Kerala look to improve under New coach
Kochi: With former England goalkeeper David James back as the head coach, Kerala Blasters would look to get their campaign back on track when they host FC Pune City in their Indian Super League match here on Wednesday. The Blasters have notched up just a win from seven matches to be languishing at the eighth spot in the 10-team league and Dutchman Rene Meulensteen got the boot on Tuesday for this dismal show of the last season runners-up side. The franchise owners were quick to appoint James, who was the player-cum-head coach in the inaugural season in 2014, was appointed to guide the side within a day.
Bagan make Shankarlal chief coach
Kolkata: Mohun Bagan on Wednesday elevated Shankarlal Chakraborty to the chief coach's post till the end of season in less than 24 hours after Sanjoy Sen resigned. Chakraborty, who has been with the team as assistant coach since July 2014, was at the helm of affairs during the Calcutta Football League Premier Division 2017, where they were pipped to the title by bitter foes East Bengal. Mohun Bagan senior team will resume training on Thursday morning and post-training Chakraborty will interact with media, a statement read. Sen stepped down as the chief coach minutes after they succumbed to a 1-2 defeat to a 10-man Chennai City FC, their first defeat of the season that came at their home ground. "The club management would like to thank Sen for all the hard work he has done being in charge of the team for the past three years. We wish him all success for his future endeavors," the statement said.
City back in the groove, Llorente fires Spurs
London: Raheem Sterling scored the fastest goal of the Premier League season as leaders Manchester City got back on track with a 3-1 win against Watford, while Fernando Llorente put Tottenham on course for a 2-0 victory at his former club Swansea. Sterling struck after just 38 seconds before Christian Kabasele's first-half own goal put Pep Guardiola's side in control at Eastlands. Sergio Aguero made it three as City gave the perfect response after their 18-game winning run was ended in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday. Unbeaten City are 15 points clear of second-placed Manchester United. With Harry Kane only fit enough for a place on the bench after illness, former Swansea striker Llorente made his first league start for Tottenham. Llorente marked the occasion with a 12th minute goal. Kane made his presence felt with a perfect pass to Dele Alli and the Tottenham midfielder finished at the second attempt to wrap up the points in the 89th minute. Tottenham move above Arsenal into fifth place.
Big seeds tumble out of Qatar Open
Doha: The Qatar Open second and third seeds — Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta and Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic — crashed out of the tournament in the first round on a night of shocks in Doha. Both seeds lost in third set tie-breaks. Carreno Busta was beaten by Croatia's Borna Coric, 7-5, 2-6, 6-7 (8/10) in an enthralling match lasting 2 hours 41 minutes. And Berdych went down 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 (4/7) in the match on centre court which followed against his fellow 6ft 5ins opponent, Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff. It means the tournament has lost two of its top-ranked players after having already being shorn of three major stars before it began. To complete a bad night for the seeds, number six seed Filip Krajinovic of Serbia also lost, in straight sets to Germany's Peter Gojowczyk. Busta's match with Coric was the game of the tournament so far.
Meghalaya signs contract for Nat’l Games
Shillong: Meghalaya on Wednesday signed the Host City Contract with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday for hosting the 39th National Games in 2022, officials said. The tripartite contract was signed between the IOA, the Meghalaya State Olympic Association and the state government here. Meghalaya had made the bid to host the 39th National Games after successfully co-hosting the South Asian Games last year, they said. State sports director Matsiewdor W Nongbri said the masterplan of the 39th National Games will be submitted by January 2019. She said a working group, headed by Sports Minister Zenith Sangma, has been formed. A cheque of Rs 4.5 crore was handed over to the IOA as bid money for the Games.