We can sink Bale and co: Galatasaray’s Drogba
ISTANBUL: Galatasaray have made a mediocre start to the season but striker Didier Drogba believes they can repeat April’s victory over Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League Group B opener.
The former Chelsea player is convinced Galatasaray can upset Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and company.
“It’s a new season and we know we can beat them again,” Drogba told a news conference on Monday.
“The best thing to do is play good football and give 100 percent to win. Once again we are going to face the top clubs of Europe this season and I think we have a good chance to qualify (for the knockout stages).”
Galatasaray went out 5-3 on aggregate despite beating Real 3-2 in their quarter-final second leg in Istanbul five months ago.
“No team comes to Istanbul comfortably. We believe we can challenge any team,” said coach Fatih Terim. (AFP)
Subrata, Gouramangi to undergo trial at Danish club
Mumbai: India goalkeeper Subrata Paul and central defender Gouramangi Singh are all set to fly to Denmark for a three-month trial with Danish premier league football club FC Vestsjaelland. The two players are scheduled to leave for Slagelse on September 18 and stay in Denmark until December 15, undergoing extensive training in technique during the trial, said a media release from Red Bull, which has fixed up the deal in partnership with the owners of the club, Anglian Holdings, who, incidentally, also have a stake in Shillong Lajong FC. This is the first time that Indian footballers have a chance at playing at a top division team anywhere in Europe, according to the release. Established in 2008, FC Vestsjaeland are also known as FCV Vikings and are based in Slagelse. (PTI)
Saina, Kashyap miss out in Japan
Tokyo: While Saina Nehwal has decided to give it a miss, Parupalli Kashyap will also skip the Japan Open due to an ankle injury and in their absence young PV Sindhu will spearhead the Indian challenge at the Super Series tournament, starting here on Tuesday. Tired after the hectic Indian Badminton League (IBL), Saina decided to take rest but Kashyap was forced to pull out at the last moment as he could not recover from his ankle injury, which he suffered during the IBL. “I’m not playing the Japan Open as I could not recover from the ankle injury I had suffered during the IBL,” Kashyap told PTI. With the senior shuttlers missing in action, all eyes will be on World No 10 Sindhu, who will be playing in her first international tournament after winning the prestigious bronze medal at the World Championship in China.
Sindhu, seeded eighth, will take on two qualifiers in the first two rounds and is likely to make it to the last eight stage without much ado. In the quarterfinals, the 18-year-old from Hyderabad, in all probability, would face World No.1 and Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China. A year ago, Sindhu had defeated the Chinese during the 2012 China Masters but Xuerui will always prove to be a very tough customer to get across. (PTI)
Amit secures first medal for India at World Wrestling Championship
Budapest: Asian Champion Amit Kumar assured India of at least a silver by storming into the final of the 55kg category on the opening day of World Wrestling Championships here on Monday. After London Olympics silver medallist Sushil Kumar failed to take the mat due to fitness issues, Amit got the better off Sezar Akgul of Turkey in the semifinals of the marquee event. Sushil hasn’t taken part in any competition since London last year due to a shoulder injury. Amit, a freestyle grappler, will now take on Hassan Farman Rahimi of Iran in the final. India’s last medal in the men’s section came in 2010 when Sushil had grabbed the gold. Among other Indians, Arun Kumar (66kg) and Satyawart Kadian (96kg) failed to go the distance and crashed out of the tournament. While Sushil’s replacement in the 66kg category, Arun Kumar failed to impress and exited in the first round, world junior bronze medallist Satyawart Kadian (96kg) also could not cross the second hurdle. (PTI)
Manager doubts fate of Sochi F1 track
Moscow: Reputed Russian Formula One expert Oksana Kosachenko has doubted the commercial success of the Sochi circuit that will be making its debut in 2014. Kosachenko, former manager of Russia’s first F1 driver Vitaly Petrov, said that most Russian families cannot afford to shell out at least 20,000 rubles (Rs 39,000) needed for buying tickets and travelling to the Black Sea resort town. “People will not spend their money to go to Sochi. There are not that many families in Russia who can spend that for their leisure,” said Kosachenko, who now deals with market research of prospective race venues in post-Soviet countries. Kosachenko said that for Russian F1 fans, visiting the Hungarian Grand Prix will be cheaper instead of Sochi, which will be hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics. Sochi has signed a seven-year contract from 2014 but it may be further challenged if other post-Soviet cities secure a place on the F1 calendar, Kosachenko said. (IANS)