| Spinners help India tighten grip |
New Zealand 106/5 at stumps on Day 2, trail by 332
HYDERABAD, Aug 24: Indian spinners R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha took full advantage of a spinning track to rip through New Zealand’s top order and put India in the driver’s seat after the second day of their opening Test on Friday.
In conditions best suited for spinners, Ashwin and Ojha got into the act straight... |
| |
| Cuban Fernandez, Yashvir to get Dronacharya Award |
New Delhi, Aug 24: Cuban coach Blas Iglesias Fernandez Friday became the first foreign coach in India to be awarded the Dronacharya Award.
The sports ministry announced that Fernandez along with Yashvir Singh, coach of two-time Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar, and former national hockey coach Harendra Singh will be presented the prestigious Dronacharya Award.
Discus thro... |
| |
| India look to continue winning ways against Maldives |
Nehru Cup
New Delhi, Aug 24: India will look to continue their winning ways when they take on South Asian rivals Maldives in the Nehru Cup football tournament here on Saturday.
Both teams won their opening matches in the tournament. While India edged out Syria in rain marred tournament opener, the Maldives gave a very good account of themselves dispatching Nepal with rela... |
| |
| We will look to wrap up Kiwi innings early: Ashwin |
HYDERABAD, Aug 24: India have driven themselves to a dominant position by polishing off the Kiwi top-order but spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says getting wickets would be not easy tomorrow, although, they are eyeing wrapping up the New Zealand innings early.
In response to India's first innings total of 438, New Zealand are struggling at 106 for five with Ashwin dismissing three batsmen, ... |
| |
| Bolt, Blake break meet records in Lausanne |
Lausanne, Aug 24: Olympic legend Usain Bolt and his Jamaican heir apparent Yohan Blake both set new meet records as they swept both sprints at the Lausanne Grand Prix here.
Bolt darted to a brisk 19.58 seconds to win the 200 metres while Blake clocked a personal best 9.69 to easily dismiss the field in the 100m on Thursday.
There was also success for Grenada’s newly crowne... |
| |
| Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 |
Spanish Super Cup 1st Leg
MADRID, Aug 24: Barcelona came from behind to beat Real Madrid 3-2 on Thursday in the opening leg of the Spanish Super Cup, giving Tito Vilanova a victory in his first meeting as head coach against counterpart Jose Mourinho.
The first meeting of the season between Spain’s top clubs provided more of the usual heated rivalry to match the scor... |
| |
| Maldives beat Nepal 2-1 in Nehru Cup |
NEW DELHI, Aug 24: Maldives kicked off their campaign in the Nehru Cup football tournament on a perfect note on Thursday, posting a 2-1 win over Nepal, a result that has also left Indian coach Wim Koevermans impressed.
Abdullah Asadhulla struck as early as the sixth minute of the game, before Easa Ismail sounded the death knell on Nepal with a 77th minute strike at the Jawaharlal Nehru ... |
| |
| We are yet to play to our potential: Subrata Paul |
New Delhi, Aug 24: India goalkeeper Subrata Paul said Friday that they were not at their best in their match against Syria and were yet to play to their potential.
India beat Syria 2-1 Wednesday in the opening match of the Nehru Cup that was marred by intermittent rain and poor pith conditions.
"We are taking one match at a time. The victory against Syria is a thing of the past.... |
| |
| World class football academy to be set up in Vadodara soon |
New Delhi, Aug 24: A national football academy, that will be at par with the best in the world, will soon come up in a township in Vadodara, which is expected to provide a much-needed fillip to the sport in India.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF), along with its commercial and marketing partner IMG-Reliance, on Thursday presented a 360 degree plan of football development in Indi... |
| |
| Alex Ferguson rules out further signings |
MANCHESTER, Aug 24: Alex Ferguson has ruled out any more summer signings at Manchester United and insists time is running out for any player looking to leave.
Ferguson unveiled Dutch defender Alexander Buttner at his Friday news conference, with the former Vitesse player having completed his move to United on Tuesday.
He follows Shinji Kagawa, Robin van Persie and Nick Powell to... |
| |
| Federation Cup football from September 19 |
NEW DELHI, Aug 24: Shifted out of Assam, the Federation Cup football tournament will now be held in Siliguri and Ranchi from September 19, with the final slated to be organised in the north Bengal town on September 30.
Dempo SC will be playing Pailan Arrows while Mumbai FC will take on Shillong Lajong on the opening day of the tournament.
Dempo SC, Mumbai FC, Pailan Arrows, Shil... |
| |
| Chelsea sign defender Cesar Azpilicueta from Marseille |
LONDON, Aug 24: Chelsea have signed Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta from Marseille, the Premier League club said on Friday.
“The 22-year-old right-back, who recently represented Spain at the London Olympics, arrives at Stamford Bridge following a two-year spell in France’s Ligue 1 with Marseille,” Chelsea said on their website.
No transfer fee or length of c... |
| |
| Nigerian striker Akpala joins Werder Bremen |
Berlin, Aug 24: Bundesliga side Werder Bremen and Belgian football club Bruges have agreed on transfer of Nigerian striker Joseph Akpala to the German club on a four-year deal.
Eight days before the closure of the transfer window, Bremen reinforced their squad with the signing of the Nigerian international.
"We are glad we were able to convince Joseph Akpala to join us. He will ... |
| |
| Anzhi grab narrow win over AZ |
Moscow, Aug 24: A second-half strike from Ivorian striker Lacina Traore gave Anzhi a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar in their Europa League playoff first-leg match on Thursday.
Traore opened the scored the only goal in the 51st minute, hammering the ball into the corner of the net from a cross delivered by Dutch midfielder Mbark Boussoufa.
Big-spending Anzhi have been forced by UEFA... |
| |
| Armstrong to lose seven Tour de France titles |
AUSTIN, Aug 24: Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong said on Thursday he would no longer fight doping charges by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which said it would strip him of his titles and ban him from competitive cycling.
Armstrong, a cancer survivor long considered one of the all-time greats in his sport, made the announcement in a written statement as he faced a midnig... |
| |
| Federer, Murray could have rematch in US Open semis |
NEW YORK, Aug 24: Roger Federer and Andy Murray could meet in a US Open semifinal that would be a rematch of their recent finals at Wimbledon and the London Olympics.
The top-seeded Federer and No. 3 Murray were placed in the same section of the field during Thursday’s draw at Flushing Meadows for the year’s last Grand Slam tournament. Play begins on Monday.
Federer ... |
| |
| London launches Paralympic torch relay |
London, Aug 24: A ceremonial cauldron was lit by former event rider Claire Lomas in London's Trafalgar Square to launch the Paralympic torch relay on Friday.
Lomas, who was paralysed in a horse riding accident, lit the cauldron from the English national flame kindled on Scafell Pike.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, London Mayor Boris Johnson and London 2012 chairman Seb Co... |
| |
| Wozniacki hurts knee, enters New Haven semifinal |
NEW HAVEN, Aug 24: Caroline Wozniacki fought through an injury to her right knee to beat Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the New Haven Open.
The third-seeded Dane improved Thursday to 20-0 at the Connecticut Tennis Center, where she is the four-time defending champion.
Wozniacki says she felt a twinge in the knee that was serious enough to call for the traine... |
| |
| Boxer Klitschko plays chess against Kramnik |
Moscow, Aug 24: Boxing champion Vitali Klitschko has proved he has brains as well as brawn after playing to a draw against former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik, a Ukrainian news website reported on Thursday.
The match took place in Switzerland, where the WBC Heavyweight Champion is preparing for his Sept 8 defence against German contender Manuel Charr at Moscow's Olimpiisky aren... |
| |
| Smiling Djokovic happy to avoid Murray |
NEW YORK, Aug 24: Defending champion Novak Djokovic could barely conceal his delight on Thursday after avoiding the elephant in the room - Olympic champion Andy Murray - in the draw for the US Open.
When asked if he was happy to see Murray’s name in the other half of the draw, ensuring the two cannot meet unless both reach the final of the year’s last grand slam, Djokovic ju... |
| |
| Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan, win Plate Championship |
U-19 World Cup
Brisbane, Aug 24: Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets to win the Plate Championship final of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup at the Allan Border Field here on Friday.
Chasing 194, Sri Lanka cruised to victory in 39 overs with player of the match Niroshan Dickwella hitting an elegant 76 and Pabasara Waduge contributing 33.
Batting first af... |
| |
| iStream.com ties up with Ten Sports for streaming US Open |
NEW DELHI, Aug 24: India’s premier online video destination, iStream.com has entered into a partnership with Ten Sports to live stream US Open, the last of the season’s four major Grand Slams.
Fans can log onto http://www.iStream.com/us-open-2012/ to catch the excitement. Apart from hosting the matches live, iStream.com will top up the excitement with live-chat among fans vi... |
| |
| Over 5,000 athletes for Mombasa Marathon |
Nairobi, Aug 24: Over 5,000 athletes from six countries will compete at the Mombasa International Marathon in Kenya on Sunday. Organizers expect at least 500 elite athletes to participate in the race, where the winner will walk home with US $2,500.
The marathon will have both local and international athletes competing with Athletics Kenya (AK) hinting it might use the event to pick out ... |
| |
| Pietersen to feature in World T20 as commentator |
New Delhi, Aug 24: Axed from the national team, former England captain Kevin Pietersen, who was the star of the last Twenty20 World Cup, will still feature in this year's edition - but as a commentator.
Pietersen, whose international career still hangs in the balance, has been roped in by ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) as a part of presentation and analysis team for ICC World Twenty20 to be pla... |
| |
| Kvitova clinches US Open Series title in New Haven |
NEW HAVEN, Aug 24: Petra Kvitova clinched the US Open Series title with a victory over Lucie Safarova in the quarterfinals of the New Haven Open. The fifth-ranked Kvitova had little trouble with her friend and countrywoman, winning 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday.
In the semifinals, she will play the winner of the late match between Marion Bartoli and Sara Errani.
Four-time defending champ... |
| |
| Nobbs is responsible for London debacle: Shivendra |
GWALIOR, Aug 24: Indian hockey team's centre forward Shivendra Singh dropped a bombshell stating that coach Michael Nobbs' wrong strategy of over-attacking which was responsible for team's last-place finish at the London Olympics.
"The team's coach Michael Nobbs was responsible for the humiliating defeat in London as he made us change the strategy," Shivendra told reporters after a func... |
| |
| Syria hold Cameroon to a 2-2 draw |
New Delhi, Aug 24: Cameroon, "The Indomitable Lions", started their Nehru Cup football tournament campaign with an unconvincing 2-2 draw with Syria at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.
Luck played a key role for the African giants as Syria were wasteful in front of the goalmouth.
Cameroon led twice in the game through Kingue Mpondo (17th) and Ebanga Bertin (55th) but ... |
| |
| Mohammad Akram appointed Pakistan's bowling coach |
LAHORE, Aug 24: Former Test cricketer Mohammad Akram has been appointed as Pakistan's bowling coach for a period of one year.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director, Intikhab Alam said at the Gaddafi stadium that the 38-year-old Akram will be supervising a level four coaching course and join the squad in the UAE for the series against Australia.
"The chairman of the PCB has appro... |
| |
| Hodgson plans to pick John Terry for qualifiers |
LONDON, Aug 24: England manager Roy Hodgson confirmed on Friday that he plans to pick John Terry for his team's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine even though the Chelsea defender faces disciplinary action for racial abuse.
Terry is due at an FA independent disciplinary hearing over charges he used a racist slur against QPR star Ferdinand, an allegation he denies and was c... |
| |
| MRF launches Formula 2000 car |
Chennai, Aug 24: In a path-breaking move, tyre giants MRF launched the Formula 2000, said to be the most powerful racing machine in Asia, at the Express Avenue Mall here Friday with India's first Formula One driver, Narain Karthikeyan, taking the bright red liveried machine for a few laps around the complex.
The Formula 2000 is a big upgrade from last year's F-1600 with its 210 bhp, two... |
| |
| Pakistan favourite to win Twenty20 World Cup: Akram |
KARACHI, Aug 24: Former captain Wasim Akram has picked Pakistan as one of the favourites to win the Twenty20 World Cup beginning next month in Sri Lanka.
Akram said the Pakistan side possessed the talent to win the tournament to be played from September 18 to October 7.
"Pakistan are favourites. Players like Imran Nazir and Abdur Razzaq have the ability to turn a match on its he... |
| |
|
