Kerzhakov salvages draw for Russia against S Korea

June 18, 2014

Cuiaba (Brazil), Jun 18: Substitute Alexandr Kerzhakov came off the bench to salvage a 1-1 draw for Russia against South Korea Tuesday in their opening game in Group H.

Draw for RussiaSouth Korea went ahead after 68 minutes when Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev inexplicably let a Lee Keunho shot slip through his fingers just as Russia looked like taking control of the encounter in Culaba.

However, the lead lasted just six minutes as Kerzhakov tapped home shortly after coming on to secure a vital point for Fabio Capello’s side.

“After the goal they scored it is not easy to react,” Capello told BBC Sport.

“The players’ reaction was really good. They had two chances to score the second but that is football. Aleksandr Kerzhakov is a fantastic player, he always has chances to score goals.” South Korea dominated possession for long periods but faded as the game progressed and will probably be the more satisfied of the sides with a point.

Son Heungmin had the first opportunity of the game in the 10th minute, running at the Russian defence but blasted over from inside the area.

Russia’s first shot on target came just after the half—hour mark when Korean goalkeeper Jung Sungryong parried away Sergey Ignashevich’s free kick.

Koo Jacheol’s deflected shot went just wide off Ignashevich shortly afterwards but Korea’s best opportunity of the half fell to Son eight minutes before the break only for the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder to once again send his effort high over the bar.

The second half was a much more open affair with Victor Fayzulin testing Jung with a longe—range shot while Vasily Berezutskiy headed into the side netting from the resultant corner.

Ki Sungyueng forced a save from Akinfeev as the game ebbed and flowed but the Russian goalkeeper could count his blessings in the 57th minute when he spilled a free kick from Kim Younggwon.

Russia increased the pressure as the half progressed as Dmitry Kombarov tried his luck from distance and he also sent in a teasing cross that Jung did well to clear.

Russia were now looking the much likelier to score but the momentum swung back in South Korea’s favour when Akinfeev let Kim’s free kick slip through his fingers to hand Hong Myungbo’s side an unexpected lead.

Capello brought on Igor Denisov and Kerzhakov in an effort to find an equalizer and his gamble paid almost immediate dividends.

Alan Dzagoev’s shot was parried into the path of Kim, whose clearance hit Andrey Yeshchenko and fell into the path of Kerzhakov to tap home and join Vladimir Beschastnykh as a top goalscorer for Russia with 26 goals.

Capello’s side pushed forward in search of a late winner but South Korea held on for a deserved point.

Russia next face Belgium on Sunday while South Korea take on Algeria.

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February 18,2020

New Delhi, Feb 18: Skipper Virat Kohli has become the first Indian to reach the 50M followers mark on social media platform Instagram. Kohli, who is breaking cricketing records with each passing match, has a great social media following.

The 31-year old has so far made 930 posts on the platform and his social media posts continue to enthrall fans worldwide. Overall, Instagram's official account has the most number of followers and it is followed by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 200M followers.

In terms of Indians with most number of followers, Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra is on the second spot with 49.9 followers while Deepika Padukone is on the third place with 44.1 followers.

Last year, Kohli had become the most successful Indian Test captain, surpassing Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Currently, Kohli is in action against New Zealand and his side would take on the hosts in the two-match Test series, slated to commence from February 21.

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March 2,2020

Christchurch, Mar 2: India captain Virat Kohli on Monday said the under-fire Rishabh Pant has got a "lot of chances" but the team is not looking to try someone else in the youngster's place just yet as one player can't be singled out in a collective failure.

Pant has been under the scanner for the past one year because of his inconsistent run. His tally of 60 runs across four innings in the 0-2 Test series loss to New Zealand, which concluded here on Monday, has only amplified the debate whether it was prudent to leave out a keeper of Wriddhiman Saha's calibre and back Pant.

"...we have given him (Pant) a lot of chances in the home season as well starting from Australia. Then he was not playing for a bit. In turn he really worked hard on himself," Kohli came to Pant's defence after the series here.

"You need to figure out when is the right time to give someone else a chance. If you push people too early, they can lose confidence," he added.

"...collectively, we didn't perform. I don't believe in singling him out. We take the hit together as a group whether it's the batting group or as a team."

When asked if he believes Pant has taken his place in the side for granted, Kohli made it clear that the culture of this team doesn't encourage anyone to think along those lines.

"I don't see anyone taking his place for granted in this team. That's the culture we have set. People are told to take responsibilities and work hard. Whether it happens or not is a different thing. Then you can have a conversation with the players," he said.

"But no one has come here thinking I am going to play every game or I am indispensable," he added in no uncertain terms.

Kohli, just like head coach Ravi Shastri, made it clear that Pant can make a difference in overseas conditions and he won't like to deviate during future tours.

"The time that he didn't play, he really worked hard on his game. So we thought this is the right time because of his game and the way he plays because he can make a difference lower down the order.

"That was our planning behind it. We can't really fluctuate when it comes to what we planned," he added.

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May 9,2020

May 9: Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz noticed live-streamed concerts were collecting money for coronavirus relief and was struck by inspiration: why not raise funds with an online workout?

Since then the Olympic silver-medallist -- and strong contender for her country's first Games gold -- has made enough money to buy food packs for hundreds of hard-hit families in the Philippines.

Diaz has done it all from Malaysia, where she was training to qualify for the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics when much of the world locked down against the virus in March.

"I thought (distribution) would be impossible because I'm not physically present," Diaz, 29, told news agency.

"It's a good thing that I have trusted friends and trusted family members who understand why we need to do a fundraising."

That circle of supporters has handed out the packages, which include vegetables, eggs and rice, to more than 400 families.

The food was bought with donations from about 50 people who joined sessions that lasted up to three hours, and gave them a rare chance to train with an elite athlete.

Diaz rose to fame in 2016 after snagging a surprise silver in the 53 kilogramme category in Rio, becoming the Philippines' first female Olympic medallist and ending the nation's 20-year medal drought at the Games.

Two years later, she won gold at the Asian Games in Indonesia.

However, her quest to qualify for Tokyo is on hold ahead of the Games' rescheduled opening in July 2021.

"I thought all the hard work would soon be over... then it was extended," she said. "But I'm still thankful I can still continue with (the training) I need to do."

Still, the lockdown broke her daily training regimen, keeping her away from weights for 14 days for the first time in her career.

"I felt like I was losing my mind already. I've been carrying the barbell for 18 years and all of a sudden it's gone. Those were the kinds of anxiety that I felt," she said.

But she got access to some equipment, and with her coach's urging, got back to work. She was relieved to find her strength was still there.

Instead of a Tokyo berth, the past months have been about a different kind of accomplishment for Diaz: helping her countrymen get through the coronavirus crisis.

Rosemelyn Francisco's family in Zamboanga City, Diaz's home town, is one of the first to get help from the athlete's initiative, and is deeply grateful.

Her family was not wealthy to begin with, and the pandemic has cost her husband his construction job.

"The food she donated has all everything we need, including eggs," said Francisco, 27.

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