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Monday, 28 November 2016

F1 World Champion For 2016 Is Nico Rosberg

#F1 #MotoRacing #FinalRace
#AbuDhabi

In a thrilling season finale, Nico Rosberg, needing a podium finish to win the #Title, finished second behind his biggest threat and teammate Lewis Hamilton to claim the biggest prize in motor racing. The overall season was so closely fought that the difference between 1 and 2 was a mere 5 points. It was that close!

Although #Rosberg's title success was overshadowed by teammate Hamilton's defiance of team orders, his German company, Mercedes, was all praise of the new champ. Coping with Hamilton's tactics to back him up into the field, Rosberg pulled off a sensational #Overtaking move on Max #Verstappen to recover a position he had lost in the #Pitstops.

Hi Mercedes boss, Lowe said: "Many people can win a race but a championship is about that endurance. This is the longest season in the history of the sport. Nothing sums it up better than this Abu Dhabi win.

"To hold your nerve. Nico was squeezed from the front and the back. There was a very crucial overtake he had to make on Max knowing if he lost the car it would be all over. Holding his nerve through all of that: these are the marks of a great champion."

Hamilton said after the race that his championship was derailed by reliability problems, which included engine failures in qualifying earlier in the campaign and that blow-up in Malaysia.
For Wolff, while accepting that the Sepang failure ultimately proved decisive, he also believes that Rosberg deserves credit for the way he approached the campaign.

Lewis Hamilton remarked "Racing against the most talented driver as a teammate and winning a world championship and making it close the years before is quite an achievement. I think we should honor that, because he is a tough cookie and he doesn't let go. There are quite some remarkable character traits about him that make him a world champion and a worthy world champion."

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Ind v Eng Test Series 2016 - Fifties From Nos 7-8-9 Ensure India Lead by 117


#IndvEng #TestSeries 2016
3rd Test Match - #Mohali

Day 3
Dogged fifties from India's No. 7 R Ashwin, No. 8 Ravindra Jadeja and No. 9 Jayant Yadav ensured India drove in the advantage in the first innings of this crucial test match (3rd of  5 match series, India leading 1-0). India lead by 117 runs at the changeover and England have their work cut out on a pitch where bounce is going to be the biggest area of concern for either side. India will bat last, so they will look forward to keep England to as low a score as possible. 

Day 2
After Kohli and Pujara ensured safety by batting out a good second session and reaching 148 for 2, the last session on Day 2 started quite dramatically. Pujara mistimed one in the deep in the very first over, Rahane's poor form in the series continued as he perished for a blob soon after. This was followed by a horrible mixup between Kohli and debutant Karun Nair leading to the latter's runout. From 148 for 2, India slipped to 155 for 5. England came back strongly in the game.

First Ashwin and Kohli ensured no further casualty until the score reached 204. Then Kohli lost his concentration and nibbled at a delivery outside off to get caught behind for a wonderful 62. India were still in a perilous condition.

Ravindra Jadeja strode in and got into his groove quickly. His style of batting ensures one thing. He will get quick runs and put pressure on the opposition with his unorthodox batting. Thats exactly what happened since Captain Cook had to place in out fields to avoid runs. As a result, the pressure eased off and both batsmen made merry of the English bowling.

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Ravindra Jadeja R Ashwin India Ben Stokes England

Monday, 21 November 2016

India Beats England In 2nd Test By 246 Runs To Take 1-0 Lead In Series

#IndvEng #TestSeries 2016
2nd Test Match, #Vizag

India crushed England by 246 runs to win the 2nd test and take a 1-0 lead in the 5 Test series.
Starting at 87-2 overnight, they soon crumbled to 115 for 6 and eventually capitulated after lunch to 158 all out. R Ashwin, debutant Jayant Yadav, Mohd Shami and Ravindra Jadeja shared the bowling honours.

Man of the match undoubtedly went to Virat Kohli for his stunning century in the first innings and stoic 81 in the second innings, clearly the difference between the two sides. 

England will be heartbroken because they had fought valiantly until the fag end of the day yesterday only to lose the openers late in the day to hand India the advantage going into Day 5. 




Rookie off-spinner Jayant Yadav enjoyed a memorable Test debut with figures of 3-30 while star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also bagged three wickets. Ashwin was the most successful among the Indian bowlers with a total of eight wickets in the match.

The third Test begins at Mohali on November 26.

Brief Scores:
India Ist Innings: 455
England Ist Innings: 255
India IInd Innings: 204
England IInd Innings: 158

India won by 246 runs

Man of the Match: Virat Kohli

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Indian cricket team players celebrating victory over England in 2nd Test at Vizag.

PV Sindhu Wins China Open Super Series Title In Style

#Badminton #SuperSeries
#ChinaOpen

#PVSindhu wins China Open to open her Super Series' account.
This is just the beginning for the lanky #Olympic #Silver #Medalist and one of many more to come for sure. Her first major win since her Olympic histrionics in Aug 2016.


Sindhu rode on her fine form to clinch the China Open Superseries Premier event beating Sun Yu of China 21-11, 17-21, 21-11. Coming on the back of a tiring three-game match in her semifinals,she showed no signs of fatigue as she zoomed her way through the opening game.

Though Yu won the second game at 21-17, Sindhu didn't let that affect her as she regrouped soon and was on top of her game in the third. Banking on her quick returns, smart shot selections and a handful of powerful #Smashes, the Indian #Shuttler wrapped up the third game 21-11 to win the tie.

Saina Nehwal (in 2014) and Srikanth Kidambi (in 2014) are the other two Indians to win the China Open Super Series. 

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P V Sindhu with her trophy after she beat China's Sun Yu in the final of the China Open Badminton tournament in Fuzhou on Sunday. AFP

ISL 2016: Mumbai City "Blast" Kerala Blasters 5-0

#ISL2016 
#Indian #Soccer #League

#MumbaiCityFC misfiring attack came to life against #KeralaBlasters
On Saturday, facing the best defence in the league, a team that had just registered two wins on the spin while scoring five goals, and coming into the game on the back of a week's rest, Mumbai's misfiring attack — that had just drawn a blank in Goa three days ago — had the odds stacked against them.




Within five minutes of the whistle, the famed Kerala rearguard was breached. It wasn't just a goal that gave Mumbai's attack the confidence which was lacking, but it also set the tone for the rest of the evening. Lining up in a 4-3-3 formation rather than their usual 4-2-3-1, Mumbai's extra man in the middle of the park was telling, right from the outset.

As the #Blasters tried to play their way out, Krisztian #Vadocz won the ball in midfield and immediately found Sunil #Chhetri, who had dropped deep to collect the ball. The Indian captain then found Matias #Defederico on the right side and played it to him first time. 

By then, Diego #Forlan had made a run from the left into the space vacated by Chhetri, and Defederico while shielding the ball from the Blasters players, waited for Forlan to reach the danger area and then floated a brilliant through ball with the outside of his foot. Forlan was away. The Uruguayan used his experience and shrugged off Cedric Hengbart's challenge before firing past Graham Stack.

The attacking trio of Forlan-Chhetri-Defederico was combining and inter-changing, and with Cafu bombing forward occasionally, the hosts were creating menace in the Kerala defence. On 13 minutes, the visitors conceded a cheap free-kick just outside the box in the wake of growing pressure from the home side.

It gave Forlan the chance to give fans in India a glimpse of his real quality. He stepped and dispatched the free kick in the top corner in typical Forlan style and Mumbai were simply over the hill and gone too for away for Kerala, even with just 15 minutes played.

What followed was something Mumbai had been doing pretty well already this season. The 2-0 lead gave them the opportunity to control the game and they did just that. While it meant surrendering a bit of possession to the away side, but it hardly bothered the home side who almost never lost their defensive shape.

The back four were solid and very well protected by Sehnaj and Vadocz, while Forlan and Defederico, playing as inverted wingers, immediately dropped back to make it a five-man midfield every time the hosts appeared to lose control of the ball. It wasn't left to chance and it happened every single time.

With every player performing their duties perfectly, it was only in the 90th minute that the visitors got their first shot on target from open play - a hopeful long range effort from full-back #Josu. It also took them 61 minutes to register their first shot on target, which was a tame effort from CK #Vineeth from a set piece.

Despite having 19 points on the board, Mumbai aren't assured of a place in the semi-finals yet, but with such good defensive discipline been shown by the entire team and with a strong attack that's come alive just at the right moment, they are few flaws in the team at the moment.

#DelhiDynamos might have a few things to say, but Mumbai City FC are now the league's team to beat.

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Mumbai City FC's misfiring attack came to life against Kerala Blasters. Image Courtesy: ISL FB

Saturday, 19 November 2016

ISL 2016: Chennaiyin FC Break Winless Streak, Beat FC Pune City 2-0

#ISL2016 
#IndianSoccerLeague

#Chennai: Defending Champions #ChennaiyinFC were back to their winning ways through #Jeje Lalpekhlua and Davide #Succi #Goals beating FC Pune City 2-0 in their Indian Super League (ISL) football match at Chennai.

A headed goal by Jeje in the 44th minute and another strike from Succi in the 51st minute were enough for Chennaiyin to collect three points from their first win after beating NorthEast United in Guwahati on 20 October 2016.

#Pune will be concerned about their chances of #Qualification for #Semifinals. The team coached by former ISL winner Antonio #Habas is now placed sixth, although they are only a point behind the defending champions.

Needing to win to keep their chances alive, Chennaiyin coach #MarcoMaterazzi made five changes to his starting line-up as he introduced players like #Eder Monteiro, Hans #Mulder, Davide #Succi and Manuele #Blasi to the starting line-up while #Karanjit Singh was preferred as goalkeeper.

#Habas did not change much, making just one, opting for Raju #Yumnam in place of Rahul #Bheke. Pune started well and had decent chances before they fell by the wayside. #Anibal Zurdo was the first to try his luck with a #Freekick that missed the target by a whisker and Lenny Rodrigues made a fine run on the right but his final attempt lacked power and direction, despite being in a good position.

Raphael #Augusto was the most impressive player for #Chennaiyin. The Brazilian made his intention clear in the 21st minute when he intercepted a pass from Jonatan #Lucca, ran down the flank but ended with a disappointing right-footer when passing to Succi would have been a better option.

Chennaiyin drew first blood just before half-time through Jeje. Bernard Mendy started the move by playing the ball for Raphael in the middle. The Brazilian found Mulder whose cross for Succi got a touch before reaching Jeje and the highest Indian goal-scorer in the ISL did the rest by beating Pune goalkeeper Edel Bete with a smart header from close.

#Bete and Pune were down again early in the second session. In the 51st minute, Succi rose high to head a brilliant cross from Raphael and beat both his marker, Eduardo Ferreira, and a leaping #GoalKeeper.

Pune tried to fight their way back but Chennaiyin were just too solid in defence, not giving any chance whatsoever to their rivals.

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ISL action between Chennaiyin FC and FC Pune City. Twitter/ @ChennaiyinFC

Friday, 18 November 2016

ISL 2016: Kerala Blasters Insult National Anthem, Trouble Foreseen

#ISL2016
#IndianSuperLeague

ISL #Franchise #KeralaBlasters could be in for trouble, with a complaint being filed against them for 'insulting' the Indian National Anthem.

The complaint, pertains to a few players in the franchise keeping their right hand over their heart during the National Anthem, as is the custom in certain countries. The report stated that had been lodged with the Kochi police after their game against #MumbaiCityFC.

Organizers instructed the franchise not only to ask the players and the player escorts to refrain from the practice, but to announce to the fans via the Public Announcement System to stand in 'attention' while the #National #Anthem is sung, even though there is no official legislation to support the same. 

The side have been warned of serious repercussions if they fail to follow the directions. The team officials were reportedly instructed about the same during the Match Commissioner's Meeting (#MCM), which is held a day before every fixture in the tournament.

Kerala Blasters beat Mumbai City FC 1-0 in the fixture in which they committed the alleged 'offence', with Michael Chopra scoring the goal in the 58th minute of the match. The franchise is co-owned by Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

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Courtesy: Getty Images
Representational photo. Image courtesy: Getty Images

India Cricket - Test Players Must Provide Excitement Says Virat Kohli

#India #Cricket

India must play exciting #TestCricket to entertain crowds, #Skipper #ViratKohli said after defeating New Zealand, amid waning interest in the game's longest form. India regained the #TopSpot in the world #Rankings in #Tests.

The series against the #BlackCaps marks the start of a packed programme of international cricket for India who also host #England, #Bangladesh and #Australia later this #Season. Kohli said players needed to interact with the crowd during Tests, in a similar fashion to the high-energy, limited-overs games.

"You have to interact with them, you have to make sure they are a part of the whole thing. You feed off their energy. It happens so much in limited-overs, so why not in Test cricket?"

The comments come as Test cricket struggles to find an audience in the #Twenty20 era, prompting last year's introduction of day-night Tests played under lights with a pink ball in Australia. 

Former cricket greats including Shane #Warne and some cricket board chiefs have also flagged slashing the format from five to four days. But controversial plans to create a two-tier Test system have been scrapped by cricket's world governing body #ICC after India's powerful board led a backlash.

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Friday, 11 November 2016

ISL 2016: Forlan Leads Mumbai Beat ATK

#ISL2016 #Indian #Soccer #League

Star Uruguayan striker Diego #Forlan struck a late goal as Mumbai City FC snapped Atletico de Kolkata's unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory and jumped to the top spot in the Indian Super League (#ISL) in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The former Atletico Madrid and Villareal star with more than 100 caps for his country, scored the all-important goal in the 85th minute to help his side record their third win in seven matches.

With Tuesday's win at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Mumbai jumped three places to be at the top spot of ISL table with 11 points from three wins, two losses and two draws, pushing NorthEast United (NEU) to the second position. NorthEast have 10 points from six matches.




This was Forlan's second goal in the tournament after he scored from the spot in Mumbai's 1-0 win against NorthEast at home on 7 October. For ATK, it was their first loss in six matches and they are now on third spot with nine points from two wins, three draws and one loss.

The first half was a very entertaining end-to-end contest, but neither team was successful to get the goal. Mumbai had a wonderful chance to take the lead in the 33rd minute but ATK goalkeeper Debjit Majumder made a vital save as he palmed over a ferocious shot by Sony Norde.

The home side started the second half brightly by introducing Bidyananda Singh, who whipped in some dangerous crosses in. After that, both the teams settled down and the match looked heading for a stalemate.

But then came the game-changing moment in the 85th minute when 37-year-old Forlan put in Norde's deflected shot-cum-cross into the back of the ATK net. This was Forlan's first goal from an open play.

ATK got a chance at the very end when they earned a free kick at the edge of the Mumbai box. Javier Lara took it and his powerful shot was on target but only to see Mumbai keeper Albino Gomes making a diving save.

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Diego Forlan scored in the minute. AFP