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Teams from Asia and Africa have shown in Qatar that they are no longer pushovers at the FIFA World Cup, grabbing five spots in the round of 16. Japan has led this fight against Europe, slaying two world champions.

In this issue

24-12-202220 STORIES

Agony: Injuries are a part and parcel of sport. Nutrition can determine the speed and quality of the healing process.

Heal better with good nutrition

Nutrition plays a crucial role in the injury-rehabilitation process. All patients with wounds should be nutritionally assessed and have their treatmen

Those were the days: It was a time when football league matches in Bengaluru, especially between the top teams like ITI and HAL, drew near full houses.

FIFA World Cup: Down memory lane

The live telecast of World Cup football in India, in 1982, did something to Indian football besides introducing us to world-class performers. It showe

Making a point: Kerala Blasters head coach Ivan Vukomanovic with captain Jessel Carneiro (right) and midfielder Saurav Mandal (left) at a press conference

Crosses in the ISL need improvement, says Kerala Blasters coach Vukomanovic

According to Kerala Blasters head coach Ivan Vukomanovic, “more than 95 percent” of crosses in the ISL are not delivered correctly.

Superstar: Novak Djokovic boasts the best serve return and backhand in tennis history, and these two shots have overshadowed two other mighty weapons: his serve and forehand.

Novak Djokovic reasserts his supremacy at ATP Finals

“Regardless of who is across the net, regardless of what the surface is, regardless of what season it is, what number of the professional season in my

Moment to celebrate: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma poses for a selfie with the State’s victorious track-and-field team during the Northeast Olympic Games. In a bid to establish a thriving ecosystem of sport in the State, world-class indoor and outdoor facilities will be set up in Shillong and Tura by 2024, as per Sangma.

Meghalaya showcases sporting ambition with Northeast Olympic Games

Meghalaya’s ambition to become a sporting powerhouse of the Northeast got a fillip with the Second Northeast Olympic Games in Shillong. Long-term plan

Tim Southee (right) celebrates after taking a hat-trick during the second T20I against India in Mount Maunganui on November 20.

Statsman: Southee only the second bowler to pick two T20I hat-tricks

During the T20I series against India, Tim Southee became the second bowler — after Lasith Malinga — to claim a hat-trick in T20 Internationals on two

Football fever: Fans of Qatar at the FIFA World Cup at Lusail, outside Doha, ahead of the first match.

FIFA World Cup diary: It’s business as usual in Doha

A lack of atmosphere and buzz during the first week made it an unusual FIFA World Cup. Crowds were missing in the streets but miraculously appeared wh

Ruturaj Gaikwad scored four centuries in five matches, including a double.

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022-23: Six players who stood out with bat and ball

Most centuries were scored in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season than in any other season. There were, expectedly, numerous instances of individual b

Star act: Bruno Fernandes was the creative heartbeat of the Portuguese team in the group stage.

FIFA World Cup, Group H: Ecstasy for South Korea, agony for Uruguay

With Portugal already assured of a place in the pre-quarterfinals, Uruguay and South Korea finished level on points, but the latter made it to the rou

Picture perfect: With a flick up with his left foot followed by the sweetest bicycle kick with his right, Richarlison made a lasting impression.

FIFA World Cup, Group G: Brazil thrills and mesmerises en route to the round of 16

The five-time world champion was the best side on view in Group G and had already qualified for the round of 16 before its upset loss to Cameroon in t

In the spotlight: Hakim Ziyech (left) of Morocco celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s first goal against Canada. Ziyech has remained a constant threat along the right flank and was the architect of Morocco’s attack.

FIFA World Cup, Group F: Toothless Belgium shown the door

Roberto Martinez’s side — which had finished third in the last edition of the tournament — was shown the door after the group stage, with a win, a dra

Formidable: Ritsu Doan’s is overjoyed after netting in Japan’s equaliser against Spain. Apart from his two goals in the group stage games, Doan has been a constant threat on the flanks with his pace and accurate crossing.

FIFA World Cup, Group E: Japan stuns European heavyweights

Japan and Spain advanced, and Germany failed to make the knockouts for a second successive edition.

Key man: Antoine Griezmann of France is tackled by Christian Eriksen of Denmark. The 31-year-old was exceptional against Australia and Denmark — the two games France won.

FIFA World Cup, Group D: France brushes aside injury woes to top group, Australia springs a surprise

Despite the absence of some key men, not many would have betted on the French making an early exit, given the team’s depth. It was the first team to a

Master strike: Lionel Messi of Argentina beats a diving Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico to score his team’s first goal.

FIFA World Cup, Group C: Argentina survives scare to make it to round of 16

Argentina and Poland made it to the round of 16, albeit through a path not many would have envisioned.

Opening the account: Marcus Rashford beats Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward to make it 1-0 for England.

FIFA World Cup, Group B: Clinical England strolls through to the round of 16, Wales underwhelms

Barring Wales, every other team in Group B lived up to its pre-tournament billing.

In elite club: Gakpo is only the second player to score the first goal of the match three times in the same group stage of a World Cup, after Italy’s Alessandro Altobelli in Mexico 1986.

FIFA World Cup, Group A: Netherlands justifies top billing, host Qatar fails to impress

The Netherlands, with seven points, extended its unbeaten run to 18 matches and topped Group A, followed by Senegal in second place, but host Qatar fa

Nourishing fare: Mascot Shera during the soft launch of the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi in September, 2010. When the athletes left the Commonwealth Games Village, those who had participated in the earlier Commonwealth Games were all praise for the Delhi Games, saying they were the best they had been to.

Sunil Gavaskar: To the media, back your nation

Media in the developing world at times attack their own country as it prepares to host a global sporting competition. Often, it is criticism for criti

Great effort: Ritsu Doan celebrates scoring Japan’s first goal with team-mates Hidemasa Morita, Ao Tanaka and Kaoru Mitoma as Spain’s Sergio Busquets, Pau Torres and Pedri look dejected in a group game. Japan shocked Spain 2-1 to finish on top of Group E.

Rise of the underdogs: Asia, Africa upset the apple cart to write a new chapter in FIFA World Cup history

Teams from Asia and Africa have shown in Qatar that they are no longer pushovers at the FIFA World Cup, grabbing five spots in the round of 16. Japan

Pablo Erat (R) in action.

How to compete in Ironman: Old school warriors show the way in Goa race

Switzerland’s Pablo Erat, 51, finished sixth in the Ironman 70.3 race that happened in Goa, which featured a 1.9km swim in open water, followed by a 9

FILE PHOTO: Afghanistan’s Kimia Yousofi competes in the women’s 100m heats during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 30, 2021.

Afghan 100m sprinter Kimia Yousofi’s new life in Sydney - training, learning English and mission Paris Olympics

When 100m sprinter Kimia Yousofi travelled to Tokyo in July, 2021 as the flag-bearer of Afghanistan at the Olympics, little did she know that it was h

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