Adapting to changes takes time: Rupinder
New Delhi: Gearing up for the FIH World league Semi-Finals, Indian hockey team’s fullback Rupinder Pal Singh said the side will look to plug the gaps in their defence in the tournament starting June 20. “The defence in this tournament intends to come out strong. We are working on closing the space which will make things tough for the opponents,” Rupinder said ahead of the event in Antwerp, Belgium. “We are now realising that, earlier there were gaps which helped the opposition to score against us. This time around we have particularly worked on this area, now awaiting to start putting this learning into play.” Speaking on the new strategies that the team is working on, he said, “I am confident with the strategies that the team is working on and it will yield positive results for the team. Adapting to changes do not happen overnight but I am sure we will get into the groove soon and start delivering as per plan”.
Sandhu in semis in NZ
Christchurch: Third seed Harinder Pal Sandhu beat Chinese Taipei’s James Huang in five games to earn a semifinal berth in the $10,000 Christchurch International squash meet here on Friday. The Indian was tested to the hilt by the sixth seed from Taipei in the 73-minute tussle. Sandhu eventually won 14-12, 7-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9 to enter the last four where he meets top seed Raphael Kandra of Germany.
Need friendly before facing Iran: Constantine
Bengaluru: India football coach Stephen Constantine has pressed for an international friendly match before playing against formidable Iran in September in the 2018 football World Cup Qualification Preliminary Round Two here. “I need more time for preparations. I need friendly games. I need my team to play a friendly before we take on Iran,” he told reporters here. India play Guam on June 16 and then take on Iran on September 8 here in Group D of the Preliminary Round Two of the qualifiers.
26 sports vie for 2020 oly
Bengaluru: Tokyo organizers on Friday released a list of 26 sports that that have applied for inclusion in the games. Some were familiar while others like surfing, wushu or sumo could give the Olympics a unique look. The combined bid of men’s baseball and women’s softball is considered a favorite because of the popularity of those sports in Japan. Other federations that hope to have their sports added to the program include karate, squash and roller sports. Tokyo will announce a shortlist of candidates on June 22. Finalists will make a presentation in Tokyo in August, and organisers will make recommendations to the International Olympic Committee by September 30. The IOC will make a final decision in August 2016, when it meets ahead of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Under the IOC’s “Olympic Agenda 2020” reforms approved in December, host cities can propose the addition of one or more sports for their games.
Austrian swimmer in induced coma
Vienna: A teenage synchronized swimmer from Austria who was hit by a shuttle bus at the European Games in Azerbaijan is being kept in an induced coma after lengthy surgery, a Vienna hospital said Friday. “Vanessa Sahinovic suffered many fractures and more surgery will be necessary,” hospital spokesman Christoph Mierau said, adding the 15-year-old Austrian’s injuries were not life-threatening. Sahinovic and two teammates - luna Pajer and Verena Breit — were hit by the shuttle bus while walking on the sidewalk of the athletes village in Baku on Thursday. Pajer suffered a broken elbow and Breit escaped with bruises.
Warriors rout Cavs, level finals 2-2
Cleveland: Golden State held leBron James scoreless in the fourth quarter and pulled away for a 103-82 win at Cleveland on Thursday to tie the NBA Finals at 2-2. Andre Iguodala scored 22 points in a surprise start, league MVP Stephen Curry also had 22, and Draymond Green returned to form with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Warriors avoided going down to a perilous 3-1 series deficit. James scored 20 points — 21 under his average in the series — with 12 rebounds and eight assists, and to make matters worse for Cleveland’s megastar, he needed stitches to his head after falling onto a TV camera in the first half.
Russian Pavlov scores single-hole 17
Atzenbrugg (Austria): Russian golfer Andrey Pavlov needed 17 strokes on a single hole in excellent weather conditions at the lyoness Open on Friday, tying for the second worse score on the European Tour. On the par-5 first, Pavlov found the water on six attempts. The Diamond Country Club course is known for its many water hazards. Chris Gane also scored a 17 at Gleneagles 12 years ago, still three strokes less than Philippe Porquier’s record of 20 at the French Open in 1978.
have proven myself when it matters most: bolt
New York: Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt on Friday dismissed suggestions that he is ‘afraid’ of facing in-form Justin Gatlin, adding that he has shown he is the best when it mattered most. “AfraidIJ When people say that, I laugh. I’ve been in the sport for years and I’ve never dodged anybody. When it matters, I’ve always showed up and shown that I’m the best,” Bolt was quoted as saying by BBC. They are set to meet in Beijing in August. Agencies