Sports

New Delhi, Oct 5: Football minnows India stand on the cusp of history as the hosts are set to make their debut in a FIFA event against a formidable USA in a group match of the U-17 World Cup, which begins here tomorrow. India qualified automatically for the event as hosts. They have prepared well with All India Football Federation sending the players for training tours in Europe and a tournament

Beijing, Oct 5: One fellow player labelled her "a cheater" and she is said to be unpopular in the locker room, but Maria Sharapova remains a crowd favorite in China despite her doping ban. "Welcome back goddess," said one banner at the China Open in Beijing this week, while a Russian flag had the words: "I got your back Maria." The 30-year-old Russian was in the Chinese capital this week for the

Montevideo, Oct 4: Argentina`s stumbling 2018 World Cup qualification campaign faces another awkward hurdle on Thursday as the misfiring South American giants take on in-form Peru in Buenos Aires. The 2014 World Cup finalists have lurched from one disappointment to the next since South America`s qualifiers kicked off two years ago, with the two-time champions invariably failing to add up to the

New Delhi, Oct 4: Former star opener Virender Sehwag on Tuesday said that the Australian players were scared of sledging Virat Kohli and the other Indian players during the recently concluded One-Day International (ODI) series due to the possibility of losing out on their lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) contracts. Sehwag said the Aussies, who were thrashed 4-1 in the five-match series

Dubai, Oct 3: India have remained static at No. 4 position but gained three significant points to reach 116 in the ICC Women's Team Rankings for the first time following the annual rankings update. The Indian women's team, which had reached the final of the ICC Women's World Cup in July, has closed the gap with third-placed New Zealand. New Zealand maintained their third position with their pre

Mumbai, Oct 3: India batsman Ajinkya Rahane, who has been axed for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Australia, said that he respects the decision taken by the team management and the selectors. "Yes, so much cricket we play, the team management, selectors take a decision and we respect it." Speaking about competition, "It is necessary and it helps you to give your best performance

Kashmir, Oct 2: Her hijab firmly in place, she slings her bat across her shoulders and rides her Scooty to college and practice, challenging not just her rivals on the cricket field but also societal and religious stereotypes. As captain of the women's cricket team in Baramulla's Government Women's College, Insha is one of the young women setting trends in this suburban town in north Kashmir and

Dubai, Oct 2: Flambouyant opener Rohit Sharma, who finished as the leading scorer in the five-match ODI series against Australia which India won 4-1 on Sunday, has moved up four places to reach fifth position in the ICC ODI Player Rankings">ICC ODI Player Rankings. Sharma's 296 runs in the series, which included a brilliant 125 in the last match in Nagpur, contributed significantly to India's

New Delhi, Oct 1: The Virat Kohli-led Team India and Steve Smith's Australia will lock horns for the last time in the ongoing five-match ODI series in Nagpur on Sunday. The pitch at the VCA Stadium does not have the best of track records but curator Pravin Hingnikar asserted that the newly laid surface is likely to produce a good contest tomorrow. The last ODI played in Nagpur was also between

Nagpur, Sept 30: India speedster Umesh Yadav today admitted that being a senior bowler he needs to perform better in the death overs if he has to consistently feature in the playing XI in the limited overs cricket. The 29-year-old is a much improved Test bowler than what he was a season ago but along with Mohammad Shami, he has fallen behind in the limited overs pecking order with Jasprit Bumrah