Resolute ATK hold lacklustre FC Goa
Kolkata: A resolute ATK defence managed to keep the dangerous Ferran Corominas at bay and hold FC Goa for a goalless draw in their Indian Super League football fixture here on Wednesday. FC Goa started off on the front foot but as the game settled, the hosts started making plays of their own but neither side managed to get the winner in an intriguing contest. This was ATK's second successive draw as they stay put on sixth position with 12 points from nine matches. The Gaurs, on the other hand, climbed to second spot on the table with 17 points from nine matches. The Goans had definite chance to go one up in the 66th minute when substitute Manvir Singh slammed the ball from an angle that caught Andre Bikey's arm inside the box but referee Rahul Kumar Gupta seemed blindsided.
Ireland icon Keane hangs up boots
Dublin: Irish football legend Robbie Keane brought the curtain down on over two decades as a player on Wednesday saying his career had exceeded all his hopes when he was a "football-mad boy growing up in Dublin". The 38-year-old — his country's record goalscorer on 68 well clear of Niall Quinn who is next with 21 — is to focus on his new duties as assistant manager to new Ireland handler Mick McCarthy. Keane, who replaces Roy Keane (no relation) in the role after the latter and manager Martin O'Neill were fired last week, captained Ireland for a decade. "Today, after 23 wonderful years, I am formally announcing my retirement as a professional footballer," Keane said in a statement.
Indian challenge end at Korea Open
Gwangju: India's campaign ended early at the Korea Open badminton tournament with Parupalli Kashyap and Sourabh Verma crashing out in the opening day of the men's singles event here on Wednesday. A former world number 6, Kashyap, who is a 2014 Commonwealth Games champion, lost 17-21, 21-13, 8-21 to eighth seeded Lee Dong Keun of Korea in a match that lasted an hour and 19 minutes. Sourabh Verma, who had clinched the Dutch Open this year, also went down fighting 13-21, 21-12, 18-21 against Finland's Eetu Heino in a 50-minute clash. Kashyap and Sourabh will be representing Chennai Smashers and Ahmedabad Smash Masters respectively in the Premier Badminton League starting on December 12.
S Africa qualifies for FIFA Women's Wc
Barcelona: The South African government on Wednesday congratulated the women's national football team (Banyana Banyana) for qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time. On Tuesday night, Banyana Banyana beat Mali 2-0 in Ghana and qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup. They also qualified for the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations final which will be played on Saturday against defending champions Nigeria. "What is most striking is that Banyana Banyana have achieved much with less resources than their male counterparts, and with less exposure. We urge broadcasters and [the] media to boost their coverage of Banyana games," said the Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women, Bathabile Dlamini. Dlamini stated that the men's football team is paid more which is not fair. She said the female team deserves more support like their male counterparts.