Author: SpogoNews Team

With the pandemic hindering the financial stability and growth of every sector around the world, the football industry was no exception. According to the ‘KPMG Football Benchmark’s Report’, the pandemic has adversely affected the overall business of Europe’s top leagues in the 2019/20 season. Prominent clubs like Juventus FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC and FC Porto faced a double digit year on year drop. While other clubs went through dire losses, FC Bayern Munich, Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF made some net profits for the months of May/June 2020 along with a moderate drop in their operating revenues. With many…

Melbourne, Jan 12 (PTI) India’s top-ranked woman player Ankita Raina moved to the final round of the Australian Open Qualifiers with a gutsy three-set win over world number 118 Katarina Zavatska but it was curtains for Ramkumar Ramanathan in the men’s singles. In the women’s singles qualifiers being held in Dubai, the 180th ranked Ankita overcame a second-set lapse to win 6-2 2-6 6-3 in the second round against the Ukrainian. Ankita said she was proud of the fight in the match that lasted two hours and 20 minutes. “I started well in the first set and the first two…

Bangalore, Jan 12 (PTI) Formula 2 racer Arjun Maini, Rishon Rajeev and Ishaan Madesh emerged champions in the MECO-FMSCI National Karting Championship 2020 (Rotax Max), sweeping all the titles on offer. The championship drew to a close with three rounds being held back-to-back at the same venue to ensure the safety and convenience of all drivers and teams in the middle of a raging pandemic. India’s first Formula 1 driver, Narain Karthikeyan drove in a few races as a guest driver. Maini (NK Racing Academy) was head and shoulders above the Rotax Max field, garnering the maximum points in each…

Bambolim, Jan 12 (PTI) Laggards Odisha FC will be eager to extend their two-match unbeaten run when they take on an out-of-sorts Chennaiyin FC in an Indian Super League clash here on Wednesday. After suffering six defeats, Odisha notched their maiden win of the season by defeating Kerala Blasters last week. The bottom-placed side followed that by holding Chennaiyin to a goalless draw over the weekend. On the other hand, Chennaiyin have slipped to eighth after the draw, having managed only one win in their last five outings. The two sides will be hoping for goals and a much-improved performance.…

New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) Tamil Nadu's C Kavi Rakshna and Rajasthan's Divyansh Singh Panwar won the womens and mens 10m Air Rifle events respectively at the National Shooting T2 trials here on Sunday. Kavi Rakshna, who has come through the ranks of the junior programme, emerged on top in a quality field which included current world number one Elavenil Valarivan as well as Tokyo Olympics quota holders Apurvi Chandela and Anjum Moudgil, among others. Rakshna shot 251.4 in the finals to win the event ahead of Rajasthan's Nisha Kanwar (250.7). Gujarats Elavenil, who had won the T1 trials earlier,…

Margao, Jan 10 (PTI) Leaders Mumbai City FC would look extend their eight-match unbeaten streak when they take on ATK Mohun Bagan in a top-two clash of the Indian Super League here on Monday. Mumbai City have been on a roll, notching up seven wins and a draw in their last eight matches after losing their opening game. They have collected 22 points from nine games to be on top of the table. ATK Mohun Bagan are two points adrift of Mumbai City with six wins, two draws and one loss. They are also on a five-match unbeaten streak. The…

Sydney, Jan 11 (PTI) Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin batted out the entire evening session on day five to eke out a memorable draw against Australia in third Test here on Monday. Vihari (23 not out off 161) and Ashwin (39 not out off 128), who got together in the 89th over of India’s second innings, wore down Australia by batting for more than 42 overs. India ended up with 334 for five in 131 overs. Starting the day at 98 for two and needing 309 for victory, Cheteshwar Pujara (77 off 205) and Rishabh Pant (97 off 118) kept…

Sydney, Jan 11 (PTI) Cheteshwar Pujara on Monday became only the 11th Indian to cross the 6000-run mark in Test cricket. Pujara, playing his 80th game, reached the milestone on day five of the third Test against Australia at the SCG. The International Cricket Council (ICC) was quick to congratulate him on social media. “Cheteshwar Pujara has become the 11th Indian batsman to reach 6000 runs in Test cricket! What a fine player he has been,” the ICC wrote. The other Indians who have 6000 plus runs are Sachin Tendulkar (15921) runs, Rahul Dravid (13265), Sunil Gavaskar (10122), VVS Laxman…

Vasco, Jan 11 (PTI) There is little to separate NorthEast United from Bengaluru FC at the halfway stage of Indian Super League as both the teams struggled after a strong start and would look to revive their fortunes when they face off here on Tuesday. Both the sides started strong, maintaining their place in the top four before a bad run of results saw them slide down the table. The Highlanders find themselves a point adrift of sixth-placed Bengaluru who have accumulated 12 points. Both teams have conceded more goals than they have scored and while Bengaluru have lost four…

Vasco, Jan 10 (PTI) Kerala Blasters put up an inspired show to beat Jamshedpur FC 3-2 for their second win of the Indian Super League season here on Sunday. Kerala Blasters took the lead through Costa Nhamoinesu (22nd) but his goal was neutralised by Nerijus Valskis (36th) before the half-time break. Jordan Murray then scored a brace (79th and 82nd) to hand Kerala three points. Valskis pulled one back for Jamshedpur in the 84th minute. Jamshedpur started strong and should have bagged the lead as early as the 4th minute after some delightful build-up play. Valskis did well to hold…