IPL 2018: Struggling Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore aim at survival
BENGALURU: Struggling sides Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore will have a fight for survival when they lock horns in an Indian Premier League here on Tuesday. Having beaten Chennai Super Kings in their adopted home ground in Pune, MI will go out with their tails up with confidence to take on a strong batting line-up of RCB, which has the likes of Virat Kohli and Brendon McCullum. The heartbreaking back-to-back defeats at the hands of CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders in their backyard would have devastated the team’s confidence, but RCB will have to play out of their skins to stay in the competition. (PTI)
Match referees set to play ‘selectors’
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) is looking at match referees serving in domestic matches to fill in as scouts so that national selectors don’t miss out on any talent. It is also learnt that BCCI also wants to revive the Talent Resource Development Office (TRDO). Following a directive of the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Committeerecommendations, the board had to prune the selection committee from five to three members. The number, BCCI thinks, is not enough to keep a tab on all players from all corners of the country. (TNN)
Liverpool held in Stoke stalemate
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool warmed up for their Champions Leaguesemi-final second leg against Roma with a low-key goalless draw against Stoke at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side head to the Italian capital on Wednesday with a 5-2 advantage from the first leg and do so the back of a Premier League match they controlled for long periods without over-exerting themselves in search of a winner. (AFP)
Neymar recovery on track, will be back for World Cup
RIO DE JANEIRO: Neymar is working hard to recover from the foot injury that sidelined him in February and will be back in action by this summer’s World Cup, the Brazil team doctor who operated on him promised Friday. Neymar who is recuperating in a Rio de Janeiro coastal mansion, said last week he would not return to the pitch until at least May 17 — the date of his final medical exam following his surgery in Belo Horizonte on March 3. (AFP)
Sumit, Nikhat strike gold at Belgrade International Boxing
NEW DELHI: The fit-again duo of Sumit Sangwan (91kg) and Nikhat Zareen (51kg) was among the three gold-medallists in India’s stupendous campaign at the 56th Belgrade International Boxing Tournament in Serbia. Himanshu Sharma (49kg), who defeated Algeria’s Mohammed Touareg 5-0 in his final bout, was the third top spot finisher last night as India ended the tournament with three gold, five silver and five bronze medals in all. (PTI)
Fit-again Jayaram, Sourabh eye good run at New Zealand Open
AUCKLAND: After recovering from their respective injuries, Indian shuttlers Ajay Jayaramand Sourabh Verma will look to regain touch and form when they compete at the USD 150,000 New Zealand Super 300 tournament starting here on Tuesday. Jayaram, who returned to action at the China Masters early this month after recovering from a hamstring injury that took nearly eight months to heal, opens his campaign against fourth seed Hsu Jen Hao from Chinese Taipei. (PTI)
NBA begins to address mental health and athletes
LOS ANGELES — The NBA is joining forces with the players’ union to launch a mental wellness program with the hope that athletes will see it as a way to open up about their struggles with mental health. Toronto Raptors DeMar DeRozan and Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Love are helping to jump start the program, which begins in part this week with a website and public service ads encouraging mental wellness for its athletes. (AGENCIES)
LOCAL:
Anjana dreams of coveting Anura’s number one ranking
VASCO: Anura Prabhudesai created a stir in Goa when she was ranked number one in India a few months back. From the stir, another star appears to be taking shape. Anjana Kumari from Vasco has a way to go but the path she is treading shows that women in Goa are set to leave men behind, in the sport of badminton in India. Anjana is currently the best ladies badminton player in Goa. However, her performance at the World Championship School Games Badminton in Pune – where she won the singles and doubles in the semifinals – has given badminton followers in Goa the hope that there is someone ready to follow the steps or better the path laid by Anura in badminton in India. (NT NETWORK)
Sesa FA win GFA U-16 playoff final
NAVELIM: Sesa FA won the GFA U-16 playoff final, defeating Churchill Brothers SC 4-2 via tie-breaker at Rosary ground, Navelim, on Sunday. Sesa FA started the match on an attacking note and manages to find the breakthrough in the 36th minute as Sapam Nongipokniganba slotted the ball past the rival keeper to make it 1-0.
At half-time the scores read in favour of Sesa FA. Post resumption, trailing by a goal, Churchill Bros SC went all out in order to find a sight at the goal and after a lot of missed chances, managed to finally make it all square in the 71st minute as Haish Patra shot the ball home making it 1-1. In the resultant tie-breaker, Sesa FA scored through Sapam Nongipokniganba, Frazgy Viegas and Omkar Shetgaonkar while Haish Patra netted the only goal for Churchill Bros SC. (NT NETWORK)
FC Bardez claw back to beat six-man SCC Cavelossim
AMBELIM: FC Bardez came from behind to beat six-man SCC Cavelossim 2-1 in the second match of the Goa Sevens Premier League, organised by Goa Sevens and Ambelim Sports Club in association with Goa Football Association (GFA) at Ambelim Sports Complex, on Sunday. Caitano Veigas and Clinton Niasso scored for the North Goa team while SCC Cavelossim scored through Moses D’Sa. The defending champions SCC Cavelossim fielded a formidable seven with Bersal Viegas, Alvito Miranda and Moses D’Sa in the playing seven while their opponent FC Bardez coached by Climax Lawrence started with Jessel Carneiro, Clinton Niasso, Caitano Viegas and Nevelle Albuquerque. (HERALD)
