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Leslie Xavier

Leslie Xavier

Leslie Xavier is a former national wrestler, judoka and karate champion. He has been a sports journalist for more than a decade and writes on Olympic disciplines and motorsport.

Articles by Leslie Xavier

Gaurav Gill to drive in World Rally Championship 2 with Team MRF

Team MRF announced they will compete in the World Rally Championship 2 (WRC 2) -- the second rung global competition -- and Gaurav Gill, who drove them to three Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) titles, will spearhead their challenge.

Updated on Apr 16, 2018 10:59 IST

2018 Commonwealth Games: England beat India 2-1, win bronze in men’s hockey - highlights

Harry Martin of England (R) vies for the ball with Indian men’s hockey team's Harmanpreet Singh (L) during their men's hockey bronze medal play-off of the 2018 Commonwealth in Gold Coast on Saturday. Get highlights of the bronze medal play-off between India men’s hockey team and England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG 2018) here.

Updated on Apr 14, 2018 10:46 IST

How Commonwealth Games cost Sushil Kumar and Indian wrestling stars a World Cup shot

Sushil Kumar is expected to cakewalk to a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast but the double Olympic medallist would have found the experience of competing at the World Cup, against the best in the world, a more worthy exercise keeping in mind the future and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Updated on Apr 12, 2018 09:18 IST

2018 Commonwealth Games: Erratic India punished by Pakistan in hockey opener - highlights

Indian men's hockey team’s SV Sunil (left) and Paksitan hockey team’s Muhammad Faisal Qadir vie for position during their match at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG 2018) in Gold Coast, Australia, on Saturday. Get highlights of the India vs Pakistan hockey match from the 2018 Commonwealth Games here.

Updated on Apr 7, 2018 07:34 IST

Commonwealth Games 2018: Squash dreams rest on tested warhorses

Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal have been Indian squash’s ambassadors-cum-champions for more than a decade.

Updated on Apr 1, 2018 04:34 IST

Review: A Ringside Affair by James Lawton

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee: Muhammad Ali outside the Alvin theater in New York on October 1, 1968. James Lawton’s A Ringside Affair begins with the final days of Ali’s illustrious pro boxing career in the ring.

Updated on Jan 27, 2018 11:44 IST

Motorsports rewind 2017: Lewis Hamilton stars but trouble brews in F1

Lewis Hamilton had an impressive F1 season as he clinched the title in 2017.

Updated on Dec 28, 2017 05:32 IST

Vijender Singh has home challenger too as Brijesh Kumar Meena issues war cry

Vijender Singh is aiming for a perfect 10 in his WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight bout against Ernest Amuzu but he faces a potential challenge in Brijesh Kumar Meena.

Updated on Dec 21, 2017 03:25 IST

Vijender Singh faces an African next - How farcical are his pro boxing bouts

Vijender Singh will face Ernest Amuzu of Ghana in the tenth bout of his professional boxing career in Jaipur.

Updated on Dec 20, 2017 10:21 IST

FIH Hockey World League Final, India beat Belgium in shootout to enter semis, highlights

Indian men’s hockey team player SV Sunil (24) attempts to score against Belgium during the second quarter of their quarterfinal match of the FIH Hockey World league Final at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Get highlights of the FIH Hockey World League Final, India vs Belgium quarterfinal here.

Updated on Dec 6, 2017 17:08 IST

Superbike ‘sabotage’ mars JK Tyre -FMSCI National Racing season finale

Action from the Suzuki Gixxer Cup race at the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship final round at Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida on Sunday.

Updated on Nov 19, 2017 18:01 IST

Wrestler Sushil Kumar’s golden return shrouded in walkover ‘mystery’

Wrestler Sushil Kumar greets the crowd after winning the gold medal in the men's 74kg freestyle competition during the Senior National wrestling championships in Indore on Friday.

Updated on Nov 18, 2017 05:24 IST

Delhi Half Marathon: A race where runners stand to lose more than win

Air pollution in India's capital has hit hazardous levels, but the Delhi Half Marathon is going ahead regardless.

Updated on Nov 10, 2017 14:25 IST

Andrea Dovizioso wins Malaysian GP, keeps MotoGP title race alive vs Marc Marquez

Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso (C) celebrates his victory with second-placed Jorge Lorenzo (L) and third-placed Johann Zarco (R) on the podium after winning the Malaysia MotoGP at the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday.

Updated on Oct 29, 2017 17:14 IST

Moto GP: Marc Marquez crashes, Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa takes pole at Sepang

Honda’s Dani Pedrosa (C) grabbed the pole position at the Malaysian GP on Saturday.

Updated on Oct 28, 2017 13:36 IST

MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso, Sepang ghosts stand between Marc Marquez and world title

Marc Marquez sits inside his team garage during the first practice session of the Malaysia MotoGP at the Sepang International circuit.

Updated on Oct 27, 2017 12:16 IST

Salwan Race and a vision to transform video gamers into fit marathoners

The 22nd edition of the Salwan Cross Country Race will be staged this year at the Army Equestrian Centre Polo Ground in New Delhi on November 5.

Updated on Oct 20, 2017 10:36 IST

FIFA U-17 World Cup, Mexico vs Chile highlights: MEX qualify for Round of 16 after 0-0 draw

Mexico's Luis Olivas (on the ground) and Raul Sandoval fight for the ball with Chile's Yerco Oyanedel (left) during their FIFA U-17 World Cup Group F football match in Guwahati on Saturday. Get highlights of the Mexico vs Chile match here.

Updated on Oct 14, 2017 16:55 IST

FIFA U-17 World Cup, USA vs Colombia highlights: COL win 3-1, enter round of 16

Juan Penaloza (R) of Colombia national football team celebrates after scoring against Colombia national football team in their FIFA U-17 World Cup match at the DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. Get full-time score and highlights of USA vs Colombia match here.

Updated on Oct 12, 2017 16:53 IST

India vs Macau AFC Asian Cup qualifier highlights: IND win 4-1, qualify for finals

Rowllin Borges of Indian national football team (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in their AFC Asian Cup qualifier football match vs Macau at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore on Wednesday. Get final football score and highlights of the India vs Macau match here

Updated on Oct 11, 2017 17:08 IST

Hockey India’s appointment of Sjoerd Marijne as men’s coach defies logic

Sjoerd Marijne, who was the coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, will take over over as the head of the men’s team after Roelant Oltmans was sacked from the post. Harendra Singh has been named as the women’s team’s high performance specialist coach.

Updated on Sep 9, 2017 03:45 IST

Floyd Mayweather wins, Conor McGregor too, as boxing loses some more ground

Floyd Mayweather (R) needed 10 rounds to beat Conor McGregor in their super fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Saturday night.

Updated on Aug 28, 2017 12:22 IST

Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor: Boxing super fight or a circus?

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (L) of the US will aim to extend his undefeated streak to a record 50-0 when he faces UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor of Ireland at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday.

Updated on Aug 26, 2017 09:47 IST

Khel Ratna, Arjuna: Authorities should set norms, and athletes their priorities, straight

(File picture) The Arjuna (trophy in picture), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Dronacharya award for coaches are presented by the President on National Sports Day every year (August 29, the birth anniversary of hockey legend Dhyan Chand).

Updated on Aug 6, 2017 04:19 IST

Rohan Bopanna: 7-year itch & freedom - expect more Slams from French Open champ

Rohan Bopanna and Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada won the French Open 2017 mixed doubles title, defeating Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Robert Farah.

Updated on Jun 11, 2017 15:04 IST

Pakistan in do-or-die vs South Africa: Emotional fans boost demoralised PAK

Pakistan cricket fans during the ICC Champions Trophy match against Indian cricket team at Edgbaston, in Birmingham. The city has a sizable Pakistani population which is expected to come out again in huge numbers to support their team in the crucial match against South Africa cricket team on Wednesday.

Updated on Jun 7, 2017 08:34 IST

Jehan Daruvala becomes 1st Indian to take pole in FIA F3 European Championship

Jehan Daruvala of Carlin team in action during the qualifying session for Race 1 the FIA Formula 3 European Championship second round at Monza in Italy on Friday. The Indian finished Race 1 in second position.

Updated on Apr 29, 2017 10:15 IST

Steffi Graf brought out the best in me: Arantxa Sanchez on her famous rivalry

Spanish former World No. 1 professional tennis player, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, at the HT office in New Delhi on Monday.

Updated on Apr 18, 2017 03:32 IST

Hero’s J-Rod wins India Baja, Abdul Wahid Tanveer of TVS bags Merzouga ticket

Joaquim “J-Rod” Rodrigues of Hero Motosport, won the moto segment of the India Baja, beating KP Aravind of TVS Racing, while Abdul Wahid Tanveer finished third.

Updated on Apr 30, 2017 11:37 IST

J-Rod of Hero leads as India Baja Dakar Challenge gives reality check to Indians

Hero Motosport’s Joaquim Rodrigues during the first day of the India Baja in Jaisalmer on Saturday.

Updated on Apr 8, 2017 17:42 IST

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