England’s group opener may prove pivotal today

November 30, 2012

dubai_rug

Dubai, November 30: England’s opening game against South Africa at 11.20am today will be an early barometer of the Red Roses’ contention for an Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens hat-trick this weekend. Having won here in Dubai for the last two seasons, Ben Ryan’s squad now face tough early tests in Pool C against the Springboks, Samoa and Portugal. After a bowl final loss to Spain in round one of the nine leg HSBC Sevens World Series at Australia’s Gold Coast Sevens last month, England are now 10th in the overall series standings with all to play for in round two in Dubai.

South Africa meanwhile finished third in Australia, losing out to eventual winners Fiji in the semi-finals of the Cup.

Samoa, who England play at 3.28pm today, also topped their group in Australia beating England in the group phase 19-17.

Portugal, whom England lost to 14-12 during the group phase of 2010 Dubai Rugby Sevens, are also no pushovers. England will play them in their last game of the day at 5.44pm. The Portuguese are tied for 15th in the standings with Tonga on one point apiece. They finished bottom of their group at the Gold Coast and failed to score on their way to a Shield semi-final exit.

Fiji and New Zealand pose the biggest threat should England emerge from their group unscathed. Winning at Gold Coast, thanks to an all-star performance from Joji Ragamate who top scored with 59 points, the Fijians are now on course for a hat-trick of consecutive events. They ended last season with victory in London and maintained form heading into the new campaign this season with honours at the Gold Coast.

Playing Spain first up in Pool A from 9.50am Friday, the Fijians then play Scotland at 1.36pm and Kenya at 6.58pm, in what appears to be an easy route into the competition.

Kenya, managed by former England coach Mike Friday, however, could provide an upset having knocked out hosts Australia in the Gold Coast in the Cup quarters 21-14, only to lose to the Kiwis in the semis. While Fiji top the standings on 22 points, Kenya are fourth on 15 points and demand recognition in one of their strongest starts to a campaign.

Ten times series champions and the current series holders New Zealand are second on 19 points and face Wales at 10.36am, Russia at 2.22pm and Argentina at 7.22pm in Pool B.

An improving Argentine side, fifth in the tables on 13 points pose the Kiwis biggest hurdle, but the Welsh will be looking to salvage pride from a difficult opener.




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News Network
June 22,2020

Zadar (Croatia), Jun 22: Grigor Dimitrov took to Instagram to announce that he has tested positive for coronavirus. The tennis star was one of the players who took part in the Adria Tour with the likes Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem among others.

Taking to Instagram, the player wrote: "Hi Everyone-I want to reach out and let my fans and friends know that I tested positive back in Monaco for Covid-19. I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions. I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering. Thanks for your support and please stay safe and healthy."

He also urged those who had come in contact with him over the last few days in Monaco should also get tested for the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, World no.1 Djokovic reached the final of his exhibition tournament in Zadar, Croatia, after easing through the round-robin group stage on the first day. This is the second stage of the Adria Tour with Austrian Dominic Thiem winning the first leg in Belgrade, Serbia.

Djokovic started by saving three set points in his 4-3, 4-1 win over fellow Serb Pedja Krstin. He then beat home favourite Borna Coric 4-1, 4-3 in front of several thousand fans at the Visnjik tennis complex.

The tournament in Zadar is being played on red clay over two days. In the other group, Russian Andrey Rublev is in pole position to advance into the final after wins over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic and Serb Danilo Petrovic. He faces German star Alexander Zverev in the final round robin match on Sunday who stayed in contention after beating Cilic 4-3, 0-4, 4-3.

Djokovic''s own inconsequential final group match is against Croatian Dino Serdarusic who replaced Grigor Dimitrov after the Bulgarian pulled out of the tournament with sickness following his opening 4-1, 4-1 loss to Coric.

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News Network
June 2,2020

New Delhi, Jun 2: Manchester United's Paul Pogba on Monday paid tribute to George Floyd, stressing that violent acts of racism can no longer be tolerated and they have to stop.

Pogba took to Instagram to write: "During the past few days I have thought a lot about how to express my feelings about what happened in Minneapolis. I felt anger, pity, hatred, indignation, pain, sadness."

"Sadness for George and for all black people who suffer from racism Every day! Whether in football, at work, at school, Anywhere! This has to stop, once and for all! Not tomorrow or the next day, it has to end today! Violent acts of racism can no longer be tolerated," he added.

Protests erupted in Minneapolis and other US cities on Tuesday after Floyd, an African-American man, died following his arrest by the four officers.

A viral video showed a police officer, Derek Chauvin, pinning 46-year-old Floyd to the ground with his knee on his neck for nearly eight minutes. Floyd died at a local hospital shortly thereafter.

The four police officers were fired. Chauvin was also charged with murder and manslaughter, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.

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zaki ahmed
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Jun 2020

This photograph in the above mentioned article is of Floyd Mayweather Jr , the world welterweight & super heavy weight champion & wrongly menitoned as Pogba .

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Agencies
February 7,2020

New Delhi, Feb 7: It was on February 7, 1999, that Anil Kumble became just the second bowler in the history of cricket to take all ten wickets in an innings of a Test match.

He achieved the feat against Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, now known as Arun Jaitley cricket stadium in Delhi during the second Test of the two-match series.

India had set Pakistan a target of 420 runs in the match and the visitors got off to a steady start as openers Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar put on 101 runs for the first wicket.

It was then Kumble who came into the attack and wreaked havoc on the Pakistani batting line-up.

The spinner, also known as 'Jumbo' first dismissed Afridi (41) in the 25th over. After the right-handed batter's dismissal, India kept on taking wickets through Kumble and Pakistan was reduced to 128/6 in no time.

Kumble then kept on taking wickets at regular intervals and he got his tenth scalp in the 61st over after dismissing Wasim Akram.

This effort enabled India to register a win by 212 runs, and Kumble became the second bowler after England's Jim Laker to take all ten wickets in a single Test inning.

Kumble finished with the bowling figures of 10-74 from 26.3 overs.

Kumble announced his retirement from international cricket in 2008 and finished with 619 wickets in the longest format of the game.

He has the third-highest number of wickets in Tests, only behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Australia's Shane Warne (708).

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