Vera Caslavska, a multiple Olympic gymnastics gold medalist who stood up against the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia, has died. She was 74. The Czech Olympic Committee on Wednesday said Caslavska died in Prague late Tuesday. Caslavska had cancer of the pancreas and underwent surgery on May 15 last year, the committee previously said. She […]
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Rookie Kazuki Yabuta made the most of his emergency start, pitching six scoreless innings for the Hiroshima Carp in a 3-0 win over the Yokohama BayStars on Wednesday. The Carp, who are chasing their first Central League pennant since 1991, moved 12 games clear of the second-place Yomiuri Giants and now have a magic number […]
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What is a team to do when its best pitcher is also its best run producer? The answer is to have him swing the bat as often as possible — even if the pitcher is 22-year-old Shohei Otani and has a record-setting 163-kph fastball. That, in a nutshell, is why Japan’s fastest pitcher is not […]
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New Japan coach Jamie Joseph is set for a baptism by fire after it was announced his first game in charge will be against Argentina, the country he won the last of his nine Japan caps against. The Japan Rugby Football Union confirmed the fixture Wednesday saying it would be played on Nov. 5 at […]
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Masahiro Tanaka allowed two runs in five innings but did not figure in the decision in the New York Yankees’ 5-4, 10-inning win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. Tanaka, who had won his four previous starts, was going for his 12th win of the season, but did not return to the mound after […]
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After a year and a half of shadow boxing, national team manager Vahid Halilhodzic finally gets to taste some meaningful action when Japan begins the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup against the United Arab Emirates on Thursday night. With a host of dangerous teams looking to deny them a place […]
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The manager of South Korea’s national swimming team has resigned as an investigation continues into a scandal involving the alleged installation of hidden cameras to take pictures of female athletes, the national federation has said. “As manager that leads the team, I deeply feel responsible that such (a) shameful incident took place,” Ahn Jong-taek, who […]
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Three-time champion Alberto Contador has given up on winning this year’s Tour of Spain, saying Tuesday he has fallen too far behind overall leader Nairo Quintana of Colombia. “The chances of winning are very slim now” said the Spanish pre-race favourite during a press conference. “I’m three minutes behind Nairo Quintana whose doing really well […]
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Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero could miss the derby match against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sept. 10 after being charged with violent conduct on Tuesday for elbowing an opponent during a game. The English Football Association said match officials did not see the incident, in which Aguero appeared to swing his left […]
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Goalkeeper Hope Solo has decided to end her season with the Seattle Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League. The beleaguered goalkeeper, who was handed a six-month suspension and saw her contract with U.S. Soccer terminated last week, announced her departure from her professional club team in a statement Tuesday. U.S. Soccer suspended Solo following […]
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Tim Tebow crushed a batting-practice fastball with a confident left-handed swing, sending it into the trees next to the scoreboard beyond right field. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback only paused an instant to appreciate his shot, and then he went right back to work on the unlikely next chapter in his unique athletic story. Tebow took […]
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to miss at least the next season while recovering from a dislocated left knee and torn anterior cruciate ligament after a freak practice injury on Tuesday. Bridgewater was taken by ambulance to a hospital after crumpling to the turf during practice, and the team announced hours later that […]
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Kei Nishikori, glad to be back on the New York hard courts where he became Asia’s first men’s Grand Slam finalist, reached the second round of the U.S. Open Tuesday. The Japanese sixth seed, who fell to Marin Cilic in the 2014 final, quashed German Benjamin Becker’s rally attempt, emerging with a 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, […]
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Kris Johnson took over the Central League lead in wins, allowing two runs in six innings before the Hiroshima Carp battered the Yokohama BayStars bullpen in an 8-2 win on Tuesday night. The Carp, who are chasing their first CL pennant since 1991, remain 11 games ahead of the second-place Yomiuri Giants and clinched a […]
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Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III has four weeks to find four players to fill out his U.S. team, and there won’t be a lack of information. And to hear him Monday morning, there won’t be a lack of players. “Anybody in the top 100 has to be our radar because a guy could get […]
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Japan’s Rio Olympic judo gold medalists believe their country has reclaimed its rightful place as the sport’s world No. 1, but warned the pressure to succeed at the 2020 Tokyo Games will be enormous. “Our results in Rio have increased expectations on judo toward the Tokyo Olympics,” men’s 73-kg champion Shohei Ono, one of three […]
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Yu Darvish worked into the seventh inning, allowing three runs for the Texas Rangers in a 6-3 win over the division rival Seattle Mariners on Monday. Darvish (5-3) struck out nine, while allowing six hits in 6⅔ innings to get the better of compatriot Hisashi Iwakuma. Darvish also walked two batters. “My fastball location was […]
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Kenya is risking sanctions from the IOC after the sports minister said he had disbanded the national Olympic body and three of its senior officials were arrested and face a criminal investigation relating to alleged abuse of office during the Rio de Janeiro Games. National Olympic Committee of Kenya chairman Kip Keino warned Monday of […]
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Olympic wrestler Inna Trazhukova is seeking justice after being hit in the face by the president of the Russian wrestling federation after missing out on a medal in Rio de Janeiro, her lawyer said on Monday. The 25-year-old athlete claims that wrestling chief Mikhail Mamiashvili struck her twice in front of her teammates and foreign […]
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Philadelphia Eagles rookie Myke Tavarres pledged Monday to emulate Colin Kaepernick by refusing to stand for the U.S. national anthem, only to backtrack on the issue hours later. Tavarres, 23, said he planned to sit during the anthem when the Eagles host the New York Jets in Philadelphia on Thursday. “We’ve got an issue in […]
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Wayne Rooney will remain as England captain but his midfield experiment with the national team is over, with the Manchester United veteran set to revert to playing as a deep-lying forward under new coach Sam Allardyce. “Wayne has been an excellent captain for England and the manner in which he has fulfilled the role made […]
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Defensive end Joey Bosa ended his monthlong holdout Monday when he signed a four-year contract with the San Diego Chargers. The team announced the signing five days after the two sides went public in their nasty spat over payment of Bosa’s $17 million signing bonus and whether the contract would have offset language. The signing […]
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Barcelona said that Lionel Messi has hurt his left hamstring and may not play in Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Messi will travel to join the Argentina squad, but his “presence in his country’s World Cup qualifying matches will depend on how the injury develops,” Barcelona says. The club statement says the medical report confirming […]
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Naomi Osaka won her U.S. Open debut on Monday, when the 18-year-old defeated 28th seed Coco Vandeweghe of the United States in the first round. While Osaka was able to come back from a set down to complete a 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-4 victory, 30th seed Misaki Doi lost in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, to […]
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Buoyed by a goal for Mainz on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season, striker Yoshinori Muto is ready to make his mark for Japan when the four-time Asian champion takes on the United Arab Emirates in Saitama on Thursday in its Group B opener in the final round of qualifiers for the 2018 World […]
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From the White House to San Francisco police union headquarters, Colin Kaepernick’s name came up Monday as his decision to sit down during the U.S. national anthem reached far beyond football. Many aren’t thrilled with the 49ers quarterback’s strong words about why he is doing it: To instigate change and challenge authority when it comes […]
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Southampton defender Maya Yoshida says Japan must treat the United Arab Emirates “like Brazil” in its final-round World Cup qualifier in Saitama on Thursday and has warned the Blue Samurai that they cannot afford a repeat of the start they made against UAE in their quarterfinal defeat at last year’s Asian Cup in Australia. “Every […]
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Longtime maegashira Tokitenku said Monday that balancing cancer treatments and sumo wrestling proved to be too difficult. Three days after the Japan Sumo Association announced that the 36-year-old Mongolian-born wrestler had been accepted as a sumo elder, a tearful Tokitenku talked about his decision and his career. “The treatment dragged on and it was difficult […]
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WBA light flyweight champion Ryoichi Taguchi and WBA super flyweight champ Kohei Kono each enters his title defense on Wednesday hoping his edge in reach can make a difference. The world title doubleheader at Tokyo’s Ota Gymnasium will mark the fourth title defense for both Watanabe Gym fighters, who had their prefight medicals on Monday. […]
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Wearing the official Japanese Olympic team uniform, a pinstriped sports coat and gray pants, and with silver medals hanging from their necks, the Japanese 4×100-meter relay team gave an impromptu demonstration of their baton-passing skills for a curious crowd of onlookers. They swung their arms as if they were actually running and passed the baton […]
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Seven-time major winner John McEnroe has ended his coaching role with Canada’s Milos Raonic ahead of the year’s final grand slam, the U.S. Open. McEnroe joined Raonic’s coaching entourage in May as a consultant ahead of the grass-court season, and the world No. 6 reached his first-ever career grand slam final at Wimbledon, losing to […]
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Manager Don Mattingly says the Miami Marlins will find out a lot about their team down the stretch by being in a playoff race for the first time in more than a decade. What they’re learning lately has been discouraging. Sputtering Miami hit into a team-record six double plays Sunday to cap a rough week […]
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The Hiroshima Carp, it seems, have arrived. After a long stretch of bad years and recent seasons of being a few pieces short of a whole, the Carp are finally in the thick of a pennant race again. The team has the best record in NPB at 73-44-2 and enters this week with an 11-game […]
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Midway through his first at-bat Sunday, Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson was hopping around in pain after fouling a ball off his right knee. From there, he was all smiles. Donaldson had his first career three-homer game, Troy Tulowitzki also went deep and the Blue Jays beat the Twins 9-6 on Sunday to complete a […]
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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen’s hopes of winning a third successive World Cup have been boosted by flyhalf Beauden Barrett’s decision to commit his immediate playing future to New Zealand Rugby until after the 2019 tournament in Japan. The 25-year-old has been in career-best form this season, helping the Wellington Hurricanes to a maiden Super […]
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Spaniard David de la Cruz took the lead of the Spanish Vuelta from Nairo Quintana after completing a successful breakaway to win the mountainous ninth stage on Sunday. The Etixx-Quick Step rider earned his first win at a grand tour after he pulled away from a small escape group, dropping runner-up Dries Devenyns with 600 […]
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Nico Rosberg won an incident-packed Belgian Grand Prix featuring a chaotic start, wild overtaking, a heavy crash, safety cars and a red flag. The Mercedes driver’s win on Sunday saw him close the gap to nine points on teammate Lewis Hamilton, who finished third behind Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo as the resurgent Australian driver secured […]
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Japan’s Mike Havenaar scored his third goal of the season but his missed penalty forced ADO Den Haag to settle for a 1-1 draw against Heracles in the Dutch top flight on Sunday. Havenaar cancelled out Robin Gosens’ opener in the 28th minute as he banged home a left-footed volley to the far left-bottom corner […]
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No Manning. No Brady, for the first four games. No clear-cut favorite in the AFC. With the regular season about to kick off, it’s anybody’s guess who’ll be the conference’s representative at the Super Bowl in Houston in February. The defending champion Denver Broncos will try to become the first team to repeat since New […]
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Ozeki Kisenosato will be hoping the fourth time will be the charm that lands him promotion to yokozuna. The 30-year-old ozeki enters the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament knowing his first career title will mean promotion to sumo’s most exalted rank. This will be the fourth promotion chance for Kisenosato, who fell short in July […]
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Five months after giving away a major championship with a late meltdown, Ariya Jutanugarn ran away with the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at chilly Priddis Greens for her fifth victory in 10 events. Jutanugarn made a 12-birdie putt on the final hole for a 6-under 66 and a four-stroke victory over South Korea’s Kim Sei-young […]
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Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa is hoping to exorcise his demons and help Japan get off to a winning start in the final Asian round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers when it faces the United Arab Emirates in Group B in Saitama on Thursday. UAE wrecked Japan’s bid for a second consecutive Asian Cup title […]
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The Chiba Lotte Marines belted out five runs off three Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks relievers in the eighth inning and snapped their five-game losing streak on Sunday with a 7-5 win over the Pacific League leaders. SoftBank’s Robert Suarez (1-5) took the loss after facing just four batters in the eighth at Yafuoku Dome. With runners […]
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Defenders Yuto Nagatomo and Tomoaki Makino have both pulled out of Japan’s squad for two upcoming World Cup qualifying games due to injury. Coach Vahid Halilhodzic replaced the pair on Sunday, with Urawa Reds’ Wataru Endo and FC Tokyo’s Yuichi Maruyama, for Japan’s first two games of the final round of Asian qualifying. The two […]
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Marcus Tulio Tanaka signed a contract through next January with his old club Nagoya Grampus on Sunday, promising to give his utmost to rescue the side from relegation to the J. League’s second division. The 35-year-old was let go by new manager Takafumi Ogura before the current season, but a 17-game winless run saw Ogura […]
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Devin Gardner’s X League debut turned out to be a bittersweet experience. The former Michigan quarterback threw a touchdown pass to Jeremy Gallon, another ex-Wolverine, and scored another, but failed to lead his Nojima Sagamihara Rise to a victory over the Obic Seagulls, who came from behind to win 14-13 on Sunday at Fujitsu Stadium […]
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Former big leaguer Daisuke Matsuzaka threw three scoreless innings in a rehab start for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks’ third team on Sunday. The 35-year-old, who returned to Japan last season after eight years in the big leagues with the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, has yet to pitch for the Hawks’ first team […]
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Ryo Ishikawa, who has struggled with lower back issues this year, captured the JGTO tour’s Rizap KBC Augusta on Sunday by five strokes for his first win of the season. On a day when play was suspended for nearly three hours due to approaching thunder storms, Ishikawa closed with a 3-under-par 69 at the par-72 […]
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Japan forward Yoshinori Muto scored for Mainz late on but Shinji Kagawa’s Borussia Dortmund won 2-1 on Saturday to kick-start its new Bundesliga campaign. Muto, who scored seven goals last season before he was ruled out in February with a right-knee ligament injury, came on with nine minutes to go and headed home Pablo de […]
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The maturation of Julio Urias is coming along quickly for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 20-year-old rookie from Mexico allowed one run over six innings, Corey Seager set a Dodgers franchise record for a shortstop with his 23rd home run and Los Angeles defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Saturday to even the series between […]
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A week after letting a winning chance slip through its fingers, Argentina beat South Africa 26-24 in the Rugby Championship on Saturday to claim only its second-ever victory over the Springboks. Replacement Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, the third goalkicker used by Argentina, kicked a penalty with three minutes remaining to clinch the win after South Africa […]
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Outfielder Norichika Aoki was sent down to Triple-A Tacoma by the Seattle Mariners, the team announced Saturday. This is the second demotion this season for the 34-year-old Aoki, who will trade places on the Mariners’ active roster with former Orix Buffaloes and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks slugger Lee Dae-ho. Prior to this season, Aoki had not […]
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Rie Kaneto, Japan’s Rio Games gold medalist in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke, won that event at a short-course World Cup meet on Saturday. Swimming on the final day of the season-opening meet, Kaneto won the final in 2 minutes, 16.99 seconds. The time was 0.26 seconds off her Japan record. Miho Takahashi was third in […]
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Toshiba Brave Lupus hung on by their skin of their teeth to open their 2016-17 Top League campaign with a 22-19 win over Kubota Spears on Saturday night. Last season’s runners-up seemed to have the game sewn up when Keisuke Masuda went over in the 73rd minute at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, the center […]
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Japan striker Takuma Asano expressed determination to make a success of his loan move from English Premier League giant Arsenal to German second-division outfit Stuttgart as he returned home for national team duty on Sunday. Arsenal announced Friday that it was loaning out the 21-year-old Asano to Stuttgart, with manager Arsene Wenger saying the fleet-footed […]
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Rickie Fowler is playing so well that he can’t stop looking behind instead of considering the opportunity that lies ahead at The Barclays. His wedge to 5 feet for a birdie on the 18th hole Saturday not only gave him a 3-under 68 and a one-shot lead over Patrick Reed, it was his 45th consecutive […]
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is refusing to stand for the national anthem before games because he believes the United States oppresses African Americans and other minorities. Kaepernick sat on the team’s bench Friday night during the anthem before the Niners played host to the Green Bay Packers in an exhibition game. He later […]
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With Zlatan Ibrahimovic having an off day, Manchester United turned to a striker at the opposite end of his career to keep its winning run going in the English Premier League on Saturday. Marcus Rashford came off the bench and scored two minutes into injury time to give United a 1-0 victory at Hull, lifting […]
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Despite everything Serena Williams has won and done, her sense of self can still fluctuate based on the outcome of a particular match. Doesn’t always seem to matter that she owns a record-tying 22 major singles titles heading into the U.S. Open, which begins Monday with a retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the […]
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Yuki Yanagita erupted for five RBIs as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks hammered the Chiba Lotte Marines for the second straight day on Saturday, winning 14-3 to stay at the top of the Pacific-League standings. Yanagita, who had four RBIs on Friday in the Hawks’ 11-3 rout of the Mariners, was again at the center of […]
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Brazilian striker Diego Oliveira scored a first-half hat trick as Kashiwa Reysol clipped high-flying Kawasaki Frontale’s wings with a 5-2 win in the J. League first division on Saturday. Oliveira struck twice in the first five minutes and Akimi Barada grabbed a third for the visitors after Kentaro Moriya had pulled one back for league-leading […]
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Israel Dagg scored two tries as the All Blacks beat Australia 29-9 in their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday, which also ensured they retained the Bledisloe Cup for another year. Flyhalf Beauden Barrett also showcased his growing stature as the starting flyhalf with nine points from the boot and his all-around play drove his side […]
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Ai Miyazato shot a 4-under-par 68 and compatriot Sakura Yokomine carded a 67 as both moved within five shots of the lead after the second round of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open on Friday. World No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand shot a 64 to hold a three-stroke cushion atop of the leaderboard over South […]
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Kenya has arrested three top members of its Olympic committee, a Reuters witness said, after mismanagement of the contingent nearly derailed the country’s participation in the Rio Games. The east African nation notched up its biggest ever haul of medals in Brazil but doping and organizational challenges had plagued its preparations in the run-up to […]
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Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa will represent Japan at the World Cup of Golf as the PGA Tour on Friday announced the final field for the Nov. 23-27 event at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. Matsuyama had already secured his place in the tournament but chose former teen phenom Ishikawa as his teammate. […]
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Seattle Mariners outfielder Norichika Aoki is set for a demotion to the minors for the second time this season, a team source revealed Friday after the Mariners’ 3-1 win over the Chicago White Sox. In his fifth season in the majors, Aoki in late June was optioned to Triple-A for the first time for poor […]
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Rio Olympic women’s 200-meter breaststroke gold medalist Rie Kaneto missed a place on the podium when she finished fourth in the 100 breast final on the first day of a short-course World Cup meet on Friday. Kaneto set a short-course personal-best time of 1 minute, 5.25 seconds in the morning heats, but could only manage […]
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A few days before the Rio Olympics kicked off, Mototaka Kohama, the godfather of Japanese basketball, reunited with one of his closest friends. Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey made a long-awaited visit to Japan to see Kohama. The two men hadn’t seen each other in nine years, though Casey frequently asks about Kohama via […]
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Japan forward Takuma Asano will open his first season in Europe in the second division of Germany’s Bundesliga on a loan deal, Arsenal announced Friday. Asano, who has been named to the squad for Japan’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against United Arab Emirates and Thailand, will join German second-division side Stuttgart. “I’m so happy to […]
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After just two drives, Aaron Rodgers is ready to begin the season for the Green Bay Packers. San Francisco coach Chip Kelly still needs a bit more time to figure out who his starting quarterback will be once the games count next month. Rodgers made the most of his only appearance of the preseason, throwing […]
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Top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska breezed through her Connecticut Open semifinal Friday, routing two-time defending champion Petra Kvitova 6-1, 6-1. Radwanska, who will be seeded fourth next week in the U.S. Open, was never challenged. The Polish star won the first five games of the first set and the first four in the second against her Czech […]
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Davis Webb threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score in a sensational debut for California, leading the Bears to a 51-31 win over Hawaii on Saturday in college football’s season opener at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium. Khalfani Muhammad had 94 yards rushing and one touchdown, and Chad Hansen had 14 receptions for 160 yards […]
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Yamaha Jubilo exposed a huge chink in defending champion Panasonic Wild Knights’ armor Friday night as the new Top League season got underway at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground. The Yamaha pack demolished the Panasonic scrum and the dominance up front laid the foundations for a 24-21 win. “We played the Yamaha style, strong in […]
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A family spokesman said a cousin of Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wade has been fatally shot while pushing a baby in a stroller on the city’s South Side. Pastor Edward Jones said 32-year-old Nykea Aldridge was walking to register her children for school Friday after recently relocating. Basketball star Wade posted on Twitter: “My cousin […]
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A Rio de Janeiro court will return the passports of three members of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) and they will be allowed to leave Brazil, a source in the Rio state security services said on Friday. The passports were seized by Brazilian police, along with computers, mobile phones and unused tickets as part […]
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Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams face challenging early tests at the U.S. Open following Friday’s draws for the year’s last Grand Slam starting on Monday. Djokovic, who has been bothered by a wrist injury, faces towering Jerzy Janowicz of Poland in his opening match at Flushing Meadows, and is likely to meet 48th-ranked […]
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Most big-league managers would have still held on to a sliver of hope as Friday night’s game between the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers came down to its last few moments. Yes, Nick Buss had just hit what looked like a game-ending double play ball, but Andrelton Simmons was crashing into Detroit shortstop Erick […]
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Luxury cars, apartments, even a racehorse — being an Olympic medalist in Russia can come with great material rewards but also controversy. Under President Vladimir Putin, it’s become a tradition for Russia’s Olympic heroes to be showered with large cash sums and sometimes unwanted gifts. On Friday, less than 24 hours after dozens of medalists […]
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Swimming star Lilly King is holding her ground on doping. She wants cheaters out of the pool — and out of international sports. On Friday, a little more than two weeks after the 19-year-old won the first of two Olympic gold medals, King embraced her new role as the unofficial spokeswoman for clean athletes everywhere. […]
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A day after his fielding error cost his team the Pacific League lead, Yuki Yanagita helped power them back on top as the Fukuokoa SoftBank Hawks clobbered the Chiba Lotte Marines 11-3 on Friday night. With two outs and none on in the first inning, Yanagita homered to start a four-run outburst that was all […]
The post Hawks’ Yanagita atones for Thursday miscue in series-opening triumph over Marines appeared first on The Japan Times.
Thierry Henry will be an assistant to new Belgium coach Roberto Martinez as the squad start its bid to qualify for the next World Cup finals in Russia. The former France striker joins Martinez’s former Everton assistant Graeme Jones on the team’s coaching staff after the Spaniard replaced Marc Wilmots as manager of the Euro […]
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Longtime maegashira Tokitenku, who has been battling malignant lymphoma, will retire and become a sumo elder, the Japan Sumo Association announced Friday. The 36-year-old Mongolian-born Tokitenku competed in 63 grand sumo tournaments, including three at the rank of komusubi. On Thursday, the JSA recognized his status as sumo elder with his Tokitsukaze stable. Tokitenku obtained […]
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison and Green Bay Packers defensive players Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers met this week with NFL investigators looking into allegations linking them to performance-enhancing drugs, the players’ union said Thursday. Matthews and Peppers met with league representatives on Wednesday, while Harrison did so on Thursday, according to the NFL Players […]
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Rio de Janeiro police began questioning two of Ireland’s top Olympic executives on Thursday in a Summer Games ticket-scalping probe that has already ensnared the highest official. Olympic Council of Ireland’s team leader Kevin Kilty and chief executive Stephen Martin arrived at police headquarters on Thursday wearing the Irish team uniform. “We are here to […]
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The Brazilian authorities have charged U.S. swimming star Ryan Lochte with making a false statement about being robbed at gunpoint during the Rio Olympics, police said Thursday. The 32-year-old gold medalist risks a jail sentence, Brazilian media quoted a police official as saying, although the judicial authorities had yet to confirm that. “Ryan Lochte was […]
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Manchester City’s new coach Pep Guardiola will be heading back to Barcelona after the Premier League club was pitted against his former team in the Champions League draw on Thursday. Guardiola, who also spent most of his playing career at the Catalan club, steered Barcelona to two Champions League titles as well as a number […]
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Dodger Stadium will host the championship game of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, with Marlins Park and Petco Park also holding games leading up to final on March 22. The sites and pool were announced Thursday by tournament organizers. Brazil, Britain, Israel and Pakistan will play qualifiers Sept. 22-25 at the home of the Brooklyn […]
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Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award on Thursday after winning both last season’s Champions League and Euro 2016 with Portugal. Ronaldo, 31, received the accolade for the second time in his career after finishing ahead of Real teammate Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann. “I’m obviously delighted […]
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The process of selecting Sidney Crosby as Canada’s captain for the World Cup of Hockey was a simple one. “It was: ‘This is what we’re going to do. Any questions? Next,” general manager Doug Armstrong recalled. Crosby wearing the “C” for Canada was a no-doubter given his track record of scoring the winning goal on […]
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This is the season the Premier League has been waiting for since its inception in 1992. It boasts the most glittering array of Hollywood managers with expensively assembled supporting casts and tempting fate as it may be, it is virtually impossible not to visualize a titanic struggle between the heavyweights of English football. The Premier […]
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Three plays were all it took for Dallas to get yet another injury scare surrounding Tony Romo. The quarterback lasted just 90 seconds into the Cowboys’ 27-17 preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night before leaving with what appeared at first to be a potentially significant injury, but ended up being minor. Romo […]
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Two-time defending champion Petra Kvitova needed just an hour Thursday to beat Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-1 and move into the semifinals of the Connecticut Open, despite suffering from a cold. Looking to join Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki as a four-time winner in the tournament, Kvitova overpowered the Olympic doubles champion, breaking her four times […]
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After losing his no-hit bid with one out to go, Matt Moore just smiled. The San Francisco lefty gave up a soft, clean single to Corey Seager with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 Thursday night. “Giving up a base hit right there is a part […]
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Olympic 100-meter champion Elaine Thompson took center stage in the absence of her Jamaican teammate Usain Bolt in the first Diamond League meet after the Rio de Janeiro Games on Thursday. Thompson timed 10.78 seconds with a slight tailwind at Athletissima — just .07 outside her time in the 100 final in Rio and .08 […]
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Joe Sakic had to rush his coaching search after the abrupt resignation of Patrick Roy. He doesn’t believe the Colorado Avalanche rushed their hire. After interviewing candidates with varying degrees of NHL coaching experience, Sakic ultimately chose Jared Bednar as the team’s new coach. Bednar spent the past 14 seasons as a minor league coach, […]
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Brazilian police charged American swimmer Ryan Lochte on Thursday with filing a false robbery report over an incident during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. A police statement said Lochte would be informed in the United States so he could decide whether to introduce a defense in Brazil. The indictment will also be sent to […]
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If there was any thought the Hiroshima Carp might take their foot off the gas a little after gaining a magic number, the Central League leaders squashed it the first chance they got. Ryosuke Kikuchi drove in a game-tying run with a two-out infield single in the ninth and Yoshihiro Maru pushed across the go-ahead […]
The post Kikuchi, Maru ignite pennant-chasing Carp in comeback victory over Giants appeared first on The Japan Times.
Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic recalled Mainz striker Yoshinori Muto on Thursday as he named a 24-man squad for the upcoming Asian final-round World Cup qualifiers against United Arab Emirates and Thailand. Muto returns after a lengthy spell sidelined with an injury, joining a strong squad that features AC Milan attacker Keisuke Honda, Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji […]
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Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter appeared before sport’s highest tribunal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), on Thursday to appeal against his six-year ban from soccer. The 80-year-old, who headed soccer’s global governing body for 17 years until he resigned in June 2015, was banned from all soccer-related activity last December along with […]
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Japan’s Olympic delegation held a wrap-up ceremony at a Tokyo hotel on Thursday following a highly successful campaign at the Rio Games. Decathlete and Japan’s flagbearer at the Games, Keisuke Ushiro, handed back the flag to Japanese Olympic Committee chief Tsunekazu Takeda before chef de mission Seiko Hashimoto made a speech in which she hailed […]
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The Pittsburgh Pirates are currently battling it out with several other ball clubs for a wild card slot in the National League playoffs. If the Bucs do land one of the two WC berths, it will mark their fourth straight postseason appearance. Yep, things are going swimmingly for their organization. Or, to put it another […]
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The Los Angeles Lakers have signed top draft pick Brandon Ingram and Chinese NBA veteran Yi Jianlian, it was announced Thursday. Ingram was the No. 2 overall pick in this summer’s draft. The Duke product’s rookie contract is expected to be worth more than $23 million over four years. The 28-year-old Yi hasn’t played in […]
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U.S. women’s goalkeeper Hope Solo was suspended Wednesday for six months by U.S. Soccer for disparaging comments about Sweden following the Americans’ early departure from the Rio Olympics. Solo called the Swedes “a bunch of cowards” for focusing on defense rather than attacking the three-time defending champion U.S. team. Sweden ousted the U.S. 4-3 on […]
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Greg Clarke has been confirmed as the new chairman of the English Football Association, the governing body said on Wednesday. Clarke takes over as the permanent successor to Greg Dyke after being approved by the F.A. Board on July 22. The 48-year-old’s appointment was formally ratified by a full meeting of the F.A. Council at […]
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Robbie Keane will retire from international play for Ireland after a match with Oman next week in Dublin. The LA Galaxy captain made the announcement Wednesday through his MLS club. The 36-year-old Keane is Ireland’s longtime captain and career leader in goals (67) and appearances (145) over an 18-year international career. He played for Ireland […]
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The suspended president of Athletics Kenya, Isaiah Kiplagat, has died after a long illness. He was 72. Track and field’s world governing body, the IAAF, said that Kiplagat’s death on Wednesday was confirmed by Kenya’s athletics association, which he led for more than 20 years. Kiplagat was a divisive figure who dominated the most successful […]
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The Osaka Evessa enter a new era with two new big men patrolling the middle. Former NBA center/power forward Josh Harrellson has been signed to play for the Kansai club for the upcoming campaign, the three-time bj-league champion announced on Monday. Earlier this month, Osaka also secured the services of 210-cm Xavier Gibson, whose all-around […]
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Former Illinois coach Tim Beckman, fired last year amid allegations of player mistreatment, is working as a volunteer assistant with No. 22 North Carolina’s defense. Speaking after Wednesday evening’s practice, Tar Heels coach Larry Fedora described the decision as helping a friend while also gaining Beckman’s expertise as a former head coach and defensive coordinator. […]
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The Arizona Coyotes have hired Dawn Braid as skating coach and say she is believed to be the first full-time female coach in NHL history. The announcement was made on Wednesday. Braid has a long association with the NHL. She worked part-time for the Coyotes last year and has served as a skating consultant with […]
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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who have faced each other in eight major finals, plan to team up as doubles partners next year during the inaugural Laver Cup. With a combined 31 Grand Slam titles, Federer and Nadal have committed to the team event, which attempts to create a tennis version of golf’s Ryder Cup. […]
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Colin Kaepernick is on track to make his first appearance of the preseason for San Francisco on Friday night against the Green Bay Packers after his tired shoulder made it through a full week of practice without any limitations. “Everything has been going great,” Kaepernick said Wednesday. “Everything has been going as planned. I’m excited […]
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Manchester City and Borussia Moenchengladbach built on commanding first-leg advantages to cruise through the Champions League playoffs on Wednesday, while Russian side Rostov thrashed Ajax 4-1 to reach the group stage for the first time. City will play a sixth straight season in Europe’s elite competition after beating Steaua Bucharest 1-0 thanks to Fabian Delph’s […]
The post Man City cruises into Champions League in Hart’s farewell appeared first on The Japan Times.
Tim Adleman threw one right down the middle to Yu Darvish and then had to watch the Rangers pitcher round the bases on a notable home run. Darvish connected for only the second homer by a Rangers pitcher, and Adrian Beltre hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning Wednesday for a 6-5 victory over […]
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Jubilo Iwata secured its first win in the second stage by coming from behind to beat J. League bottom side Avispa Fukuoka 3-2 away in Wednesday’s only fixture. Greek defender Avraam Papadopoulos provided the 69th-minute winner with a header for Jubilo, who went into the game with three draws and five defeats in the second […]
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Hiroshima batters erupted for four runs in the sixth inning to power the Carp to a 7-3 win over the Yomiuri Giants on Wednesday. The Carp saw their magic number to win the Central League pennant lit at 20 with the victory. Shinnosuke Abe opened the scoring for the Giants in the bottom of the […]
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Boston Red Sox reliever Koji Uehara threw 33 pitches on Tuesday as he underwent his first bullpen session since being placed on the disabled list for a right pectoral muscle strain. “I’m still pitching timidly but that’s inevitable after getting injured,” said Uehara, who suffered the injury during Boston’s 4-0 victory over the San Francisco […]
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With Japan once again the darling of world rugby, thanks to the exploits of the sevens team at the Rio Olympics, attention now shifts to the 15-a-side version of the game with the Top League kicking off Friday. While the players and coaches have been involved in what new Kubota Spears coach Frans Ludeke described […]
The post Panasonic still team to beat in revamped Top League appeared first on The Japan Times.
Rob Segedin sprinted from the outfield to the dugout, got frenzied high-fives from teammates and flew down the stairs toward the clubhouse. “I don’t even know if he showered,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. Innings after getting his second major league home run — off ace Madison Bumgarner, no less — Segedin left to meet […]
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Japanese athletes who won medals during the Rio Olympics expressed their appreciation Wednesday to all those who cheered for them during the 17-day event, which came to a close Sunday, and looked forward to more excitement at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 55 athletes, including delegation captain Saori Yoshida, gathered at a Tokyo hotel for […]
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Yuta Watanabe made a heroic return to his home country during a recent trip by the George Washington University basketball team. During their stay in Japan, the Colonials played three exhibitions against a downgraded Japanese national team and one against the Ryukyu Golden Kings of the professional B. League, and the NCAA team won all […]
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Pitcher Randy Messenger is interested in working out a deal to remain with the Hanshin Tigers in 2017, his agent Matt Sosnick told The Japan Times on Wednesday. Reports saying the team was planning to offer Messenger an extension for next year surfaced on Tuesday. Sosnick said that while actually seeing this being reported in […]
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Jordan’s first Olympic champion, taekwondo gold medal winner Ahmad Abughaush, has returned home to a royal welcome. The 20-year-old was greeted by three princes, his family and a cheering crowd late on Tuesday at the kingdom’s main airport, after his return from the Rio games. Abughaush told reporters he hopes to “uphold this title which […]
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Ryota Endo allowed just four hits and one earned run in five innings and had one RBI to help Tokyo beat San Antonio, Texas, 6-1 on Tuesday in a consolation game of the Little League World Series. Japan had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the first inning when Jo Adachi […]
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Tom Brady is ready to play after cutting his right thumb with a pair of scissors in a “silly accident” before the Patriots’ preseason game against the Bears last week. Brady said Tuesday he missed the first two practices this week for personal reasons, but that he’s available and ready to play when New England […]
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The man named to head Ireland’s Olympic committee after its president was arrested in a ticket-scalping case during the Rio Games is also suspected of participating in the scheme but left Brazil before he could be questioned, police said Tuesday. Authorities said William O’Brien, who took responsibility for the Irish committee after Patrick Hickey was […]
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Watford and West Bromwich Albion were beaten by third-tier opposition in the English League Cup on Tuesday, while fellow Premier League sides Liverpool and Everton enjoyed big wins in the second round. Chelsea was pushed hard by third-tier Bristol Rovers before also advancing to the third round with a 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge. Watford […]
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Olympic marathon silver medalist Feyisa Lilesa failed to return to Ethiopia Monday night despite assurances he would not be punished for his Rio protest over political repression in his country. An AFP journalist at the airport in Addis Ababa said Lilesa was not onboard the plane that landed on Monday night carrying Ethiopia’s Olympic team. […]
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Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa scored twice as Borussia Dortmund eased into the second round of the German Cup with a 3-0 victory away to fourth-division Eintract Trier on Monday. Kagawa struck with just eight minutes gone before adding a second on the half hour, with offseason signing Andre Schuerrle netting his first goal since arriving […]
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Utility infielder Ryota Wakiya broke up a scoreless tie in the 10th inning with his first career sayonara home run to lift the Yomiuri Giants over the Central League-leading Hiroshima Carp 1-0 on Tuesday. Twice discarded by the Giants in his career, Wakiya returned this season after two years in the Pacific League with the […]
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Russia is banned from the Paralympic Games as punishment for a state-backed doping program, after losing an appeal at sport’s highest court. The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced its urgent verdict Tuesday to dismiss the Russian Paralympic Committee’s appeal against exclusion from the Sept. 7-18 games in Rio de Janeiro. A hearing was held […]
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Nagoya Grampus coach and general manager Takafumi Ogura has taken an indefinite leave of absence, sources inside the J. League first division side said Tuesday. Ogura stepped up to assume his new roles last November, but has failed to save the club from the threat of relegation and has been asked to “take a break” […]
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Ryan Lochte lost three major sponsors when swimsuit company Speedo USA, clothing giant Ralph Lauren and skin-care firm Syneron-Candela announced in quick succession Monday they were dumping the swimmer over a drunken incident during the Rio Olympics that he initially described as an armed robbery. Speedo USA also said it would donate $50,000 of Lochte’s […]
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Adrian Gonzalez got the most pleasure out of watching his teammates circle the bases. Nobody made as many trips as he did. Gonzalez hit three of the Dodgers’ seven homers — driving in a career-high eight runs — and rookie Corey Seager had a noteworthy homer as well on Monday, leading Los Angeles to an […]
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Former USC and Los Angeles Raiders quarterback Todd Marinovich has been arrested after being found naked with marijuana and possibly methamphetamine in a stranger’s backyard in Southern California. Irvine Police Cmdr. Mike Hallinan said Monday that Marinovich was arrested Friday night after a call saying a naked man was on a hiking trail near homes. […]
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What happens to Rio de Janeiro now that the 2016 Olympics have finished remains to be seen, but there was no denying the quality and drama of the past three weeks of competition. Rio brought the curtain down on South America’s first-ever Olympics at an upbeat closing ceremony at Maracana Stadium on Sunday, ending a […]
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Ten quotes from the 2016 Rio Olympics: “There you go. I’m the greatest.” – Usain Bolt on securing his “triple-triple” of 100 meters, 200m and 4x100m relay golds. “This is how I wanted to finish my career. I’ve lived a dream come true. Being able to cap it off with these Games is just the […]
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Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green has joined George Mason’s athletics department. Green, a four-time All-Pro cornerback for the Washington Redskins, was hired as associate athletic director/special assistant to the AD. According to the school, Green will work with the department’s senior leadership on internal and external relationships, help with fundraising and communicate to […]
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The flame goes out to close this show In which the bar was set real low, With Zika and a toxic bay That doubles as a vast bidet, Recession pounding one and all, A president against the wall, Budget crises that go back years, A crime wave mixed with terror fears. So things were hardly […]
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The final step up to No. 1 was simply too big for Angelique Kerber — this time, anyway. The world’s second-ranked player wasted a chance to end Serena Williams’ long run at the top. She dropped behind at the outset, repeatedly missed routine shots and fell to Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-1 in the championship match […]
The post Kerber loses Western & Southern Open final, misses chance to overtake Serena atop rankings appeared first on The Japan Times.
Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya smiled as he crossed the finish line and later directed cheering fans from the podium. The one color of Olympic medal he lacked in his illustrious career finally has been captured. Kipchoge grabbed the lead in the marathon Sunday around the 35-km mark and finished off his first Olympic victory in […]
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Danny Duffy keeps winning and so do the Kansas City Royals. Duffy won his 10th straight decision, Eric Hosmer doubled in the go-ahead run and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 Sunday for their eighth consecutive win. The Royals swept a four-game series from the Twins for the first time since 1999 […]
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American wrestler Kyle Snyder’s run to the world title in 2015 was so surprising that some wondered if it was something of a fluke. Snyder showed he’s for real on Sunday, adding an Olympic title to his burgeoning resume. Snyder, the youngest wrestling world champion in U.S. history, is now the sport’s youngest Olympic champion […]
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Claressa Shields had Olympic gold around her neck and a secret keepsake in her warmup jacket pocket on Sunday. She reached in her pocket, pulled out her first gold from London and slipped the medal over her head. Two Olympics, two gold medals. She beamed as she held the medals in her hands for the […]
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The first Premier League game staged at the centerpiece stadium of the London Olympics in 2012 served up some late drama Sunday, with new tenant West Ham scoring in the 85th minute to earn a 1-0 win over 10-man Bournemouth. Track-and-field stars like Usain Bolt and David Rudisha produced some amazing memories at the Olympic […]
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Hideki Matsuyama struggled on the putting green but still managed to move three notches up the leaderboard and finish in a two-way tie for third place at the Wyndham Championship on Sunday. Matsuyama, whose charge was slowed by a bogey and a double-bogey a day earlier at Sedgefield Country Club, carded four birdies against a […]
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While athletes from around the world packed the Rio Games closing ceremony, one of the biggest stars was absent — Brazil soccer great Pele. Instead, the three-time World Cup champion went to Twitter to celebrate Brazil’s first gold medal in his sport. During Sunday night’s ceremony at Maracana Stadium, Pele tweeted: “I waited for my […]
The post Pele praises Rio Games, calls Brazil’s soccer gold ‘dream come true’ appeared first on The Japan Times.
Lee Hee-beom, the president of the Pyeongchang organizing committee, is calling his 2018 Winter Games the “Peace Olympics.” Lee said Sunday that South Korea’s hostile neighbor North Korea is welcome. He said we “will open the door to all participants, not only North Korea but to the rest of the world.” “We are open to […]
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Police are blocking Ireland’s top four Olympic executives from leaving Brazil as their ticket scalping investigation expanded with a raid on the team on the final day of the Rio de Janeiro Games. The Rio police force said it executed search warrants Sunday to seize passports and evidence from Ireland team leader Kevin Kilty, chief […]
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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an cameo at the Rio 2016 Olympics’ closing ceremony. While his presence was not unexpected, as Tokyo will be hosting the 2020 Olympics, his unusual entrance was another matter. Naturally, the internet had something to say about it. [View the story “It’s a me, Abe!” on Storify]
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Just two weeks ago Neymar’s commitment to the Olympic team was questioned by Brazil’s fans. Now he’s a national hero — and an Olympic champion. Neymar buried the winning kick of a penalty shootout against Germany on Saturday night at Maracana Stadium, sending all of Brazil into a boisterous celebration. The cheering could be heard […]
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With Neymar in a courtside seat cheering his countrymen, Wallace pumped his arms and let out screams from deep in his lungs as Brazil fed off the energy in raucous Maracanazinho arena. Over and over again he celebrated each point that got his team closer to an Olympic title. Brazil’s determined men’s volleyball team gave […]
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The trip wasn’t always easy, though they arrived at their expected destination. The players on the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team never doubted they would be standing on the gold-medal platform, even after some close calls in Rio and criticisms they lacked the usual big names and bigger wins. “I know there was kind of […]
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Tokyo took center stage as Rio de Janeiro handed over the Olympic flag to the 2020 host city at a rain-lashed but joyous closing ceremony for the Rio Games on Sunday. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, wearing a light-colored kimono, took the flag from Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach before […]
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The Japanese Olympic Committee cast a satisfied eye over its biggest-ever Olympic medal haul at the Rio Games on Sunday but warned money must be spent to perform even better at Tokyo 2020. Japan headed into the final day of competition at Rio 2016 having won a total of 41 medals, bettering the country’s previous […]
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Hideki Matsuyama shot 2-under 68 and dropped to sixth at the Wyndham Championship on Saturday, falling six strokes off the pace. Starting the day in a four-way tie for second, Matsuyama carded five birdies but had one bogey and a double bogey at the par-70 Sedgefield Country Club for a three-round total of 12-under 198. […]
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The world’s greatest athlete hates being called The World’s Greatest Athlete. He hears it every time he is introduced at an event, or meets sponsors, or is paraded in front of a TV camera. But the reality is that Ashton Eaton is far too humble for such a title — he is so humble, in […]
The post Decathlon great Eaton contemplates next move appeared first on The Japan Times.
Shohei Otani went 3-for-5 and rookie Takayuki Kato worked six innings on Sunday as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 4-2 to salvage the final game of their three-game series. Kato (5-1) survived a first-inning scare when Akira Nakamura was thrown out trying to score on a delayed, two-out double steal […]
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Remember this moment, Brazil. Nothing feels better than winning. Remember how it felt on that balmy Saturday night in this fabled temple of soccer, the Maracana, when the Selecao held its nerve through 120 minutes and a penalty shootout to gain some small measure of revenge against Germany. Remember, too, how Neymar, without doubt one […]
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Britain’s Mo Farah sought to distance himself from drug-tainted Somali coach Jama Aden following victory in the 5,000-meter final at the Rio Olympics. The 33-year-old, who became the first man in 40 years to retain the two Olympic distance crowns on Saturday, denied being on close terms with Aden after being questioned about the two […]
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Hiroshi Kiyotake set up a goal before opening his La Liga account as Sevilla overpowered Espanyol 6-4 in a frenetic season opener on Saturday. Kiyotake, starting on the right of a five-man midfield, delivered a corner from the left for Luciano Vietto in the 22nd minute as Sevilla came from behind to lead 2-1. The […]
The post Sevilla’s Kiyotake plays key role in triumph over Espanyol appeared first on The Japan Times.
Sakushin Gakuin High School romped past Hokkaido’s Hokkai High School 7-1 to win Japan’s prestigious National High School Baseball Tournament on Sunday afternoon. Playing before a packed crowd at historic Koshien Stadium, Sakushin ace Tatsuya Imai allowed one run, while striking out nine over the distance to complete his fourth game of the tournament. The […]
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Head held high as she took the court moments after her Chinese team entered the arena, Jenny Lang Ping waved and smiled in several directions then paced around the floor observing China’s championship opponent from Serbia. She proudly sang through the national anthem, then guided her team to a come-from-behind gold — and made her […]
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Aleksander Lesun had four years to get over his disappointment in London, four years to prepare for his next opportunity. When it came, he was ready. No missed shots. No missed medals. Only gold. Calm and collected on a stage he had once failed on before, Lesun captured gold in men’s modern pentathlon at the […]
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For the third time in a week, Russia was stripped of a track-and-field medal Saturday after another athlete tested positive in a reanalysis of doping samples from previous Olympics. Evgenia Kolodko was disqualified and stripped of the silver medal in the women’s shot put from the 2012 London Games after her stored samples came back […]
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