Madrid, April 1 (IANS): Spain took a step towards qualification for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar with a 3-1 win at home to Kosovo. Spain went into the game after a 1-1 draw at home to Greece and a slightly fortunate 2-1 win in Georgia, which had raised questions about their effectiveness in front of goal and for the first half hour of their game against Kosovo the same questions as Spain controlled the ball, but failed to trouble Kosovo keeper Samir Ujkani apart from a shot fr

Vilnius (Lithuania), April 1 (IANS): Italy continued their winning streak in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers as it beat Lithuania 2-0 on Wednesday, claiming the third consecutive win without conceding a goal. Azzurri have beaten both Northern Ireland and Bulgaria 2-0 in the previous two games, and coach Roberto Mancini rotated the starting line-up, as Stephan El Shaarawy, Federico Bernardeschi stepped in while Rafael Toloi made his debut, Xinhua news reports. Italy was utterly domi

Duisburg (Germany), April 1 (IANS): Joachim Loew's final World Cup qualifier as Germany coach ended in a shock defeat to North Macedonia as Eljif Elmas struck late to give the visitors a 2-1 win. Elmas nudged home from close-range, with the aid of a slight deflection, five minutes from time after veteran Goran Pandev had given North Macedonia the lead in first half injury-time on Wednesday, DPA news reports. Ilkay Guendogan levelled from the spot midway through the second hal

Sydney, April 1 (IANS): Football's global governing body FIFA on Thursday announced nine host cities and 10 stadiums across Australia and New Zealand as venues for 2023 Women's World Cup. Eden Park in Auckland will host the opening match of the tournament on July 10 with Stadium Australia in Sydney selected to host the final on August 20. The other stadiums that have been announced as host venues are Hindmarsh Stadium (Adelaide), Brisbane Stadium (Brisbane), Dunedin Stadi

Our Correspondent Kohima | March 31 The 18th Nagaland State Chess Championship 2021 entered 3rd day here today at The Heritage, Old DC Bungalow, Kohima. Under open championship category, Kevilekho Zumvu topped the list with six and half points, followed by Mughaho Awomi with six points, and Khrielie Sano with five and half points. With five points each of Melesayi Dawhuo, Bovito Yeputho, Salhuto Nyekha,  Akhrietuo Mere Kesiyie, Seyiekhrietuo Mere and Hekugha Yepthomi wer

Longleng, March 31 (MExN): The 10th Phom Monyu Open Volleyball Tournament organized by Longleng Town Students Union (LTSU), under the theme: ‘Gits, Guts, Glory’, started at Public Ground, Longleng on March 30 with President, Eastern Nagaland Woman Organization (ENWO) A Shamthai Phom as the special guest. She congratulated LTSU for organizing the tournament annually and giving a platform for the upcoming sportspersons. She also stressed on benefits of playing sports, impo

Dimapur, March 31 (MExN): The 1st Phom Monyu Volleyball Trophy organised by Dimapur Phom Students’ Union under the theme ‘Breaking Barriers’ started at DDSC Stadium, Dimapur on March 31 with L Imtizulu Phom, Personal Secretary to the State Minister of Health and Family Welfare, as the special guest. Speaking on the occasion, the special guest encouraged all the students to go forward with their dreams and passion. He called on the youth to venture into different fi

Peren, March 31 (MExN): The closing ceremony for St. Xavier College, Jalukie annual sports and games day was held on March 31 at Xaverite Stadium with Minister for Higher Education & Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along as special guest. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister commended Catholic institutions for their education policy for the upcoming youths in the State. He said many students who have passed out from Catholic institutions are leaders in many areas and praise worthy

Mumbai, March 31 (IANS): Ajinkya Rahane said that he was looking to regain his rhythm in his first practice session for the Delhi Capitals after getting out of quarantine in Mumbai. Rahane last played in India's fourth Test against England that ended on March 6. "I batted for the first time in 20 days. We came out after being in quarantine for seven days, so I was just looking to get into the groove and get into a good rhythm. And as we get closer to the tournament, it w

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS): India fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar moved up to 11th from 20th in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) ODI rankings for bowlers. This is Kumar's best position since being 10th in September 2017. Kumar played an integral role in India's 2-1 win over England in the recent three-match series, picking 3/42 in the final match. Meanwhile, K.L. Rahul moved up from 31st to 27th, all-rounder Hardik Pandya has achieved a career-best 42nd positio

Bengaluru, March 31 (IANS): India's Akhil Rabindra on Wednesday announced that he will be racing in the 2021 European GT4 Championship for AGS Events Racing team. Rabindra will be the only Indian driver in the championship this season. The 24-year-old racer first represented AGS at the French GT4 Championship. HE is the only Asian to have made it to the highly respected Aston Martin Racing (AMR) Driver Academy for consecutive years in 2019-20 and 2020-2021. "I am really

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS): Boxing coach Dharmendra Yadav is staying back in Istanbul for another week in quarantine as his second report has also come positive for Covid-19, an official familiar with the development said on Wednesday. The good news, however, is that the reports of the other seven members, including five male boxers, has come negative, and they are supposed to board a flight to New Delhi from Turkey on Wednesday. "Despite following Covid-19 protocols and soc

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS): The junior women's national hockey championship has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hockey India (HI) said on Wednesday. The tournament was scheduled to start on April 3 to 12 in Simdega, Jharkhand. A total of 26 teams from across India were to take part in the prestigious annual event. "In light of the rising number of Covid-19 cases and after advice from the local state authorities, Hockey India in consultation with the host

Sydney, March 31 (IANS): Former Australia captain Michael Clarke said that fast bowler Pat Cummins is the ideal candidate to take over as the team's skipper in all formats of the game. The post of Australia's captain has been in the news recently due to batsman and former skipper Steve Smith saying that he is ready to take up the responsibility whenever he is required to. "Just because Cummins isn't out there saying I should be the next captain and I'm ready...

Athens, March 31 (IANS): A new lighting system installed at Athens' Panathenaic stadium has been unveiled. The marble main venue of the first modern Olympic Games of 1896 is now illuminated with thousands of LED bulbs to reduce light pollution and save energy. The new system was inaugurated in a small symbolic ceremony due to COVID-19 pandemic measures on Monday attended by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, Hel

Rio De Janeiro, March 31 (IANS): Barcelona attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho returned to his native Brazil for treatment on his troublesome left knee. The 28-year-old Coutinho has not played since suffering lateral meniscus damage in Barcelona's 1-1 home draw with Eibar on December 29, Xinhua news reports. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in January but has not recovered as the Catalan club's medical staff had hoped. "The first team player Philippe Coutinho

Luxembourg City, March 31 (IANS): Cristiano Ronaldo netted the winner as his Portugal side fought back from a goal down to avoid World Cup embarrassment with a 3-1 win at Luxembourg on Tuesday. Ronaldo's 103rd international goal moved him within six of Ali Daei's all-time record for Iran but brought Portugal a crucial three points after they -- Ronaldo in particularly -- had been enraged at having a late winner at Serbia not given on Saturday. Portugal and Serbia, who the

Leuven (Belgium), March 31 (IANS): Leandro Trossard and Hans Vanaken each scored twice as Belgium eased past Belarus 8-0 to move to the top of their World Cup 2022 qualifying group in style. Belgium fell behind in their first two Group E games -- a 3-1 win comeback win over Wales and 1-1 draw with Czech Republic -- but were four goals ahead at half-time on Tuesday, DPA news reports. Michy Batshuayi opened the scoring for Belgium after 14 minutes at Den Dreef in Leuven in the abse

Our Correspondent Kohima | March 30 Players squared off for second day of the ongoing 18th Nagaland State Chess Championship 2021 held under the aegis of Nagaland Chess Association (NCA) at The Heritage, Old DC Bungalow on March 30. In open category, Akhrietuo Mere Kesiyie topped the point tally with four points on Tuesday.   It is followed by the trio of Mughaho Awomi, Kevilekho Zumvu and Sovrav Singh with 3 and half point each. In the combine category (Under-18 and

Our Correspondent Kohima | March 30  The Kohima Air Rifle Club has successfully organised 4th Sekrenyi Open Air Rifle Shooting Competition 2021 here at D. Khel Ground, Kohima village in March 29 last. In Pre-Charged Pneumatic event, Mesekhrietuo Khezhie bagged the first position while Menuobeilie Yiese and Seyievilie Mechülho stood second and third position respectively. In Break Barrel, Seyievilie Mechülho stood first position while Mesekhrietuo Khezhie and Vi