Passengers who had just landed at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru wondered why there were so many cameras and media standing at midnight. A few walked up and also asked us, “who is the celebrity you all are waiting for?” When they realised it was the victorious Asian Hockey Champions, they waited to take several selfies. (World Cup should be India’s next target, say former hockey legends)The Indian hockey team beat Pakistan 3-2 in the Asian Champions trophy hockey finals and returned home with a smile on their faces and a medal each on their neck.As soon as captain PR Sreejesh and three of his team members walked out of the arrival doors, people started cheering as the buzz had already gone around that the winners of the Asia Cup hockey championship were arriving.Out came the Indian hockey captain PR Sreejesh and with him his three other team members, forward Nikkin Thimmaiah, midfielder SK Uthappa and defender Birendra Lakra. The other team members landed in Mumbai and Delhi. (‘Proud’ Roelant Oltmans wants Indian hockey team to win bigger global tournaments)Proudly showing their medals, a quick group photo and then they began their media interaction.”We dedicate our win to India and to our jawans as they fight for our safety at the borders. The best part of any game is that we forget all that happens outside the field when we play, it is a game and we give our best,” Sreejesh told India Today. (This is how India outclassed Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy final)advertisementWhen asked about the pressure of playing against Pakistan in the final, Sreejesh said, “we channelised our thoughts on the game, we are taught how to handle such pressures and we did it well.”Sreejesh sustained injuries and could not play in the final, but the team spirit and the bonding showed as each of the players talked about the Asian Cup title and the team members. Beginning November 23, the Indian hockey captain is pinning his hopes on playing as he will need to get into a rigorous physiotherapy regime if he wants to participate in the upcoming Australia tour.Even while the media interviews were on the players obliged all their fanss who wanted to click pictures or take their autographs.Nikkin Thimaiah whose crucial goal sealed the match for the country was very upbeat about their win. “We have put in our best and now we will take this excitement forward and try and win any more games.”The players arrived at the airport from Kuala Lumpur after India reclaimed the Asian Champions Trophy hockey with a hard-fought 3-2 win against the two-time defending champion Pakistan in the final to level it 2-2 in terms of number of titles held by either side.At the end of the day, it was a goal accomplished literally for the team. But they have their eyes set on the Australia tour so that they can take their win a notch higher.
Vijender Singh to defend WBO Asia Pacific title on December 17
Indian boxing star Vijender Singh will defend his WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight title on December 17 on home turf but the opponent for the clash will be decided later.”Vijender will be seen defending his WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Champion title on 17th December 2016, at the Thyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi,” Vijender’s India promoters Infinity Optimal Solutions said in a release.The fight night will also see top Indian boxers, including Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar, make their pro-boxing debut. The names of these boxers and their international opponents would be revealed soon.Till date, Vijender has a record of 7 out of 7 wins with 6 knockouts in 27 rounds. The Haryana-dasher had won the title in front of delirious home fans in the capital. (Also read: Vijender Singh demolishes Kerry Hope at home to clinch WBO Asia Pacific title)Commenting on his next fight, Vijender said, “I have been in Manchester, UK for the last two months, training hard for my next fight. My trainer has been giving me high intensity training sessions, which has made my punches more powerful than before.”I am ready to fight anybody as suggested by the World Boxing Organisation (WBO). I am confident that I will be able to defend my title with as much pride as I won it. I am looking forward to 17th December 2016, and hope to repeat history,” he added.Neerav Tomar, Promoter, IOS Boxing Promotions, added, “After the fantastic response from the last fight, we are going to be back with more power and more action this winter. We are hoping for a bigger and better event. I am confident that Vijender will put up an excellent show and will defend his title.”Vijender’s UK-based promoters Queensberry Promotions’ Francis Warren said the India boxer’s career has been peaking perfectly.advertisement”Vijender’s career so far has been punch perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for any more commitment and professionalism from him. Now, we move onto the next phase, solidifying his status as a world top ten fighter, and progressing through the rankings.”We have eyes on all the top boxers from around the world, including the winners of the Dunn-Cameron fight, Abraham-Krasniqi and Groves-Gutenech. Vijender must stay focused on the next date though, as he is on the cusp of some big fights in 2017. The WBO have supported the journey so far, and I firmly believe that Vijender will challenge for a world title within the next 18 months,” he added.
Wenger hoping for ‘real’ World Cup in 2022
Arsene Wenger is hoping for a ‘real’ World Cup in 2022 after the 2018 edition in Russia was dominated by European nations.Non-European nations failed to make it past the quarter-final stage, as South American representatives Brazil and Uruguay were knocked out by Belgium and France, respectively.The 2014 tournament in Brazil saw four European and four South American nations in the last eight of the competition, while just three European nations were present in the last eight in 2010, with four South American representatives and one African nation. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Man Utd ready to spend big on Sancho and Haaland in January Who is Marcus Thuram? Lilian’s son who is top of the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach Brazil, beware! Messi and Argentina out for revenge after Copa controversy Best player in MLS? Zlatan wasn’t even the best player in LA! And Wenger believes that the World Cup is a better tournament when a more varied geographical selection of teams advance to the latter stages and hopes that this will be the case in 2022 when Qatar plays host.”Let’s hope that the next World Cup will be a real one because the one of 2018 was great but it was a championship of Europe with a guest selection: Brazil,” he told France Football.”In general, we know that no South American nation, except Brazil, is strong enough to win. No Asian selection, no African selection, so Europe seems to have a big lead compared to other continents. “I hope it will be more balanced in the future.”The 2022 World Cup will be unique, running from 21 November to 18 December due to summer heat in Qatar and will therefore be played in the middle of the season.However, this may lend an advantage to countries from warmer climates and cause some European nations to struggle with the heat, perhaps leading to the more balanced tournament Wenger is hoping for. The former Arsenal manager is still without a new club, although he has hinted at a desire to return to management swiftly.He was linked with the Fulham job before Claudio Ranieri was appointed, and has even been touted as a potential candidate to replace under-fire Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac, whose side sit fifth, seven points off league leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Desolate Olympics leads to new federation, boxers hope again
By Poonam Mehra New Delhi, Dec 22 (PTI) Four years of administrative bedlam culminated into a medal-less Olympic campaign before Indian boxing took its first steps towards a possible revival of fortunes in a tempestuous 2016 during which the globally money-spinning professional circuit gained foothold in the country. To count the biggest positive, a new national federation was finally in place after four years of continued tug of war between administrators, who ought to shoulder the maximum blame for the barren run in Rio. Also not to be missed, was the rapidly-growing circuit of professional boxing in India, the highlight being superstar Vijender Singh winning and successfully defending the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title in front of delirious fans in Delhi. But it is still some time before professional boxing catches up on the popularity charts in a country obsessed either with cricket or Olympic medals. And on the Olympic medal front, it was a disappointing year for Indias boxers. Just three men — Shiva Thapa, Manoj Kumar and Vikas Krishan — could make the cut for the quadrennial sporting spectacle, a sharp decline from the seven men and one woman who represented India in the 2012 London Games. Unlucky with their draws and severely short of international competitive experience, courtesy Indias suspension which ended only after the Games, the three could not add to the two bronze medals — Vijender Singh (2008) and M C Mary Kom (2012) — that India had secured in the past two Olympics. The performance in Rio was perhaps the loudest wake-up call that the administrators got given that their wranglings had mostly been covered up by the boxers resolute performances in the past four years. At each of the limited tournaments they competed in before Rio, Indian boxers did the country proud by fetching medals but at the biggest stage of them all, they needed more than sheer grit to deliver results. The Rio debacle in August proved to be the proverbial last straw and after several delays, elections were finally held in September to put together a new federation — the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) — almost unanimously. The body has been doing its bit to make up for the lost time and conducted the National Championships for both men and women within a month of assuming office. Away from the boardroom sparring and going solely by the performance inside the ring, the boxers have a lot to be proud of barring the blip in Rio. The year started with the Olympic qualifying tournament for the Asian region in China from where Shiva became the first boxer to qualify for the Rio Games with a silver medal- winning performance. The ones who came close to a Rio ticket included L Devendro Singh (52kg) and Mary Kom (51kg), both of whom won bronze medals but were unlucky to miss Olympic berths. In fact, Devendro and Mary Kom can be considered the most unlucky in Indian boxing this year as both failed to make the Olympics despite consistently producing admirable performances. PTI PM AH AHadvertisement
10th edition of I-League launched amid fanfare
New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) In the presence of Indian football stars, including striker Sunil Chhetri and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the 10th edition of I-League was launched here today amid much fanfare. Indias premier domestic football competition will see a return of representation from all four regions of the country — Mohun Bangan, East Bengal, Aizwal FC and Shillong Lajong from the East and North East; Mumbai FC, DSK Shivajians and Churchil Brothers from the West; Bengaluru FC and Chennai City FC from the South and debutants Minerva Punjab will bring the North back into top flight Indian football after a gap of five seasons. All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel said: “The 10 participating teams in the 10th edition of the Hero I-League are based from across the length and breadth of the country. I thank Hero MotoCorp for their support to the I-League and Indian football. “The league is the unifying factor for the football fans in India as right from Aizwal FC in the North-East to Mumbai FC in Mumbai, and from Minerva City Punjab FC in Chandigarh to Chennai City FC in Chennai, the clubs represent pan India. The Hero I-League is the premiere league of the country through which teams participate in the AFC Cup and the AFC Champions League. I wish success to all the participating teams.” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said: “The competitive spirit of the I-League has been outstanding over the last few editions. The League witnessed a substantial increase of almost 40 percent in spectator attendance and here we are, prior to the kick off of the 10th edition, expecting the graph to further go up.” He further stated: “This edition, the league has a pan India presence. I wish luck to all the teams. May the best team come out as the winner of the Hero I-League. Hero Motocorp has been providing extensive support for the promotion of Indian football and I thank them for their cooperation.” The six-month league will kick off on January 7 in Bengaluru with defending champions Bengaluru FC locking horns with Shillong Lajong FC. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, MD & CEO, Hero MotoCorp Ltd said: “Football has clearly become one of the most popular sports among youngsters in the country. As the title sponsor of all the marquee football tournaments in the country – Hero ISL, Hero I-League and Hero Federation Cup – Brand Hero has been the pioneer in popularising the game in India. “With over 100 matches to be played by the 10 teams in the fray, the Hero I-League and Hero Federation Cup will certainly bring a lot of excitement for the fans, and contribute towards the long-term development of the game.” PTI AH AHadvertisement
Samsung Galaxy J1(SM-J120G) with 4G support launched: Price, specs and more
South Korean tech major Samsung has launched a new Galaxy J-series phone- Samsung Galaxy J1 4G (SM-J120G). The smartphone is priced at Rs 6,890 and is available in White, Black and Gold colour variants.The new Galaxy J1 is sports a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 480×800 pixel resolution. The device runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box and is powered by 1.3GHz quad-core Spredtrum processor coupled with 1GB RAM. Galaxy J1 comes onboard with 8GB ROM which is expandable up to 32GB using a microSD card.Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S8 launch reportedly postponed to April 18Talking about the camera specs, the smartphone comes equipped with 5MP rear camera with LED flash and autofocus. A 2MP selfie-shooter with f/2.2 is given at the front. The handset is backed by 2,050mAh battery and comes with data-saving capabilities with the inclusion of Ultra Data Saving and S Bike mode.Samsung recently launched two new Galaxy J-series phones, the Galaxy J5 Prime and the Galaxy J7 Prime, in the India. While the Galaxy J5 Prime costs Rs 14,790, the Galaxy J7 Prime is priced at Rs 18,790. The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime flaunts a full metal unibody and a fingerprint scanner is given on the front. It sports a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD display. The phone is powered by a 1.6GHz octa-core Exynos 7870 processor clubbed with 3GB RAM and 16GB of ROM which is further expandable by up to 256GB via microSD card.Also Read: Samsung to launch Gear S3 smartwatch in India on January 10advertisementThe dualSIM phone runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow-based TouchWiz UI and includes 4G LTE connectivity option. The Galaxy J7 Prime comes equipped with a 13-megapixel camera on the rear with f/1.9 aperture, autofocus and LED flash functionality. A 8-megapixel camera, also with LED flash is given on the front. The smartphone is backed by a 3,300 mAh battery.
Gareth Bale scores on return as Real Madrid see off Espanyol
Gareth Bale marked his return to action after a long injury layoff by sealing a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid over Espanyol on Saturday to provisionally stretch Zinedine Zidane’s side’s lead at the top of La Liga to three points.Alvaro Morata headed home a floated cross from Isco to put Real ahead after 33 minutes against a stubborn Espanyol side and Bale steered another pass from the Spain midfielder in off the post in the 83rd minute shortly after coming off the bench.Bale, making his first appearance since damaging ankle ligaments against Sporting Lisbon in November, netted his eighth goal of the season. Real also set a club record of scoring in 42 consecutive games in all competitions.”I’m delighted that Gareth is back and especially for him, he was so keen to return and feel like a player again after almost three months away from the pitch,” Zidane told reporters.SEVILLA BEAT EIBARReal top the standings on 52 points, three clear of Sevilla, who beat Eibar 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Pablo Sarabia and Vitolo in either half, and four ahead of Barcelona, who host Leganes on Sunday. Real have two games in hand on Sevilla and one on Barcelona.Sevilla kept the pressure on Real with the help of an inspired performance from Stevan Jovetic, a loan signing from Inter Milan in January, who laid on the passes for both their goals.The Montenegrin forward conjured up a classy piece of skill in the Eibar area before serving a cross for Sarabia to volley home from close range in the 30th minute and then pulled the ball back for Vitolo to make sure of the win in injury time.advertisementThe win gives Sevilla a timely confidence boost before their Champions League last-16 game with Leicester on Wednesday and their local derby at Real Betis next Saturday.”We knew what we had to do but we didn’t have the best of days. We committed a lot of errors and gave the ball away a lot but these are the types of games you have to win because they determine whether you are title candidates or not,” Sarabia told BeIN sports.ATLETICO ROUT SPORTING GIJONEarlier on Saturday, Kevin Gameiro came off the bench to score a hat-trick in the space of five minutes to fire Atletico Madrid to a 4-1 win over struggling Sporting Gijon that kept them fourth in the standings on 45 points.Yannick Carrasco had given Atletico the lead 12 seconds into the second half but Sergio Alvarez gave the impressive home side a deserved equaliser in the 49th minute.For the second week in a row, however, Atletico dug deep to rescue the points from an unconvincing display.Antoine Griezmann had a goal harshly ruled out for offside but laid on the pass for Gameiro’s first strike, the former Sevilla player calmly rounding Ivan Cuellar to put Atletico ahead in the 80th minute.Gameiro ruthlessly killed off Sporting with two quick-fire strikes, latching on to a pass from Thomas Partey to score in the 81st minute and taking advantage of another through ball from Griezmann to complete his treble.The Frenchman is the first Atletico player to score a hat-trick in the league as a substitute while his treble was the second-fastest in the history of La Liga, behind only Bebeto’s for Deportivo La Coruna against Albacete in 1995.”We didn’t imagine anything else than the difficult game we had. Atletico have always struggled to win here,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.”The substitutes gave us an extra boost and made us stronger in midfield and then Gameiro’s speed settled the game.”
Football greats, AIFF condole Banerjees passing away
Kolkata, Feb 20 (PTI) Tributes poured in today for former national goalkeeper Shibaji Banerjee who died last night after suffering a cardiac arrest. Legendary P K Banerjee, who was Mohun Bagan coach during Banerjees world famous save against Pele for New York Cosmos in 1977, led the tributes and also remembered his gentle demeanour off the field. “I am shocked and disturbed after hearing this sad news this morning. I didnt know about this yesterday as I returned from Durgapur late at night. He was a thorough gentleman. He always occupied a special place in my heart. Ive so many memories of him but one that stood out was his performance against New York Cosmos. He became famous overnight after his brilliant display against Pele in the exhibition match,” P K Banerjee said. “It was less than a month back I had met him at a birthday celebration of a Mohun Bagan official. He looked perfectly alright and always kept on smiling. Never did I think that he would depart so soon,” Banerjee said of his former ward. Banerjees former teammate Goutam Sarkar remembered his acrobatic saves, particularly during spot kicks and how he earned a repute as a great shot-stopper when it came to penalties. “He was so smart under the bar that he always deceived the shoot to hit the wrong way. He was a master of 5-5 penalty shootout,” Sarkar said recollecting Banerjees exploits in the Federation Cup 1980 semifinal against Mohammedan Sporting in a season they won the trophy jointly with East Bengal. “We were trailing 0-1 and I remember our coach (Arun Ghosh) saying he will attempt suicide if we lose to Mohammedan Sporting. I went on to score the equaliser but that was not enough. “It was Shibaji who did the star act by denying the penalties from Akbar and Amalraj. He was an expert in fooling the shooters with his intelligent body language. I would rate him as one of the master spotkick stoppers.” He further said Shibaji was not intimidated by the presence of Pele while denying the Brazillian legend from a one-on-one tackle. “He became world famous for his acrobatic save against Pele in the first-half of the match. Above all this, he walked without any arrogance and ego. I never in my life seen him angry or retaliate… He always would respond with a warm affectionate hug and win our hearts. We all will die one day but till we live we will have his name in our minds.” The Mohun Bagan legend, who had played for the club for 11 seasons donned national colours from 1972-81. The All India Football Federation also condoled his death and president Praful Patel said: “It is sad to hear that we lost Shibaji Banerjee untimely due to a sudden heart-attack. He was one of the greatest goalkeepers, especially during the spot-kicks. May his soul rest in peace.” “He was one of the finest Indian goalkeepers to have played the game. Neither of us could forget his plucky performance against Pele. May his soul rest in peace,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said. PTI TAP PDS BSadvertisement
New treatment to effectively combat migraine in kids
Washington, Mar 5 (PTI) A new, minimally invasive treatment for migraines in children may provide a quicker and safer alternative to medications or intravenous therapies that come with serious side effects, a new study has found.Migraines are a common medical condition among youth and adults, affecting 12 per cent of people ages 12 and older.They can be especially debilitating in teenagers and often disrupt everyday activities, such as school, music and sports.The innovative treatment called sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block does not involve needles touching the patient.Instead, a small flexible catheter is inserted into each nostril and local anaesthetic is administered to the SPG, a nerve bundle thought to be associated with migraines, located at the back of the nose.Briefly disabling the SPG can disrupt and reset the headache circuit, breaking a cycle of severe migraines and reducing the need for medication.The minimally invasive SPG block takes almost immediate effect with relief potentially lasting for months, researchers said.”This treatment, performed in an outpatient setting by an interventional radiologist, can safely relieve a childs migraine quickly,” said Robin Kaye from Phoenix Childrens Hospital in the US.”By reducing the need for medications that come with serious side effects or intravenous therapies that may require hospital stays, children dont have to miss as much school and can get back to being a kid sooner,” Kaye added.Researchers conducted about 310 treatments in 200 patients ages 7 to 18 at Phoenix Childrens Hospital.Patients pain levels before the intervention were recorded on a scale of 1-10. Ten minutes after the treatment, patients were asked to compare their pain level, using the same scale.advertisementThe researchers saw a statistically significant decrease in the headache scores, with average pain score reduction of just more than two points on the 10-point scale.”While it isnt a cure for migraines, this treatment has the potential to really improve the quality of life for many children.”It can be performed easily, without complications, and gives quick pain relief, which is important to parents who want to see their children happy, healthy and pain free again. If needed, we can also repeat the treatment if or when the migraine returns,” said Kaye. PTI APA MHN MHN
Collectors of speed
Peter Wallman, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s European DivisionNo other asset appeals to the senses more than a collector car; the thrill of racing, the engine’s roar, the smell of exhaust, and the artistry of design ensure an unmatched experience for any lucky owner. More so with classic cars, which also,Peter Wallman, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s European DivisionNo other asset appeals to the senses more than a collector car; the thrill of racing, the engine’s roar, the smell of exhaust, and the artistry of design ensure an unmatched experience for any lucky owner. More so with classic cars, which also provide an entry ticket into an exciting camaraderie filled with races, rallies, road tours and stylish concours events around the globe. It’s a glamorous and fun hobby, uniting people in a shared passion in a very active way.Peter Wallman, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s European Division. Picture courtesy: India Today Spice Investing in a collector car can be highly rewarding. We always advise, above all, to buy what you love. If you love it, you’ll ultimately derive the most enjoyment from it. If you’re hoping to one day see a return on your investment, we also recommend that you buy the best example you can afford and do your homework.1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico Pininfarina. Photo:RM Sotheby’s A healthy marketWhile there have been price adjustments for various marques and models across the board, as reflected in early 2016 auctions, the overall view is that the collector car market is alive and healthy; we’re continuing to see enthusiasm from collectors and strong money for rare, high-quality cars offered fresh to the market. Today’s buyers are more educated and savvy than ever before; they do their homework and are more selective, meaning there’s a growing gap between the so-called “average” cars and the very best. The continued expansion of the market can also be attributed to an infusion of a younger generation of collectors who are influencing new trends.advertisement1987 Porsche 959 Komfort. Photo:RM Sotheby’s What to buy?Rare, best-of-category, fresh-to-the-market examples from across all categories command the highest values at auction. Collectors are willing to pay a premium for the ‘best’, while prices have cooled for the less desirable and less rare examples of collector cars. When it comes to what’s currently “hot”, it’s no surprise that Ferraris remain the perennial leaders of the pack, with rare, coach-built sports and GT cars of the 1950s and 60s commanding premium prices at auction. In recent years, we’ve also seen a surge in demand for supercars of the 1970s-1990s, as those who grew up with posters of such vehicles on their walls find themselves in a position to purchase their own. This rings true for cars such as the Audi SWB Sport Quattro and Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, which are also on trend and represent highly usable, relatively easy to drive cars.1960 Aston Martin DB4GT. Photo:RM Sotheby’s Emerging segments to watch in 20171. Modern day supercars have enjoyed increasing popularity. We’re seeing the very latest examples, such as the Porsche 918 and Ferrari LaFerrari, becoming “instant classics,” not just appreciating in value almost immediately but bucking the trend of used car depreciation.2. Entry-level Ferraris that may not have garnered a second look in previous years are also enjoying a surge in interest. While produced in higher quantities, undervalued models such as the 308 GT4, 400, and 412, are slowly escalating in value, making them a timely purchase now.3. It’s fascinating to note the growing interest for Veteran cars; those built pre-1905 and eligible for the historic London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, from collectors who appreciate the incredible survival of such early automobiles and the unique driving experience of days gone by. Clearly vintage still rules.
Global warming: frame it as bad for your health, not just for the planet
Earlier this week, NPR covered some recent research showing that people are more attentive to warnings about climate change when it’s portrayed as a health issue rather than as an environmental problem.In case you missed it, the report says killer heat waves, asthma-inducing smog and new disease outbreaks like West Nile virus are problems that move people of all political persuasions. And people respond positively to ideas that can improve those situations for themselves, their families and their communities.This is an interesting insight for those working on the politically charged issue of climate change. It also suggests that most universally persuasive spokespeople for the issue may be public health officials – rather than climate change scientists.The report says that Matthew Nisbet of American University and his colleagues have found that “people who are indifferent, or even hostile, to climate change are more receptive to the issue when it’s talked about as a health issue. It has far more appeal than when it’s framed as an environmental issue — or as a matter of national security… ‘Not only does it lead to emotionally engaging responses among a broad cross section of Americans, it also helps to localize the issue for people and to view the issue as more personally relevant,’ Nisbet says.”For more on the findings, check out the NPR report and links here.
De Bruyne bounces back but Pep has a warning
Kevin De Bruyne has found “an extra gear”, but Pep Guardiola has warned him he will have to do something sepcial to match Bernardo Silva.The 27-year-old Belgian was back to something like his best in the 5-0 FA Cup win over Burnley on Saturday after an injury-hit season so far.He admitted he was happy with his performance after a goal and an assist, telling the club’s website: “To be fair, Saturday was the first time I felt really fresh and much sharper. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Man Utd ready to spend big on Sancho and Haaland in January Who is Marcus Thuram? Lilian’s son who is top of the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach Brazil, beware! Messi and Argentina out for revenge after Copa controversy Best player in MLS? Zlatan wasn’t even the best player in LA! “The other games I played recently were alright, but I felt I had an extra gear for the first time this season.“Obviously, I’m playing more and more and I starting to get into a rhythm so I’m really happy about that.“I’m just trying to get as fresh as possible and if I’m honest, I didn’t expect to play as long as I did against Burnley, but I did and I came off feeling great, so I trust in the people around me as I haven’t had many injuries in my career and they obviously know a lot more about recovery and a workable schedule for me.”While Guardiola was delighted with De Bruyne’s display, he knows he has a wealth of midfield riches with Bernardo, the man who benefitted most from the former Chelsea man’s lengthy absence, arguably City’s best performer of late.Of course, the two can play together – as they did against Burnley – but the City boss is happy to let De Bruyne know he has options.”[It gives me] a lot of encouragement,” said Guardiola of his efforts against Burnley.”But Kevin knows his position went to Bernardo Silva and Bernardo Silva was one of the best players we had this season in our team.”He’s consistent, offensively and defensively, his production of assists, his personality, everything.”I repeat many times – this is the only way if you have four competitions, in this league, with these weather conditions, with this physicality, every three days, no rest, mentally, physically. We need them.”We need Kevin to come back, Benjamin [Mendy] to come back, everybody and after that we decide.”Second-placed City return to Premier League action at Newcastle, who sit one place above the relegation zone, on Wednesday night. Check out Goal’s Premier League 2019-20 fantasy football podcast for game tips, debate and rivalries.
Does your business dry up in the summer?
Photo by Robb NorthEvery business goes through cycles. Different industries operate on different timelines.But as I walk around New York City this week, I can’t help but feel that there’s no one around doing a ton of work. The streets are quiet. People in the subway have beach totes.This can be good and bad for freelancers: dry spells are never great, but perhaps you’re taking advantage of the slower time for some much need vacationing or staycationing?Freelancers, how’s summer for business?Loading…Want more like this? Join Freelancers Union and never miss a post.
You were rejected: Should you reapply?
You tried. You tried really, really hard. You got your materials together, wrote a killer cover letter, and landed an interview. It went well, you got your hopes up… and then, you got rejected.Is it over forever? Should you put this potential client on your blackball list? Or should you consider it an almost-was, and someday make a move again?The short answer is: wait, and reapply.Even if you are rejected by a potential client, you should consider reapplying in the future – because an initial “no” isn’t always the final answer.**We won’t reject you. **Become a Freelancers Union member (it’s free!)Rejection stings. It stung when we were 9 years old and last to be picked for the kickball team, and at some level it feels no better when we’re grown-ups. When we face that level of hurt, it’s tempting to walk away. You don’t want us for the kickball team? FINE. WE NEVER WANTED TO PLAY YOUR STUPID GAME ANYWAY.This reflexive response is understandable. But it doesn’t help you in the long run – your ultimate goal is, presumably, not to shield yourself from all hurt forever. Instead, it’s to have a chance to play with the other kids.Perhaps you unpleasantly reminded a recruiter of an ex-boyfriend. Maybe you wore the wrong color shirt to your interview. Maybe you made a typo in your application and an eagle-eyed H.R. rep decided to put you in the reject pile. Maybe your qualifications just aren’t quite there yet. To put it simply, you’re not the right fit for this particular gig – but maybe you’re just not the right fit for this gig AT THIS MOMENT.When we take a rejection too personally (and we all do, at some point), we are choosing to believe that nothing can ever change: in ourselves, in a client’s perspective, in time, in happenstance. You may indeed have inadvertently rubbed a recruiter the wrong way or been outmaneuvered by a rival – but that rejection is not necessarily permanent.Advertising is a great example of non-permanent rejection. The first time we see a clever ad for Twinkies, we may reject it offhand. The second and third time, we find ourselves reconsidering. Before we know it, we’re driving to 7-11 in order to stuff a creamy, artificially-flavored sponge cake in our mouth.Advertisers don’t give up; they know that familiarity and repeated exposure can breed acceptance. This is doubly true when a product keeps improving; sooner or later, we’ll want to try that new flavor.If you’ve been turned down for a gig, you may have still gained knowledge – a contact, information about how the client’s interview process works, an inkling of how you might have done better.Accept your rejection as graciously as you can, and store away that information. Use any knowledge you’ve obtained to improve – that’s the equivalent of developing your new Twinkie flavor. Keep tabs on the potential client, work on your materials, and give it some time.After a grace period, don’t be afraid to apply to any new openings or re-establish contact. Be friendly and confident, but veer away from pushy – you’re just enthusiastic about potentially working with them!If you don’t treat your “rejection” as a shameful or embarrassing incident, they’ll be disinclined to do the same. Make sure your materials are in the best shape possible and reapply; circumstances may have changed.Stand up for your inner 9 year-old and try out for the team. You deserve your chance on the playing field.Kate Shea lives and works in New York City, where she consumes an inordinate amount of Sriracha daily. You can catch up with her on Twitter at @katerone.
Virat Kohli upset with poor scheduling ahead of South Africa tour
Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor fight a circus, says Oscar De La Hoya
Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya has termed the proposed bout between retired American boxer Floyd Mayweather and Irish mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor a “circus”, saying the sport may never recover if the “farce” is allowed to take place.McGregor, the biggest pay-per-view draw in the UFC promotion, announced earlier this month that he had signed his half of the deal to box against the 40-year-old Mayweather, who retired in 2015 with a 49-0 record.”With each passing day, it looks more and more likely that the circus known as Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor will be coming to town in the near future,” De La Hoya wrote in an open letter posted on his Facebook account.”One group will eventually be left to make sure this farce doesn’t occur…We, the fans, who are the lifeblood of our sport,” he wrote.The 10-time professional world champion predicted his former rival Mayweather would simply destroy the 28-year-old McGregor in any such contest.”…just wait until the best boxer of a generation dismantles someone who has never boxed competitively at any level — amateur or professional.”Our sport might not ever recover,” said De La Hoya, pointing out the differences between boxing and MMA.”To use a bit of an extreme analogy, I happen to be a pretty good golfer. Could I potentially hold my own on one of the second-tier tours? Maybe. But would I be able to compete with Rory McIlroy, Jordan Speith or Sergio Garcia? Of course not. Nor would I think to try.”advertisementThe proposed bout threatens to overshadow the September superfight between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez which De La Hoya’s company is promoting but the American said his concern was genuine.”…if Floyd were to come out of retirement to take on someone like Keith “One-time” Thurman, Errol Spence or some other top welterweight, not only would I applaud the fight, I’d be the first one on line for a ticket,” he added.”That kind of fight is what the fans — and I am a fan first — deserve.”
India vs South Africa, 1st ODI: Mandhana, Jhulan script 88-run Indian win
Opener Smriti Mandhana’s superb fifty and the pace duo of Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey combining for seven wickets, guided the Indian women’s team to a 88-run win over South Africa in the first of the three-match ODI rubber on Monday.The win meant India picked up two points towards the ICC Women’s Championship in their first game.Electing to bat after winning the toss, India rode on Smriti’s 98-ball 84, laced with eight boundaries and a six, and skipper Mithali Raj’s 70-ball patient 45, to post 213/7.Smriti first raised a 55-run opening stand with her opening partner Poonam Raut (19) to set the tone before joining forces with Mithali for a 99-run second wicket stand.The rest of the Indian batting including all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur (16) and stumper Sushma Verma (15) got the starts but failed to capitalise, while Veda Krishnamurthy (2) and Deepti Sharma (6) were run out cheaply.In response, the South Africans failed to get going against the disciplined Indian new ball pair of Jhulan (4/24) and Shikha (3/23).Opener Laura Wolvaardt (21) and skipper Dane van Niekerk (41) raised the hopes of the home side with a brief 19-run stand before Laura departed.van Niekerk continued to fight a lone battle before the lower order batswomen — Marizanne Kapp (23) and Suné Luus (21 not out) — added some spice but leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2/22) applied the brakes yet again as the hosts folded for 125 in 43.2 overs.Brief Scores: Indian women 213/7 (Smriti Mandhana 84, Mithali Raj 45; Marizanne Kapp 2/26) beat South African women 125 (Dane van Niekerk 41, Marizanne Kapp 23; Jhulan 4/24, Shikha Pandey 3/23) by 88 runs.advertisement
Kerala Prisons team T20 match with SL prison team
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 28 (PTI): No cheering crowds, no banners or festoons … it was a T20 cricket match with a difference – a friendly between teams of Kerala Prisons Department and their counterparts in Sri Lanka. Five prisoners and six prison officials from Gods own country pitted their skills against six jail staff of the island nation, Kerala team captain Sujit said. Noted actor Jayasurya and Prison DGP R Sreelekha were among the prominent persons who watched the match at the Sports Hub at Karyavattom here. The match was part of the island nations programme to study and emulate the best practices in Kerala jails. A 28-member Lankan delegation from the prisons department of the island nation arrived here yesterday. PTI JRK APR APR
Not like other midfielders, I am judged differently: Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba has had mixed second season for Manchester United, but believes his performances are judged on goals and assists unlike other midfielders but said the harsher assessment motivates him to improve.The France international has scored five goals and provided 10 assists in 23 Premier League appearances this season but has been criticised on multiple occasions as United fell behind Manchester City in the title race.United were also knocked out of the Champions League and League Cup and their only hope of silverware lie in the FA Cup, where they face Chelsea in the final on May 19.”It’s quite funny because we don’t judge me on the midfield part,” Pogba told Sky Sports. “We judge me on assists and goals and that’s the truth.”I can make an outstanding game, but if I don’t score or make an assist they will say, ‘that is normal’, or whatever.”But if someone else does it, it is different. They will maybe be man of the match.”Pogba’s form has improved in recent weeks as he helped United beat City and Bournemouth in the league and Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semi-finals. He, however, had a poor performance in the shock defeat by West Bromwich Albion.The Frenchman believes he is up to the task to deliver up front while still excelling in his midfield duties.”I think I’m judged differently, but it’s good,” he added. “It makes me improve as well, it is a challenge for me and I take it in a good way.advertisement”I don’t take it in a bad way. I’ll try to score and make assists and that’s it. I still want to do my job in midfield.”If I can help the team in attack and defence and make a difference I will do it. If I can score and assist it is even better.”United are second in the league and host rivals Arsenal on Sunday.(With inputs from Reuters)
World’s Best Teacher award goes to Andria Zafirakou, first UK teacher to receive Global Teacher Prize 2018
Andria Zafirakou, an arts and textiles teacher won the title of World’s Best Teacher in fourth annual Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2018 and also won a prize money of approximately Rs 6.5 Crore.The winner was honoured in Dubai on March 19, Sunday, and has become first UK teacher to be felicitated with the prestigious award.Zafirakou has beaten the finalists drawn from 30,000 entries, from 173 countries, including Turkey, South Africa, Colombia, Philippines, United States, Brazil, Belgium, Australia and Norway.Global Teacher Prize 2018, under the patronage of Dubai Ruler:She has been awarded under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, who is the Vice President, Prime Minister of UAE and a ruler of Dubai.While receiving the award, she shared the plight of her students:Overcrowded homes of the studentsDifficulty to concentrate in the studies for the students who live in single room propertyStudents had to do their homework in the bathroom in order to focus on studiesWorld Best Teacher’s hard work for her students: After learning about their plight, Zafirakou organized quiet spaces and gave lessons for a longer duration on the weekdays as well as on the weekendsShe even redesigned the curriculum and began a girls-only sports clubAbout Global Teacher Prize: Global Teacher PrizeGlobal Teacher Prize was started in the year of 2015 by an education charity with the sole purpose of bringing gratitude to the teaching professionThe winner is chosen by the prominent Global Teacher Prize Academy made up of head-teachers, educational experts, commentators, journalists, public officials, tech entrepreneurs, company directors and scientists from around the worldThe ceremony had finalists from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, Turkey and the U.S. this yearPricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) was chosen to audit, evaluate and test their process for 2015, 2016 and 2017 prize and has worked again for the 2018 prize ceremonyadvertisementEligibility for the Global Teacher Prize:The Prize is open to currently working teachers who teach children that are in compulsory schooling or are between the ages of five and eighteenTeachers who continue to teach, even on a part-time basis are also eligible, as are teachers of online coursesThe Prize is open to teachers in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the worldFor more updates, follow India Today Education or you can write to us at education.intoday@gmail.com
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