Author: SpogoNews Team

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) South African Olympian Gregg Clark has been appointed as the new analytical coach of the Indian men’s hockey team till the Tokyo Olympic Games, Hockey India announced on Tuesday. Clark, who will join the national camp this month, had coached the Indian junior men’s team in 2013-2014 when it won the Sultan of Johor Cup and also participated at the 2013 FIH Junior World Cup in New Delhi. He was associated with the Canadian men’s team as Assistant Coach between 2017-2020. “I am really excited to join the Indian Men’s Hockey Team. Having worked with…

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Olympic-bound wrestler Bajrang Punia's training stint in the USA has been granted a one-month extension and will now go on till the first week of February, the Sports Authority of India said on Tuesday. Punia, who qualified for the Tokyo Games in the men's freestyle 65kg category, has been training at Cliff Kean Wrestling Club in Michigan since December 4. The additional one month training will cost Rs. 11.65 Lakhs and will be borne by the SAI. "This decision was taken at the Mission Olympic Cell meeting that took place last week," a press release…

Karachi, Jan 7 (PTI) The England women’s cricket team will travel to Pakistan for the first time in October this year for a limited-overs series when the men’s side will also be here for a white-ball series, the PCB announced on Thursday. The England women will play the two T20Is as double-headers alongside the men’s team on October 14 and 15 while the ODIs will be played on October 18, 20 and 22 October at the National stadium in Karachi. The men’s side will tour Pakistan for the first time since 2005. “World champions England accompanying their men’s side for…

Karachi, Jan 5 (PTI) Pakistan’s former pacer Aaqib Javed has lashed out at current national team head coach Misbah-ul-Haq, saying he wouldn’t get a coaching job even with a school side. Misbah is not suitable for the top job, Aaqib, who is presently the chief coach of Lahore Qalandars franchise in Pakistan Super League (PSL), told reporters in Lahore on Tuesday. “I think the people who gave the coaching jobs to Misbah and Waqar Younis should be held accountable as both of these former players don’t have any coaching experience,” he said. He pointed out that playing cricket and coaching…

Sydney, Jan 4 (PTI) Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley on Monday dismissed reports that the Indian team is reluctant to play the fourth Test in Brisbane because of stricter quarantine rules there. Hockley said the Indian cricket board was “fully across (and) supportive” of quarantine requirements in Queensland. “We speak to our counterparts at the BCCI daily,” he told reporters here. “We’ve had nothing formal from the BCCI to suggest anything other than they’re supportive. Both teams have wanted to play the schedule as we’ve set out,” he asserted. The third Test in the four-match series is scheduled to…

Rafael Nadal’s cousin and one of Toni Nadal’s three children, Joan Nadal Vives made his professional debut in a tournament ITF held in Manacor, to become the newest and youngest addition to the Nadal dynasty. He (Joan) was defeated by Turkey’s Kuzey Cekirge 6-1, 6-3 in the first round at the Rafa Nadal Academy facility, which was reminiscent of Rafael Nadal losing in straight sets to Guillermo Platel on his professional debut. One of two sons of Toni Nadal (Rafael Nadal’s former coach and uncle) the 16 year old previously featured at the J3 Manacor junior event, losing in the…

It was the first matchup between last year’s East finalists that ended in a nail biting finish, with Payton Pritchard’s putback two tenths of a second left sealing the win for Boston Celtics. Jayson Tayton scored 27 points and Jaylen Brown had 21 points in a matchup that saw Celtics wastefully let go of an early 17 point lead and a 10 point lead until the final minute, to eventually get the edge over Miami Heat. For Miami, Jimmy Butler had 26 points, Duncan Robinson got 16, Bam Adebayo with 15 and 14 from Goran Dragic. Miami Heat made an…

Dhaka, Jan 6 (PTI) Bangladesh has appointed Jon Lewis as batting coach for the upcoming two bilateral series against the West Indies and New Zealand, the country's cricket board said on Wednesday. The 50-year-old Englishman, who had served as batting coach of Sri Lanka cricket team, will step in the shoes of Neil McKenzie, who stepped down last August citing family reasons. "He (Lewis) is coming in a day or two, after which we will speak in person. We had three or four coaches in our shortlist but we considered his experience," BCB's cricket operations chairman Akram Khan was quoted…

Aizawl, Jan 6 (PTI) Mizoram boxer Lalrinsanga will fight for the WBC super feather title here in March, boxing coach and promoter Mujtaba Kamal said on Wednesday. The event will be organised by Grassroot Boxing Promotional in association with Mizoram-based Sete Boxing Academy. Mizoram has a lot of talented boxers, who can bring fame to not only Mizoram but also India. Our main goal is to promote professional boxing in the state and assist the local boxers to take part at international level, Grassroot Boxing Promotional chief Kamal told reporters. He said Lalrinsanga fighting for the WBC super feather title…

Bambolim, Jan 6 (PTI) Struggling Kerala Blasters would fancy their chances against bottom-placed Odisha FC when they chase their second win of the season in the Indian Super League, here on Thursday. Odisha are yet to win a game and it could be Kerala’s best chance to get three points for the second time this season. Kerala are on ninth spot with six points while Odisha are at the bottom with just two points from eight matches. Kerala coach Kibu Vicuna need to find out how his team scores more goals. Kerala have scored just three goals from open play…