Kengo Suzuki still in state of shock after setting Japan marathon record

Suzuki's win made him the first Japanese runner to complete a sub-2:05 marathon.

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Padres’ Tommy Pham feels ‘lucky’ to take field again after stabbing

Just over four months after he was stabbed in the lower back, San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham expressed joy just to be able to ...

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Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake would rather miss Tokyo Olympics than get COVID-19 vaccine

The International Olympic Committee has said getting the vaccine is "encouraged" but not compulsory for athletes.

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Collin Morikawa wins Workday Championship, pays tribute to injured Tiger Woods

Collin Morikawa continued to solidify his place among the next generation of golf by winning for the third time in eight months.

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Mateus brace lifts Grampus over promoted Avispa

Brazilian winger Mateus' brace got Nagoya Grampus off to a winning start in the new J. League campaign on Sunday, with a 2-1 away win ...

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Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez crushes Avni Yildirim to retain titles

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez demolished Turkey's Avni Yildirim in three rounds to retain his WBC and WBA super middleweight titles by knockout on Saturday.Mexico's Alvarez dominated ...

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U.S. Soccer scraps policy banning kneeling during anthem

The United States Soccer Federation on Saturday voted to end a ban on players kneeling during the national anthem, something they have done to protest ...

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Eddie Jones bites tongue over officiating after England loss to Wales

England coach Eddie Jones tried to make his frustration clear while refusing to criticize referee Pascal Gauzere following the reigning Six Nations champions' 40-24 loss ...

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NBA fans, art afficionados flocking to new digital collectables

The NBA's new Top Shot platform uses blockchain technology, which powers cryptocurrency such as bitcoin, to sell fans exclusive video clips that can be traded ...

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Kengo Suzuki dethrones Suguru Osako to set new Japan marathon record

The 25-year-old, who missed out on qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, became the first Japanese runner to break the 2-hour, 5-minute mark on Sunday ...

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Wataru Endo scores two, sets up two more as Stuttgart trounces Schalke

The Japan midfielder leads the German first division in duels won and has played the full 90 minutes in all but one of his 23 ...

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Former Yankee Masahiro Tanaka to start Game 2 for Rakuten

Former New York Yankee Masahiro Tanaka will open the season as the second starting pitcher in the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles rotation, manager Kazuhisa Ishii ...

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Iga Swiatek claims second career title with Adelaide crown

French Open champion Iga Swiatek breezed past second seed Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-2 in the Adelaide International final on Saturday to claim the second title ...

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America’s Cup on hold amid New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown

The America's Cup final between Team New Zealand and Italy's Luna Rossa on Auckland's Waitemata Harbor was pushed back on Sunday as a coronavirus outbreak ...

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Former gymnast Rachael Denhollander repeats call for USA Gymnastics to be decertified

Denhollander went public with her allegations of sexual abuse against Larry Nassar in 2016, prompting more than 350 other women to come forward.

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Group channels grief into art as way to honor Diego Maradona

The mosaics, made up of small tiles to ensure they are durable and easy to fix in case of vandalism, show Maradona in a jersey ...

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FC Tokyo, Urawa open new J. League campaign with draw

Masato Morishige netted a late equalizer Saturday as FC Tokyo salvaged a 1-1 draw and denied new Urawa Reds manager Ricardo Rodriguez a winning start ...

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Slugging great Boomer Wells went from exile to NPB icon in Japan

Over 10 seasons, Wells hit 277 home runs and drove in 901 runs in Nippon Professional Baseball.

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Akito Watabe places fifth at world championships as Jarl Magnus Riiber defends crown

Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber defended his men's normal hill Nordic combined title in the individual Gundersen competition with Akito Watabe finishing fifth at the FIS ...

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Reds’ Shogo Akiyama leaves camp for personal reasons

Outfielder Shogo Akiyama will leave Cincinnati Reds spring training in Goodyear, Arizona, to tend to a personal matter, a team official said Friday.The official noted ...

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Judo federation head Yasuhiro Yamashita hints at stepping down

Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita on Friday hinted he may quit as the head of the All Japan Judo Federation following allegations one of ...

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Japan to face Eddie Jones’ England in second match of World Cup pool stage

Japan will open its 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign in France against the second-ranked team from the Americas qualifying tournament before clashing with heavyweight England ...

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Frontale opens title defense with win as Akihiro Ienaga scores twice

Marinos manager Ange Postecoglou bemoaned his team's poor performance as the Kanagawa Derby kicked off the J. League first-division season on Friday night.

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New Zealand pulls out of Olympic basketball qualifiers

New Zealand's men's basketball team has withdrawn from Olympic qualifiers in Serbia due to costs associated with COVID-19 protocols and international travel, the country's governing ...

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MLB fan attendance plans not universal to start 2021 season

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has approved a plan to allow 30% capacity at home games for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians to begin the ...

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Sara Takanashi finishes third at world ski jumping championships

Takanashi, who was unable to improve on her 100-meter first attempt on the normal hill, will have another chance to win gold at next week's ...

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Tiger Woods transferred to Los Angeles hospital for further treatment

Golf superstar Tiger Woods has been transferred to a Los Angeles medical facility for further treatment, according to a statement Thursday from the hospital where ...

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Katie Ledecky anticipates fierce competition at Tokyo Games

The five-time Olympic champion doesn't believe that restrictions caused by the pandemic will result in subpar performances at the Summer Olympics.

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Atsushi Miyagi, 1955 U.S. Open doubles champion, dies at 89

Atsushi Miyagi, who won the 1955 U.S. Open doubles championship, died of bladder cancer on Wednesday at an assisted living facility in Tokyo. He was ...

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Libya cleared to host international soccer games after ban lifted

A decade-long ban on international soccer matches being played in Libya has been lifted, the country’s soccer federation said on Thursday.The decision comes less than ...

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U.S. has not made ‘final decision’ on participating in Beijing Games

The White House has not made a final decision on whether the United States will take part in the 2022 Winter Olympics in China, President ...

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Former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach kills self after abuse charges

John Geddert, who was charged by prosecutors earlier on Thursday, owned a training facility where convicted sex offender Larry Nassar served as the gym doctor.

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Tiger Woods’ future in golf in doubt following accident

Woods underwent surgery to repair "significant orthopedic injuries" to his lower right leg and ankle, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center chief medical officer Anish Mahajan said.

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France’s Six Nations tilt against Scotland in doubt again after new COVID-19 case

France's Six Nations game against Scotland is in doubt again on after the French rugby federation (FFR) suspended training on Thursday because of another player ...

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Tokyo Olympic refugee team to be finalized in June

The refugee team that will compete at the Tokyo Olympics will be finalized in June from a group of 55 athletes from across 12 sports, ...

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IOC’s John Coates says vaccines ‘encouraged’ but not mandatory for athletes at Tokyo Games

Athletes are being encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics but it will not be compulsory, IOC Vice President John Coates ...

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Tokyo Olympic organizers could reveal policy for fans around March 25

Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto said she wants to set a direction on the issue around that day.

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Tokyo 2020 head Seiko Hashimoto reaffirms commitment to gender equality

"Gender equality and women’s empowerment is going to be something that is going to be promoted,” Hashimoto said.

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Naomi Osaka nominated for 2021 Laureus award

Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka and Kento Momota, the top-ranked men's badminton player, were among the nominees for the 22nd annual Laureus World Sports Awards, the ...

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Brisbane emerges as front-runner to host 2032 Summer Olympics

The International Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday that Brisbane was the preferred candidate to host the 2032 Games and said it would enter "targeted dialogue" ...

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Decision on whether to allow fans from overseas to attend Tokyo Games expected in April

Speaking at an online news conference, Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi said the IOC wanted the decision made "as late as possible.

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‘Air sumo’ tournament offers hope for amateur sport’s future

A unique online competition, established due to the inability to hold amateur meets in person due to the pandemic, is aiming to cast a rare ...

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Rugby becoming the next frontier for hungry sports investors

Rugby's crown jewels are in the sights of investors seeking to exploit the untapped potential of the market as struggling governing bodies try to replenish ...

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Beach volleyball players cleared to wear bikinis in Qatar event

Beach volleyball players will be able to wear bikinis for an upcoming tournament in Qatar, the sport's governing body said Tuesday, after two Germans and ...

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Mariners leaders vow to move past Kevin Mather’s comments

Seattle Mariners leaders expressed their dismay on Tuesday and vowed to move on positively from comments made by former team CEO and president Kevin Mather, ...

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J. League gears up for chaotic 2021 season

Japanese soccer's top flight will feature its largest-ever relegation zone as the league aims to rebalance its divisions following last year's pandemic-struck campaign.

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James Harden, Anthony Davis highlight All-Star Game reserves

NBA All-Star Game captains LeBron James and Kevin Durant won't have to look hard to find familiar faces when they build their teams for the ...

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Crowd pressure for England at world’s biggest cricket stadium

Tens of thousands are expected to flock to the world's biggest cricket stadium on Wednesday and India skipper Virat Kohli thinks England will be intimidated ...

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CONMEBOL confirms Australia and Qatar’s withdrawal from Copa America

Australia and Qatar, the two non-South American sides due to take part in this year's Copa America, have pulled out of the tournament, the secretary ...

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Tiger Woods badly injured in car crash

Golfing champion Tiger Woods was hospitalized in Los Angeles on Tuesday with multiple injuries suffered when his car veered off a road and rolled down ...

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Nadeshiko Japan to play Olympic game in disaster-hit Miyagi

Japan's women's soccer team will play its third and final group-stage match of the postponed Tokyo Olympics at Miyagi Stadium, in the northeastern Japan region ...

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Rugby World Cup teams to get longer rests and bigger squads

The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France will have increased rest periods for all teams as part of a new player welfare package announced on ...

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Former Aussie Rules player’s suicide spurs call for brain donations

A Melbourne coroner has called on Australian Rules players to pledge to donate their brains to science after death to aid research into chronic traumatic ...

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Injured Katarina Johnson-Thompson to be fit for Tokyo, says coach

British Athletics head coach Christian Malcolm is confident heptathlon world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be fit for the Tokyo Olympics despite missing next week's European ...

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Golden oldie ‘King Kazu’ Miura leads Japanese soccer’s veterans

Nine players over the age of 40, including ageless Miura and other former national team stars, will be plying their trade for J. League clubs ...

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Shun Yamaguchi determined to earn major league spot with Giants

Shun Yamaguchi said Monday he is determined to make his mark in the majors after inking a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.Speaking ...

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Naomi Osaka dedicates win to earthquake and coronavirus victims

Two days after claiming her fourth Grand Slam, the 23-year-old offered support to those still recovering from the March 11 disaster as well as those ...

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Hakuho reveals virus frustration, hopeful of March return

The 44-time Emperor's Cup winner is back in training after a positive coronavirus test forced him to miss last month's New Year Basho.

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Mariners CEO resigns over offensive remarks toward Hisashi Iwakuma

Minority owner Kevin Mather stepped down just days after comments belittling the English ability of Iwakuma and other players were made public.

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Two more French players test positive for COVID-19 ahead of next Six Nations match

Center Arthur Vincent and hooker Julien Marchand have tested positive for COVID-19, the French rugby federation (FFR) said, bringing the total number of players infected ...

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Naomi Osaka working to keep everything, including Tokyo Olympics, in perspective

Naomi Osaka said playing in the Tokyo Olympics would be a dream, but does not want to go overboard thinking about it now.

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Rockies’ Ian Desmond becomes first player to opt out of 2021 MLB season

Two-time All-Star Ian Desmond of the Colorado Rockies has opted out of the upcoming 2021 season, the outfielder said on Sunday, citing current playing circumstances.Desmond ...

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J. League and NPB hopeful current attendance limits will be eased

The members of the Nippon Professional Baseball and J. League joint COVD-19 task force feel their knowledge about the virus and the data they’ve collected ...

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No. 1 Ash Barty uncertain about schedule as Naomi Osaka gains ground

Australian Ash Barty has provided no clarity about if she will compete regularly on the women's tour amid the COVID-19 pandemic even as Naomi Osaka ...

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Tokitsukaze asked to retire over violations of COVID-19 rules

The Japan Sumo Association imposed the second most severe punishment on stablemaster Tokitsukaze on Monday, recommending he retire for violating coronavirus protocols when he made ...

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Rikako Ikee to swim at nationals after winning first race since leukemia treatment

She has so far played down the idea of competing at this year's postponed Olympics.

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Novak Djokovic reflects on Australian Open triumph after ‘roller-coaster ride’

Novak Djokovic went from "persona non grata" to a nine-time Australian Open champion.

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Japanese athletes among those anxiously awaiting Paralympic classifications

Over 30 Japanese athletes have yet to receive their international classifications due to the ongoing pandemic and potentially could be ruled out of competing this ...

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Asa Ando breaks ground with top-10 slalom finish at worlds

The 24-year-old achieved a best-ever result for a Japanese woman at the worlds, beating Emiko Okazaki's 13th-place runs at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics.

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Hong Kong prepared to waive restrictions to host Asian tournaments

Hong Kong's government is considering waiving the city’s strict 21-day quarantine requirements in a bid to host soccer matches in the Asian Champions League and ...

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Daichi Kamada nets goal and assist in Frankfurt’s win over Bayern

The Japan attacker's third goal of the season helped stretched his team's league-best unbeaten run to 11 games.

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Naomi Osaka rises from shy youngster to four-time Grand Slam champion

Despite a quick ascent to global superstar status, the 23-year-old is staying humble and looking ahead to her next challenge: Ending her struggles away from ...

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Dortmund crushes Schalke in Ruhr derby with Erling Haaland double

Visiting Borussia Dortmund crushed Schalke 4-0 in their Ruhr valley derby on Saturday with two goals from Erling Haaland, earning their first win in three ...

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Rikako Ikee finishes third in post-treatment butterfly return

Rikako Ikee, competing in the butterfly for the first time since coming back from leukemia treatment, was third in the Tokyo Open's women's 100 meters ...

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All Blacks legend Dan Carter retires at 38

All Blacks legend Dan Carter, a three-time world player of the year and double World Cup winner, announced his retirement on Saturday.The fly-half, who remains ...

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Giants reportedly agree to deal with right-hander Shun Yamaguchi

The San Francisco Giants have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Shun Yamaguchi, according to the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday.Yamaguchi, 33, recently was designated ...

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Naomi Osaka’s win rockets Japan’s celebrations into orbit

Osaka's fourth Grand Slam title earned plaudits from as far as the International Space Station and raised hopes for a podium finish at Tokyo 2020.

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Masahiro Tanaka roughed up in spring debut with Eagles

Masahiro Tanaka surrendered three runs over two innings on Saturday in his first action since returning to the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles from the major leagues ...

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NTT victory helps put Top League’s international flavor on display

Players from five different nations scored for NTT Communications on Saturday as the Shining Arcs opened the final Japan Rugby Top League season with a ...

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Naomi Osaka wins Australian Open to capture fourth Grand Slam title

Osaka, who beat seven-time champion Serena Williams to reach the final, topped world No. 24 Jennifer Brady for her second Australian Open title.

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MLB has 13 positive COVID-19 tests ahead of first workouts

Nine players and four staffers tested positive for COVID-19 during intake screening before MLB begins full-squad preseason workouts, the league and the players union said ...

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Canadians turn to backyard ice rinks during pandemic

With health authorities restricting public gatherings and other social activities, many Canadians are embracing an old winter tradition — the backyard ice rink."We are in ...

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Move over, Honus: new era of million-dollar cards has arrived

"The industry is at its hottest point in my 40-year history,” Ken Goldin, the founder of Goldin Auctions, said.

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Ryoyu Kobayashi surpasses Noriaki Kasai with record 18th World Cup win

Ryoyu Kobayashi broke the record for most ski jumping World Cup wins by a Japanese man on Friday, claiming his 18th career crown in Rasnov, ...

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Last-minute Yu Kobayashi goal hands Super Cup to Frontale

As the seconds ticked down to a seemingly inevitable penalty shootout, Kobayashi saved the day for the reigning double champion.

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Sumo wrestlers impacted by COVID-19 in January working to get ready for Spring Basho

Wrestlers from the three stables that missed the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament due to coronavirus infections had their medical checkups Friday as they stepped ...

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Russian team to be branded as ‘ROC’ during Tokyo Olympics as part of doping sanctions

Russian athletes will compete under the acronym "ROC" at the Tokyo Olympics this year — part of the nation's sanctions for several doping scandals — ...

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Daniil Medvedev: Pressure all on Novak Djokovic in Australian Open final

After giving Stefanos Tsitsipas a semifinal bruising on Friday, Daniil Medvedev fired a mental barb at Novak Djokovic ahead of their Australian Open final, declaring ...

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Sara Takanashi soars to 60th women’s World Cup victory

In the four events since being disqualified for a minor suit violation on Feb. 5, Takanashi has won three times and finished second once.

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Naomi Osaka and Jennifer Brady, with powerful strokes and zero pretense, into Australian Open final

One Australian Open finalist spoke about how intimidating it was to serve against Serena Williams and also volunteered that she was guilty of mindless eating ...

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Manchester United and Tottenham enjoy big wins, Milan held to draw

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur built hefty leads with emphatic away wins in their Europa League last 32 first-leg matches but AC Milan were held ...

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Final Top League set to kick off as rugby clubs eye new era

Beginning next year, the top 25 teams in the nation — 16 from the Top League and nine Top Challenge League sides — will play ...

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Shohei Ohtani reports to camp to prepare for 2021 season

Ohtani is expected to return to his two-way role in 2021, his fourth season in the majors.

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Azusa Iwashimizu returns with new perspective after giving birth in 2020

"I want to show the new-and-improved version of Iwashimizu this year," said the 34-year-old center-back, who plans to walk onto the pitch carrying her son.

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Pep Guardiola urges Manchester City to embrace ‘beautiful challenge’ of hectic schedule

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said it would be easy to feel overwhelmed by the club's packed schedule but called on his players to embrace ...

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Naomi Osaka ponders if switch to Greek food helped predict semifinal triumph

Naomi Osaka was left wondering whether a decision to eat Greek food foretold her win over Serena Williams after she reached the Australian Open final ...

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Jennifer Brady sets up date with Naomi Osaka in Australian Open final

Jennifer Brady edged Karolina Muchova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a tense Australian Open semifinal on Thursday to set up a title match with Naomi Osaka.The ...

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Fans return to Australian Open as Melbourne lockdown ends

Excited fans drifted back to the Australian Open Thursday — following the expiration of a snap five-day lockdown in Melbourne — determined to create some ...

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Naomi Osaka powers past Serena Williams to reach Australian Open final

The third-seeded Osaka swept past Williams 6-3, 6-4

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Fernando Tatis Jr. agrees to record extension with Padres

Tatis, 22, won a Silver Slugger award after hitting .277 with 17 home runs and 45 RBIs in 59 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

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Rafael Nadal’s grand ambitions in Australia derailed again

The 34-year-old has now lost in the quarterfinals in consecutive years, having been outplayed by Dominic Thiem in 2020.

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Eddie Jones pins England’s lack of aggression on playing behind closed doors

Eddie Jones believes England's lack of aggression at the start of its Six Nations title defense may be the result of playing behind closed doors.England ...

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Japan, B. League in tough spot after cancellation of FIBA Asia Cup qualifying window

Skipping the qualifiers — when they resume — altogether is not an option.

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Yui Kamiji falls in Australian Open wheelchair final

Yui Kamiji was unable to defend her Australian Open title Wednesday in the women's wheelchair singles final, losing a three-set thriller against world No. 1 ...

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Heart-pounding tachiai endures as key piece of sumo puzzle

The initial clash when two rikishi come together is a moment that has few (if any) parallels in the wider world of sport.

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Red Sox announce signing of Hirokazu Sawamura

The Red Sox, who are overhauling their roster after finishing last in the AL East in the shortened 2020 season, view Sawamura as a potential ...

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No. 1 Ash Barty upset on home turf in Australian Open quarterfinals

Karolina Muchova was like a different player following a medical timeout in the second set and rallied to secure a place in her first Grand ...

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Naomi Osaka thrashes Hsieh Su-wei to reach Australian Open semifinals

Osaka's reward will be a semifinal against either Serena Williams or Simona Halep, the pair having a rematch of the 2019 Wimbledon final.

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Red Sox to sign Hirokazu Sawamura on two-year, $3 million deal

Sawamura is set to become the latest Japanese pitcher to sign with Boston, following such big names as Daisuke Matsuzaka and Koji Uehara.

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Wizards coach lauds Rui Hachimura after win over Boston

Washington Wizards head coach Scott Brooks praised Rui Hachimura for "one of his best games of the year" Sunday after the second-year forward contributed 15 ...

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Former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read enjoys Michael Hooper bromance in Japan

Ex-All Blacks captain Kieran Read hailed his blossoming bromance with Australia skipper Michael Hooper on Monday, as the former arch rivals prepare to join forces ...

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Michael McDowell wins crash-filled Daytona 500

"I just can't believe it," McDowell said. "So many years just grinding it out hoping for an opportunity like this."

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Coach: Serena Williams does not need Grand Slam record to validate career

Mouratoglou said it did not really make sense to compare Williams' record with Court, given 13 of the Australian's Grand Slam titles came before the ...

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Rafael Nadal reaches 43rd Grand Slam quarterfinal

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal beat old nemesis Fabio Fognini in a scrappy affair at the Australian Open on Monday to reach his 43rd Grand ...

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Yoshiro Mori’s replacement as Tokyo 2020 president could be chosen this week

Tokyo 2020 organizers have to pick a new president with just five months left to prepare for the games amid the COVID-19 pandemic

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Kyle Sinckler happy to get second chance with England during Six Nations

Kyle Sinckler was just grateful to be playing for England again as coach Eddie Jones suggested he could be the world's best tighthead prop following ...

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Injured Novak Djokovic accepts risks of playing through pain at Australian Open

Novak Djokovic says it's a "gamble" to continue playing at the Australian Open and that his abdominal injury could have an impact on the rest ...

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No. 1 seed Shingo Kunieda falls in wheelchair singles semifinals at Australian Open

No. 1 Shingo Kunieda's bid for an 11th Australian Open title ended Monday with a straight-sets loss against Briton Alfie Hewitt in the men's wheelchair ...

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Springboks captain Siya Kolisi quits Stormers, linked to Sharks

The 29-year-old star of the 2019 Rugby World Cup is one of several players said to be unhappy with the state of the financially troubled ...

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Naomi Osaka so much more than a hardcourt specialist, says coach

Japan's Naomi Osaka has won three of the last five Grand Slams played on hardcourts but the world No. 3 is also more than capable ...

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Nets dominate in Kevin Durant’s return to Golden State

Kevin Durant made a triumphant return to the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, scoring 20 points to boost the Brooklyn Nets to a convincing ...

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Naomi Osaka fights back from the brink to reach quarterfinals

The world No. 3 saved two match points as she battled for a three-set win against over in-form Garbine Muguruza.

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Ryoyu Kobayashi ties Japan men’s World Cup win record

Ryoyu Kobayashi equaled the Japanese record for most men's ski jumping World Cup wins on Saturday, his 17th career victory, and first for the season, ...

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Eddie Jones hails Jonny May’s spectacular ‘rugby league’ try

England coach Eddie Jones said that Jonny May's extraordinary try in Saturday's 41-18 Six Nations victory over Italy reminded him of a rugby league finish, ...

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Blue Jays release pitcher Shun Yamaguchi

The Toronto Blue Jays released Japanese right-hander Shun Yamaguchi on Friday, Major League Baseball announced, making him free to play in Japan if he chooses.The ...

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Presumptive No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence works out for NFL teams

Trevor Lawrence, who is expected to be the top pick in the NFL draft, showed off his passing skills for teams on Friday, ahead of ...

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Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford calls on social media companies to tackle online abuse

Marcus Rashford has urged social media companies to do more in the fight against online abuse, saying the problem should be "easy to stop" for ...

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Serena Williams motivated by love of tennis during pursuit of 24th Grand Slam title

Serena Williams said a deep love of tennis kept her motivated in pursuit of a 24th Grand Slam title as she overcame an error-strewn start ...

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Japan forced to wait as FIBA cancels Asia Cup qualifiers due to COVID-19

The Japanese team began a training camp at Tokyo’s National Training Center on Thursday and was scheduled to fly to Doha on Sunday.

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MLB devises new rules to combat COVID-19 during 2021 season

A notable addition to the 2021 manual is the league-wide code of conduct detailing acceptable behavior for players and key staff members away from the ...

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Noah Lyles would rather run in empty stadium than have fans stay silent at Tokyo Games

"No chanting, no cheering — that kind of sucks," said Lyles, when learning of the protocols during a video conference ahead of Saturday's meet.

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Australian Open continues without fans as Melbourne goes into lockdown

The sixth day of the Australian Open is usually one of the best attended of the tournament, but there was an eerie silence around Melbourne ...

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WE League chair ‘grateful’ for Yoshiro Mori’s sexist remarks

Kikuko Okajima is pleased that the now-former Tokyo 2020 president brought attention to the issue of gender equality in Japan.

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Naomi Osaka shows gentle touch to reach last 16 at Australian Open

Naomi Osaka had to deal with a butterfly landing on her nose Friday but was otherwise little bothered as she breezed into the last 16 ...

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Naoya Inoue, Takashi Uchiyama highlight packed field at charity boxing event

Thursday's exhibition at Yoyogi National Gymnasium brought together some of Japan's greatest boxers, while highlighting the potential for rapid virus testing at large-scale events.

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Players in ‘bubble’ as Australian Open continues without fans

While the Grand Slam will be able to continue play, fans won't be allowed back at Melbourne Park until at least early next week.

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Russia to consider vaccinating Euro 2020 staff against COVID-19

Russia is considering whether to vaccinate staff working at European Championship soccer matches in St. Petersburg this year against COVID-19, the head of the local ...

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England’s ‘mad chemist’ Eddie Jones opts for familiar formula against Italy

Eddie Jones may be something of a self-confessed "mad chemist" but he has avoided any wacky experiments as England looks to revive their Six Nations ...

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Bayern wins Club World Cup to claim ‘six pack’ of titles

Bayern Munich won the Club World Cup final in Qatar on Thursday as Benjamin Pavard's second-half winner sealed a 1-0 victory over Mexico's Tigres, letting ...

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Japan awarded extra men’s all-around gymnastics berth

The nation has gained an additional men's all-around gymnastics berth for the Tokyo Games following the cancellation of an Olympic qualifying series.

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Death knell sounded for Grand Slam line judges at Australian Open

Human judges were replaced by technology for this year's tournament — a move that has been largely welcomed by players.

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NBA orders teams to play U.S. anthem after Mavericks halt

The NBA on Wednesday ordered its teams to play the U.S. national anthem before games while Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban downplayed his instructions that ...

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Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin crashes out in second round

Reigning champion Sofia Kenin crashed out of the Australian Open in the second round on Thursday, slumping to a 6-3, 6-2 defeat at the hands ...

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Naomi Osaka turns nightmare into a dream to reach third round at Australian Open

Naomi Osaka dreamed that she would lose her second round match at the Australian Open, but the reality was a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victory over ...

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Australia tennis chief urges strict quarantines for Tokyo Olympics

Craig Tiley believes that Tokyo 2020's recently released playbook does not go far enough in order to protect athletes from the risk of infection.

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Diamond Dolphins join effort to fight climate change through sports

The B. League club is the first from Japan to sign on to the United Nations initiative, joining a number of top organizations and teams ...

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Mavericks no longer playing U.S. anthem before games: reports

The Dallas Mavericks have opted to stop playing the U.S. national anthem before games this season, reports said Tuesday, breaking with a pregame ritual that ...

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Spring Basho’s Tokyo relocation a loss for Kansai-area sumo fans

Even though the March tournament will go ahead this year, the fact that it will be in Tokyo rather than Osaka means the annual event ...

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Kanya Fujimoto scores first goal for Gil Vicente

Midfielder Kanya Fujimoto struck his maiden goal for Portuguese first-division club Gil Vicente on Tuesday, netting the opener in a 2-1 loss to league leaders ...

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Bianca Andreescu looks ahead with hope after Australian Open exit; Serena advances

Andreescu's comeback after a 15-month absence ended abruptly in the Australian Open second round on Wednesday with a 6-3 6-2 defeat to the wily Hsieh ...

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Former SMAP member Katsuyuki Mori out for year after auto race injury

Katsuyuki Mori, a former member of superstar pop idol group SMAP, will need a year to recover after fracturing his pelvis and lumbar spine during ...

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Athletes at Tokyo Games to get COVID-19 tests at least every four days

Those who have a temperature of 37.5 degrees C or more twice at venues will not be allowed to enter, while their areas of activity ...

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Japan names provisional squad for Asia Cup qualifiers

Chiba point guard Yuki Togashi and forward Gavin Edwards were among the list of 24 who could fly to Doha on Saturday ahead of the ...

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Paralympic archery team member Yoshitsugu Naka dies at 60

Yoshitsugu Naka, a Japanese archer who had qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics, died at the age of 60, the Japan Para Archery Federation said Tuesday.The ...

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From a world away, one ageless wonder marvels at another

Serena Williams, who is on the verge of tying the career record for Grand Slam singles titles held by Margaret Court, continues to be inspired ...

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Rikako Ikee posts positive message to mark two years since diagnosis

Japanese swimming star Rikako Ikee marked the second anniversary of her leukemia diagnosis Monday with an upbeat message on social media.A day after swimming second ...

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MLB will change its baseballs after record home run rates

After years of fielding questions about record home run rates and variations in its baseballs, Major League Baseball informed its 30 teams in a memorandum ...

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Bradley Beal leads Wizards past Bulls

Bradley Beal scored 35 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 105-101 road victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.In a matchup of ...

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Steve Nash says Kevin Durant’s on ‘about 90 negative tests’

Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash said Kevin Durant continues to test negative for COVID-19 and that point guard Kyrie Irving should be able to play ...

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Diego Maradona death probe widens to include nurses and psychologist

A psychologist and two nurses who helped care for football legend Diego Maradona before his death have been added to a widening involuntary manslaughter probe, ...

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Bruce Arians confident Bucs can bring back bulk of Super Bowl squad

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said on Monday he is confident the core of his Super Bowl-winning team will remain intact for next ...

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Shohei Ohtani signs two-year, $8.5 million contract with Angels

Los Angeles avoided arbitration proceedings with the two-way player, who struggled in 2020 due to injuries.

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Tom Brady’s seventh Super Bowl win ends NFL’s most challenging year

Brady guided the Buccaneers to a 31-9 romp that recalibrated his own standard for greatness.

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NPB and J. League to push for shorter quarantines for athletes

Both leagues hope to hasten the integration of dozens of players and coaches who are waiting to enter the country and join their teams ahead ...

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Yuta Watanabe’s hard work pays off as he earns spot in Raptors’ rotation

The next two games carry special meaning for the 26-year-old as the guard-forward takes on his former team and faces compatriot Rui Hachimura.

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Tom Brady gets seventh ring as Bucs trample Chiefs in Super Bowl LV

Brady passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throttled the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 at Tampa, Florida.

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Sara Takanashi captures back-to-back World Cup wins in Austria

Sara Takanashi made it two World Cup wins in two days in Hinzenbach, Austria, as the Japanese national dominated the women's ski jumping competition again ...

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Rikako Ikee reaches first podium since leaving hospital

The swimmer said she tightened up at the finish on Sunday and remains cautious about participating in this year's Olympics.

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Manchester City crush Liverpool, while Chelsea on the up under Tuchel

City's first win at Anfield since 2003 left them top of the Premier League by five points and effectively knocked Liverpool out of the title ...

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Naomi Osaka sails into second round at Australian Open

Naomi Osaka made a stunning start in the Australian Open on Monday by demolishing triple quarter-finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 6-2 to reach the second round.Russian ...

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Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson highlight eight-member Hall class

Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson and Calvin Johnson were among the eight players selected Saturday night for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as ...

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Aaron Rodgers earns third MVP award

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was the runaway winner for NFL MVP in the end-of-year Associated Press awards, handed out Saturday night in Tampa ...

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Controversial Novak Djokovic eyes ninth Australian Open crown

Novak Djokovic has not endeared himself to fans over the past year, but the Australian Open's undisputed king will take some stopping as he targets ...

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Rugby Union board member says Yoshiro Mori’s comment directed at her

Yuko Inazawa, who became the first female board member of the Japan Rugby Football Union in 2013, thought the remarks widely viewed as sexist made ...

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Takumi Minamino on target in Southampton debut

The Japan winger impressed for his new club just days after arriving on loan from Liverpool.

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Astros sign Carlos Correa, avoid arbitration

The Houston Astros agreed to a one-year deal with All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa to avoid arbitration.The team announced the deal on Saturday but did not ...

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Kawhi Leonard and James Harden join push to call off All-Star Game

NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden have joined LeBron James in saying they would rather have a week off than play in ...

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Leon Spinks, who took Muhammad Ali’s crown and lost it, dies at 67

The St. Louis native, who rose to prominence with a gold-medal performance at the Montreal Games, outlasted Ali in their famous 1978 bout before his ...

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Naomi Osaka labels Yoshiro Mori’s comments about women ‘ignorant’

"I think if you're in a position like that, you really should think before you say anything."

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Super Bowl LV headlined by matchup of superstar quarterbacks

"This is literally going to be like LeBron and Jordan playing in the NBA Finals," said analyst Tony Romo, a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

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Women’s Sport Trust CEO: Yoshiro Mori’s ‘jaw-dropping’ comments prove sports world in need of shakeup

"The fact that it’s actually getting called out now is really positive in my view and it provides an opportunity to talk about this," Tammy ...

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Suit violation leads to disqualification for Sara Takanashi

Sara Takanashi's hopes of another women's ski jumping World Cup win were dashed Friday as the Japanese star was disqualified for a suit violation while ...

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Former Mariners reliever Yoshihisa Hirano returning to Japan with Orix

Reliever Yoshihisa Hirano, currently a free agent after leaving the Seattle Mariners, is set to return to the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball, sources ...

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Naomi Osaka pulls out of Australian Open warm-up event in precautionary move due to injury

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the semifinals of the Gippsland Trophy in Melbourne on Saturday as a precaution with an unspecified injury ahead of the Australian ...

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Naomi Osaka pulls out of Australian Open warm-up event in precautionary move due to injury

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the semifinals of the Gippsland Trophy in Melbourne on Saturday as a precaution with an unspecified injury ahead of the Australian ...

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Trevor Bauer decides to sign with Dodgers

In nine seasons with the Reds, Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks, Bauer is 75-64 with a career 3.90 ERA.

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‘No risk it, no biscuit’: Bruce Arians’ bold approach has powered Buccaneers’ Super Bowl run

A willingness to take risks helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reach the Super Bowl and head coach Bruce Arians has no intention of changing.

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Rugby union board member fires back at Tokyo Olympic chief

Mayumi Taniguchi, one of the Japan Rugby Football Union's five female board members, called Tokyo Olympic chief Yoshiro Mori's remarks about women "incomprehensible" and "off ...

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Barcelona silver medalist Noriko Mizoguchi slams Yoshiro Mori’s comments

The former judoka, now a sports sociology professor, is concerned over how the former prime minister's controversial statements on women could impact public opinion toward ...

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Floyd Mayweather’s Tokyo exhibition postponed over virus restrictions

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather's exhibition fight in Tokyo this month has been postponed because of coronavirus restrictions, organizers announced Friday.The retired former champion, now 43, ...

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Staging the Super Bowl during a global crisis

The practical question is no longer if they should play Super Bowl LV — the last of 269 NFL games this season — but how ...

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Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin crashes as warm-ups resume

A teary-eyed Sofia Kenin lost a repeat of last year's Australian Open final against Garbine Muguruza as warm-up tournaments for the Grand Slam resumed Friday ...

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Keisuke Honda set to join Portimonense

Keisuke Honda will join Portuguese first-division side Portimonense until the end of the season after parting ways with Brazilian club Botafogo, the former Japan midfielder ...

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Daiya Seto wins comeback race, vows to rebound from scandal

The former Tokyo 2020 swim captain struggled to close out the men's 400-meter medley in his first competition since his suspension for an extramarital affair.

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NHL announces enhanced COVID-19 protocols

The NHL had a difficult Wednesday, with 40 players landing on the list of absences caused by COVID-19. On Thursday, the league announced a series ...

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New Formula One boss says organization won’t jump vaccine queue

Formula One will not try to jump the queue for vaccines to protect its longest-ever season from the COVID-19 pandemic, new boss Stefano Domenicali said.Some ...

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World Rugby to decide on summer test window by the end of March

World Rugby Vice Chairman Bernard Laporte said on Thursday a decision on July's test window, including the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa, ...

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NFL’s female pioneers eager to see more women in football

The ascent of women to top sports jobs remains an aberration and not the norm.

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Brave Thunders need to sustain sense of urgency to rescue season

The loss left the Brave Thunders with a 20-13 record and stuck in sixth place in the conference standings.

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England enters unusual Six Nations with target on its back

That reigning champion England is the team to beat heading into a Six Nations is not unusual.That the entire 2021 tournament is scheduled to be ...

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IPC President Andrew Parsons confident Tokyo Paralympics can be held safely

"We are focusing on the games going ahead," IPC President Andrew Parsons said, prior to marking 200 days until the opening of the world's biggest ...

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Naomi Osaka heads to Melbourne with world at her feet

Australian Open favorite Naomi Osaka heads to Melbourne seeking a fourth Grand Slam title to further fuel her ascent toward the top of the women’s ...

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Daiya Seto returns to competition after sex scandal

Four-time world champion Daiya Seto, who resigned as captain of Japan's Olympic swim team after an extramarital affair, swam a competitive race for the first ...

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Japan draws tough assignments for Tokyo Olympic basketball tournament

Japan's the men’s and women’s basketball teams will face a stiff challenge during the preliminary round of this summer Tokyo Games after being given a ...

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Tokyo Olympics organizers unveil their pandemic playbook

While questions linger over whether the games can be held at all, the playbook is an important step in clarifying the conditions under which they ...

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Interesting facts about sumo’s 13 living former yokozuna

With the passing of Tochinoumi on Jan. 29 there are now just 15 surviving active or retired yokozuna.

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Boxing stars come together to support medical community

Naoya Inoue, Takashi Uchiyama and other current and former boxing stars will come together at Yoyogi National Gymnasium on Feb. 11.

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Naomi Osaka reaches quarterfinals of Australian Open warm-up event

Naomi Osaka overcame an early setback Wednesday before continuing her Australian Open warm-up in winning fashion, beating Britain's Katie Boulter 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to advance ...

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Russia’s doping ban for Tokyo Games finalized

Russia's ban from the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games was finalized Tuesday after neither the World Anti-Doping Agency nor Russian authorities appealed a decision by ...

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Dynamic Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes building legacy as leading voice for social justice

"When he's in football mode he's in football mode," Chiefs quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka said Tuesday. "And outside of football he's able to affect the ...

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Paris Games will have COVID-19 contingency plans in place if pandemic extends into 2024

Organizing committee president Tony Estanguet said Paris 2024 is preparing for any eventuality.

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Olympics will happen ‘however coronavirus evolves,’ Tokyo 2020 chief says

The comments come with organizers and government officials insisting the games can be held safely despite surging COVID-19 infections around the world, including in Japan.

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Impressive Naomi Osaka makes winning start in Melbourne

World No. 3 Naomi Osaka made light work of France's Alize Cornet on Tuesday in the Japanese star's first competitive match since winning the U.S. ...

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Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino completes loan deal to Southampton

The 26-year-old Japan international was signed by Liverpool from Austria's RB Salzburg a year ago.

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Japanese wheelchair basketball star aims to inspire future Paralympians

Reo Fujimoto, 37, is preparing for his fifth games with the goal of finally capturing an elusive medal on his mind.

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Rowing’s Asia, Oceania Olympic qualifier scheduled for May in Tokyo

The qualifier was scheduled in South Korea in April last year but was canceled due to the pandemic.

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All business, no buzz as Super Bowl week gets off to quiet start

Opening Night had plenty of Super Bowl content, but none of the memorable weird and wacky sound bites from questions asked by interlopers dressed as ...

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NPB spring training begins quietly in Japan amid coronavirus surge

Fans have been shut out of parks while all players, managers, coaches and staff had to undergo PCR testing before reporting to their respective camps.

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Tokyo 2020 organizers can’t pin Olympic hopes on vaccines alone, experts warn

Some medical experts have questioned the idea of the staging of the games being linked to the availability of vaccines.

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Masahiro Tanaka’s return to Rakuten benefits both sides

With the return of its former ace, the Tohoku team gets a player who can help win games on the field and comes with a ...

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Naomi Osaka cites Serena Williams, Billie Jean King as inspirations for investment in soccer team

Naomi Osaka said it was Serena Williams and Billie Jean King, and also her boyfriend, who influenced her decision to become part-owner of women's soccer ...

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Yuto Totsuka wins first X Games Aspen gold in superpipe

Snowboarder Yuto Totsuka outdueled two-time defending gold medalist Scotty James for his first X Games Aspen gold medal on Sunday night in the men's snowboard ...

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U.S. Open champ Dominic Thiem determined to repeat 2020 success

World No. 3 and defending U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem admitted Monday that it will be tough to match his breakthrough year in 2020, but ...

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Sara Takanashi soars to podium finish in Germany

Sara Takanashi placed second, her best performance this season, at the International Ski Federation women's ski jumping World Cup competition in Titisee-Neustadt, Germany, on Sunday.Takanashi ...

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Akito Watabe secures fourth straight World Cup podium finish

Akito Watabe put up a strong fight against Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber and finished third, earning his fourth straight podium finish, on Day 3 of ...

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