Teenager Deependra gives Kerala crucial win

Kochi: Kerala Blasters came back from behind to register a 2-1 win over Delhi Dynamos FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, on Saturday. The home side desperately needed the three points to keep their hopes for a top-four place alive in the Hero Indian Super League and are now placed fifth...

Caroline Wozniacki wins first major title at Australian Open

MELBOURNE: An emotional Caroline Wozniacki finally lifted her first Grand Slam title at the 43rd attempt as she beat Simona Halep in three energy-sapping sets to win the Australian Open on Saturday. The Dane, who will become the new world number one, burst into tears as she secured the championship...

Messi credits coach for Barcelona's success

New manager Ernesto Valverde deserves credit for FC Barcelona's improved performance, Lionel Messi has said. Under Valverde, who joined the club last summer, Barça have built a 11-point lead at the top of La Liga, reached the Champions League round of 16 and qualified for the semifinals...

Nehwal to face Ratchanok in Indonesia Masters semis

Jakarta : Rio Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal will face Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the semi-finals of the Indonesia Masters here on Saturday. Former world No. 1 Nehwal has an 8-5 head-to-head record against fourth-seeded Intanon. Nehwal made it to the semi-finals by defeating...

IPL auction: Stokes goes to Royals for Rs 12.5 cr, Ashwin to Kings XI

Bengaluru: England's Ben Stokes has once again made the headlines as he has been sold for a whopping Rs 12.5 crore to the Rajasthan Royals in the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction for the 11th edition of the tournament here on Saturday. Stokes, who was on the marquee...

IPL auction 2018: Daredevils take Glenn Maxwell for Rs 9 crore, Root unsold

Bengaluru : In a bidding war for Australian superstar Glenn Maxwell, Delhi Daredevils snapped up the right-handed batsman for Rs 9 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction for the 11th edition of the tournament here on Saturday. Daredevil also bought left-handed batsman Gautam...

IPL auction to begin today, 578 players to go under hammer

New Delhi : The much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) auction for the 11th edition of the tournament will begin on Saturday. Up to 578 players, out of the 1,122 players, have been kept for the final two-day auction, which includes 244 capped players (62 from India), 332 uncapped players...

Rahm strong in pursuit of number one

Jon Rahm's six-under par 66 left him one shot behind 36-hole leader Ryan Palmer on Friday and within striking distance of a second straight Farmers Insurance Open crown and the world number one ranking. The 23-year-old Spaniard is thriving in the first pro title defense of his career. "You...

Olympics: U.S to send record 242 athletes to Pyeongchang Games

The United States will send the largest team ever to attend a Winter Olympics, 242 athletes, to next month’s Pyeongchang Games, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced. Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, figure skating favourite Nathan Chen and speedskater Shani Davis, the winner of four Olympic medals,...

De Bruyne the engine driving Man City's trophy charge

LONDON: There have been moments this season when Pep Guardiola, the orchestrator of Manchester City’s landmark season, has been left open-mouthed by the excellence of his on-field conductor Kevin De Bruyne. “I have no words...” spluttered the City manager after watching De Bruyne engineer...

Big guns silenced as Spain, Sweden reach Euro final

ZAGREB: Both favourites were knocked out of the European handball championship semi-finals on Friday as Spain beat world champions France 27-23 and Sweden edged Olympic title holders Denmark 35-34 after extra time. Goalkeepers took centre stage in both games as Spain’s Arpad Sterbik, called...

Sanchez stars on debut to help Man United progress past Yeovil

London: Debutant Alexis Sanchez had little trouble adjusting to his new place in Manchester United's line-up as he assisted the opening two goals in the Premier League club's 4-0 FA Cup fourth round win at Yeovil Town on Friday. Marcus Rashford and Ander Herrera both benefited from the Chilean's...

Woods birdies his final hole to make cut in PGA Tour return

LA JOLLA (California): Tiger Woods acknowledged that his long game was poor in the second round at the Farmers Insurance Open but said he was excited to make the cut and qualify for the final two rounds. That is a far cry from the days when he considered finishing second to be a failure,...

Blasters look to keep nothing to chance

Kochi: The appointment of David James as the head coach at the turn of the year, brought a fresh resurgence to Kerala Blasters in the Hero Indian Super League. The former England goalkeeper oversaw two wins and a draw in his first three games in charge but after having suffered two consecutive...

Bengaluru back on top with 2-1 win over NorthEast

Bengaluru:Bengaluru FC returned to the top of the Hero Indian Super League table after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over NorthEast United at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday.  Spanish defender Juanan scored the opening goal to give BFC the lead before Marcinho equalised...

CoA chief Vinod Rai backs under-fire Kohli

KOLKATA: BCCI Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai backed under-fire Virat Kohli, saying there is nothing wrong in giving the India skipper a free hand in selection matters. Kohli was criticised for his bold selection decisions in the ongoing Test series against South Africa...

Gisele Bundchen wants Tom Brady to retire

London: Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen is apparently keen that Tom Brady should retire from professional sports. The 37-year-old has been married to the American football star since 2009, and according to Brady's former college teammate Jay Feely, he been urged to speak to her husband about...

Mourinho feels Sanchez move not money driven

Manchester: Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho stressed on Alexis Sanchez's decision to sign for the club over arch-rivals Manchester City and said he did not join the club because of the money poured at him. "I know that if other clubs did not get him it's not a problem of money,...

Tihar Jail inmates to play football match with families

New Delhi: The Tihar Jail administration will organise a unique football match between the inmates and their families which will be held on Sunday at the playground of Central Jail No.1 here. The "Sadbhavna Football Exhibition Match" will be the first of its kind and will provide jail inmates...

USA Gymnastics quiet on board resignation call after abuse scandal

Michigan: The leadership of USA Gymnastics remained silent on Friday in the face of pressure from U.S. Olympic officials and others to resign en masse two days after the team doctor was sentenced for abusing female athletes. As of Friday morning, USA Gymnastics had not issued an official...

Everest climb chronicler Elizabeth Hawley dies in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Elizabeth Hawley, a leading chronicler of expeditions on Himalayan peaks in Nepal, died on Friday at a private hospital in Kathmandu, her doctor said. She was 94. Born in the United States, former journalist Hawley had lived alone in Nepal since 1960 and had become an unofficial...

Indonesia Masters: Saina sinks Sindhu to sail into semis

JAKARTA: Former World No 1 Saina Nehwal asserted her supremacy over Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu with a straight game victory to enter the semifinals of the $350,000 Indonesia Masters, here on Friday. London Olympics bronze medalist Saina, who is coming back from an ankle injury,...

Roger Federer into Australian Open final as Chung retires injured

MELBOURNE: Defending champion Roger Federer strolled into the Australian Open final in a bitter-sweet win after Chung Hyeon's retired injured in their semi-final on Friday. The Swiss star was leading 6-1, 5-2 when the South Korean called it quits with foot blisters and will now face Marin...

Ngidi named in ODI squad; Morkel, Morris return

Johannesburg: Young pace sensation Lungi Ngidi has been rewarded for his recent performances with a place in South Africa's squad for the six-match ODI series against India starting in Durban on February 1. The 21-year-old had made his Test debut at Centurion and was named man-of-the-match...

India beat Bangladesh by 131 runs, enter U-19 World Cup semis

Queenstown: Three-time champions India beat Bangladesh by a comfortable 131-run margin to enter the semi- final of the ICC U-19 World Cup, here today. Batting first, India scored 265 in 49.2 overs with Shubhamn Gill scoring 86 and Abhishek Sharma contributing 50. Skipper Prithvi Shaw (40)...

Woods shoots even-par 72 in PGA Tour comeback at Torrey Pines

California : Tiger Woods made a respectable return to the PGA Tour on Thursday, shooting even-par 72 in the first round at the Farmers Insurance Open. In his first official start since this time last year, Woods took a while to dust off the rust, but the quality of his shotmaking improved...

Barcelona through to Cup semis as Coutinho makes debut

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi scored what proved to be the winner as Barcelona beat Espanyol 2-0 to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Thursday in a game that saw Philippe Coutinho make his long-awaited debut. Valencia beat Alaves on penalties while Sevilla beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday...

Gavaskar, Pollock slam Wanderers pitch

Johannesburg :Former Test captains Sunil Gavaskar and Shaun Pollock today criticised the wicket on offer for the ongoing the third and final cricket Test between India and South Africa, terming it a "completely bowler- friendly pitch". Gavaskar was of the view that Test match pitches needed...