Category: SPORTS

Kusal Perera became a national hero in Sri Lanka on Sunday after scoring an unbeaten 153 to guide his country to a sensational first Test victory in South Africa. The country’s cricket legends and politicians lauded Perera, who has become a linchpin for the ailing national side since fighting off doping charges in 2016. Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who had staunchly defended Perera when he was suspended in December 2015, called the performance at Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday “unreal”. “What an amazing win,” Sangakkara said on Twitter. “One of…

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Guwahati, Feb 16 (DIN NEWS) Saina Nehwal beat P V Sindhu in straight games in the marquee clash of the tournament to retain her women’s singles crown at the 83rd Yonex Sunrise Senior Badminton Nationals here Saturday. The three-time former champion Saina used her powerful smashes to telling effect, registering a 21-18 21-15 win against Sindhu, a two-time winner, in the summit clash. In a repeat of last edition’s final in Nagpur, 2012 Olympics bronze medaliist Saina once again had the upper hand over Sindhu during the exciting clash which…

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Mumbai, Feb 15 (DIN NEWS) Batsman K L Rahul was Friday recalled for the ODI and T20 home series against Australia but the selectors dropped Dinesh Karthik while picking rookie leg-spinner Mayank Markande as the new face. India will play two T20 Internationals and five ODIs, starting February 24, in what will be their last international assignment before the World Cup, which begins in England on May 30. Rahul fought his way back after a couple of good innings for India A against England Lions in the two unofficial Tests,…

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Ace paddler Sharath Kamal, who is currently ranked 33 in the world, on Thursday said he aimed to burst into the top 20 in 2019 and the next big thing on his mind was the 2020 Tokyo OlympicsThe 36-year-old player also believes that the two table tennis bronze medals which India won at last year’s Asian Games held in Indonesia have given them the confidence that a medal at the 2020 Olympics was a possibility.”Personally, for myself in 2019, the goal would be to get into top 20 in the…

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Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan believes the present national team has the firepower to break its World Cup jinx against India and register the country’s maiden win over the neighbours in the upcoming ICC 50-over mega-event in the UK.In six times in the World Cup so far, Pakistan have never defeated India.And India and Pakistan will meet again in the World Cup at Old Trafford on June 16. “This present team is very capable of recording a first win over India in a World Cup because there is talent, there…

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Stan Wawrinka benefitted from a Benoit Paire collapse, with the Swiss carving out a 7-6(7/4), 6-1 win on Monday at the Rotterdam Open.After fighting through a 45-minute first set the 33-year-old Wawrinka needed just 26 more minutes to salt away the first-round victory as the moody Paire had unleashed a trademark racquet smash after dropping the opening set.The frustrated 58th-ranked Frenchman made little effort in the second set, phoning it in with apparent disinterest as Wawrinka took complete charge.Breaking four times on his way into the second round Wawrinka made…

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Lionel Messi was short of fitness and Barcelona lacked spark as a goalless draw away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday offered fresh hope to their rivals in the title race. A thigh injury had limited Messi to 27 minutes against Real Madrid on Wednesday and while he played the full match at San Mames, Barca’s assistant coach Jon Aspiazu had admitted before kick-off he was not yet 100 per cent. In all likelihood, he stayed on because his team needed him but Messi was not at his best and neither…

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Whitewashed by New Zealand women in the three-match T20 series, India opener Smriti Mandhana Sunday said her team needs to address its batting woes, especially after losing all the games from winning positions.India almost pulled off a dramatic win but failed to score a boundary in the final delivery to lose the third and final T20 by a mere two runs here.Chasing 162, Mandhana took the Indian team on course for a consolation win with a career-best knock of 86 from 52 balls but the visiting side failed to build…

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In a season of many firsts for the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma’s men will be aiming to become first among the equals to win a T20 International series in New Zealand when the two sides clash in the final match here Sunday.The past three months have made for a memorable phase for the Indian cricket team, which won its first Test and bilateral ODI series in Australia followed by the biggest one-day series win in New Zealand.A first T20 series victory in New Zealand will be the icing on…

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Mahendra Singh Dhoni watched from the 22 yards distance as his heir apparent Rishabh Pant showed spunk in a tricky situation, guiding India to their maiden T20 International victory on New Zealand soil here Friday.The seven-wicket triumph was set up by skipper Rohit Sharma (50 off 29 balls) in company of Shikhar Dhawan (30, 31 balls) with a 79-run stand after Krunal Pandya got three wickets to restrict the hosts to 158/8.With his whirlwind fifty, Rohit also became the top run-getter in the format, surpassing Martin Guptill.”Very pleased to see…

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