Unstoppable Kane matches Gerrard's magnificent seven

Harry Kane continued his single-handed assault on the record books when he scored Tottenham Hotspur’s opening goal in their comeback 2-2 draw at Juventus in the Champions League last 16, first leg on Tuesday.

Kane’s 35th minute effort was his seventh goal in the competition this season -- matching Steven Gerrard whose seven for Liverpool in the 2008-09 campaign had stood as a record for an English player.

Not only that but Kane’s nine-goal haul from his first nine games is more than any other player in the history of Europe’s blue-riband club competition -- one more than the quartet of Ronaldinho, Simone Inzaghi, Didier Drogba and Diego Costa.

Kane has scored nine goals in his last eight games in all competitions and has 33 for the season -- more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.

The 24-year-old, who this month reached 100 Premier League goals in only 141 appearances, could have added to his tally on Tuesday but for two great saves by Juve’s veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon in the first half.

With the twice Premier League Golden Boot winner in this sort of form, however, Tottenham will feel they can topple Juventus in the second leg at Wembley next month -- indeed they will be favourites to do so.

Kane, who bagged Tottenham’s winner against rivals Arsenal last weekend, paid tribute to the way his team mates recovered from conceding twice in the first nine minutes on Tuesday -- Gonzalo Higuain striking twice for the hosts.

“We could have capitulated, away from home in the Champions League. It showed character,” he said.

“It was an excellent performance after that and we take two away goals to Wembley. A great result.”

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said his side had been sloppy in the opening 10 minutes but felt they should have been celebrating a victory after recovering to enjoy 62 percent of the possession against a side starting with seven of the players who began last year’s final against Real Madrid in Cardiff.

His opposite number Massimiliano Allegri said his side had been taken aback by Tottenham’s riposte.

“We started very well but then we struggled to keep the ball because Tottenham were playing so well,” he said.

“After going 2-0 up, we did not decide to defend deep, Tottenham forced us to. After their second goal, however, we were the more dangerous side.”


source: news agency

White delivers again to win third halfpipe gold

American Shaun White cemented his legacy as the most successful snowboarder of all time as he delivered a stunning routine under massive pressure on the final run of a gripping halfpipe final on Wednesday to win his third Winter Olympic gold and a landmark 100th for his country.

White needed a big performance to overhaul Japan’s Ayumu Hirano and duly delivered with a spectacular display to earn a score of 97.75. His victory means the United States have won all four snowboarding golds awarded at the Games.

White, 31, triumphed in 2006 and 2010 and after a long wait for his score on Wednesday he roared with emotion, punching the air as his superstar status - briefly undermined when he failed in Sochi four years ago - was set in stone.

“Man, that was awful and amazing at the same time,” White said of the long wait for his score. “I knew I did a great ride and I was proud of that and I could walk away with my head high, but when they announced my score and I’d won, it crippled me.”

Nineteen-year-old Hirano, who edged into first place after his second run and then posted 95.25 on his third, could not hide his disappointment as he trudged away from the finish area having matched his silver from Sochi 2014.

Australian Scotty James, the 23-year-old world champion, took bronze.


source: news agency

North Korean pair given warm welcome on Pyeongchang debut

North Korean pair skaters Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik made their long-awaited debut at the Pyeongchang Olympics on Wednesday in front of a crowd of euphoric spectators cheering on every jump and lift.

The pair were the first North Korean athletes to qualify for the Games but it was unclear for several months whether they would actually compete in South Korea.

The sense of anticipation was palpable at the Gangneung Ice Arena before the pairs short program.

A swarm of North Korean female fans wearing red and white tracksuits marched up to the stands, smiling and waiving to passers-by as out of uniform police officer looked on.

In the stands, they rhythmically chanted the skaters’ names as they waived flags of the country.

A small group of university students supporting better inter-Korean ties brandished a banner that read: “Pyeongchang fairy Ryom Tae Ok, jump toward unification!”

Skating to an instrumental cover of “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles, the pair cleanly executed all the elements of their program with a technically-sound performance that earned them a personal best score of 69.40 points.

They finished 11th overall and will compete in the long program on Thursday.

Bruno Marcotte, a Canadian coach who works with the pair, told Reuters on Tuesday they had been striving for a personal best score close to 70 points in the short program.

Their goal for the long program is more than 125 points. Their current personal best score for that program is 119.90.

The pair, who won bronze at the Four Continents Cup in Taiwan last month, embraced each other and their coaches in the kiss and cry area, jumping up and down with joy.

“There have been no inconveniences whatsoever when it comes to the life here in the South area,” Kim said in translated televised comments before the pair sped past the mixed zone where a horde of reporters were waiting for them.

“You could really feel the power and the energy of the Korean people.”

North Korea agreed to compete in Pyeongchang after the South and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) encouraged the heavily sanctioned state to participate as a peace gesture.

The skaters were the first North Koreans to qualify for the Games after they finished in the top six at a competition in Germany in September.


source: news agency

Polish K2 climber breaks arm

Rafał Fronia, one of the Polish team of climbers attempting to be the first to conquer K2 in winter, has been airlifted to a hospital in Skardu, Pakistan after a falling rock broke his arm.

Fronia's arm was broken two days ago. He received first aid at camp and needed to wait for better weather conditions so that a helicopter could take him for treatment.

He is the second climber in the expedition to be injured by falling rocks after Adam Bielecki's nose was broken a few days ago.

The Polish expedition has decided to try a different route to the top of the world's second tallest mountain, located on the Chinese-Pakistani border.

Janusz Majer, head of the Polish winter mountaineering programme, said the rocks falling from the face of the mountain rendered the shorter south-southeast spur too dangerous in winter.

The expedition's managers said that the Polish climbers would attempt to reach the summit via the Abruzzi Spur located on the Pakistani side of the mountain and taken by 75 percent of expeditions.

Both routes have been successfully used by Polish teams to reach K2's 8611-metre altitude summit in summer.



source: news agency

Netherlands gearing up to shine on world stage

The Netherlands are all set to show the world that they are worth being the 13th side on the ODI League (which kicks-off in 2020) by shining on the big stage and qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales.

They qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier by winning the ICC World Cricket League Championship 2015-2017 and claiming the 13th position in the ODI League, which now guarantees the Dutch ODI status following the Zimbabwe event which will run from March 4 to 25.

They have been a frequent participant in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, having played 75 matches with 54 wins and 20 defeats from 1982 to 2014.

Captain Peter Borren, who led his team to victory in the ICC World Cricket League Championship, believes it is a positive time to be involved in associate cricket.

"Going to Zimbabwe is something to look forward to, there is obviously a lot of exciting cricket coming up, it is a good time to be involved with Dutch cricket and Associate cricket, there are opportunities and hopefully we can grab them," he said.

Borren, who has played 13 matches, scoring 389 runs in 11 innings with a high score of 65 not out in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, cannot wait to show world cricket what his team is made of.

"We are now the 13th-ranked ODI nation on the ODI League, earned through three years of hard work, and this will be our chance to show to the world that we want to be more than just the 13th team, what better stage for us to shine," he said.

The team will depart for Pretoria, South Africa next week for a set of warm-up fixtures against, Scotland, Hong Kong and Ireland between 16 and 23 February. Following that they will travel to Zimbabwe to face the Windies, Ireland, Papua New Guinea and the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 winners in Group A. 



source: news agency

Russian player dedicates medal to banned compatriots

London: Russian speed skater Semen Elistratov, who earned Russia its first medal at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, dedicated the medal to his compatriots who have been banned from the Games in an "unfair way".

After winning a bronze medal in men's 1500m short track speed skating, following a crash that took out two skaters, Elistratov said, "I have difficulties to hold back my tears. I am incredibly happy that I did it, in spite of all the circumstances around Russian sport."

"I dedicate this medal to all guys that have been excluded from these Games in such a hard and unfair way. This medal is for you," the Guardian quoted Elistratov as saying.

Russia were banned from competing at the Winter Olympics because of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Games in Sochi.

However, 169 Russian athletes are allowed to compete in the Games as neutrals under the OAR team banner and Elistratov is one of them.

"I still have two distances to contest and I will fight until the end," he said.

Elistratov comments are, however, under investigation as they appear to breach the rule over making any political statements.

The 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang were kicked off on February 9.

The first medal of the Games was won by Sweden's Charlotte Kalla in the ladies' skiathlon while Hyo-jun Lim provided the home nation with their first gold.



source: news agency

Rohan More becomes first Asian to swim across Ocean Seven

Pune-based swimmer, Rohan More became the first Asian as well as the first Indian to swim across the Ocean Seven. Rohan is the youngest person in the world to swim across the Ocean Seven.

The Ocean's Seven marathon consists of seven long-distance open-water swims, which includes the North Channel, the Cook Strait, the Molokai Channel, the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar.

The swimming marathon is widely considered equivalent to the Seven Summits mountaineering challenge.

With this, More becomes only the ninth person in the world to complete it.

After waiting for a long time, due to bad weather conditions, Rohan got the chance to swim on February 9.

He began swimming at about 9:30 a.m. from the North Island.

For the first five hours, the water was calm and the temperature was around 19 degrees Celsius.

However, as he progressed towards the South Island, the water temperature dropped by about four degrees Celsius, due to currents from the Antarctic water.

He fought bravely against the cold water and strong Antarctic currents to complete the swim in eight hours 37 minutes.

Talking about his achievement, More said, "It is the greatest moment of my life as I swam across Cook Strait in New Zealand which was the seven and last in the Ocean Seven."

"I really feel very proud and emotional about this thing because after swimming this challenge I became the first Indian ever in the history to complete this challenge and only ninth person in the world who has swam all the seven challenges in the Ocean Seven," he added.

The Pune based swimmer also thanked his family members and friends for their support which helped him achieve this feat.

More completed his first marathon swim at the age of 11. He completed the Triple Crown almost twenty years later, in less than 11 months and continues to set and accomplish marathon goals.

In 1996, he crossed 'Dharamtar to Gateway of India Channel (35 km) in seven hours and 29 minutes.

More also completed six of the Oceans Seven swims between 2014 and 2016: English Channel (13 hours and 23 minutes), North Channel (12 hours and 43 minutes), Catalina Channel (10 hours and 17 minutes), Molokai Channel (17 hours and 28 minutes), Tsugaru Strait (10 hours and 37 minutes) and Gibraltar Strait (3 hours and 56 minutes).

He is a national figure and has received the Tenzing Norgay Award from the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.



source: news agency

Vintage car rally grab eyeballs in national capital

The 52nd edition of The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally was organized in the national capital on Sunday with a large turnout of Delhi-NCR's antique car aficionados and curious onlookers.

Over 100 vintage vehicles and 25 classic motorcycles participated in the rally.

The event witnessed a spectacular rollout of classic, handpicked, vintage automobiles that were flagged off at 10:00 a.m.

The convoy of gleaming motors then moved towards India Gate before arriving at national stadium, the final exhibition area.

Every year, the event witnesses the presence of royal family members and classic car collectors from all parts of the country, competing fiercely to win prestigious titles for their vintage beauties.



source: news agency

Organizers confirm 177 total norovirus cases at Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics organizers (POCOG) said on Monday a total of 177 norovirus cases had been confirmed so far at the Games but that the athletic delegations remained unaffected.

POCOG said 19 new cases of the virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea had been confirmed as of Sunday afternoon. It added that of the 177 cases, 68 had recovered and had been released from quarantine and returned to work at the Games.

The virus had broken out in the leadup to the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang last Friday and led to some 1,200 security staff being quarantined. Organizers had to call in military personnel to replace them.

No athletes have been confirmed to have contracted the highly contagious virus. An outbreak at last year’s World Athletics Championship in London forced competitors from several countries to miss events.

POCOG has said several agencies were cooperating to stifle the outbreak, with water quality being tested and inspections taking place at venues, restaurants, hotels and worker accommodation.



source: news agency

NBC boots analyst over Japan comment at Pyeongchang Games

Joshua Cooper Ramo, the commentator who offended locals during coverage of the Pyeongchang Olympics opening ceremony by straying into the sensitive issue of Japan-South Korean relations, has been taken off the air, U.S. broadcaster NBC said on Monday.

“Joshua Cooper Ramo has completed his responsibilities for NBC in Pyeongchang, and will have no further role on our air,” an NBC spokesman said in an email to Reuters.

NBC, a unit of Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O) had announced in December that Ramo would be a contributor at the Games, having previously served as an expert on culture and geo-political issues during the 2008 Beijing Olympics for the network.

Ramo’s speaker agency that represents him did not respond to a request for comment.

Ramo, who has written books on China and is a corporate director of Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) and FedEx Corp (FDX.N), said as athletes paraded into the Games stadium on Friday that “every Korean will tell you that Japan is a cultural, technological and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation”.

Koreans around the world criticized his remarks on social media and a petition soon circulated online.

Japan, which colonized the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945, has left a deep legacy of mistrust and ill-feeling in South Korea.

The Pyeongchang Organising Committee (POCOG) had earlier told Reuters that it “informed NBC of the errors in their commentary and the sensitivity of the subject in Korea”.

NBC apologized in writing to Pyeongchang’s organizing committee for the remark, which the committee said it had accepted.

The Pyeongchang organizing committee did not immediately respond to the news Ramo had been let go.

Ramo is also co-CEO of Kissinger Associates, an advisory firm of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

NBC is the exclusive U.S. broadcaster of the Olympics having paid about $7.65 billion to air the Games until at least 2032.



source: news agency

Johnson in hunt for another win, tied with Potter at Pebble

World number one Dustin Johnson stayed on track for a second successive victory on the PGA Tour but was joined in the lead by journeyman Ted Potter, Jr. after the third round at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California on Saturday.

While Johnson compiled a ho-hum two-under-par 70 at Pebble Beach, Potter flirted with a sub-60 round at nearby Monterey Peninsula, one of three courses used for the event.

The left-hander picked up 11 strokes through 15 holes, only to bogey his final two holes for a nine-under 62.

The somewhat deflating finish left Potter, whose lone PGA Tour victory was in 2012, locked with fellow American Johnson at 14-under 201, two strokes clear of Australian Jason Day and American Troy Merritt.

The leaders will be able to keep an eye on each other on Sunday when everyone plays the final round on the Pebble Beach host course.

Johnson missed a chance to put some distance between himself and the pack when he negotiated the inward half in two-over, but seemed unfazed.

“The couple of bogeys I made the wind was a little bit tricky and I just got on wrong side of the holes, which I knew better,” he said in a greenside interview.

“All in all felt good about the game, feeling really good about tomorrow.”

Johnson, who won the Tournament of Champions by nine strokes in January, is chasing a third Pebble Beach victory, after previous successes in 2009 and 2010.

Rory McIlroy missed the 54-hole cut as he finished at one-under, but he almost went out in spectacular fashion with what would have been an astonishing eagle at the par-five 18th.

After pulling his drive into a water hazard -- the Pacific Ocean -- McIlroy took a penalty stroke and then hit a brilliant third shot from 220 yards.

His ball clattered against the pin but did not drop, a birdie only minor consolation.

The former world number one, however, did not sound too worried about the state of his game.

“I just need a few putts to fall,” he said.

source: news agency

Serena loses in return but says 'on the right track'

Serena Williams was understandably far from her best in her return to competition on Sunday but the greatest player of her generation said it was a positive step toward her goal of returning to the pinnacle of her sport.

Williams, playing her first official match since having a baby, and older sister Venus were beaten in a dead doubles rubber by the Netherlands in the Fed Cup in Asheville, North Carolina, but walked away feeling upbeat.

“I honestly feel better than I thought I was going to feel,” said Williams, who prior to Sunday had not played a competitive match since her 2017 Australian Open victory.

“I feel like I didn’t expect to play, you know, like that for me. I feel like I‘m on the right track.”

Williams, who gave birth to her first child last September, showed glimpses of both her prowess and rust during the 6-2 6-3 loss to Demi Schuurs and Lesley Kerkhove.

Early in the match Williams showed the effects of her lengthy layoff, perhaps most noticeably when she shanked a routine volley that left her bent over in embarrassment.

But shortly after, the owner of an Open-era record 23 grand slam singles titles drew wild cheers when she confidently stepped to the net and stretched out to drive home a superb backhand volley.

“I didn’t know what to expect. Maybe that’s why I felt like I did better. I didn’t expect to ...have that much power on my serves, even though they didn’t go in,” said Williams.

“It’s just a start. I feel like that’s a very good step in the right direction.”

Despite the loss, it was a positive step for Williams, who was bedridden for six weeks from a series of complications, including a pulmonary embolism that led to multiple surgeries, after her daughter was delivered by emergency cesarean section.

Still, the 36-year-old American said she came into the tie with high expectations.


“If I walk out there with low expectations, then I need to stop doing what I do. So that’s never going to happen for me,” said Williams.

“I‘m always going to have the best and highest expectations for myself.”

The rubber had no impact on the best-of-five tie as it was played after Venus gave the United States an insurmountable 3-0 lead that put the reigning champions into the April 21-22 semi-finals against France.

Williams, who played an exhibition match last December in the United Arab Emirates, where she lost to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, said in addition to working on her serve and returns, she needs to manage her time better now that she has her daughter in tow.

“I didn’t manage my time well, but I was thinking about it in the future how to manage it better,” said Williams, whose daughter was among those in the sellout crowd.

source: news agency