Italy midfielder Antonio Candreva gave a dazzling performance as he scored a penalty and set up a second goal in a 2-0 win over Finland in their fast-paced final Euro 2016 warm-up in Verona on Monday. The 29-year-old winger coolly converted a 27th-minute spot kick after being brought down and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Daniele De Rossi to head home midway through the second half. Thriving on the right flank in an adventurous 3-4-3 formation, Candreva was a handful for the visitors throughout the evening, showing blistering pace as well as neat footwork. With their coach Antonio Conte fielding a three-pronged attack of Stephan El Shaarawy, Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza, the Italians pressed high and hard to keep the Finns on the back foot from the start.
The Indian 4x400m women's relay team, led by Jauna Murmu, Ashwini Akkunji, Anilda Thomas and MR Poovamma, clocked 3.31.39sec to win the gold medal at the PTS Athletics Meeting in Samorin, Slovakia. Only 16 countries are eligible to compete in the relay events of track and field at the Rio Olympics, and as a result of their performance in Slovakia last night, India has improved its 4x400m women quartet's world ranking to 15th position which is a step towards that goal. As per the IAAF regulations, the 2016 OG qualification standards has to be attained between the period, January 1, 2016 to July 11, 2016. The Samorin performance is the Indian relay quartet's second fastest timing and improves its average from two-fastest races to 3:30.24sec.
With Somdev Devvarman qualifying for the singles event, all the members of the Indian Davis Cup team are now set to compete in the $1,619,500 Dubai Tennis Championships, beginning in Dubai on Monday.
The Indian women 4x400m relay quartet of Jauna Murmu, Ashwini Akkunji, Anilda Thomas and M R Poovamma enhanced its Rio Olympic Games qualification chances by winning a gold medal at the PTS athletics Grand Prix with an impressive timing of 3:31.39.
The Argentina captain turns 31 in a few days and may be playing his last World Cup. He would need to win it to rival fellow great Diego Maradona for the eternal love of his compatriots.
On a mixed day for India, defending champions and third seeds Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy crashed out but Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi entered the men's doubles second round of the US Open in New York.
Luka Modric pulled one back for Zinedine Zidane's shellshocked side with a brilliant strike from distance early in the second half before substitute Vinicius Jr reduced the deficit to one goal.
The ace cueist, the only Indian in the fray in the men's category, proved too good for Alex Borg of Malta in a 6-0 victory to improve upon his showing at the last championship when he was ousted in the quarter-finals in Bengaluru by Yan Bingtao 4-6 of China.
Dark horse Croatia take on spirited Nigeria in a World Cup opener on Saturday that could leave one side fighting for their tournament lives in the Group of Death.
Leander Paes kept himself in contention for twin titles after making the quarter-finals of both men's doubles and mixed doubles events at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday.
Rafa Nadal dispelled any concerns over his fitness and form at the Australian Open with an impressive second-round win over Slovakia's Lukas Lacko on Wednesday.
Indian shuttlers Chetan Anand, Arvind Bhat and Anand Pawar advanced to the second round of the men's singles at Bitburger Open badminton tournament in Germany on Wednesday.
Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy had to be content with a runner-up finish at the ATP Brisbane International event after the top seeded duo lost the summit clash to Marc Gicquel and Jeremy Chardy in straight sets.
The Danish international scored the winner as Spurs beat Bournemouth 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday and Eriksen has set his sights on another good showing against the European champions at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid star forward Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Barcelona's Lionel Messi for the first time to clinch La Liga's best player award among a hat-trick of awards he won at the Spanish top flight's annual gala.
Top seeds Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy on Friday earned a shot at the title of the season opener ATP Brisbane International event after overcoming a second set lapse against Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner in Brisbane.
Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy advanced to the semi-finals of the doubles event of the ATP Brisbane International after getting a walk over from the local pair of Ashley Fisher and Stephen Huss on Thursday.
Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski scored twice in the opening half-hour as the Premier League leaders romped to a 4-0 win over third-tier Coventry City in their FA Cup fourth round tie at the Emirates on Friday.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended a barren scoring run in La Liga by striking late to give Real Madrid a 2-1 win at neighbours Getafe on Saturday, preventing what would have been a costly and embarrassing draw for the Spanish and European champions.
Tottenham Hotspur maintained their push for a Premier League top-four finish with a well-deserved 2-0 home win over struggling London rivals West Ham United on Monday.
Leander Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dloughy moved into the semi-final of the men's doubles and were joined by Mahesh Bhupathi and his partner Mark Knowles of Bahamas.
Real Madrid's trophy aspirations could well depend on how well they cope with an injury crisis that sees Gareth Bale and Luka Modric in the treatment room.
France stretched their unbeaten run against Croatia to eight games after a late goal by Kylian Mbappe gave the world champions a 2-1 win in their Nations League top-tier Group 3 match on Wednesday.
Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi took contrasting routes to the doubles quarter-finals in the Internazionali BNL D'Italia tennis tournament in Rome on Thursday. Third seeds Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy swamped Ivo Karlovic and Dusan Vemic 6-1, 6-1, while fourth seeded Bhupathi and his Bahamian teammate Mark Knowles survived some torrid moments before beating unheralded Simon Bolelli and Andreas Seppi 7-6(5), 2-6, 10-3.
Unfazed by the early exit from ATP World Tour Finals, ace Indian tennis player Leander Paes on Saturday said he and his doubles partner Lukas Dlouhy had a fantastic year winning two Grand Slam titles and hoped to come back stronger next season.
Leander Paes and his partner Lukas Dlouhy rounded off their disappointing campaign at the season ending World Tour Finals with their third successive defeat in London on Friday.
Indian ace Leander Paes and his partner Lukas Dlouhy suffered a straight-set defeat against American Byran brothers Bob and Mike to be out of contention for a semi-final spot in the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Leander Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy's chances of making the knockout stage of the ATP World Tour Finals' doubles event suffered a jolt after they were handed a straight-set defeat by debutants Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach in their opening Group B match in London on Monday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday.
In other European football action Real Madrid were left frustrated after a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao in their La Liga match on Sunday.
Teenager Joel Matip made a dream Bundesliga debut on Saturday, heading in Schalke 04's equaliser to help his team draw 1-1 at Bayern Munich and remain in fourth spot, four points off the pace.
Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Real Betis on Wednesday as an inspired performance from their former goalkeeper Antonio Adan and a stoppage-time winner from Antonio Sanabria stunned the Liga champions.
The FIFA World Cup at Russia saw a variety of celebrations -- from the weird to some fancy dance moves -- Rediff.com has got it all covered here...
Winning the Grand Slam title on physically demanding red clay is 'special' says Indian tennis ace Leander Paes, who clinched his third French Open men's doubles trophy with Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy.
Celebrate the Legend's 80th birthday by recording a song on Rediff IShare.
Leander Paes won the battle of Indians as well as his 10th Grand Slam title after defeating old pal Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles in the US Open men's doubles final along with his partner Lukas Dlouhy.
Fourth seeds Paes and Lukas Dlouhy rallied to a three-set win against Yves Allegro of Switzerland and Fabrice Santoro of France.
The men's doubles final at the US Open will be a showdown between former partners Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy avenged the defeat they suffered in last year's final by beating Bob and Mike Bryan in the men's doubles semi-finals on Wednesday, while third seeds Bhupathi and Mark Knowles easily beat fifth seeds Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram in the other semi 6-4, 6-2.
Third seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles entered the semi-finals of the men's doubles at the US Open after beating Ivan Ljubicic from Croatia and Michael Llodra from France in the quarter-finals of the tournament.Earlier, Fourth seeds Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy entered the semi-finals, beating seventh seeds Wesley Moodie of South Africa and Dick Norman of Belgium 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 on Tuesday.
Here is a look at some of the key head-to-head duels which could prove decisive.
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