Sapporo could lock up 2030 Winter Olympics in 2022

The International Olympic Committee and Japan officials have been holding behind-the-scenes talks that could secure Sapporo's bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics in 2022, ...

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Shohei Ohtani picks up another honor after magazine names him ‘Athlete of the Year’

American website Sporting News has named the Los Angeles Angels two-way star its "Athlete of the Year."

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Nana Takagi and Seitaro Ichinohe book Olympic speedskating spots at 1,500 meters

Takagi clocked 1 minute, 54.84 seconds to finish second in the event won by her younger sister Miho in 1:53:19 at the M-Wave ice arena ...

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Eight Japan karate team members infected with omicron variant

The eight were part of the 28-member Japanese team that contested the recent Asian championships in Kazakhstan.

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Has the Premier League turned into a one-horse race?

Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea were separated by just two points before matches kicked off on Dec. 14. Now, City is eight points clear of ...

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Mariners’ hot corner staple Kyle Seager retires after 11 seasons

During a career spent entirely with Seattle (2011-21), Seager posted a .251 batting average with 242 homers, 309 doubles, 807 RBIs and 1,395 hits in ...

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54-year-old Kazuyoshi Miura set to play for fourth-tier club Suzuka

Suzuka play in the Japan Football League, one tier below the pro soccer's J-League third division.

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Nets’ Kyrie Irving ‘where I belong’ despite vaccine holdout

The All-Star guard has yet to play this season, but the Nets this month opted to welcome him back.

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Stephen Curry hits 3-point milestone but Warriors fall to Nuggets

Curry connected on his milestone 3-pointer with 5.3 seconds remaining in the third period to cap a 25-14 Warriors run that trimmed a 24-point halftime ...

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Rodgers says league has ‘two-class’ system based on COVID vaccine status

Aaron Rodgers, who has not been vaccinated, tested positive for COVID-19 in November and received widespread criticism for telling reporters in August that he was ...

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Big fourth quarter lifts Knicks over depleted Pistons

The Pistons had 12 players listed as out, including eight in league protocols. They used six players who were signed to 10-day contracts in the ...

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Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi wins Four Hills ski jump opener

The 25-year-old from Iwate Prefecture beat the 299.2 points of Norway's Halvor Egner Granerud — with another Norwegian, Robert Johansson, coming in third on 298.6 ...

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This college bowl season, the toughest opponent is COVID-19

On Tuesday, hours before the scheduled kickoff in San Diego, UCLA announced that it would not be able to play North Carolina State in the ...

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Novak Djokovic skips ATP Cup, adding to Australian Open uncertainty

There has been intense speculation over Djokovic's participation in both events, with the 34-year-old repeatedly declining to say if he has been inoculated against COVID-19.

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Integrity Agency to govern anti-doping in Tennis from 2022

The ITIA was previously known as the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), investigating corruption and match fixing.

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Lightning top Canadiens in overtime as the NHL returns from pause

In the absence of goalie tandem Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brian Elliott — both in COVID-19 protocol — American Hockey League call-up Maxime Lagace made 27 ...

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Japanese breakdancers look ahead to Paris Olympic debut

About five decades after it developed in the nascent New York City hip-hop scene, the 2024 Paris Olympics will feature 32 breakdancers competing over two ...

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Liverpool stunned as Ademola Lookman lifts Leicester to victory

Liverpool's flop against COVID-19 and injury ravaged Leicester, who were hammered 6-3 by City on Sunday, puts extra pressure on them to take maximum points ...

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Nick Kyrgios thinks no ‘Big Three’ would be disaster for Australian Open

The dominant 'Big Three' have won 20 Grand Slam titles each and Kyrgios said tennis still needs them starting in Melbourne next month.

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NFL amends COVID protocol and cuts quarantine in half

Vaccinated players may still "test out" of protocol with two negative tests that can be taken at the same time or separately.

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England must hit ‘reset’ button after Ashes debacle

Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain both believe head coach Chris Silverwood should be dismissed after the dismal tour concludes.

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Legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden dies at 85

Hall of Fame coach and broadcasting icon John Madden died on Tuesday, according to the NFL.

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Images of 2021: 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

While public opposition, media scandals and a new coronavirus variant obstructed the the road to the 2020 Tokyo Games, the nation rose to the occasion.

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Bulls’ trio of scorers deliver big numbers to beat Hawks

Chicago's Lonzo Ball, Avery Bradley and Alfonzo McKinnie were out due to COVID-19 protocols.

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From the ski slopes to the tennis court COVID’s shadow lurks

The debate still rages on whether the English Premier League were correct to insist the show must go on over Christmas rather than call a ...

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Dolphins push winning streak to 7 by dominating Saints

The Dolphins' winning streak is the second-longest active run in the NFL, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Australia retain Ashes after crushing humiliated England

Australia rout England for an embarrassing 68 on Tuesday to win the third Test and retain the Ashes with two matches still to play.

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Premier League hit by record 103 positive COVID-19 tests

Liverpool's game against Leeds, Watford's trip to Wolves and Burnley against Everton were all cancelled before their scheduled Boxing Day fixtures.

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Ralf Rangnick annoyed by passive Manchester United display

Newcastle missed a number of good chances and only a majestic performance by goalkeeper David De Gea spared Rangnick his first defeat as Manchester United's ...

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Mentor Masami Ihara sees Takehiro Tomiyasu-anchored defense key at World Cup

Having seen Japan make huge strides since their tournament debut in 1998, the 54-year-old Ihara believes the current team has players with the best potential ...

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Veteran Yasuhito Endo leaves Gamba to join Jubilo

By joining Iwata on a full transfer, Endo is leaving the J1 club he played for since 2001.

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Yuta Watanabe scores career-high 26 points for Raptors in loss

Yuta Watanabe registered NBA personal-highs of 26 points and 13 rebounds on Sunday in his first start of the season, but the Toronto Raptors lost ...

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Yuzuru Hanyu hopes to use quad axel to capture third straight Olympic gold

The 27-year-old returned to the ice after an eight-month absence from competition and won his second straight national title.

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Manchester City turns back Leicester to continue march toward title

Stopping the season may be the only way to slow City's march toward its fourth title in five seasons.

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Dutch great Sven Kramer in danger of missing Winter Olympics

Another Dutch legend, Ireen Wust, also failed to guarantee a place at Beijing.

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Novak Djokovic remains man to beat after eventful year in tennis

Djokovic dominated men's tennis once again, while Emma Raducanu exploded onto the scene on the women's side.

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Villa manager Steven Gerrard tests positive for COVID-19

Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard will miss the club's next two Premier League games after testing positive for COVID-19, the club announced on Saturday."Aston ...

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Aaron Rodgers leads Packers past Browns on record-setting night

Aaron Rodgers enjoyed a record-setting night, and defender Rasul Douglas grabbed his second interception of the game with 43 seconds left as the Green Bay ...

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Novak Djokovic will not play in Australian Open warmup

Djokovic's teams says there is a 99% chance the world No. 1 will skip the ATP Cup.

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NHL postpones more games, pushes back return to ice

The NHL pushed its return from its holiday break back by another day after postponing Monday's 14 games to allow the league and teams time ...

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Kaori Sakamoto captures national title to punch ticket for Beijing Games

"I couldn't be happier, I'm absolutely thrilled," said Sakamoto, who was still in high school when she finished sixth in her Olympic debut in Pyeongchang. ...

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NHL players express disappointment about withdrawal from Beijing Games

With NHL players representing 11 of the 12 nations competing in the men's ice hockey tournament at the Beijing Games, the global impact of the ...

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Manchester United almost back at full strength after COVID-19 outbreak

Rangnick added the vast majority of those who had COVID-19 had little or no symptoms, which allowed them to remain in shape while training from ...

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Yuzuru Hanyu takes center stage in return at national championships

The two-time reigning Olympic gold medalist threw down a marker for the Beijing Winter Games with an outstanding performance in the short program.

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Kumi Yokoyama pushes LGBTQ conversation forward in Japan while raising game on pitch

Yokoyama was praised by U.S. President Joe Biden for showing courage after coming out as transgender earlier this year.

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Andy Murray given wild card for Australian Open

"Andy is renowned for his fighting spirit, passion and love of the game and I'm delighted to welcome him back to Melbourne in January," Australian ...

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Chinese designer enjoys Olympic boost for figure skating costumes

Zhang was inspired by Japanese designer Satomi Ito, whose designs for Yuzuru Hanyu she called stunning and "a perfect match with his music."

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Yuzuru Hanyu plans to compete in Beijing

Two-time reigning Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu said Thursday he plans to compete at February's Beijing Winter Games, a day after skipping training at the Japanese ...

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Sebastian Coe voices opposition to boycotts as Diamond League adds second event in China

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he is "philosophically opposed" to boycotts and prefers dialogue as a means to work through issues after the Diamond ...

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Alexander Zverev expects to form new Big 3 with Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev in 2022

"The big titles were the Olympics, U.S. Open, Turin (ATP Finals) and Wimbledon, and they were all won by Medvedev, Djokovic and me," Alexander Zverev ...

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Japan draws No. 1 Sweden for first match of women’s curling campaign at Beijing Games

The Japanese women's national curling team will open its Beijing 2022 campaign against defending champion and world No. 1 Sweden, according to the Olympic curling ...

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Nicholas Latifi speaks out about death threats following Abu Dhabi crash

He said he hoped to spark another conversation about the "drastic consequences" of online bullying.

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Premier League heavyweights reach League Cup semifinals

"You can see the names of these teams that have reached the semifinals, so every side wants to try to lift this trophy," Tottenham manager ...

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Improving Lions hoping to continue recent progress

"Things are coming together the way you want them to and now we've got to keep getting better," Detroit coach Dan Campbell said. "You'd like ...

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NHL pulls players out of Beijing Olympics due to COVID-19

The decision comes as a huge disappointment for NHL players, who had negotiated a return to the Olympics into the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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Skating star Yuzuru Hanyu misses practice, fueling Olympic fears

Hanyu has been out of action since last month after injuring his right ankle ligaments in a fall during practice, forcing him to miss the ...

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The NBA, like most other leagues, plans to persist amid omicron

The NBA’s approach to omicron is much like that of most other North American team sports leagues, which appear determined to keep playing games and ...

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Sumo’s 2022 storylines promise spectacle, but persistent COVID measures loom

Terunofuji’s dominance is unlikely to be seriously challenged in 2022, but given his age and injury history it’s possible we could start to see pretenders ...

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Nippon TV Beleza attacker Jun Endo to join Angel City FC in U.S. league

According to Angel City FC, one of two new teams joining the National Women's Soccer League in 2022, Endo has inked a two-year contract with ...

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Eight clubs in the race to sign 54-year-old ‘King Kazu’ Kazuyoshi Miura

Offers have arrived from Suzuka Point Getters and FC Osaka of the Japan Football League, one tier below the J-League's third-tier J3, while he is ...

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Australian Open confident on Nadal but uncertain on Djokovic

Nadal caught the novel coronavirus in Abu Dhabi last week where he was playing in an exhibition tournament.

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NASCAR starts building temporary track in Los Angeles stadium

Southern California racing fans will get to see NASCAR's Next Gen car models, which will be used in Cup Series competitions next year.

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Linked by hometowns, Yuzuru Hanyu inspires next-generation talent Mone Chiba

The Tohoku High School student grew up idolizing Hanyu and has had several opportunities to interact with her childhood hero at their home rink in ...

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NHL players expected to skip Beijing Olympics

The decision could give the league additional flexibility as it tries to reschedule regular season games as it is expected to announce more postponements.

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NHL will shut down early due to COVID rise

The major shutdown has prompted the league and the players' union to reopen discussions regarding the players' involvement in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

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FIFA seeks to woo member federations with big windfalls for biennial World Cups

FIFA did not reveal the methodology used for the study, at a time when the desire of broadcasters to keep paying more for rights has ...

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Andy Murray heads into new year with clear mind and renewed focus

Andy Murray believes he is playing with more "clarity" and has a better idea of how he needs to compete against the top players.

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Sagan Tosu manager Kim Myung-hwi to leave club with abuse case unresolved

Kim Myung-hwi will step down as manager of Sagan Tosu, the J. League first division side said Monday, despite unresolved abuse allegations.Sagan Tosu finished seventh ...

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Yuto Totsuka picks up first win of year on Dew Tour

Reigning world champion Yuto Totsuka's gold medal performance in the men's snowboard halfpipe final gave him his first victory of the season on Sunday, the ...

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Ryoyu Kobayashi soars to third World Cup victory of season

Ski jumper Ryoyu Kobayashi won his third World Cup event of the season in Engelberg, Switzerland, on Sunday.Kobayashi held off Germany's Karl Geiger, who won ...

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Tiger Woods and son fall just short of fairytale ending at PNC Championship

A weary Woods — who almost needed to have his shattered right leg amputated after his car crash in Los Angeles in February — said ...

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Four-time Olympic gold medalist Kaori Icho to assist national team as coach

Icho currently trains female wrestlers at Nippon Sport Science University. It appears likely that she will participate in national team training camps in her new ...

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Kyogo Furuhashi strikes twice as Celtic rallies to win League Cup final

Celtic fans, who had no silverware to celebrate last season, chanted manager Ange Postecoglou's name in the final stages and the team survived a few ...

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China tennis star Peng Shuai denies she made sexual assault accusation

Peng's remarks on Sunday marked the first time she had addressed the matter on camera in public.

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NHL postpones more games due to COVID-19 outbreaks

The Toronto Maple Leafs' COVID-19 outbreak continued to worsen on Saturday, as goaltender Jack Campbell, defensemen TJ Brodie and Travis Dermott, head coach Sheldon Keefe ...

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Chinese tech hub’s tennis ambitions in danger due to Peng Shuai scandal

For Shenzhen, the WTA Finals was supposed to be a boost to its cultural and sporting prestige.

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Japanese players reach three finals at badminton world championships

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalists Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino became the first Japanese mixed-doubles team to reach a final at the badminton world championships on ...

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Yuta Watanabe matches season high to help Raptors beat short-handed Warriors

The Japan national team forward also notched four rebounds, two steals and a block in 21 minutes.

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Masaya Okugawa helps secure upset with late goal for Arminia

Masaya Okugawa scored for the second straight game on Saturday, helping 10-man Arminia Bielefeld stun Red Bull Leipzig 2-0 in the German Bundesliga.The impressive away ...

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Japan’s curlers punch ticket for Beijing Games

Japan secured a spot in the Beijing Olympics' women's curling tournament as Loco Solare beat South Korea's team 8-5 in Friday's playoffs at the Olympic ...

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Ryoyu Kobayashi finishes behind Karl Geiger in latest World Cup event

After capturing his 21st World Cup crown last weekend in Germany, the 25-year-old narrowly lost to overall World Cup leader Karl Geiger in a closely ...

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Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving enter NBA’s COVID-19 protocols

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant and returning teammate Kyrie Irving have entered the NBA's COVID-19 protocols, the team said Saturday, as the league continues to ...

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Tiger Woods makes happy return to golf alongside son at PNC Championship; duo fires 62

Woods, who has declined to put a timetable on his return to the PGA Tour said his physical conditioning was still a long way from ...

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Salt Lake City sizing up bid for 2030 Winter Olympics

Other potential hosts for 2030 include Sapporo, which hosted the Winter Games in 1972, and Vancouver.

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17-year-old Yuna Kasai reaches second World Cup podium in Nordic combined

The high school student from Hokkaido previously finished third in the season's third event.

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Japanese esports players hone skills with top South Korean team

Riki Sameshima said that compared with esports worldwide, he feels awareness of esports in Japan is still relatively limited.

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Browns taking ‘next man up’ to extremes against Raiders

"We have been here before," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "I do not feel much different than I felt yesterday in terms of everybody has ...

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Jaguars ‘full steam ahead’ minus Urban Meyer

Darrell Bevell has taken the reins of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who fired coach Urban Meyer Wednesday night following a string of controversies.The offensive coordinator received ...

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Junya Ito scores third goal of season in Genk win

Junya Ito provided an assist before scoring his third goal of the season as Genk beat Charleroi 4-2 at home in the Belgian top-flight on ...

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Hawks’ Yuki Yanagita becomes highest-paid position player in NPB history

The 33-year-old hit .300 with 28 homers and 80 RBIs in 141 games in 2021 and was also a member of Japan's gold-winning Olympic baseball ...

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COVID-19 surge wreaking havoc on sports world

The sports world was impacted by COVID-19 infections on Thursday, with soccer and rugby matches called off, a cricket series canceled and action in North ...

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Mercedes withdraws appeal of Formula One finale

Team boss Toto Wolff fears Lewis Hamilton will "never get over" the controversial conclusion to the Formula One season.

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Terunofuji’s rise was among defining moments of eventful year in sumo

The past 12 months have been extremely challenging both inside and outside the ring, but sumo’s highest highs and lowest lows of 2021 all occurred ...

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Kazuto Ioka shifts focus to title defense after unification bout scrapped

Kazuto Ioka will defend his WBO super flyweight belt against Ryoji Fukunaga on New Year's Eve, a bout that will replace a planned fight against ...

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No. 4 Karolina Pliskova withdraws from Australian Open due to injury

World No. 4 Karolina Pliskova has withdrawn from next month's Australian Open with a hand injury that she sustained in training, she said Thursday in ...

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Max Verstappen comfortable with status as world champion

"It doesn't matter what they try to do," Verstappen said. "We won it on track, when there was a green light and we passed them ...

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Jaguars pull plug on head coach Urban Meyer after 13 games

The Jags have won just two games this season under Meyer, 57, who was a star as a college coach but has presided over a ...

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Former skating great Michelle Kwan nominated to be ambassador to Belize

U.S. President Joe Biden nominated Michelle Kwan to be U.S. ambassador to Belize on Wednesday, the biggest diplomatic role yet for the figure skating legend.The ...

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Daichi Kamada scores first league goal of season in Frankfurt victory

Midfielder Daichi Kamada scored his first Bundesliga goal of the season to give Eintracht Frankfurt a 3-2 win at Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday night.Rafael Borre, ...

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Sergio Aguero retires from soccer due to heart problem

"It is a very hard moment but, I am happy with my decision. My health comes first."

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Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp calls vaccination sign of ‘solidarity’

"We are, like the whole world, concerned about it, but we do what we can," Klopp said. "The vaccination status of the team is quite ...

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F1 has a hard act to follow after thrilling 2021

Next season will see revamped regulations and new-looking cars designed to improve overtaking.

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Bucs and Chiefs back atop Super Bowl title odds

Tampa Bay has won four consecutive games to reach 10-3 — tied with the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals for the best mark in ...

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Man City rout Leeds with magnificent seven as virus fears mount

The Premier League announced on Monday there had been 42 positive coronavirus cases among top-flight players and staff last week.

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COVID-19 uptick impacts major North American sports leagues

At least nine NHL games will need to be rescheduled following outbreaks within the Flames, Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders players and personnel.

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Stephen Curry sets NBA’s all-time 3-point scoring record

He missed one chance at breaking the record, but minutes later he swished in number 2,974 to send the crowd at Madison Square Garden into ...

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Naoya Inoue claims 17th straight world title with 8th-round TKO

It was Inoue's first fight in his home country since November 2019 when the 28-year-old beat Nonito Donaire.

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Larry Nassar abuse survivors reach $380 million settlement

The deal ends the latest dark chapter in one of the biggest child-molestation cases in history.

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No regrets in awarding Olympic Games to China, IOC’s Dick Pound says

The United States, Canada, Britain and Australia are among the countries that recently announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games over the China's human ...

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NFL mandates COVID boosters as one-day case count hits record

Thirty-seven players were placed on the reserve/COVID list Monday, all of whom tested positive for COVID-19.

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Paris 2024 floats openness after two closed-door Olympics

The organizing committee said it planned to send more than 10,000 Olympians down the Seine in a parade of some 160 boats instead of having ...

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Lewis Hamilton gracious in defeat after coming up short in title race

Lewis Hamilton was gracious in defeat after Red Bull rival Max Verstappen ended the Briton's quest for an unprecedented eighth Formula One title with a ...

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Japan’s women’s foil team falls in final during World Cup event

Japan lost to Italy 43-40 in the women's foil final at the International Fencing Federation team World Cup in Saint-Maur, France, on Sunday.According to the ...

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Raibu Katayama suffers concussion and broken rib after crash

Olympic medal hopeful Raibu Katayama has been diagnosed with a concussion and a broken rib after a hard crash during a World Cup snowboard halfpipe ...

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Broncos pay tribute to late Demaryius Thomas during game against Lions

The Broncos set up a memorial for Thomas around his No. 88 and also played a video tribute for the receiver.

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Ryoyu Kobayashi soars to victory after bout with COVID-19

Ryoyu Kobayashi won the Klingenthal leg of the FIS ski jumping World Cup on Sunday in just his second competition since coming off the list ...

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Max Verstappen claims F1 title on final lap in controversial finish

"It's insane," said Verstappen of a race that started with fans on the edge of their seats and ended in an uproar — with lawyers ...

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Jurgen Klopp backs Steven Gerrard to be successor at Liverpool

"The good thing is, I have no problem with this sort of thing," Klopp said. "I will not be here forever so I would love ...

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Spanish tennis great Manolo Santana dies at 83

Manolo Santana was the first Spaniard to win Wimbledon and inspired his country's rise as a tennis power.

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Tibetan students chain themselves to Olympic rings to protest Beijing games

Members of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe (TYAE) and Students for a Free Tibet held a sit-in at the IOC building in Lausanne as ...

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Liverpool spoils Steven Gerrard’s return to Anfield

There was little fanfare for Gerrard as he took his place in the technical area before the game and stuck with his approach of treating ...

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Nao Kodaira second in women’s 500 at speed skating World Cup

The 35-year-old 2018 Olympic gold medalist got off to a difficult start to her Olympic season but found her feet in the fourth and final ...

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Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen brace for final showdown

Hamilton and Verstappen are tied atop standings heading into the final race of the season.

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Steven Gerrard primed for emotional return to Liverpool with Aston Villa

Steven Gerrard may insist his mind is focused purely on his team beating Liverpool, but there can be no denying the emotions his return to ...

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Young sumo wrestlers chase dreams of fame and fortune in Japan’s ancient sport

Japan's Children's Sumo Association says some 40,000 children from ages 10-12 take part in the sport.

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Naomi Osaka to make return at Australian Open warm-up event

Osaka, who won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, resumed training last month to end a self-imposed break from tennis.

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Two-time Indy 500 champ Takuma Sato joins new team for 2022

Sato has competed in the North America-based IndyCar Series since 2010, winning six races. He became the first Japanese driver to win the prestigious Indy ...

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Snowboarder Tomoka Takeuchi looks at big picture outside sports ahead of sixth Winter Olympics

Tomoka Takeuchi feels experience will be her biggest advantage over her rivals at the Beijing Winter Olympics, but years of daredevil downhill racing have also ...

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Thomas Bach defends IOC’s role in Peng Shuai case

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has defended the organization's handling of its contact with tennis player Peng Shuai, who disappeared from public view after ...

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Washington Football Team heads into clash against Cowboys with playoff aspirations

Here comes the Washington Football Team.Those words have rarely struck fear into NFL teams. But there is some precedent to heed them, at least in ...

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Xavi vows to ‘start from scratch’ after Barcelona tumbles out of Champions League

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez vowed to get the Spanish giant back to the pinnacle of European soccer following a 3-0 defeat against Bayern Munich that ...

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Stefanos Tsitsipas’ tongue-twisting name lands on 2021 list of most mispronounced words in U.S.

Tsitsipas advanced to his first Grand Slam final at June's French Open, giving the 23-year-old Greek added exposure and sports commentators around the world a ...

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Tiger Woods to make return to golf at PNC Championship

The former world No. 1, who has not played since suffering career-threatening leg injuries in a car crash 10 months ago, will play tournament ...

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Tokyo Games medal podiums to be donated to schools across Japan

"I can't think of a better way to share such a wonderful part of the games," Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto said.

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IOC welcomes support for Olympic teams despite growing diplomatic boycott

"We welcome that they (athletes) will be there, we welcome that they are supported by their national governments. The rest is politics," IOC President Thomas ...

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Serena Williams out of Australian Open; Novak Djokovic on entry list

Williams, who won the last of her seven Australian Open titles in 2017, had an injury-disrupted season and has not played since she limped out ...

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All Japan tournament an optimistic indicator of a return to normal

Sunday's action at Ryogoku Kokugikan featured not only talented wrestlers with promising futures, but an upbeat atmosphere that hinted at a promising 2022 for the ...

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Australian athletes prepare for Beijing despite diplomatic boycott

The country's Olympic committee said in a statement it respected that "diplomatic options" were a matter for governments and that politics and sport should be ...

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Retiring Kimi Raikkonen ‘wouldn’t change a thing’ after 20 F1 seasons

Twenty years after making his Formula One debut for Sauber at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix, the 42-year-old will start his 349th and final race ...

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American rider Christina Birch swapping velodrome for outer space

The 11-time national champion said the intense physical demands of her years of cycling training will prepare her for a journey she hopes will end ...

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WBC says Tyson Fury must face Dillian Whyte in next title defense

After a 30-day window for Fury and triple-champion Oleksandr Usyk to schedule an undisputed heavyweight title fight expired, the WBC has now moved to install ...

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Perfect Liverpool knocks Milan out of Europe

Defeat for Milan ensured they failed in their attempt to make the Champions League knockouts for the first time since 2013 and leaves them without ...

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MLS boss calls Las Vegas the ‘frontrunner’ for expansion

The support the city has shown for expansion teams in other leagues is a big reason why MLS Commissioner Don Garber is optimistic about Sin ...

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Novak Djokovic named in Serbia team for 2022 ATP Cup in Sydney

The 34-year-old, who has won a record nine Australian Open titles including the last three, has repeatedly declined to reveal whether he has been vaccinated ...

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Four-time hockey medalist happy U.S. athletes can compete in Beijing

Angela Ruggiero, who won gold for the United States in 1998 and later served as a member of the IOC, said it was important that ...

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Board games: Dual Olympian Ayumu Hirano switches up for Beijing

After representing Japan as a skateboarder at the Tokyo Olympics, the race is on for the 23-year-old to prepare to contend for a third straight ...

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Late Demarai Gray stunner gives Everton win over Arsenal

The outcome left Arsenal seventh on 23 points from 15 games — four points outside the top four — while Everton climbed to 12th on ...

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Swedish goalie Robin Lehner skips Beijing over mental health concerns

Lehner was expected to compete with Jacob Markstrom for a spot in Sweden's starting lineup after two-time Olympic medalist Henrik Lundqvist retired earlier this year.

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Joint-top scorer Leandro Damiao named MVP in Frontale-centric Best XI

The Brazilian, who led the scoring chart alongside Celtic-linked Daizen Maeda, is the ninth player in J. League history to be named the MVP while ...

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Chelsea thumps Arsenal to win Women’s F.A. Cup and domestic treble

Chelsea dominated the first half in front of almost 41,000 fans, while Arsenal was the shadow of a side that was unbeaten in all competitions ...

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Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi beat No. 1 pair to become first Japanese men to win doubles titles at World Tour Finals

Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi became the first Japanese to win the men's doubles championship at the badminton World Tour Finals by beating the world's ...

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ITF president won’t ‘punish a billion people’ over Peng Shuai situation

International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty said that his organization will not boycott China over the Peng Shuai affair as "we don't want to punish ...

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Russia beats Croatia to win third Davis Cup

"I can say that for all of us it's very important to win here, it's still the Davis Cup," Daniil Medvedev said in a news ...

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Lewis Hamilton wins chaotic race to tie Max Verstappen atop Formula One standings

Extraordinary, and at times angry, radio exchanges between race director Michael Masi and the top two teams filled the airwaves.

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Lions end weeks of agony with last-second triumph over Vikings

The Detroit Lions are winless no more after beating the Minnesota Vikings 29-27 on Sunday to end weeks of agony and ridicule.Down four points with ...

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Miho Takagi earns third straight World Cup victory in 1,500

"I'm happy to see a mark in the 1:49 range," Takagi said. "But the Olympics will be a different competition. I hope to start all ...

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Ayumi Fukushima wins all-Japanese final at breakdancing worlds

Around 200 men's and women's competitors from more than 50 countries and regions took the stage at Paris' Theater du Chatelet, according to the World ...

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All women and all alone: Monobob leads new events for 2022 Olympics

With more affordable equipment and the need for only a single driver, monobob could offer countries other than the traditional sledding superpowers a chance to ...

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Grizzlies set record in win over Mavericks

Desmond Bane made 12 of 20 shots and added nine rebounds for the Grizzlies, who overcame a depleted lineup to extend their season-high winning streak ...

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World Cup CEO hopes to build on Tokyo lessons for packed stadiums

Organizers are hopeful next year's compact tournament will be able to fully welcome fans, avoiding a repeat of the nearly spectatorless Tokyo Olympics.

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Alex Ovechin scores 750th goal as Caps defeat Jackets

Ovechkin is just the fourth player to reach 750 career goals, joining Wayne Gretzky (894), Gordie Howe (801) and Jaromir Jagr (766).

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Former yokozuna Hakuho recognized for five Guinness world records

Hakuho's achievements were first recognized by Guinness in 2015 when he surpassed the record of 33 championships set by Taiho, the Showa era's greatest yokozuna.

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Tokushima last side to go down after home loss to Hiroshima

The promoted team's defeat ensured it would join the already-relegated Oita Trinita, Vegalta Sendai and Yokohama FC in the J2 next year.

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Ichiro Suzuki surprises at Daisuke Matsuzaka’s retirement ceremony

The pair squared off in Japan for two seasons, and then again in the majors after Matsuzaka joined the Boston Red Sox in 2007.

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Celtic bidding for Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate

Yokohama F. Marinos, where Maeda plays, and Gamba Osaka, Ideguchi's club, are said to be open to transfer discussions out of respect for their players' ...

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Refugee from Myanmar recruited to Yokohama futsal squad

Receiving refugee status after protesting against his country's military coup, Pyae Lyan Aung is now welcomed onto a globally diverse team.

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‘Where is **?’: Fans in China elude censors to talk about Peng Shuai

Peng is not the first celebrity in China to be almost entirely erased by censors. The country’s online propaganda machine can make just about any ...

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Joe Root will shoulder heavy burden for England during Ashes

After a dip from 2018 to 2020, Root has risen to the challenge this year.

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MLB trades barbs with union amid prospect lockout could endanger start of 2022 season

On the day team owners locked out players upon the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, no talks were scheduled and things were testy between ...

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Tennis stars back WTA’s ‘bold’ move as China reacts

The WTA's move to suspend its tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, won the backing of some of the biggest names in tennis.

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Grizzlies set NBA record with 73-point win over Thunder

The previous NBA record for largest margin of victory was 68, by Cleveland over Miami, on Dec. 17, 1991.

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NFL suspends Antonio Brown and two others over fake vaccination cards

In a statement on Thursday, the league said a joint NFL and NFL Players Association review supported allegations that the three players "misrepresented their vaccination ...

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Kyogo Furuhashi fires Celtic to victory over Hearts

Kyogo Furuhashi's controversial strike gave Celtic a 1-0 win over Hearts as it closed the gap on Scottish Premiership leader Rangers on Thursday.Furuhashi benefited from ...

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Seiya Suzuki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto highlight Golden Glove winners

Carp outfielder Seiya Suzuki has won a Golden Glove Award in three straight seasons.

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Lewis Hamilton looking to force winner-take-all showdown for Formula One title

Lewis Hamilton will bid to keep alive his hopes of a historic eighth Formula One world title at the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this ...

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Padres sign former Hanshin closer Suarez to one-year deal

The San Diego Padres have signed two-time Central League saves leader Robert Suarez to a one-year contract with a player option for the 2023 season, ...

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MLB locks out players after sides fail to reach new labor agreement

The decision halts all player activity and is the first work stoppage since the players' strike of 1994-95.

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Grand Prix Final to be canceled due to omicron variant

The Grand Prix Final is the second-most prestigious annual event in the sport, behind only the world championships.

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Alex Carey excited to take on role as Australia’s wicketkeeper for Ashes

Alex Carey called it "a boyhood dream" on Thursday as he won the race to be Australia's wicketkeeper for the first two Ashes tests against ...

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Pitcher Marcus Stroman reaches deal with Cubs

The Cubs also reached a one-year deal with outfielder Clint Frazier on Wednesday to go along with their reported deal with catcher Yan Gomes on ...

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Sydney to host 2023 Women’s World Cup final

Sydney will host the 2023 Women's World Cup final at Stadium Australia on Aug. 20, while co-host New Zealand will host the opener at Auckland's ...

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WTA suspends all tournaments in China over concerns about Peng Shuai

"Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we ...

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Much more to come from yokozuna Terunofuji after stunning 2021

Just years removed from the unpaid ranks, the 30-year-old is on the path to becoming one of the most successful foreign-born grand champions in the ...

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Ready to shine in the United States, a star waits in Japan

Seiya Suzuki's posting to MLB may be extended by a potential labor dispute, but the Carp slugger is willing to wait if it means getting ...

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Kings’ Brendan Lemieux suspended five games for biting opponent

The incident took place on Saturday during a fight between Lemieux and Senators forward Brady Tkachuk.

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Tiger Woods unsure of return date, ‘would love’ to play British Open

Woods, who recently posted a video on social media showing him hitting a golf shot, acknowledged he has a long road ahead in the rehab ...

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Shohei Ohtani mentor Hideki Kuriyama to become new Japan manager

The 60-year-old is credited with masterminding Ohtani's development as a two-way star while a member of the Fighters, before his move to the Los Angeles ...

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SoftBank’s record-holding closer Dennis Sarfate retires

The 40-year-old right-hander, who is fifth all-time in NPB with 234 career saves, had not pitched for the Pacific League club's first team since undergoing ...

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Paris hoping to sell record 3 million tickets for 2024 Paralympics

Should all the tickets on sale for the 2024 Paralympics be purchased, Paris will break the record set by London 2012 when 2.7 million tickets ...

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Emperor’s Cup semis and final to be held without spectator limits

The Dec. 12 semifinals and Dec. 19 final of the tournament are set to be Japan's first major sports events without attendance limits since the ...

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Doubts emerge over Grand Prix Final after Japan shuts borders

Both the Japan Skating Federation and the Japan Sports Agency said they did not know what the rules would be for foreigners scheduled to compete ...

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Saudi motorsports chief says F1 debut is ‘signal’ to the world

Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen could clinch the drivers' world title this week in Saudi Arabia, one of four countries in the resource-rich Gulf ...

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Making the snow stick: Wind challenges Winter Games slope makers

Competition snow requires a higher density than recreational snow to meet the requirements of professional skiing's governing body and ensure conditions are consistent for each ...

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Nadeshiko Japan held to stalemate by second-string Netherlands

The reigning Asian champion could not capitalize after creating several chances against a virtually second-string Dutch side, putting just one shot on target at ADO ...

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Joe Root says England can do ‘something special’ despite disruptions

The tourists' build-up to the five-test Ashes series, which starts next week at Brisbane's Gabba ground, has been wrecked by bad weather.

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Portugal finds 13 cases of omicron variant at Lisbon soccer club

A club spokesman said most of those infected were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, and that 44 players and staff were self-isolating and waiting to ...

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FIFA to trial semi-automated offside technology at Arab Cup

The technology is based on limb tracking and provides the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) with information before the on-field official takes a final call.

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Tiger Woods hopes to return to golf, won’t be full-time

The 14-time major champion has not played since the Feb. 23 crash in Southern California, which he said left him wondering if he'd need the ...

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Shohei Ohtani picks up Outstanding Designated Hitter honors

Ohtani was unanimously named the American League's Most Valuable Player earlier this month and is the first player to earn MVP and ODH awards in ...

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Mima Ito and Hina Hayata lose in women’s doubles final at worlds

Ito, winner of three medals at the Tokyo Olympics, and Hayata, a Games reserve, were seeking to become the first Japanese women's doubles pair in ...

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Lionel Messi claims record-extending seventh Ballon d’Or

The Argentina star, who joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer from Barcelona during the offseason, collected 613 points, with Bayern Munich's Lewandowski finishing second ...

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Indoor slope in Gifu to close down as popularity of winter sports declines

Snova Hashima has seen a significant drop in the number of skiers and snowboarders since it opened following in 1998 at the time of the ...

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Triumphant Terunofuji targets double-digit championships

A day after lifting the Emperor's Cup at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, the Mongolian-born grand champion said he wants to match his 2021 haul of four ...

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Napoli mark Maradona anniversary with dazzling win over Lazio

Club great Maradona died on Nov. 25 last year, and to mark the anniversary, Napoli unveiled a statue inside the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium pre-match.

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Day after historic ski jumping victory, Ryoyu Kobayashi tests positive for COVID-19

The news comes a day after the 25-year-old became the first Japanese man to win 20 ski jumping World Cup competitions.

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Lefty slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo to re-sign with Pirates, agent confirms

The 29-year-old first baseman-outfielder will ink a one-year contract worth $4 million with the Pirates, who finished the 2021 season at the bottom of the ...

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Kenichi Ogawa grabs vacant IBF super featherweight belt

Kenichi Ogawa became the new International Boxing Federation super featherweight champion on Saturday after beating second-ranked Azinga Fuzile of South Africa in a unanimous decision.

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Formula One team founder Frank Williams dies at age 79

Under his leadership, the team won nine constructors' championships and seven drivers' titles, most recently with Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in 1997.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto shows Buffaloes could have bright future despite stinging loss in Japan Series finale

Yamamoto's Game 6 will be remembered as one of the most stirring performances in defeat in the Japan Series.

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Japan table tennis pairs move on to world championship finals

Two teams of Japanese paddlers advanced to the finals of the mixed and women's doubles events at the table tennis world championships in Houston on ...

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Kyoto clinches promotion after 11 seasons in second division

Kyoto, which joined the J. League in 1996, rediscovered its winning ways under first-year manager Cho Kwi-jae, who led Shonan Bellmare to promotion three times ...

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Flawless Terunofuji finishes with career-first perfect record

After winning his maiden meet at yokozuna in September, Terunofuji is the first wrestler since 32-time champion Taiho in 1962 to win in his first ...

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Contrail bows out in triumph at G1 Japan Cup

With jockey Yuichi Fukunaga aboard, colt made one big late sprint down the middle of the 2,400 meters over turf at Tokyo Racecourse in the ...

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Steady MVP Yuhei Nakamura guides Swallows to Japan Series title

The team's longtime catcher expertly led his pitching staff across six neck-and-neck games against the Buffaloes to complete Yakult's reversal from cellar-dweller to champion.

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Takehiro Tomiyasu gets first assist for Arsenal in win over Newcastle

In 10 games since Tomiyasu's arrival, Mikel Arteta's side has won seven and drawn two with their only defeat coming last weekend away to Liverpool.

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Mima Ito and Kasumi Ishikawa make quarterfinal exits at worlds

Ito faced Wang Yidi for a place in the semifinals, but the Tokyo Olympic singles bronze medalist managed to win only one of five games.

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Russia’s Kamila Valieva sets two world records in emphatic Cup win

Russia's Kamila Valieva won the Cup of Russia on Saturday by beating her own free skate and combined total score world records a day after ...

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Portuguese match abandoned after COVID-hit side left with six players

Belenenses was forced to start against Benfica with nine players after its team was hit by a COVID-19 outbreak and league officials would not allow ...

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Women’s Cricket World Cup qualifiers canceled due to COVID-19 concerns

The move was taken by cricket's governing body after the spread of the new Omicron variant resulted in tightened border controls targeting qualifier host Zimbabwe ...

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Italy finance police search Juventus offices in player trading probe

The investigation is looking into whether senior managers at the club gave false communications to investors and issued invoices for non-existent transactions.

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Conor McGregor expects to resume sparring by April

McGregor's competitive future was in doubt after he suffered a broken leg during a trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier, but the Irishman fully expects to ...

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Swallows outlast Buffaloes to win Japan Series title

The Swallows are champions for the first time since 2001

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Terunofuji beats Abi to wrap up Kyushu title with day to spare

The Mongolian-born titan improved to an insurmountable 14-0 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center after being driven to the edge by challenger Abi.

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Tokushima Vortis down mourning Shonan Bellmare to take race to avoid relegation to last day

Tokushima Vortis took the J. League first division's three-way battle to avoid relegation to the final day after a second-half goal secured a 1-0 win ...

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In IOC’s ‘quiet diplomacy,’ critics see whitewash of China’s actions

For the its many critics, the guarded language the IOC used when referring to the Peng case was just the latest proof that it will ...

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Terunofuji stays perfect, Abi stuns Takakeisho on Day 13

In his first top division battle since a 2020 suspension for breaking COVID-19 protocol, Abi continued to impress.

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Breeding and racing enjoy a long history in Japan

Horse racing is considered a sport of bloodlines. The people who breed horses or the places where they are bred may change, but their bloodlines ...

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International horses set to challenge Japan’s best

The Group 1 Japan Cup enters its fifth decade this year, and the autumn showpiece will once again be run Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse in ...

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Calm and cool Adam Jones came up big when the Orix Buffaloes needed him most

Orix manager Satoshi Nakajima praised Jones as a player who can change the mood of a dugout with one swing after Game 5.

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Hitomi Miyashita’s long road to 1,000 wins in horse racing

Juggling being a mother and a jockey isn't easy, but at 44 years old, Miyashita soldiers on.

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Japanese playmaker Daichi Kamada chasing dream World Cup debut

A silky playmaker with an eye for the goal, Daichi Kamada will be 26 when the 2022 World Cup in Qatar comes around in 12 ...

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World Athletics chief sees ‘disturbing’ results with Olympic survey on social media abuse

The survey found that 23 athletes received targeted abuse through social media, with 16 of those being women.

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Adam Jones homers in ninth to keep Buffaloes alive in Japan Series

The Buffaloes won an exciting battle in Game 5 to avoid elimination.

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Terunofuji defeats Meisei to remain sole leader on Day 12

Yokozuna Terunofuji overpowered sekiwake Meisei at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday, holding onto the outright lead with a spotless 12-0 record.

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Former Greece manager Michael Skibbe to lead Sanfrecce Hiroshima next season

Skibbe, who most recently had a short-lived spell with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ain, has also managed Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray.

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How the Swallows’ Masanori Ishikawa, 41, turned back the clock to stifle the Buffaloes

As the saying goes, “you’re only as old as you feel.” On Wednesday night, the Swallows' long-time starter proved that to be true.

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One year after Diego Maradona’s death, world honors ‘Golden Kid’

Diego Maradona's rags-to-riches story, stellar sporting achievements, complicated life and dramatic death entrenched his place in the Argentine psyche.

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Pirates reportedly re-sign Yoshitomo Tsutsugo to new deal

The deal involving the 29-year-old first baseman and outfielder is said to be worth $4 million and is pending a physical.

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English soccer risks financial chaos without more even sharing

A report published late Wednesday found that despite the wealth in the Premier League, teams across the English game have fallen into administration 62 times ...

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FC Tokyo’s long-awaited change arrives as Mixi takeover announced

Monday’s long-telegraphed announcement that digital media giant Mixi will assume ownership of FC Tokyo signaled the start of a new era for the capital club.

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Does the sports world still need China?

The rewards for international sports leagues doing business in China are plain: lucrative broadcast deals and millions of new consumers. But the risks are also ...

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Masanori Ishikawa helps carry Swallows to brink of Japan Series title

Yakult is one win away from the crown after beating Orix in Game 4.

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WE League aims to learn from NWSL’s harassment scandals

League officials said that while Japan's understanding of harassment has improved in recent years, there is still much to be done to ensure the well-being ...

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Terunofuji outlasts Ichinojo to keep sole lead on Day 11

The 29-year-old powerhouse holds a one-win buffer over ozeki Takakeisho and No. 15 maegashira Abi, who were both victorious on Day 11 at Fukuoka Kokusai ...

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Terunofuji’s challengers likely to emerge from amateur ranks

As the lone yokozuna attempts to wrap up his sixth Emperor's Cup in Fukuoka, this weekend's amateur championships may feature some of his potential successors.

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BMX giving Japan’s freestyling families a way to bond

With a new and very challenging activity to share, many of the family units are finding the sport is a perfect vehicle for improved communication ...

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Bellmare midfielder Riuler dies at 23

The former Brazil youth international's cause of death has not been revealed, pending an autopsy.

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Study says biennial World Cup could cost leagues billions per season

The report predicted that in addition to cutting club revenue, such a move would hit viewer interest in games, reduce advertisers' interest in domestic soccer ...

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Swallows make themselves at home at Tokyo Dome

Unable to chase their first Japan Series since 2001 at Jingu Stadium due to a scheduling conflict, the team and their fans are making the ...

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Former U.S. official praises WTA’s strong stance on Peng Shuai

The organization has called for a transparent investigation and assurances about Peng's safety and well-being, and has threatened to pull out of tournaments in China ...

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Shohei Ohtani makes 2021 All-MLB Teams as both hitter and pitcher

The two-way star is the first player to make the All-MLB cut in more than one position in the same season.

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Domingo Santana lifts Swallows to victory with two-run homer in Game 3

Yakult won a back-and-forth battle to take a 2-1 lead in the Japan Series.

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Terunofuji stays perfect, takes sole lead as Takakeisho beaten

The yokozuna hit double-digit wins at the Kyushu Basho as his ozeki rival fell to sekiwake Meisei during Day 10 in Fukuoka.

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Tyler Higgins credits skipper Satoshi Nakajima with Orix’s transformation

In a remarkable transformation that began with his August 2020 appointment, the 53-year-old manager has taken the Buffaloes from last place in the Pacific League ...

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Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens face final shot at Cooperstown

In the final opportunity for two players whose names are tied to the sport's steroid era, voters will have to decide if their performances on ...

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Carp slugger Seiya Suzuki’s bid for MLB deal begins

The Rangers and Mets are likely to be strong bidders in the market for the athletic right fielder according to MLB.com.

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Retiring J1 record-scorer Yoshito Okubo eyes trophy as career bookend

The 39-year-old striker has two remaining games to add to his 191 J1 goals, while his club, Cerezo Osaka, has booked a spot in the ...

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Adelaide to host two Australian Open warmups

The pair of tournaments at Memorial Drive Tennis Centre are among five that will be staged in Australia ahead of the marquee Grand Slam event.

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Terunofuji, Takakeisho continue to cruise with ninth straight wins

Terunofuji is in the hunt for his sixth Emperor's Cup after winning September's Autumn meet as a debutant yokozuna.

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Olympic memories and the record books color the 2021 Japan Series

Yoshida and McGough are among the handful of players giving this year's Japan Series a little Olympic flair.

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Young guns: The Japan Series showcases young pitching talent

Throwing the first Japan Series shutout since Takayuki Kishi for the Seibu Lions in 2008, Takahashi became the 13th pitcher to win his debut without ...

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‘Too early’: Ohtani turned down Japan national honor after MVP season

The Japanese government said the Los Angeles Angels two-way player declined the idea of receiving the People's Honor Award as he concentrates on attaining still ...

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‘Not good enough’: coach under fire as All Blacks head home

A first loss to France in Paris since 1973, the highest number of defeats in a single season since 2009, and second place in the ...

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With a second ATP Finals win, Alexander Zverev proves his star is rising

He has one of the best first serves and backhands in the world. His improved court positioning and a shored-up forehand was often a decisive ...

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Tim Cahill longs for monumental World Cup and recalls Japan rivalry

The former Socceroos star played a starring role for Australia in its famous win over the Samurai Blue at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

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Making progress: a video of Tiger Woods hitting balls excites golf world

The 45-year-old looks at ease, wearing shorts with a compression stocking on his right leg, which was shattered in a car accident in February.

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Badminton ace Kento Momota claims first international trophy since car accident

The world's best badminton player, with a record 11 titles in 2019, Momota was almost forced to retire after a car crash in January last ...

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Former heavyweight wrestler Toyonoumi dies of illness at age 56

The wrestler did not miss a single match in his 19-year professional career and competed in 1,316 consecutive bouts, the eighth longest record in sumo ...

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In subtropical Taiwan, two women vie for spots at Beijing Winter Games

Taiwan, where snow brushes only the highest mountaintops during the coldest winters, has never won a medal at the Winter Olympics.

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Keiji Takahashi tosses shutout as Swallows bounce back in Game 2 of Japan Series

Keiji Takahashi threw 133 pitches over the distance in Game 2 to help his team get even in the Japan Series.

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Terunofuji, Takakeisho stay unbeaten in tie for lead on Day 8

Sumo's lone yokozuna clinched a winning record with an untroubled victory over Endo, while the unbeaten ozeki only got past towering Ichinojo through a win ...

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Gran Alegria defends Mile Championship title before retiring

After getting off to a slow start, jockey Christophe Lemaire took Gran Alegria to the outside down the stretch at Hanshin Racecourse and battled his ...

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Takumi Minamino on target for Liverpool in big win over Arsenal

The Samurai Blue attacker netted with his first touch of the game in the 77th minute, side-footing home Trent Alexander-Arnold's low cross to open his ...

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Brave Blossoms fall to Scotland despite gritty performance

Scotland ran in four tries including three before the break at Murrayfield, and led for all but a few minutes in the first half after ...

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Orix infielder Yuma Mune picks perfect time to find his groove

After struggling to find playing time early in his career, the 25-year-old is having his best season yet and has been a key part of ...

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Spirit beat Red Stars to win first NWSL championship

An extra-time goal by Kelley O'Hara capped off an emotional season for a Washington team unbeaten since September despite enduring turmoil off the pitch.

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Man United set to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Watford humiliation

United's latest slide comes after heavy preseason investments in Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane that were expected to restore the team's title-winning status.

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Yuma Kagiyama takes second Grand Prix gold of the season

After winning the Turin event earlier in November, Kagayima's second success at the top level this season clinched his place at December's Grand Prix Final ...

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All Blacks coach Ian Foster under pressure after back-to-back defeats

COVID-19 restrictions have forced the All Blacks to play their last nine tests over 12 weeks away from home, but New Zealand's media sees the ...

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Buffaloes rally for three runs in ninth to win Game 1 of Japan Series

Masataka Yoshida gave Orix the victory with a sayonara double to center.

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Terunofuji beats Myogiryu to finish first week undefeated

The grand champion shares the lead with Takakeisho, who was also untroubled in his bout on Day 7 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

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Shohei Ohtani’s MVP award another product of bucking Japan’s baseball system

Though Japan now celebrates Ohtani and Ichiro as national heroes, both only achieved that status after once being looked down on for the different way ...

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J1’s top career goal scorer Yoshito Okubo to retire at end of season

Known for his aggressive playing style, Okubo helped Japan reach the knockout phase at the 2010 World Cup and also played in the 2014 tournament.

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Players must be vaccinated for Australian Open, raising more questions about Novak Djokovic

Djokovic said this month he would await official confirmation on the requirements from Tennis Australia before making a decision.

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Concern and anger build over missing Chinese athlete Peng Shuai’s sexual assault allegations

The case has prompted the women’s tennis tour to rethink its focus in China, where it has threatened to pull events if it cannot verify ...

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Buffaloes and Swallows make final preparations ahead of Japan Series showdown

There was only one team in NPB with a worse record over the past two seasons combined than the Orix Buffaloes: the Yakult Swallows. Now ...

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One year from World Cup, the clock ticks ever louder for Qatar

After upending the football establishment by winning the right to host the World Cup, Qatar's preparations are heading into overdrive.

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WTA threatens to pull out of tournaments in China over Peng Shuai

Former Tennis doubles world number one Peng Shuai has not been seen or heard from publicly since Nov 2.

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As Portugal and Italy face play-offs, where do World Cup contenders stand?

Fans are facing the prospect of no Cristiano Ronaldo in Qatar next winter, and Italy's Azzurri squad could miss out for the second straight World ...

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China can’t censor away growing anger over athlete’s #MeToo accusation

Peng Shuai’s case is the first #MeToo accusation leveled against someone within the highest ranks of power in China.

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Alexander Zverev sets up semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic

World number two Daniil Medvedev struggled past Jannik Sinner to also punch his ticket to the semi-finals.

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Former cricketer and racism target Azeem Rafiq apologizes for antisemitic messages

Messages were uncovered in which Rafiq is seen to make disparaging comments about an unnamed Jewish person.

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Angels’ Shohei Ohtani named American League MVP

Ohtani becomes the first Japanese player to win an MVP award since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.

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Terunofuji makes great escape to remain among unbeaten wrestlers at Kyushu Basho

Terunofuji, who entered the 15-day event at Fukuoka Kokusai Center as the sport's lone yokozuna, improved to 5-2 in seven career bouts against Takanosho (2-3).

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Softball star Miu Goto motivated by experience at Tokyo Olympics

Goto went from having no expectations of personal success for Japan to earning the win in three of Japan's five victories during the Tokyo Games.

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Roger Federer will not compete at Australian Open, may not return until mid-2022

Federer, 40, said he would be "extremely surprised" if he was able to play at Wimbledon.

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Hitomi Miyashita becomes Japan’s first female jockey to reach 1,000 wins

Hitomi Miyashita won her 1,000th race aboard Real Speed in a locally operated race at Nagoya Racecourse on Thursday, becoming the first female jockey from ...

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WTA says ‘concerns raised’ about Peng Shuai after statement released by Chinese media

"The statement released today by Chinese state media concerning Peng Shuai only raises my concerns as to her safety and whereabouts," Steve Simon said in ...

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Ichiro Suzuki to join Ken Griffey Jr. and other former stars in Mariners Hall of Fame

Ichiro will be honored in a pregame ceremony on Aug. 27, when the Mariners face the Cleveland Guardians in Seattle.

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China laments inability to make good ice and snow equipment

On the brown slopes around largely arid Beijing and at other Winter Olympics venues, China will be churning out vast amounts of artificial snow to ...

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Mikaela Shiffrin still suffering from loss of father as she chases records and reindeer

The winner of the Levi races is gifted a reindeer and Shiffrin already has four Rudolph (2013), Sven (2016), Mr. Gru (2018), and Ingemar (2019).

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Yuzuru Hanyu still has path Beijing Olympics despite pulling out of Rostelecom Cup

The Japan Skating Federation said Hanyu's bid for a third straight gold medal in Beijing would not end were he to also miss December's national ...

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Terunofuji downs nemesis to remain undefeated among leaders

The yokozuna and No. 2 maegashira Onosho provided most of the thrills on Day 4's final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

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Wary hopes in Beijing over Chinese hockey team’s Olympic chances

Hockey is still a niche sport in China — especially outside the country's chilly northeast — and amateur players are realistic about what the men's ...

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Lack of excitement threatens Kyushu Basho atmosphere

Despite the ongoing meet's seeming openness, there is a sense of inevitability about proceedings in Fukuoka that appears to be draining some of the energy ...

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Yuzuru’s Hanyu’s ankle injury to keep him out of Cup of Russia

With the Beijing Winter Games less than three months away, the 26-year-old was still recovering from ligament damage to the right ankle that he suffered ...

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IOC introduces new framework for transgender athletes

The new guidance comes just months after New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard in Tokyo became the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics Games.

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Decision on China’s Olympic men’s hockey team set for Nov. 25

Hockey's governing body said in September that "insufficient sporting standard" could lead to the Beijing 2022 host's replacement ahead of the February event.

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Cleveland Indians settle lawsuit with roller derby team over new name

Tuesday's settlement permits both teams to use the name Guardians, likely removing the final hurdle from the Major League Baseball team's plan to change its ...

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USA to co-host T20 World Cup in 2024

The baseball-loving country, which has never appeared at either a T20 or a 50-over World Cup, will host the event along with the more established ...

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NBA to stage first preseason games in UAE

The league said two exhibition games will take place in Abu Dhabi in October 2022, with teams involved to be confirmed at a later date.

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Japan beats Oman to return to automatic World Cup spot

Junya Ito's goal earned the Samurai Blue a third win in a row and avenged their home defeat to Oman in September at the start ...

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Dwyane Wade says LeBron James and revamped Lakers need time

The retired NBA star, who won two of his three championships with James when they both played for Miami, says the Lakers should focus on ...

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Naomi Osaka concerned over Peng Shuai’s whereabouts after allegations

The Japanese star added her voice to the tennis community's growing calls for assurances of Peng's safety by Chinese officials.

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Lone yokozuna Terunofuji beats Wakatakakage handily on Day 3

Wakatakakage went looking for a belt grip but was quickly bundled out by Terunofuji, sumo's only active yokozuna since the retirement of Hakuho at the ...

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Carp confirm posting of slugger Seiya Suzuki

Widely recognized as one of the country's top players, the 27-year-old led the CL in batting and on-base percentage this season, his ninth in Nippon ...

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Wizards coach says team will not rush Rui Hachimura back

The 23-year-old forward has yet to play this season for the Wizards, who lead the Eastern Conference following an unexpectedly strong 10-3 start.

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Rays’ Randy Arozarena, Reds’ Jonathan India named top rookies

The two players both earned overwhelming approval from Baseball Writers Association of America voters who selected the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award winners.

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Soccer fans could face accommodation shortage at Qatar’s World Cup

Organizers said they expect to be able to offer up to 130,000 rooms — which could leave thousands of fans scrambling when matches start next ...

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Retired Usain Bolt says he ‘could have won’ 100 meter gold in Tokyo

The eight-time gold medalist said that it was frustrating to watch the 2020 Games from his home in Jamaica as his male countrymen flopped and ...

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China silent on tennis star Peng Shuai despite growing concern

Details of Peng's reported accusations, made earlier this month that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her, remain scrubbed from China's Internet.

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Harry Kane’s four against San Marino seal England’s World Cup spot

With England only needing a point to clinch the top spot in Group I, the only real question was how many goals they would score ...

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Nick Kyrgios calls for Australian Open to be canceled

The 26-year-old also took aim at authorities who have pledged to block unvaccinated players from the Grand Slam in January.

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NHL postpones next three Ottawa games due to outbreak

The team's training facilities have also been shuttered after 10 of its players were placed under the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.

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Ryo Ishikawa suspended for one month after violating quarantine

The 30-year-old also had his resignation as vice chairman and board member accepted after the story of him breaching the 14-day quarantine period was first ...

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Yokozuna Terunofuji hangs on to beat Daieisho on Day 2

The 29-year-old powerhouse needed his strength and composure again in the final bout of Day 2 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

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Shohei Ohtani already looking ahead after historic campaign

"I still want to do my best because I think I can go even higher."

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Maligned Mitchell Marsh all smiles after Australia wins T20 World Cup

Few players have divided opinion in Australian cricket over the last decade more than Mitchell Marsh.

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Defending champion Daniil Medvedev rallies to win ATP Finals opener

World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev came from a set down to power past ATP Finals debutant Hubert Hurkacz 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 and get his ...

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Lewis Hamilton cuts into Max Verstappen’s lead with stunning performance to win Brazilian Grand Prix

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton chased down Max Verstappen to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday and cut his rival's lead in the ...

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Former Japan, Leicester midfielder Yuki Abe to retire

Aside from his spell at Leicester, Abe has been with Urawa since 2007, winning the ACL in his first season and 2017.

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Masahito Obayashi earns shock mass start win at World Cup event

The 27-year-old earned 66 sprint points to beat out Russia's Ruslan Zakharov despite barely qualifying for the final on Day 2 of the World Cup ...

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Teenager Natsu Ota becomes Japan’s youngest pentathlon champion

The 14-year-old, who is aiming for a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, overcame London Olympian Shino Yamanaka during the laser run to finish with ...

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Jubilo Iwata clinches J1 promotion with win over Mito

The three-time J1 champion's fourth consecutive win moved them to 86 points, ensuring they will finish no worse than second and return to the first ...

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Terunofuji starts new era with hard-fought win to open Kyushu Basho

Terunofuji's first-day win at Fukuoka Kokusai Center did not come cheaply as Mongolian Kiribayama kept the grand champion in check to force a long contest.

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Japan outlasts Portugal in memorable first meeting

Debutant Shogo Nakano was among four try scorers for the tourists, who earned 18 points off the steady boot of flyhalf Rikiya Matsuda at the ...

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Lakers’ Anthony Davis blasts team after ’embarrassing’ defeat

Davis excoriated the Lakers' performance in a 107-83 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday that teammate LeBron James could only watch from the sidelines.

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France and Belgium qualify for 2022 World Cup finals

The defending champion crushed Kazakhstan thanks to four goals from Kylian Mbappe, while Belgium also booked its ticket with a win over Estonia.

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Saudi Arabia launches first women’s soccer league

The new competition is part of a program set up by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in 2017 to support the women's game.

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Shoma Uno and Kaori Sakamoto conquer NHK Trophy

The two Japanese skaters stood atop both the men's and women's podiums at Yoyogi National Gymnasium as their challengers fell behind in Saturday's free skate.

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Buffaloes and Swallows go from worst-to-first to set up improbable, intriguing Japan Series

The 2021 Japan Series will be the setting of the ultimate rags-to-riches story.

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Teen Chikara Tanaka following winding road in hopes of reaching NBA

Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe have proven there is a path from Japan to the basketball mountaintop that is the NBA, giving hope to up-and-coming ...

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Sapporo eyes 20% cost cut in bid for 2030 Winter Olympics

The northern city intends to review its bid for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2030, looking to reduce costs by up to ¥90 billion ...

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England captain Joe Root demands change in cricket after racism scandal

An independent report concluded that former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq was subject to "racial harassment and bullying."

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Shoma Uno, Kaori Sakamoto top NHK Trophy standings after first day

An appreciative audience at Yoyogi National Gymnasium was treated to strong performances by Japan's entrants, with Uno the only skater to cross 100 points.

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Yokozuna Terunofuji heading into Kyushu Basho with no equal in sight

With Hakuho retired, the Isegahama stable man has a golden chance to cement his own legacy.

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Ryota Murata to face Gennady Golovkin in middleweight unification bout in December

"He's the boxer I respect most. I want to beat him and prove that I'm strongest," Murata said.

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Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. signs with Rams

The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to terms with three-time Pro Bowl selection Odell Beckham Jr. in a deal that will bring the wide receiver ...

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Belarus detains and fines Olympic skier for violating protest laws

The International Olympic Committee is looking into the situation and has requested more information from the Belarusian Olympic Committee.

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Shohei Ohtani wins Silver Slugger Award

The 27-year-old joins Ichiro Suzuki as the only Japanese players to win a Silver Slugger.

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Japan beats Vietnam to close in on group leaders in World Cup qualifying

Japan strengthened its bid for automatic qualification to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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Buffaloes and Swallows roll toward Japan Series clash

Both league champs moved to within a win or a tie of securing Japan Series berths.

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China’s Winter Olympic medal forecast clouded by pandemic

China can expect a host nation bump in the medal standings at next year's Winter Olympics, but predicting exactly how well the country will do ...

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Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto shines again on big stage in playoff debut

Yamamoto struck out 10 in a shutout of the Marines in Game 1.

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Karolina Pliskova gets off to winning start at WTA Finals

Karolina Pliskova got off to a winning start in the singles competition at the WTA Finals by continuing her dominance of Garbine Muguruza with a ...

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Shohei Ohtani named finalist for All-MLB team at two positions

Ohtani was named at designated hitter and starting pitcher.

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Tyson Fury was ‘badly injured’ ahead of victory over Deontay Wilder, according to father

The 33-year-old Fury outlasted Wilder in an enthralling slugfest in Las Vegas that was more competitive than many had expected.

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Young aces lead league champs in final stage openers

Yasunobu Okugawa and Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitch shutouts to open the second stage of the NPB playoffs.

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Parkour nationals to be held at Tokyo airport in December

Organizers said Monday they will construct a bespoke course at Haneda for the high-energy, street-based discipline, which is sanctioned by the International Gymnastics Federation.

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Luge federation boosts safety measures after crash at Beijing venue

The FIL said additional safety measures had been put in place with immediate effect on Tuesday, including the "set-up of blockades at a start height ...

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Despite sluggish attendance, Kyushu Basho boasts overwhelming charm

After a two-year absence, the return of professional sumo to Fukuoka offers a chance to reassess the grand tournament schedule's most unique host.

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Record-setting jumper Sara Takanashi primed to break Olympic hoodoo

The Pyeongchang bronze medalist, who admits to being "swallowed up" by the Olympic atmosphere in the past, hopes a new jumping style will help her ...

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Coaches warn of scary times facing China’s hockey team at Games

A "group of death" featuring the United States, Canada and Germany is expected to show no mercy to the host nation, whose Olympic preparations have ...

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Aaron Rodgers admits he ‘misled’ people about his vaccine status

Days after he tested positive, the former Super Bowl champion defiantly told "The Pat McAfee Show" that he had not lied, but returned to the ...

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Brazil legend Formiga to retire from national team

In her last appearance for Brazil, the iconic midfielder will don the Selecao's yellow-and-green jersey in a Nov. 25 friendly against in the northern city ...

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bryce Harper win Hank Aaron Award

Blue Jays infielder Guerrero beat out Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani in the American League, while Harper won the award for the second time in ...

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Ryo Ishikawa leaves key roles after caught violating quarantine

Ishikawa was photographed entering the golf lodge after a round on a course in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Oct. 27, only days after ...

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Members of Japan’s skating team test positive for COVID-19 in Germany

The national governing body for skating said those infected, who were not identified, went into a seven-day quarantine following German public health guidelines.

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Saudi golf investment not a Greg Norman conquest, says Asian Tour chief

Scant on detail, the announcement was interpreted by some as the first move in establishing a "super league" that could split men's professional golf and ...

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Polish luger says Beijing crash could have been ‘tragedy’

Mateusz Sochowicz said the track team had been slow to react and that he had spent half an hour on the ice before being transported ...

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Angels’ Shohei Ohtani named one of three finalists for 2021 AL MVP

The two-way star was among the top three vote-getters along with the Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien.

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Sponsors split on Aaron Rodgers’ anti-vaccine stance

Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 last week and faced backlash for telling reporters in August that he was "immunized" in response to a question about ...

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Olympic medalist Mai Murakami grateful upon retirement

The 25-year-old, who claimed the bronze medal in the floor exercise at the Tokyo Olympics, hopes to raise the next generation of gymnasts as a ...

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Pioneering Japanese cyclist Fumiyuki Beppu retires from circuit

Now 38 and in his final season with American outfit EF Education-Nippo, Beppu described his struggle to break into the European scene as a "thrilling" ...

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Oscar Pistorius could be considered for parole

The former Paralympian has served half of his 13-year sentence for murdering his girlfriend in 2013, but must enter into dialogue with the victim's family ...

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Xavi lays down the law after unveiling as Barcelona’s new coach

The 41-year-old has been tasked with returning Barcelona to Europe's elite and recovering a style of play most associated with Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola.

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J. League champion Frontale looking to extend dominance across Asia

Japanese soccer experts believe Kawasaki is just getting started and has the potential to make its mark on the AFC Champions League, Asia's premier club ...

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Jaguars’ Josh Allen torments Bills’ Josh Allen in upset victory

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen recorded a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery off Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, an odd twist to the ...

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Australia’s Dane Haylett-Petty retires after long struggle with concussion

Wallabies fullback Dane Haylett-Petty has retired from rugby union after a one-year battle with the lingering effects of a concussion, saying doctors advised him to ...

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Inaugural Billie Jean King Cup draws mixed reviews from players and fans

Sloane Stevens described the tournament as a "work in progress."

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Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir wins NYC marathon

Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir won the 50th running of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, surviving a thrilling three-way battle before sprinting for the ...

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High-flying West Ham ends Liverpool’s record unbeaten run

West Ham United validated its place in the Premier League by outmuscling Liverpool for a memorable 3-2 victory at a rocking London Stadium on Sunday.High-flying ...

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Max Verstappen increases lead over Lewis Hamilton with victory in Mexico City Grand Prix

"There's still a long way to go," Verstappen said. "It's of course looking good, but also it can turn around very quickly."

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Novak Djokovic focuses on positives after winning Paris Masters

"I'm not regretting it, really. I'm not spending days suffering because I didn't take the calendar slam this year."

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Nagoya’s top-three hopes dented by draw at struggling Sendai

The newly cronwed Levain Cup champion fell five points behind third-place Vissel Kobe and was overtaken by Kashima Antlers for the fourth spot on goal ...

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Marines advance to Climax Series final with draw against Eagles

A seventh-inning blast by Leonys Martin gave Chiba the result it needed to move on to a showdown with the PL champion Buffaloes for the ...

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‘Reiwa Monster’ Roki Sasaki lives up to hype in Climax Series debut

The 20-year-old Marines pitcher impressed in his first postseason appearance, giving fans a taste of what they can expect in seasons to come.

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Saul Alvarez beats Caleb Plant to make super middleweight history

The 31-year-old added the IBF belt to his WBC, WBA and WBO straps in a winner-takes-all showdown to become boxing's sixth unified champion since the ...

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Tokyo manager Kenta Hasegawa resigns after blowout loss to F. Marinos

The J1 side has struggled to find consistency and is currently in ninth place in the league after having been eliminated from Japan's other cup ...

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Barcelona crisis creates opportunity for new manager Xavi

The legendary former midfielder has been tasked with rescuing a club that has sunk to ninth in the Spanish first division and faces an uphill ...

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‘Gladiator’ Yuma Kagiyama skates to victory in Turin

The 2021 world silver medalist was a lowly seventh after an error-strewn short program but hit back in style on Saturday.

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Jamie Joseph says hard work key to Japan rebounding from Irish rout

The Brave Blossoms were on the back foot from the start of the match played in front of around 40,000 spectators, with Ireland captain Johnny ...

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Pentathletes ask sport’s board to quit after horse riding removed

The body decided on Thursday to remove horse riding from the 2028 Games after a broad outcry when a German coach punched a horse that ...

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Carp’s Seiya Suzuki to be made available to MLB teams

The five-time NPB All Star, a member of Japan's gold-medal-winning Olympic team, is expected to be one of the most coveted outfielders of the offseason.

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Marines earn dramatic win over Eagles in Climax Series opener

A pair of big hits helped the Marines rally past the Eagles on the first day of the postseason in NPB.

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Canelo Alvarez sets sights on becoming undisputed champion

"Only five male fighters in the history of boxing have accomplished becoming undisputed champion," Alvarez said. "I want to be the sixth."

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Rin Kinoshita hopes to reach Olympic podium in skeleton

Make no bones about it, this is not a sport for the faint of heart, and skeleton requires more than the bravery and willingness to ...

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Naomi Osaka ‘back’ on tennis court two months after tearful exit

The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan tweeted two photos with her holding a racquet on a court, one of them showing her wearing workout ...

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Seon Okazawa and Tomoya Tsuboi become first Japanese world champions

Seon Okazawa and Tomoya Tsuboi became Japan's first boxing world champions on Friday after they respectively won the men's welterweight and bantamweight titles in Belgrade.Tokyo ...

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Yuma Kagiyama finishes seventh, Satoko Miyahara fourth at Gran Premio d’Italia SP

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama stumbled to a seventh-place start after the short skate at the ISU Grand Prix Gran Premio d'Italia on Friday in the men's ...

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NBA investigating Suns owner Robert Sarver over allegations of racism

The NBA has ordered an investigation into allegations of racism and misogyny made against Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver on Thursday.

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NHL union plans to investigate response to sexual assault allegations

The National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) said on Thursday it would conduct an independent review of its response to the 2010 allegations of sexual ...

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Australia postpones its first-ever test against Afghanistan due to Taliban’s stance on women

In a statement, Cricket Australia said it was "committed to support growing the game for women and men in Afghanistan and around the world."

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Fighters will be anything but boring with ‘Big Boss’ Tsuyoshi Shinjo in dugout

Big Boss has taken charge in Sapporo for what promises to be an entertaining ride.

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Giants great Buster Posey retires

Posey made his MLB debut in late in the 2009 season and batted .302 with 158 homers and 729 RBIs in 1,371 games with the ...

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Kyogo Furuhashi scores as Celtic wins in Europa League

Forward Kyogo Furuhashi scored one goal and set up another as Ange Postecoglou's Celtic edged Hungarian side Ferencvaros 3-2 away in a UEFA Europa League ...

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Yuzuru Hanyu to miss NHK Trophy due to injury

Hanyu has not declared his intent to defend his Olympic title in Beijing, and has instead spoken of his focus on perfecting the exceedingly difficult ...

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Japan adds new faces to mix for upcoming World Cup qualifiers

Kaoru Mitoma and Reo Hatate were called up to the national team for the first time on Thursday.

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Packers QB Aaron Rodgers placed in NFL’s COVID-19 protocol, to miss game against Chiefs

Rodgers will sit out the game against the Chiefs because he is unvaccinated, which means he's sidelined for 10 days as a result of the ...

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Liverpool cruises into Champions League last 16

Liverpool and Ajax maintained perfect records in the Champions League this season to qualify for the last 16 on Wednesday, while a Paris Saint-Germain side ...

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Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai says former vice premier forced her into sex

Former world No.1 tennis doubles player Peng Shuai, one of China's biggest sports stars, has publicly accused a former Chinese vice premier of forcing her ...

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Prosecutors say Henry Ruggs was driving drunk at 251 kph just before fatal crash

Ruggs rammed into another car on a Las Vegas street, killing a woman and her dog.

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Yusei Kikuchi to become free agent after declining player option

The 30-year-old had a contract that included both the player option and a series of four one-year team options from 2022 to 2025 valued at ...

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Dominant Kawasaki Frontale clinches fourth J1 League title in five seasons

This season was another masterclass in Kawasaki Frontale dominance, with the team dropping just 17 points out of a possible 102 thus far. On Wednesday, ...

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One big name notably absent in November ranking of sumo wrestlers

For the first time in 14 years, the name of legend Hakuho Sho doesn’t head up one side or the other of the banzuke’s top ...

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Raiders release WR Henry Ruggs III with felony DUI charges pending after deadly crash

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced Tuesday that Ruggs was the driver in an accident that caused a fatality and would face felony charges.

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Atlanta Braves rout Houston Astros to win first World Series since 1995

Home runs by Jorge Soler, Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson and a spectacular start from pitcher Max Fried spurred the Braves to a 7-0 win ...

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Ronaldo saves Manchester United again as Bayern and Juventus reach Champions League knockouts

Ronaldo fired one in from the edge of the box a minute into injury time to snatch Manchester United a 2-2 draw with Atalanta in ...

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Japan’s skiing and snowboarding hopefuls look to soar in Beijing

Medal predictions released last week by Nielsen's Gracenote had Japan winning three golds at the Beijing Games and they all were in either skiing or ...

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Horse ‘that makes race commentators cry’ earns maiden win in Japan

Japanese television showed the commentator coping admirably with the eight "mo" in Sumomomomomomomomo's name as she sped down the final straight.

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Afghanistan’s buzkashi season begins with the Taliban at the reins

Despite fears the ancient game would again be barred after the Taliban seized power in August, the country's national sport has persisted to the delight ...

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Handball federation ends bikini bottom requirement for women

A fine against Norway's team shortly before the Tokyo Olympics added to the global discussion over double standards affecting female athletes at every level of ...

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Titans’ Derrick Henry out indefinitely; foot surgery Tuesday

Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the team is planning for life without Henry and working out veteran free agents with the NFL trade deadline ...

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China to hold World Cup qualifiers in UAE due to travel restrictions

China, attempting to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2002, has yet to play at home in the final round of ...

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Gary Bettman says fans should feel horrified at Blackhawks scandal

An explosive independent report detailed a lack of action by Blackhawks senior management, who did not address sexual assault allegations by a player during the ...

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Back injury shuts Kei Nishikori down for the season

The 31-year-old former world No. 4 revealed on Twitter that he will pull out of the Nov. 7-13 Stockholm Open, the last event of the ...

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Tottenham’s Nuno Santo latest victim of Premier League’s sacking culture

The days when English soccer used to shake its collective head at reports of Serie A or La Liga managers being fired after a few ...

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Shohei Ohtani mentor Hideki Kuriyama leaves Nippon Ham manager role

The 60-year-old masterminded the development of the Los Angeles Angels star when many initially questioned the decision to give him the chance to both pitch ...

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Novak Djokovic sets sights on ending year atop rankings

Novak Djokovic said his targets for the rest of 2021 include clinching the year-end No. 1 spot and helping Serbia in its Davis Cup campaign, ...

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Saints overcome Jameis Winston’s injury to upset Buccaneers

P.J. Williams returned a game-clinching interception of Tom Brady for a touchdown as the New Orleans Saints surprised the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36-27 on Sunday ...

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Yokozuna Terunofuji leads sumo into new era without Hakuho

The 29-year-old Terunofuji won his debut tourney at sumo's highest rank and will now be alone in shouldering the extreme expectations placed on yokozuna.

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Kanya Fujimoto nets first goal of season for Gil Vicente

Midfielder Kanya Fujimoto opened his account for the season in the Portuguese top flight on Sunday, netting for Gil Vicente in a 2-1 win away ...

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Astros rally past Braves in Game 5 to stay alive in World Series

The Houston Astros used a change in their lineup Sunday to alter their perspective and then rallied from a four-run deficit to extend the 2021 ...

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Efforia wins Autumn Tenno-sho

Third pick Efforia became the first three-year-old in 19 years to win the international Grade 1 Tenno-sho at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday.Efforia followed up on ...

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NPB’s ‘Ironman’ Takashi Toritani to retire after 18 years with Tigers and Marines

Takashi Toritani holds the second-longest consecutive games streak in NPB history.

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Arsenal women set up F.A. Cup final against Chelsea

The final, which had to be rescheduled after the competition was halted in January due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place at London's Wembley ...

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Japan wins pair of group bronze medals at Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships

The 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships were held at West Japan General Exhibition Center Annex in Kitakyushu.

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With most fans vaccinated, J. League sees path to pre-pandemic crowds

After 20 months of uncertainty and heavy restrictions, league officials are optimistic that they will be able to raise average attendances in the remaining five ...

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Wallabies door not closed to Japan-based trio, says RA chief

The three players, who have lucrative contracts with Japanese clubs, pulled out of the Australia squad ahead of next weekend's meeting with Scotland.

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Braves beat Astros in Game 4 to reach brink of World Series title

Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler smashed back-to-back home runs to move Atlanta one win away from its first world championship since 1995.

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Beauden Barrett says ‘plenty more left in the tank’ after 100th cap

The 30-year-old fly-half struck at both ends of Saturday's match, bookending a commanding display by the All Blacks against Wales.

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‘Unexcited’ WTA players bow to Australia’s COVID-19 rules

Officials in Victoria state, which is set to host the Australian Open early next year, have said unvaccinated players will not be allowed to enter ...

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Manchester United eases pressure with resounding win over Tottenham

United put last weekend's 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool behind them with a superb performance, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford scoring against the ...

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Nathan Chen rebounds from rare loss to win Skate Canada title

The American, considered a favorite to win gold at Beijing 2022, was comfortably in first place after Friday's short program and returned to score 200.46 ...

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Nagoya shuts down Cerezo to win club’s first Levain Cup

Goals from Naoki Maeda and Sho Inagaki combined with a strong defensive performance carried the day for Massimo Ficcadenti's men at Saitama Stadium.

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South Korea slowly beginning to embrace esports

Despite the growing international status and interest among prospective professional players, government support for the esports industry has been lackluster.

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Ayano Dozono balances motherhood with soccer career in Spain

Real Union de Tenerife re-signed the Japanese midfielder for the 2021-2022 season knowing she was pregnant, saying it reflects the team's culture of equality and ...

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Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi defend decision to skip Australia tour

Flyhalf Quade Cooper said he was "hurting" about his decision to opt out of Australia's season-ending tour of Japan, while center Samu Kerevi told critics ...

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Patrick Mahomes determined to make improvements in time to face Giants

Kansas City's defensive shortcomings have led to Mahomes pressing sometimes to make plays.

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Controversial ‘Tomahawk Chop’ set to return to World Series in Game 3

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred backed the team's nickname and "Tomahawk Chop" cheer this week.

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Former star outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo announced as next Fighters manager

Shinjo's signing as manager comes after the team hired former coach and Tokyo Olympic baseball manager Atsunori Inaba as general manager.

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Chief strategist says Mercedes must juggle performance and reliability to remain in title race

Lewis Hamilton is 12 points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen with five races remaining.

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Chunichi names “Mr. Dragons” Kazuyoshi Tatsunami as new manager

The Chunichi Dragons named former star infielder Kazuyoshi Tatsunami as new manager of the Central League club on Friday.The 52-year-old, whose club record 2,480 hits ...

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Shohei Ohtani voted Player of the Year by fellow major leaguers

"Of course the other awards are nice, but being chosen (as Player of the Year) by my fellow players, who are actually out there battling ...

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Australia’s Winter Olympic team reassured by nation’s experience at Tokyo Games

Australia's Chef de Mission for the Winter Olympics says the team's experience at the Tokyo Summer Games has reassured him that the health protocols in ...

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Kyogo Furuhashi nets 10th goal for Celtic in win over Hibernian

Samurai Blue forward Kyogo Furuhashi was on target Wednesday for Celtic, netting in a 3-1 win away to Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League.With his ...

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Buffaloes put past failures in rearview mirror with Pacific League title

There was nothing more for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to do — so he rested.The Orix Buffaloes’ brilliant 23-year-old pitcher carried the team to the brink of ...

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Russian trio looking to build momentum for Olympics at Skate Canada

A trio of Russian women are hoping to bolster their credentials to make the Olympic team this week at Skate Canada in Vancouver, while three-time ...

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Barcelona fires Ronald Koeman after slow start to season

Ronald Koeman has been fired as coach of Barcelona, the club announced on Wednesday, with former midfielder Xavi Hernandez the favorite to replace him.Koeman was ...

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Astros come alive at plate to even World Series

"It happened fast," manager Dusty Baker said. "It gets to be like a feeding frenzy and everybody wants to get in on it. I was ...

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Ryota Murata on track to meet Gennadiy Golovkin in blockbuster middleweight unification title fight

If confirmed, the blockbuster would be one of the biggest fights to ever take place in Japan.

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Orix Buffaloes win franchise’s first pennant in quarter-century

Orix's victory, coupled with the Yakult Swallows' Central League pennant, marks the first time both league champions finished last the season before.

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FIFA urges countries to rehome Afghan athletes

More than 150 members of Afghanistan's sports community and their families were evacuated this month with the help of Qatar, in coordination with soccer's global ...

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Topknot-cutting ceremonies allow fans to participate in sumo history

With retirement ceremonies likely to resume in 2022, fans will have a chance to help send off a number of top wrestlers including former yokozuna ...

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Braves rout Astros in first game of World Series

The Braves, appearing in their first World Series since 1999, used a blistering start to post five runs in the first three innings and never ...

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UEFA hope for record-breaking women’s Euro 2022 after 12-month delay

England will play host to the tournament from July 6 to 31, which hopes to smash attendance records for women's soccer.

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Japan manager Atsunori Inaba appointed as Fighters’ new GM

The Sapporo-based team has yet to announce a new manager for the 2022 season, although former New York Mets outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo is viewed as ...

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FIFPro, leagues call for reform in wake of Super League threat

The global players union's manifesto comes as the sport continues to grapples with issues such as the breakaway league attempt and a possible biennial World ...

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Shohei Ohtani receives prestigious award for historic two-way season

The Angels star received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award, which is granted to individuals and teams who have made a historically significant impact on the ...

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Team GB expects fully vaccinated team for Beijing Games

While Team GB is yet to select most of its winter athletes, most of those on the long list of candidates are vaccinated according to ...

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Tom Brady throws Bitcoin to fan who returned 600th touchdown ball

The 44-year-old seven-time Super Bowl champion is a part-owner of crypto exchange FTX, having starred in a commercial for the company alongside his wife Gisele ...

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