LONDON, March 15 (AFP): Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has hailed Liverpool counterpart Luis Suarez as "one of the best players in the world" ahead of the teams' Premier League encounter on Sunday.Liverpool approach the match at Old Trafford with an 11-point lead over their old rivals and Suarez has been a key factor, scoring 24 of the 73 goals that Brendan Rodgers's side have plundered this season. Suarez has formed an impressive understanding with Daniel Sturridge,

Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) reaches for a rebound with Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker during the second half of the Suns' 87-80 win in an NBA basketball game in Boston Friday, March 14. (AP Photo) BOSTON, March 15 (AP): The Phoenix Suns needed help to snap a three-game losing streak that hurt their postseason prospects. They got it when the Boston Celtics had their worst shooting game of the season. The Suns still had to finish well and they did by scoring the last s

Manchester City's Javier Garcia, centre, Edin Dzeko, centre left, and Martin Demichelis, centre right, defend a free kick from Hull's  Nikica Jelavic, right, during their English Premier League soccer match at the KC Stadium, Hull, England, Saturday March 15. (AP Photo) England, March 15 (agencies): Manchester City have sealed a 2-0 win over Hull City at the KC Stadium this afternoon, despite playing the majority of the match a player short. After a bright start from the home

MUMBAI, March 15 (PTI): One of the greatest batsmen of all time, the iconic Sachin Tendulkar was on Friday voted Cricketer of the Generation as he staved off stiff competition from spin legend Shane Warne and all-rounder par excellence Jacques Kallis at the ESPNcricinfo awards function.The award is meant to honour the most outstanding cricketer between the years 1993 and 2013, and the occasion also marked the 20th anniversary celebrations for the cricket website. "I am speechless,

Li Na, of China, returns a shot to Flavia Pennetta, of Italy, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Friday, March 14 in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo) Indian Wells, March 15 (AFP): Flavia Pennetta shocked Li Na in the semi-finals at Indian Wells, beating the Australian Open champion 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to set up a title clash with Agnieszka Radwanska. Li, the Chinese world number two who was the top seed in the elite WTA premier event, had pounded winners past Pennetta in a crush

INDIAN WELLS , March 14 (PTI): Sania Mirza and Cara Black are in line to win their first title of season as they defeated Lucie Hradecka and Jie Zheng to reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open, a Premier WTA tournament. The fifth seeded Indo-Zimbabwean pair defeated eighth seeded Czech-Chinese team 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 in an hour and 37 minutes in the semifinal of the $5,946,740 hard court event. It will be first final of the 2014 season for Sania and Cara, who had won two back-to-back titl

Li Na, of China, serves to Dominika Cibulkova, of Slovakia, during a quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 13 in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo) INDIAN WELLS, March 14 (AFP): Australian Open champion Li Na booked her semifinal berth at the Indian Wells hardcourt tennis tournament with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win over Dominika Cibulkova.China's Li, the world number two who is the top seed in the event, reprised her triumph over Slovakia's Cibulkova i

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain controls his car on turn five during the second practice session at Albert Park ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14. (AP Photo) MELBOURNE, March 14 (AP): Mercedes confirmed its status as favorite to win the Formula One season-opening Australian Grand Prix by setting the fastest two times in Friday's practice sessions, with Lewis Hamilton edging his teammate Nico Rosberg.Hamilton failed t

MUMBAI, March 14 (PTI): The under-fire Indian cricket team on Friday left for Bangladesh to participate in the ICC World Twenty20 Championships without holding the customary pre-departure press conference. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led outfit, which was humiliated in the tours of South Africa and New Zealand before coming a cropper in the Asia Cup, chose to avoid any questions before leaving for the ICC World Twenty20 scheduled from March 16 to April 6.Team coach Duncan Fletcher was, ho

Chicago Bulls guard Mike Dunleavy, left, and Houston Rockets guard James Harden watch the ball after Dunleavy passed it during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago on Thursday, March 13. (AP Photo) CHICAGO, March 14 (AP): Mike Dunleavy caught an elbow just above the right eye while drawing a charge early in the second quarter Thursday night and left a trail of blood on the court as he ran into the Bulls' locker room.Though the team said Dunleavy's return was questio

A basketball match taking place, as a part of the All Nagaland Catholic Schools Sports Meet. DIMAPUR, MARCH 13 (MExN): The All Nagaland Catholic Schools Sports Meet was inaugurated by Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima, at St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Chumukedima on March 13. Twenty two Catholic schools from all the districts of Nagaland were present for the inaugural function. The invocation prayer was pronounced by Rev. Fr. Sajan Joseph, the Principal of St. Jo

Kohima, March 13 (MExN): The Curtain Raiser service-cum-fixture draw for the 5th Silver Cup T-20 Cricket Tournament organised by the Youth Department of Nepali Baptist Church Kohima will be held on March 15 (Saturday) from 1:00 pm onwards within the Church premises at Midland Kohima. Associate Youth Pastor of UBC Visato Yhoshü will be the main speaker for the curtain raiser service while the fixture would be drawn in presence of the team captain. Therefore, it is mandatory for all

PSG's Lucas shoots a free kick during the Champions League last 16 second leg soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Bayer Leverkusen at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Wednesday, March 12. (AP Photo) PARIS, March 13 (AP): Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc was left feeling frustrated and let down by some of his players after a scrappy 2-1 win against Bayer Leverkusen sealed a Champions League quarterfinal slot for the second straight season.PSG made a poor start and

EL SEGUNDO, March 13 (AP): Kobe Bryant won't be back on the court for the Lakers this season. Bryant expressed only mild frustration Wednesday after the long-expected decision to end his 18th NBA season after just six games. The superstar guard's broken bone in his left knee has kept him out since shortly before Christmas, and it still hasn't healed enough for weight-bearing exercise. With just five weeks left in their injury-ravaged season, the Lakers (22-42) elected to preserve Bryan

Brooklyn Nets forward Paul Pierce (34) goes up for a shot against Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 12, 2014, in Miami. Pierce scored 29 points in the game as the Nets defeated the Heat 96-95. (AP Photo) MIAMI, March 13 (AP): Something about facing the Miami Heat still brings out the best in Paul Pierce.Jason Kidd isn't half-bad against them, either. Pierce scored 17 of his 29 points in the third quarter and deliver

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, takes the ball past Manchester City's Vincent Kompany during a Champions League, round of 16, second leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Manchester City at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain on March 12. (AP Photo)BARCELONA, March 13 (AP): Lionel Messi and Dani Alves scored second-half goals as Barcelona beat 10-man Manchester City 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the seventh straight season. Barcelona advance

NEW DELHI, March 13 (PTI): Mahendra Singh Dhoni is inarguably one of India's finest finisher in the shortest format but there is one little piece of statistic which the 'Captain Cool' wouldn't certainly be amused and would like to change it during the course of fifth ICC World T20.Believe it or not, the captain is yet to score his maiden half-century in T20 internationals having donned the blue jersey in 43 of the 46 matches that India has played so far. Sounds weird but Dhoni's aggreg

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots over Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, March 11. (AP Photo) OKLAHOMA CITY, March 12 (AP): Kevin Durant scored 42 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Houston Rockets 106-98 on Tuesday night. Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook scored 24 points and got the best of nemesis Patrick Beverley. During last year’s playoffs, B

Bayern's Mario Goetze, left, and Arsenal's Per Mertesacker challenge for the ball during the Champions League round of the last 16 second leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Arsenal FC in Munich, Germany, on Tuesday, March 11. 2014. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson) MUNICH, March 12 (AP): Club president Uli Hoeness' trial overshadowed a subdued performance as Bayern Munich drew 1-1 with Arsenal to reach the Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-1 aggregate win from the round

Li Na, of China, smiles after defeating Aleksandra Wozniak, of Canada, 6-1, 6-4 at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 11 in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo) INDIAN WELLS, March 12 (AFP): Li Na needed 11 match points to put away Aleksandra Wozniak on Tuesday and book an Indian Wells clash with Dominika Cibulkova, the woman she beat in the Australian Open final. China's Li, the world number two and top seed in the $12 million combined ATP and WTA tournament, defea