 0-0 by Real Betis at a La Liga match at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium before 54,600 fans.
Napoli up-end Juventus 1-0, keep Serie A title hopes alive
Napoli defeated Juventus 1-0 riding a 90th-minute header by Senegalese central defender Kalidou Koulibaly at the Allianz Stadium here, cutting the deficit to one point against the Serie A leaders and six-time defending champions.
James poised to show Zidane what Real are missing
Having rebooted his stuttering career at Bayern Munich, James Rodriguez has the chance to show Real Madrid exactly what they are missing when the sides meet in their Champions League semi-final, first leg on Wednesday. James has shone since quitting Real last July at the end of three often difficult seasons in Madrid for a two-year loan deal in Munich. "Both games will be special for me," James told Spanish newspaper AS before the first leg at the Allianz Arena. "I was at Real for three years, I have friends there and good memories from that time. "I'm only thinking about my team now and how we can beat Real." The Colombian had an impressive first season in the Spanish capital in the wake of a starring role for his country at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. However, the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as Madrid coach in January 2016 set him back, with the Frenchman not seeing James as a key part of his team. Yet, while Zidane seemed relieved to see James leave the Santiago Bernabeu, his .
Di Bartolomei tragedy casts shadow over Roma v Liverpool clash
The tragedy of former AS Roma captain Agostino Di Bartolomei will be remembered as the Italian club take on Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals this week. Di Bartolomei led his boyhood club Roma out at the Stadio Olimpico for the European Cup final against Liverpool on May 30, 1984. It should have been the highlight of his career but for 29-year-old midfielder the devastating defeat on penalties was to be the start of a tragic downfall. Ten years to the day after the loss on May 30, 1994, Di Bartolomei took his own life by firing a bullet through his heart. He had won the Italian Cup three times with AS Roma and the Serie A title in 1983. But the defeat in the European Cup final at the Stadio Olimpico was his last season with AS Roma. Phil Neal had given Liverpool a 12th-minute lead but Roma replied before the break with a Roberto Pruzzo header. Extra-time couldn't separate the two teams and so the European Cup would be decided on penalty kicks for the first time. Di ...
Neat, tidy Mirabai wanted career in archery before mentor stepped in
An obsession with being "neat, tidy and stylish" almost led her to archery, says world champion and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who feels a chance meeting with her eventual coach changed her career plans. Mirabai's story is not of somebody being spotted for prodigal talent but of someone who sought out the opportunity and the right mentor. As a 13-year-old girl from a poor family at the nondescript Nongpok Kakching village, around 20km from Manipur's capital Imphal, Mirabai decided early in her life that she would earn fame as a sportsperson. In search of a sports facility and a mentor, she travelled with a cousin to the Sports Authority of India Center at Khuman Lampak in Imphal in early 2008 and the rest is history. "All my brothers and cousins play football but they would come back home dirty after a day's play. I wanted to play a sport which is neat and clean. At first, I wanted to be an archer as they are neat and clean and stylish," Mirabai told
Free-scoring Salah crowned PFA Player of the Year
Mohamed Salah was crowned the Premier League's Players' Player of the Year, with his incredible 41-goal debut season at Liverpool beating out strong competition from Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne. "It's a big honour. I've worked hard and I'm very happy to win it," Salah said at the ceremony on Sunday evening. Salah matched a Premier League record tally for a single season by scoring his 31st league goal of the campaign in a 2-2 draw at West Brom on Saturday. "You're comparing your name with some great names," he said, on the prospect of breaking the record. "To break the Premier League record is something huge in England and all over in the world. "There are still three games to go. I want to break this record." Salah has also netted seven times in eight Champions League games, including in both legs of Liverpool's 5-1 quarter-final thrashing of City, to carry his side to a first semi-final for a decade. De Bruyne showed why he had been many people's early-season favourite for the
Brazilian women claim seventh Copa, qualify for World Cup and Olympics
Brazil won the women's Copa America title for the seventh time in eight editions, allowing them to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in France as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Brazil have six points from their two games with a match to play but they made sure of their title when Chile beat Argentina 4-0 in their final clash to also qualify for the World Cup. The Brazilians were due to complete the tournament later against Colombia but they could not be toppled from top spot by Chile (four points), Argentina (three) or the Colombian side who only have one point.
Pak cricketer Hasan Ali trolled for mocking BSF at Wagah Border
Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali got trolled on social media after a video surfaced wherein the player can be seen indulging in bizarre antics at the Attari-Wagah border during the traditional flag-lowering ceremony.In an undated circulated video on social media, the 24-year-old pacer could be seen mocking the Border Security Force (BSF) of India as he emulated the Ranger, patted his thigh and flexed his muscles at the Indian soldiers and spectators on the other side before doing his signature wicket-taking celebration step.It should be noted that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had also shared pictures of Ali and his teammates visiting the border to see the ceremonial lowering of the flag.Soon after the incident, cricket fans and internet trollers slammed Ali's antics during the beating retreat ceremony.One of them compared Hasan Ali with a cartoon character who was found at Wagah Border."A cartoon character missing from Cartoon Network found at wagah border#hasanali," he wrote.Another user ...