Naomi Osaka’s 23-match winning streak ends in Miami Open quarterfinals

Naomi Osaka's 23-match winning streak came to a crashing halt Wednesday as the world No. 2 was stunned by Maria Sakkari 6-0, 6-4 in the ...

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Wizards’ Rui Hachimura ties career high with 30 points in defeat

Rui Hachimura tied his career high with 30 points, while Russell Westbrook notched a 22-point triple-double, but it was not enough to deliver a win ...

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Terunofuji redefines legacy with historic return to ozeki rank

The Mongolian, who just two years ago was fighting in sumo's second-lowest division, is now being hyped as the next potential yokozuna after his Spring ...

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Karate champion Ayumi Uekusa testifies she was bullied by official

The 2016 world champion said she and other athletes had received black eyes after a Japan Karatedo Federation official struck them with a bamboo sword ...

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Kenichi Sako elected to FIBA Hall of Fame

The former national team player and current Akatsuki Five assistant coach will join 11 other basketball luminaries when their 2020 class is inducted on June ...

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Yasuaki Yamasaki’s struggles in focus again for winless BayStars

The fan-favorite reliever, who gave up a two-run lead in Tuesday's loss to the Swallows, is aiming for a comeback season after a dismal 2020 ...

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Australia confident of athlete vaccinations before Tokyo Games

Australia is confident all of its athletes will be vaccinated against COVID-19 before they head off to the Tokyo Olympics, Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman ...

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Spring Basho winner Terunofuji’s ozeki promotion formalized

The re-promotion is a significant moment in the 29-year-old Mongolian's comeback from injury, coming 10 years after his tournament debut in May 2011 and almost ...

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Roger Goodell sees NFL fans returning as 17-game schedule confirmed

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday he expects stadiums to operate at full capacity next season as the league confirmed plans for an expanded 17-game ...

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Russian Paralympic chiefs resign in order to reinstate group

The president of Russia's Paralympic Committee, Vladimir Lukin, and other senior officials resigned Tuesday in line with requirements mandated by the international paralympic body stemming ...

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WTA urges players to get COVID-19 vaccine

After players at the Miami Open expressed a reluctance to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the governing body for women's tennis said on Tuesday it would ...

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Carp’s Masato Morishita tames Tigers to first defeat of season

Masato Morishita threw six shutout innings as the Hiroshima Carp won 1-0 to end the Hanshin Tigers' perfect start to the season on Tuesday in ...

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Swallows rally past BayStars for first victory of season

The Swallows picked up their first win of the year after being swept at home by the Hanshin Tigers to start the season.

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Japan dominates from start to finish in 14-goal rout of Mongolia

Yuya Osako netted a hat trick and three players scored second-half braces as the Samurai Blue all but booked advancement to the next round of ...

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Hakuho remains subject to warning over injury absences

At a regular meeting in Tokyo, the Japan Sumo Association's yokozuna advisory body chose to uphold the warning it originally issued last November.

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Back from injury, sprinter Ryota Yamagata aims for ‘extremely great year’

The 28-year-old, who experienced a collapsed lung in 2019 and knee injuries last year, has his sights set on this summer's Olympics.

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Superb Japan down Argentina 3-0 in second U24 friendly

Japan's Olympic hopefuls made nine changes from their 1-0 defeat on Friday in Tokyo.

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Tokyo Olympics chiefs prepare to resume ‘safe’ test events

Tokyo 2020 organizers pledged to hold the remaining 18 test events — which function as dress rehearsals for each sport — in a "safe and ...

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MLB to loosen restrictions for vaccinated players and coaches

Major League Baseball told teams on Monday that fully vaccinated players, coaches and other Tier 1 staff can enjoy loosened COVID-19 protocols, with more restrictions ...

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Naomi Osaka advances to quarterfinals at Miami Open

The second-ranked Japanese star, who is the reigning U.S. and Australian Open champion, will next face Greek 23rd seed Maria Sakkari.

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NPB returns with flourish as reminders of virus linger

Following an offseason that was shorter than usual, pro baseball returned to Japan over the weekend.There were home runs, super plays in the field, highly ...

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Terunofuji’s push for promotion driven by devotion to stablemaster

A three-tournament record of 33 wins is considered a near-guarantee for ozeki promotion, and Terunofuji reached the mark on the 12th day of the 15-day ...

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Honduras beats United States for spot at Tokyo Olympics

Honduras booked its spot in the men's soccer competition at the Tokyo Games with a 2-1 semifinal victory over the United States at the CONCACAF ...

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Reira Iwabuchi captures first World Cup slopestyle title of career

Teenage rider Reira Iwabuchi finished her FIS Snowboard World Cup season on a high Sunday, winning her first ever slopestyle event and leading a one-two ...

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Medical school-bound Kenki Fukuoka to play rest of Top League season

Rugby World Cup star Kenki Fukuoka will play the rest of the Top League season with the Panasonic Wild Knights while balancing his studies at ...

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Naomi Osaka into fourth round of Miami Open after opponent withdraws

Naomi Osaka reached the fourth round of the Miami Open without lifting a racquet Sunday, advancing by walkover when Nina Stojanovic withdrew with a right ...

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Rookie driver Yuki Tsunoda earns points in first Formula One race

With a brave last-lap pass, Yuki Tsunoda claimed ninth place in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

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Naomi Osaka speaks out against anti-Asian hate crimes

"It's really sad that this even has to be a hashtag/slogan," Osaka wrote on her Instagram in reference to the #stopasianhate hashtag.

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Comeback king Terunofuji wins Spring tourney

Sekiwake Terunofuji earned his third career championship in emphatic fashion on Sunday, shoving out ozeki Takakeisho to win the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament with a ...

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Kei Nishikori through to 3rd round in Miami

Kei Nishikori overcame early struggles with unforced errors Saturday to advance to the third round of the Miami Open with a 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 win ...

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Soccer players must change mindset over brain injuries, union official says

A 2019 study found that professional soccer players were three-and-a-half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative disease compared with members of the general population.

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Nathan Chen wins third straight figure skating world title as Yuzuru Hanyu slips

American Nathan Chen landed five quadruple jumps in the men's free skate on Saturday to overhaul faltering Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu and collect a third ...

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Terunofuji moves to brink of third title

Terunofuji, who has all but secured his return to the second-highest rank of ozeki for the first time since 2017, was at his composed best ...

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Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho brushes off critics

Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho said he's learned to turn a deaf ear to the criticism of his coaching methods and is still "one of ...

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Mick Schumacher in spotlight as famous name returns to Formula One

Mick Schumacher's famous name may have helped him speed through motor racing's lower levels, but it will also create added pressure when he makes his Formula One ...

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Yoshiyuki Kamei still Giants’ ace in hole

Yoshiyuki Kamei doesn’t actually hit a walk-off, or otherwise huge, home run every time he steps up to the plate — it just feels that ...

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Sara Takanashi sets record with 109th World Cup podium

The second-place finish in the second of the three "Blue Bird" events in Russia moved her to the top of the overall World Cup rankings ...

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Error-prone Rika Kihira falls to seventh place as Russians sweep podium at worlds

Sixteen-year-old Anna Shcherbakova, who led Kihira after the short program, secured the win in her worlds debut after scoring 152.17 points in the free skate ...

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Wallabies coach views ‘berserk’ Japan market as threat to Australia

A slew of established test players are already playing in Japan, including Wallabies captain Michael Hooper on a sabbatical.

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Yoshiyuki Kamei powers Giants to win with sayonara home run on opening day

Kamei made his only at-bat of the night count, connecting on a sayonara home run to send the Yomiuri Giants to an 8-7 win over ...

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Takayasu falls to Wakatakakage as Terunofuji ties for lead

Takayasu could have taken a giant stride toward his maiden title with a win but he was handed a damaging blow instead by Wakatakakage.

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Japan’s Olympic hopefuls outclassed by Argentina in narrow defeat

A strong effort by Japan’s under-24 team was not enough to overcome their Argentine counterparts as head coach Akinobu Yokouchi’s side suffered a 1-0 loss ...

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Japan-South Korea rivalry lives on after Samurai Blue’s emphatic win

Hajime Moriyasu's men impressed with a dominating attack in their first full-strength encounter against the Taeguk Warriors since August 2011.

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Ryoyu Kobayashi ties Japan best with 19th Nordic World Cup win

Ryoyu Kobayashi won the ski flying World Cup event in Planica, Slovenia, on Thursday for his 19th victory on the tour, tying the record for ...

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Six players to watch in the Pacific League in 2021

Japanese baseball is back, which makes this a great time to single out a few players in the Pacific League who fans should keep an ...

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Hanyu tops men’s short program, Kagiyama second at worlds in Stockholm

Yuzuru Hanyu is competing in his first international event this season after opting to train alone in Japan during the pandemic, after the 2020 competition ...

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Japan comfortably beats rival South Korea in friendly

There would have been plenty to cheer about on Thursday night in Yokohama — if fans were allowed to cheer.Instead, the 8,356 in attendance at ...

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Hawks remain team to beat in Pacific League as new challengers emerge

The following is the second of a two-part NPB preview ending with the 2021 Pacific League.

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Takayasu overcomes dangerous Hokutofuji to protect one-win lead on Day 12

Takayasu was determined to avoid joining sekiwake Takanosho, and two ozeki, Takakeisho and Shodai, in losing to No. 2 maegashira Hokutofuji.

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Six players to watch in the Central League in 2021

Japanese baseball is back on Friday, which makes this a great time to single out a few players in the Central League who fans should ...

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FIFA extends ban on Sepp Blatter until 2028

FIFA banned its former president Sepp Blatter until 2028 on Wednesday after handing him a new suspension of six years and eight months for receiving ...

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Rika Kihira in second place after short program at world championships

Kihira earned 79.08 points while fellow Japanese Kaori Sakamoto was penalized for a triple lutz edge violation and is in sixth place.

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Yokozuna Kakuryu had serene journey through sumo’s often treacherous straits

Kakuryu’s nature never allowed him to play the black hat role, and his style of sumo, and gradual ascent to the top, also meant that ...

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Naomi Osaka still searching for perfect schedule to aid in quest for more Grand Slam titles

"I've never thought of myself to be the type of player that would play week in and week out," said Osaka. "I personally get homesick ...

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Takayasu’s lead cut to one after loss on Day 11

The tournament leader is now one win ahead of three wrestlers with 8-3 records — ozeki Asanoyama, sekiwake Terunofuji, and No. 8 maegashira Tobizaru.

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Nadeshiko Japan hero Homare Sawa to miss Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Homare Sawa, the most valuable player and top goal scorer of the World Cup in Germany, is dealing with a long-term condition affecting her inner ...

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Central League teams out to end Giants’ reign at top

The first of a two-part NPB preview beginning with the 2021 Central League.

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Yokozuna Kakuryu retires

The retirement of the 35-year-old Mongolia-born wrestler was approved the same day by the Japan Sumo Association.

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Simona Halep on hunt for Grand Slam titles and Tokyo Olympic medal

World No. 3 Simona Halep said she is more interested in silverware than her ranking and will focus on the Grand Slams and the Olympics.

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Karate world champ Ayumi Uekusa verbally abused by coach, sources say

Ayumi Uekusa, winner of the women's 68-plus kg category at the 2016 world karate championships, experienced verbal abuse from the technical director of the Japan ...

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Former Olympic judo champion Toshihiko Koga dies at 53

Koga won the gold medal in the men's 71-kg category at the Barcelona Games.

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Takayasu extends lead following Day 10 win over Takekeisho

The komusubi, who has not lost since the opening day of the Spring Basho, maintained his two-win lead as he hunts for his first Emperor's ...

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Mahe Drysdale’s dream of third rowing gold in Tokyo dashed

Mahe Drysdale's hopes of winning a third successive single sculls gold medal at the delayed Tokyo Olympics have been all but extinguished after he failed ...

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NFL steps out of basement for 2021 draft

Commissioner Roger Goodell eschewed bro hugs and a podium during the NFL draft last April, when he was forced to announce teams’ picks from his ...

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Justin Thomas ‘ecstatic’ at possibility of playing in Tokyo Games

World No. 2 Justin Thomas is "ecstatic" about the possibility of competing in the Tokyo Olympics, as he looks to keep his momentum rolling at ...

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Shibutani siblings say Atlanta shooting has increased awareness of attacks on Asian Americans

The Pyeongchang 2018 medalists called for more support of marginalized communities following a recent rise in violent incidents.

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Tight end Rob Gronkowski re-signs with Buccaneers

Tight end Rob Gronkowski is ready to run it back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The Super Bowl champions confirmed Monday that they re-signed Gronkowski to ...

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‘Game-changing’ TV deal pumps money into English women’s soccer

The landmark agreement will see over 60 Women's Super League games per season broadcast on Sky Sports and the BBC.

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No extra innings for NPB games this season amid pandemic

Nippon Professional Baseball said Monday that games will end in nine innings and no extra innings will be played this season to accommodate early closing ...

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Sara Takanashi ties World Cup podium record

Sara Takanashi tied the all-time record for podium finishes in World Cup ski jumping after taking third in Russia's Nizhny Tagil on Sunday.Sara Takanashi poses ...

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NPB and J. League hope to lead by example with Tokyo Games on horizon

The members of the joint task force established by Nippon Professional Baseball and the J. League hope to set a positive example for this summer’s ...

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Takayasu remains alone atop standings at Spring Basho

Takayasu (8-1) secured a winning record on Day 9 of the 15-day meet at Ryogoku Kokugikan after comfortably beating No. 1 maegashira Onosho (2-7).

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Toyota completes WJBL Finals sweep to end Eneos’ historic reign

“We’ve been chasing Eneos for the last 10 years and now we’ve done it,” Toyota guard and captain Naho Miyoshi said after her team’s victory ...

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Yuki Tsunoda eager to make impact in Formula One

Tsunoda will become the first Japanese driver to compete in Formula One since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014.

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Shohei Ohtani puts on show in dual role as starter, leadoff batter in spring training game

According to MLB.com, the last player to do both in the majors, while staying on the mound for more than an inning, was Jim Jones ...

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Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball has broken wrist

Standout rookie guard LaMelo Ball has a broken right wrist and will be sidelined indefinitely, the Charlotte Hornets said Sunday.The team said an MRI scan ...

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Japanese players dominate finals at All England Open

Nozomi Okuhara dominated the women's final at the All England Open.

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Hakuho recovering after Friday knee surgery

Yokozuna Hakuho has undergone endoscopic surgery for a knee injury that forced him out of the ongoing Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, a source familiar with ...

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Patient Takayasu takes sole lead of spring tournament

The komusubi used mind games and endurance to tire out sekiwake opponent Terunofuji before forcing him over the straw and improving to 7-1.

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Great Britain to launch bullying hotline for athletes at Tokyo Games

British athletes competing at this year's Tokyo Olympics will be able to report concerns of physical or psychological abuse through an independent hotline service, British ...

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The NCAA sees its worst fears realized in a canceled tournament game

It was a Faustian bargain that college basketball made last autumn when it plowed ahead with a season into the headwinds of the coronavirus pandemic. ...

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Yu Darvish speaks out against anti-Asian racism in the U.S.

The pitcher, who was targeted by a racial incident during the 2017 World Series, commented on the issue following a rise in violent acts against ...

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Japanese fans have attended sporting events since July. Will they be safe at the Olympics?

Thorough countermeasures and restrictions on active support introduced by the country's professional sports leagues have allowed large crowds back into stadiums.

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Hawks extend win streak against Lakers as LeBron James injured

The Atlanta Hawks earned their eighth win in a row, a 99-94 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.Atlanta snapped L.A.'s four-game winning streak and ...

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Magus Riiber holds off Akito Watabe to take 35th World Cup win

Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber earned his 35th Nordic Combined World Cup win in Germany on Saturday, just managing to hold off Japan's fast-finishing Akito Watabe ...

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Antelopes dominate Sunflowers early to take WJBL finals lead

Toyota's strong rebounding game helped the Nagoya-based side overcome six-time reigning champion Eneos on Saturday at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2.

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Barcelona women win 20th straight game

An unstoppable Barcelona won their 20th game out of 20 on Saturday, thrashing Rayo Vallecano 4-0 away from home to continue their record-breaking run in ...

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Terunofuji stays in lead pack as Asanoyama goes down on Day 7

Terunofuji moved within four wins of his second promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki, a position he last held in 2017.

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England manager Gareth Southgate says players should be offered vaccine soon

England manager Gareth Southgate says soccer players should be offered coronavirus vaccines soon as they are being asked to take risks by playing regularly during ...

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Vissel rallies from three goals down to edge Consadole

"It's rare to win after conceding three goals, but we were able to get the result."

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Athletes bracing for subdued Tokyo Olympics

An Olympics under the dark cloud of COVID-19 may not be the experience athletes had hoped for, but they are still eager to grab their ...

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Serene, centered Giannis Antetokounmpo making things fun again for Bucks

Fun Giannis is bad news for the rest of the league.

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Torch relay struggles highlight hurdles for pandemic Olympics

The withdrawal by Paralympian Rina Akiyama and more than a dozen celebrities from the relay, which starts Thursday, underscores the challenges facing organizers

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No. 1 Kento Momota upset at All England Open

Lee Zii Jia shocked two-time world champion Kento Momota to reach the semifinals of the All England Open on Friday.The Malaysian beat the world No. ...

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Kosuke Hagino will not defend 400 IM gold at Tokyo Games

Reigning Olympic 400-meter individual medley champion Kosuke Hagino will not defend his gold medal in the event at the Tokyo Games this summer, choosing to ...

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Denis Shapovalov says less prize money, mental toll of ‘bubbles’ will lead to more withdrawals

Denis Shapovalov said Thursday that tennis tournaments this year will continue to suffer high withdrawal rates because of the decrease in prize money as a ...

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Giant killer Hokutofuji brings down high-flying Myogiryu

Coming off two straight wins against ozeki opponents, the No. 2 maegashira pulled Myogiryu back into the lead pack of six wrestlers with 5-1 records.

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Megan Rapinoe supports athlete protests instead of boycotts

The outspoken U.S. women's soccer star believes that events such as the Olympics can allow athletes to bring important issues to the forefront.

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Major League Rugby bullish on return after COVID-19 shutdown

The 12-team league, which will run from Saturday to Aug. 1, is looking to bounce back after the pandemic forced its 2020 season to shut ...

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Even Grand Slams feeling financial pinch in ‘bubbles,’ says ATP chief

Tennis organizers have managed to hold their marquee events despite the pandemic, but arrangements such as charter flights and bio-secure environments have come a cost.

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Swiss skier Wendy Holdener tests positive at World Cup finale

Swiss Olympic medalist and world champion Wendy Holdener is out of the final World Cup alpine ski competition of the season after a positive coronavirus ...

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Takumi Minamino’s call-up ‘nonsense,’ says Southampton manager

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl claims it is "nonsense" for Japan forward Takumi Minamino to be asked to travel for international duty during the coronavirus pandemic.Minamino, ...

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Foreign athletes and coaches will be allowed to enter Japan from Monday

Dozens of players and coaches will have missed the start of the J. League and NPB seasons due to travel restrictions that went into effect ...

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Kiyoko Ono, Tokyo Olympic medal-winning women’s gymnast, dies at 85

Kiyoko Ono, a member of Japan's bronze medal-winning women's team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and a former member of Japan's upper house, died on ...

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Myogiryu grabs tournament lead as Terunofuji suffers first loss at Spring Basho

Veteran No. 4 maegashira Myogiryu remained unbeaten after the fifth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday to take the sole lead in ...

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Athens Olympics chief says Seiko Hashimoto can carry Tokyo Games to success

Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, the first woman to head an Olympic organizing committee, says Hashimoto's appointment demonstrates progress towards gender equality in Japan and in sport.

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Samurai Blue squad announced as JFA prepares for protective ‘bubble’

Japan will host archrival South Korea in a March 25 friendly at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium before facing Mongolia in a World Cup qualifier on March ...

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Barcelona president determined to convince Lionel Messi to stay

Barcelona chief Joan Laporta gave Lionel Messi a hug and then pledged to do everything in his power to convince the club's all-time top scorer ...

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Rams make fresh start at QB with Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford officially joined the Los Angeles Rams as the NFL's new league year began on Wednesday.Stafford was traded to the Rams from the Detroit ...

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Kento Momota returns to international competition with win at All England Open

Momota missed out on his planned comeback to the international tour in January after testing positive for COVID-19.

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Late Vissel equalizer spoils Frontale’s perfect start to season

Defending champion Kawasaki had opened the season with five straight wins.

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Falcons Kicker Younghoe Koo addresses hate crimes after Atlanta-area shootings

Koo, who was born in South Korea before moving to Ridgewood, New Jersey at the age of 12, voiced his thoughts on social media.

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Promotion-seeking Terunofuji improves to 4-0 at Spring Basho

Sekiwake Terunofuji continued his march toward an ozeki promotion Wednesday at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Speedskater Miho Takagi reaching new heights despite pandemic restraints

A year without overseas competition amid the coronavirus pandemic has been a challenge for speedskating star Miho Takagi, but has also given her a different ...

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Kento Momota fully healthy, ready to make run for gold at Tokyo Olympics

Kento Momota was afraid he would be unable to play badminton again after a traffic accident in Malaysia left him with serious injuries last year. ...

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Fall of Azumazeki stable represents tragic loss for professional sumo

Established in 1986 by former sekiwake Takamiyama, Azumazeki was the first heya in history to be run by a foreign-born stablemaster.

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Miyabi Onitsuka grabs bronze in big air at world championships

Miyabi Onitsuka finished third in the women's snowboard big air Tuesday on the final day of the International Ski Federation Snowboard and Freeski World Championships ...

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LeBron James acquires ownership stake in Red Sox

LeBron James has added ownership stakes in the Boston Red Sox and a U.S. stock car team to his sports empire, which already includes a ...

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Tiger Woods continuing recovery at home after leaving hospital

"Happy to report that I am back home continuing my recovery," the 45-year-old golf great said on Twitter.

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Takakeisho upset on Day 3 as Hakuho withdrawal dominates news

The departure of the tournament's lone yokozuna once again leaves the sport's three ozeki, who all ended Tuesday with 2-1 records, as the tournament's top ...

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Athletes and coaches finding courage to criticize Olympic planners

With support for the Tokyo Games still low, hopeful participants are taking to social media to push back against public perceptions that they are united ...

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Giants’ Nate Ebner targets U.S. rugby sevens spot for Tokyo Games

New York Giants safety Nate Ebner is keen to win a spot on the U.S. rugby sevens team for the Tokyo Olympics after failing to ...

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Top League targets England superstars in bid to top rugby world

Japan's premier rugby competition, long a favorite of Southern Hemisphere stars, is shifting its attention to European players in an effort to solidify its international ...

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Court blocks Russia’s plan to replace anthem with patriotic song

Sport's top court on Monday said that Russia would not be able to play the patriotic folk song "Katyusha" at major international competitions while its ...

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‘Mistakes and failures’: from Milan to Azerbaijan for Keisuke Honda

The globetrotting Samurai Blue star signed with local powerhouse Neftci after a planned move to Portugal fell apart in February due to that country's transfer ...

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Boston Marathon to cap entrants at 20,000 amid pandemic

This year's Boston Marathon will be limited to 20,000 entrants in a bid allow greater social distancing throughout the course given the COVID-19 pandemic, race ...

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Nahomi Kawasumi confirms she won’t take part in torch relay

Former Nadeshiko Japan veteran Nahomi Kawasumi has confirmed she will not take part in the Tokyo Olympics torch relay this month after deciding to withdraw ...

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Hakuho withdraws from Spring Basho over knee concerns

The decision by the 44-time winner will leave yet another grand tournament without a yokozuna following Kakuryu's decision to pull out late last week.

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Hakuho cruises to 2-0 at Spring Grand Sumo Tournament

After a tough battle with komusubi Daieisho to start the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, Hakuho cruised through the final bout of Day 2.

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Tsunoda revved up for F1 rookie year after impressive show in testing

The 20-year-old clocked the second-best time of the three-day session at Sakhir, where the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix takes place on March 28.

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Ritsu Doan, Masaya Okugawa lead Arminia to vital victory

Ritsu Doan and Masaya Okugawa struck a goal each Sunday to lead Arminia Bielefeld to a vital 2-1 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.The ...

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Justin Thomas outduels Lee Westwood to capture The Players Championship

Third-ranked Justin Thomas outdueled Lee Westwood down the stretch on Sunday to capture The Players Championship, earning his 14th U.S. PGA Tour title by matching ...

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NCAA Tournament returns after missing 2020 due to COVID-19

The NCAA Tournament, which was wiped out by COVID-19 last year, is returning this year with a challenge unlike any it has faced before as ...

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Saints QB Drew Brees announces retirement

Brees is the NFL's all-time leader with 80,358 career passing yards and 7,142 completions.

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Kenta Maeda named as Twins’ opening day starter

Maeda is coming off a season in which he finished second in American League Cy Young voting.

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Hiroto Kyoguchi defends WBA light flyweight title for third time

Fighting in the United States for the first time, the 27-year-old extended his perfect unbeaten record to 15-0 in his first bout since October 2019.

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Yokozuna Hakuho ends long layoff with narrow win at Spring Basho

In his first bout since July, the 44-time tournament champion recorded a close victory over komusubi Daieisho as the annual March meet kicked off at ...

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Daizen Maeda brace propels Marinos to win over Urawa

Daizen Maeda struck a first-half brace and Ryuta Koike added a third after the break as Yokohama F. Marinos outclassed Urawa Reds 3-0 in the ...

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Rui Hachimura scores season-high 29 in Wizards’ loss to Bucks

Rui Hachimura scored a season-high 29 points Saturday but could not get the Washington Wizards across the line in a closely fought 125-119 loss to ...

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Brave Thunders hope team effort will pay off in B. League title chase

After winning their first Emperor's Cup in seven years on Saturday, Kawasaki is out to prove that the team doesn't have to lean on high-profile ...

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World No. 1 golfer Dustin Johnson to skip Tokyo Olympics

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson confirmed on Saturday he did not put his name forward for a spot on the U.S. team for this summer's ...

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Tomokazu Harimoto and Mima Ito claim singles titles in Doha

Japanese players swept the singles events at the inaugural World Table Tennis Star Contender tournament in Doha on Saturday, with Mima Ito winning the women's ...

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Iranians question decision to host World Cup qualifiers in Bahrain

Iran head coach Dragan Skocic and Mehdi Taremi, one of the nation's highest-profile players, have questioned the decision to hold the country's World Cup qualifiers ...

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Yuto Totsuka wins maiden halfpipe world championship

The 19-year-old dethroned three-time champion Scotty James to position himself as the man to beat in the upcoming 2020 Beijing Winter Olympics.

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England’s victory over France a World Cup statement, says Eddie Jones

England coach Eddie Jones said his side had stolen a march on 2023 World Cup host France after Maro Itoje's late try sealed a come-from-behind ...

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NFL prospects seize on few chances to impress ahead of draft

National Football League prospects are navigating an unusual path to the draft this year, with the annual NFL Scouting Combine canceled after a chaotic collegiate ...

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Climbing gyms, athletes looking to regain footing after Tokyo 2020 delay

The pandemic has put the aspirations of Japanese competition climbers on hold, and affected the operations of climbing gyms they rely on for training.

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Wheelchair basketball star aims to uplift Tohoku region by winning gold at Tokyo Paralympics

When wheelchair basketball Paralympian Akira Toyoshima takes the court at the Tokyo Games, he hopes to encourage residents of his native Tohoku region.

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Brave Thunders end drought with victory in Emperor’s Cup final

The Kawasaki Brave Thunders captured their first Emperor’s Cup title in seven years on Saturday.

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U.S. marathoners reflect on challenges of Olympic delay ahead of Tokyo Games

Molly Seidel, a Boston-based runner, spent the year learning to "embrace the chaos."

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Twenty-eight lower-ranked wrestlers to miss Spring Basho due to virus

The Japan Sumo Association said Saturday a total of 28 wrestlers, all from outside the top two divisions, will miss the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament ...

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Lee Westwood takes lead at The Players Championship

England's Lee Westwood, feeling "calm and in control," fired six birdies in a round of six-under-par 66 on Friday to seize a one-shot lead over ...

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Tom Brady signs extension with Buccaneers

Quarterback Tom Brady signed a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that reportedly will enable him to reach his goal of playing in the ...

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Premier League chief hopes to have fans at matches by end of season

The Premier League plans to allow up to 10,000 fans in stadiums for the final two rounds of matches this season, chief executive Richard Masters ...

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Nathan Chen more anxious about travel than world championships

The 21-year-old also wants to see strict health and safety protocols enforced after being less than impressed with how some other events were run during ...

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Thomas Bach reiterates that vaccination not required for Tokyo Olympics

With the Olympic host nation having faced delays securing vaccine doses, there is a possibility some Japanese athletes may not be vaccinated in time for ...

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Japan to host Group F World Cup qualifiers in May and June

Japan will host matches in their second-round group of Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup between May 31 and June 15, as the Asian ...

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First sumo stable run by foreign-born elder to close

The Azumazeki stable, sumo's first to be opened by a foreign-born sumo elder, former sekiwake Takamiyama, and home to the sport's first foreign yokozuna, Akebono, ...

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Hakuho eyes makuuchi milestone while Asanoyama seeks chance of promotion at Spring Basho

The tournament, which was relocated from Osaka to Tokyo to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections, will be the first to feature a yokozuna since ...

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ATP chief optimistic about life after ‘Big Three’

Losing the best three players of all time would be a massive blow to any sport, but ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi says tennis is strong ...

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MLB to experiment with larger bases, defensive positioning in minors

Major League Baseball is set to conduct a number of rules experiments during the 2021 minor league season, among them the use of larger bases, ...

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JOC president Yasuhiro Yamashita no stranger to Olympic frustration

The former judo heavyweight, who missed out on the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to an international boycott, is optimistic that the postponed Tokyo Games will ...

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Olympics minister says Japan’s athletes won’t take Chinese vaccine

The announcement by IOC President Thomas Bach that the organization will purchase coronavirus vaccines from China appears to have taken Japan's Olympic officials by surprise.

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USA Basketball adds 15 to pool for Olympic team

USA Basketball added 15 players on Thursday to the list of candidates for the U.S. Olympic basketball team, bringing the total player pool to 57.Added ...

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Naomi Osaka, Marcus Rashford among those honored at Glamour Awards

Front-line workers for Britain's National Health Service, tennis player Naomi Osaka and designer Vivienne Westwood were among those honored at the Glamour Women of the ...

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Athletes in limbo as COVID-19 scuppers Tokyo Games qualifiers

Four months remain before the start of the rescheduled Olympics in Tokyo but the cancellation of qualifying events in various disciplines due to COVID-19 restrictions ...

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Cavani insists he’s ‘proud’ to wear Manchester United shirt

Edinson Cavani said he was proud to wear the Manchester United shirt after his father claimed the Uruguay striker was unhappy in England and wanted ...

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Yokozuna Kakuryu may miss fifth straight tournament due to injury

Injury-plagued yokozuna Kakuryu may have to withdraw from a fifth straight meet, this one being the upcoming Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, because of a left ...

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Thomas Bach reelected as IOC president

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach won an unopposed second term on Wednesday that will keep him in the post until 2025, following a vote ...

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Roger Federer makes winning return after missing 13 months due to injury

Federer, 39, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, said "it felt great to be out there again."

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U.S. expects to have athletes vaccinated ‘well before’ Tokyo Olympics

U.S. Olympic chiefs said Wednesday they expect athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics will be vaccinated against COVID-19 "well before" the games as U.S. immunization ...

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USOPC president says boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing would be ‘ineffective’

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) reiterated its opposition to a boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics on Wednesday, following calls for ...

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Leandro Damiao scores twice to keep Frontale perfect

Leandro Damiao scored two goals for the second straight game as J. League champions Kawasaki Frontale remained perfect after four rounds with a 2-0 win ...

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Rangers to open season with stadium at full capacity

The Texas Rangers will open the 2021 season with Globe Life Field at full capacity, the club said Wednesday.The ballpark in Arlington, Texas, which opened ...

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Ten years on, rugby lifts spirits in tsunami-struck Kamaishi

Passion for rugby is offering a beacon of hope in the northeastern city of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, after it was ravaged by the March 2011 ...

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Vegalta and Frontale fans deepen ties in decade after 3/11

The two teams have forged a close bond that started with an emotional encounter just six weeks after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

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Japan to face South Korea in first home game since pandemic began

Japan will play South Korea in a friendly in Yokohama on March 25, the Japan Football Association announced Thursday, in their first home game since ...

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Former Rakuten pitcher Darrell Rasner recalls 3/11 ‘heartbreak’

The American right-hander, who helped the Eagles capture the Japan Series in 2013, vividly remembers the "strength and compassion" shown by those in the region ...

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Rikako Ikee to compete in four events at Olympic swimming trials

Rikako Ikee will contest four events at next month's national championships as she continues her comeback from leukemia, her management company said Wednesday.The 20-year-old, who ...

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‘Difficult’ to host athletes’ families, says Tokyo 2020 chief

The families of athletes competing at the Tokyo Olympics could be barred from entering Japan to watch them, the president of the games has suggested ...

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Roger Federer sets eyes on Tokyo Olympics as long as knee holds up

Roger Federer is targeting a third Olympic medal at the Tokyo Games this year, after missing out in 2016 due to injury, as he looks ...

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Meyers Leonard to stay away from Heat amid investigation into slur

Center Meyers Leonard will stay away from the Miami Heat indefinitely as the team and the NBA investigate his use of an anti-Semitic slur during ...

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Yuzuru Hanyu driven to greatness by 2011 disaster experience

A 16-year-old high school student when the earthquake and tsunami struck on 3/11, Hanyu found purpose on the ice — transforming into a skating icon ...

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Marshawn Lynch drawing own business blueprint with cannabis launch

With a newly launched cannabis brand and an e-betting endorsement, five-time Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch is building a business empire doing all the ...

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Cuba’s soccer team calls up foreign-based players for the first time

Cuba called up Norwich City forward Onel Hernandez and 10 other foreign-based players on Tuesday in a historic first for the island nation ahead of ...

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Seiko Hashimoto says Tokyo 2020 may ramp up virus testing frequency

Newly appointed Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said Tuesday that initial guidelines requiring Olympic athletes to be tested for the coronavirus at least once every ...

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World Athletics president wants women to take on greater roles

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe told AFP Monday he wants an organization in which a woman can aspire to the top job and one that ...

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Sumo ring offering respite to Tohoku victims a decade after disaster

The dohyō in the coastal Iwate Prefecture town of Yamada, which was swept away in the March 11 disaster, was rebuilt through donations by yokozuna ...

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Sunrockers’ Ryan Kelly storms back from injury with a vengeance

The power forward's return to the court came at the right time for Shibuya, which snapped a five-game losing streak with Sunday's win against the ...

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Strong is beautiful for Tokyo weightlifting hopeful Sarah Davies

The 2018 Commonwealth Games 69-kg silver medalist and beauty pageant competitor hopes to serve as a role model both in the gym and on the ...

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‘Delighted’ Makoto Hasebe extends contract with Frankfurt

Former Japan captain Makoto Hasebe has signed a one-year contract extension with Eintracht Frankurt that will take him through the 2021-22 German top-flight season, the ...

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Phil Mickelson out of top 100 for first time in 28 years

Phil Mickelson has fallen outside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in 28 years.In the new rankings released ...

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South Korean Olympic champ banned for harassment to skate for China

A South Korean Olympic short-track speed skating champion banned from the national team for sexual harassment has taken Chinese citizenship and will skate for the ...

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Two more coronavirus cases reported at Gamba

J. League first-division side Gamba Osaka said Monday that a player and a staff member have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, on top of ...

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Roger Federer pain-free as he prepares for return to action

Roger Federer never contemplated retirement as he spent 13 months on the sidelines due to double knee surgery last year and the 39-year-old says he ...

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Cricket Australia commissions first statue of female player to address gender imbalance

Sports-mad Australia has 73 statues and sculptures of cricketers dotted around the country, and they all depict men.That's about to change, as Cricket Australia on ...

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Manchester United ends Manchester City’s long winning streak

Manchester United snapped Manchester City's record winning streak with an impressive 2-0 victory against the Premier League leaders, while Liverpool hit a new low as ...

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Great East Japan earthquake survivor Jun Endo learns importance of resilience in life

She was buoyed through the hard times by her dream of joining the Japanese women's national team, Nadeshiko Japan, which beat the odds in 2011 ...

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J. League and NPB considering on-site virus testing for quicker results

A contest between Gamba Osaka and Nagoya Grampus was postponed two hours before kickoff last week after players and staff tested positive for COVID-19.

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Team LeBron cruises past Team Durant in NBA All-Star romp

After earlier capturing the 3-Point Contest title, Stephen Curry combined with Damian Lillard for 16 3-pointers and 60 points for Team LeBron.

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Clippers star Kawhi Leonard eager to play at Tokyo Olympics

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard says he's eager to make his Olympic debut at the rescheduled Tokyo Games in July even if it means ...

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Bryson DeChambeau powers to victory at Bay Hill

The victory was DeChambeau's first since a dominating run to the U.S. Open title in September and was inspired by a text from Tiger Woods ...

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Olympic hopeful Daizen Maeda scores twice to secure draw for Marinos

Tokyo Olympic hopeful Daizen Maeda netted twice as Yokohama F. Marinos salvaged a 3-3 draw against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the J. League first-division on Sunday, ...

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South America’s World Cup qualifiers delayed over travel constraints

South American soccer's governing body on Saturday postponed two rounds of 2022 World Cup qualifiers scheduled later this month because of COVID-19 quarantine rules affecting ...

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Novak Djokovic takes Roger Federer’s world No. 1 record, eyes history

The recent Australian Open champion, who has won 18 Grand Slams, now has his sights set on surpassing the 20 majors held by Federer and ...

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Jockeys, other racing officials received improper virus rescue money

A tax accountant in Osaka who also owns a racehorse is said to have encouraged over 100 in the industry to apply for relief money ...

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Soccer ‘stock market’ slashes payouts, works to fix cash crunch

A U.K. gambling website that calls itself a "real money virtual stock market” offering bets on soccer players said it’s in talks to fix a ...

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NBA anticipates full arenas for next season, no international games

Commissioner Adam Silver, speaking ahead of Sunday's All-Star game, said he hoped the proliferation of vaccines would allow fans to return in greater numbers.

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Ayumu Goromaru scores 15 in return; Suntory remains on top of league

New Zealand playmaker Beauden Barrett scored a try and banged over 10 conversions in the Japan Rugby Top League on Saturday, helping lift Suntory Sungoliath ...

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Crane Thunders veteran Michael Parker still going strong at nearly 40

Michael Parker is seen by many as “the heart” of the Gunma Crane Thunders.

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Japan’s travel ban has left foreign baseball players in limbo

Colin Rea — like more than a dozen other players who joined Japanese clubs in the offseason — is in limbo.

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Tokyo prevails over Cerezo in five-goal slugfest

Masato Morishige’s header off a superbly aimed Leandro free kick capped off a nightmare day for Cerezo goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyeon.

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Shohei Ohtani fans five in impressive spring pitching debut

The Angels clocked Ohtani's fastball at 100 mph (161 kph) as the Japanese two-way star pitched in a game for the first time since Aug. ...

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California’s MLB teams get go-ahead to open season with limited number of fans

The California Department of Public Health gave baseball teams and fans cause for spring fever Friday when it announced that spectators can return to the ...

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Kei Nishikori falls in quarterfinal round at ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament

World No. 45 Nishikori, who missed most of the 2020 season following major elbow surgery, blamed a lack of concentration for his loss of two ...

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Uta Abe rallies to win Tashkent Grand Slam title

Tokyo Olympic team member Uta Abe ended a 13-month layoff by winning the Tashkent Grand Slam's women's 52-kg division championship on Friday.Abe, who last competed ...

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Temba Bavuma named Proteas’ first Black African cricket captain

Temba Bavuma said on Thursday that he accepted the responsibility of being appointed as South Africa's first Black African cricket captain."I'd be lying if I ...

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Gamba cluster shows J. League’s COVID-19 battles far from over

The league has postponed a pair of games after five players and a staffer tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

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Study finds few pro athletes suffer heart disease after mild COVID-19

The review of nearly 800 athletes from among North America's professional leagues who tested positive for the coronavirus found just five cases of inflammatory heart ...

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Fulham boss says VAR ‘killing excitement’ after defeat to Tottenham

Fulham manager Scott Parker took aim at the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system and said it was killing soccer's excitement after his side had a ...

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Akito Watabe takes large hill bronze at world championships

Akito Watabe took bronze in the Nordic combined large hill individual Gundersen competition Thursday to reach the podium at a third straight Nordic World Ski ...

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Penguins apologize after hiding improper mask-wearing in photo

A team employee altered a photo of fans attending Tuesday's game at PPG Paints Arena for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

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Fans to be limited to 10,000 at Spring Koshien tournament

Up to 10,000 spectators will be admitted for games at this month's prestigious spring invitational high school baseball tournament, organizers announced Thursday.A year after it ...

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Rugby World Cup organizers launch drive to sell 2.6 million tickets

A total of 2.6 million tickets will be available for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and the first phase of the ticket sales ...

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Kento Momota still moving toward Olympic dream 10 years after 2011 earthquake

Reflecting on the event that struck the nation 10 years ago, the world's top-ranked men's singles player said he was in a state of confusion ...

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Raptors’ Yuta Watanabe makes first NBA start in loss against Pistons

The third-year forward went scoreless but grabbed four rebounds in 11 minutes.

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Manchester United loses ground in Premier League race after draw

Manchester United fell 14 points behind Premier League leader Manchester City on Wednesday after being held to yet another scoreless draw by Crystal Palace on ...

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Shohei Ohtani hits monster homer during spring training contest against Rangers

Shohei Ohtani crushed a monster two-run homer Wednesday to help lift the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-2 spring training win over the Texas Rangers.The ...

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Sara Takanashi claims large hill silver at world championships

Takanashi, who placed third on the normal hill last week, was looking to become the first Japanese woman to win an individual ski jumping world ...

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Frontale overcomes vintage night by Yoshito Okubo to beat Cerezo

Leandro Damiao twice equalized to match Okubo's brace and helped set up Kaoru Mitoma's 62nd-minute winner.

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Yokozuna Kakuryu plans to compete this month after missing three straight tournaments

Yokozuna Kakuryu, a six-time Emperor's Cup winner whose career is on the line after withdrawing from four straight tournaments, said Wednesday he will compete in ...

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B. League may need to review early entry system after injuries to young players

B. League officials may be forced to re-evaluate the process in the wake of significant injuries suffered by some players this year.

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Hakuho Cup may allow Hakuho to leave indelible mark on sumo from outside ring

With the release of the banzuke (rankings) for the upcoming spring meet, yokozuna Hakuho becomes just the second man in sumo history to reach 100 ...

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic stands by LeBron James comments

The former LA Galaxy striker said in an interview last week that athletes shouldn't get involved in political matters

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Kimia Alizadeh, Iran’s only female Olympic medalist, hopes to compete as refugee in Tokyo

Iranian female Olympic medal winner Kimia Alizadeh has been granted refugee status in Germany and aims to compete as part the Olympic Refugee Team under ...

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Women’s Rugby World Cup likely to be postponed until 2022 due to COVID-19

This year's women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand is set to be pushed back until next year after the sport's global governing body said ...

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United has to be responsible with money

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United has to focus on realistic and responsible business as it targets improvements during the coronavirus pandemic.Next Monday marks a ...

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Pele hails ‘unforgettable’ day after getting COVID-19 vaccine

Brazilian soccer great Pele, 80, received a COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, a moment he described as "unforgettable" while urging people not to let their guard down ...

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Andy Murray approaching each match as if career hangs in balance

Andy Murray feels like he's playing for his career every time he takes the court after recent losses to lowly ranked opponents, but the injury-ravaged ...

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Taku Lee poised to end long wait for Japan’s first NFL player

The Obic running back and 2020 X League MVP, who is currently taking part in an NFL program for potential international talent in Florida, is ...

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Guinness recognizes Yuki Kawauchi for 100th sub-2:20 marathon

The former "citizen runner," who gained international attention after winning the 2018 Boston Marathon, hit the triple-digit mark last December at the Hofu Marathon in ...

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NFL International executive sees widening path for Japanese players

Globalization is a key component of professional sports leagues around the world and the National Football League is no exception, despite its reputation as a ...

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Shocked Jiangsu fans hope for takeover after axe falls on club

Stunned Jiangsu FC fans are holding out hope that new backers will come to the rescue of the Chinese Super League champion after the club ...

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Kei Nishikori wins first ATP match in five months in Rotterdam

Kei Nishikori won his first ATP Tour match in five months on Monday, beating seventh-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 in the first ...

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Shohei Ohtani gets two hits in Angels’ spring training home opener

The 26-year-old is expected to return to his role as a two-way player for the 2021 season.

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Top sports court cancels Iranian judo federation’s suspension

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday canceled the suspension of the Iranian judo federation, imposed after it ordered judoka Saeid Mollaei not to ...

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Aaron Smith commits to All Blacks through 2023 Rugby World Cup

All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby through to the 2023 World Cup in France.Smith, the most-capped New Zealand scrumhalf of ...

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Japan and Argentina U-24s to play pair of friendlies in late March

Japan's prospective Olympic men's soccer team will gear up for the Tokyo Games by hosting two friendlies against their under-24 counterparts from Argentina in late ...

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Yuki Kawamura vows to use disappointing season as fuel for future success

The 19-year-old phenomenon remains determined to learn from players he felt bested him this year and achieve his long-standing goal of playing on the national ...

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Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane scores 400th NHL goal

Chicago forward Patrick Kane scored his 400th NHL goal Sunday during the Blackhawks' 7-2 rout of the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the 100th player to ...

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January champion Daieisho back among sumo’s elite for March Basho

It will be his first time in sumo's three sanyaku ranks below yokozuna since he went 5-10 as a sekiwake in September.

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