Divers facing myriad challenges in final Olympic qualifier

As divers get a taste of competition during the coronavirus crisis, they will have to put aside the pandemic-related distractions that have affected their training ...

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Judo judge draws strength from heading historic Japanese fireworks firm

Although the required skills are quite different from those of a judo judge, Akiko Amano says her work experience helps her when judging the martial ...

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Canadian athletes to have vaccine access before Tokyo Games

The chief medical officer of the country's Olympic committee said the pace of Canada's vaccine rollout will allow the Tokyo-bound delegation to be vaccinated without ...

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Naomi Osaka enjoys winning Madrid start in bid to end clay court struggles

Osaka began her bid to capture a first clay court title with a 7-5, 6-2 win over compatriot Misaki Doi in the opening round of ...

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Sumo wrestler’s death after head injury leads to criticism and calls for reform

Sumo association officials reportedly said he did not receive medical attention from trained professionals for several minutes.

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Urawa’s new Danish ace Kasper Junker ready for ‘adventure’ in Japan

After winning the golden boot in Norway's first division last year, the 27-year-old is excited to follow in the footsteps of legendary countryman Michael Laudrup.

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Yusei Kikuchi tosses seven scoreless frames for first win of season

Yusei Kikuchi pitched one-hit ball over seven shutout innings to earn his first win of the season on Thursday as the Seattle Mariners beat the ...

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Packers GM: ‘No scenario’ for Aaron Rodgers trade

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said there is no scenario in which Aaron Rodgers will be traded out of Green Bay.Hours after using the team's ...

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Jaguars take QB Trevor Lawrence with top pick of NFL draft

Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance were the first three picks of Thursday night's NFL draft in Cleveland, marking just the third time the ...

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Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama receives Prime Minister’s Award

Matsuyama, 29, was recognized for encouraging people in northeastern Japan, hit hard by the massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 and the nuclear crisis that ...

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Powerhouse Alvark on verge of missing B. League postseason

While the league has said an Alvark title this year would be considered part of a three-peat, the team's window to even reach the postseason ...

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Frontale rout Grampus in matchup of J. League’s top two teams

Frontale's slick passing and precise movement off the ball opened up Nagoya's defense like a sardine can.

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Carson Palmer warns highly drafted QBs to brace for adversity

Palmer said quarterbacks will need to get used to the unfamiliar feeling of failure and the finger-pointing that comes with it.

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Inbee Park and Lydia Ko eye Tokyo Olympics despite Japan’s COVID-19 surge

Reigning gold medalist Inbee Park and silver medalist Lydia Ko said they plan to play in the Tokyo Olympics this summer despite Japan's latest COVID-19 ...

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New Zealand’s unions approve U.S. firm’s acquisition of stake in All Blacks

The deal still needs to be approved by the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association (NZRPA), which has expressed reservations.

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Manchester City moves closer to Champions League final with win over PSG

Goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez helped deliver a 2-1 comeback win for City against Paris St Germain in the semifinal first leg.

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Pitching duel between Buffaloes, Eagles ends in scoreless tie

Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles starter Takahiro Norimoto went toe-to-toe Wednesday in a Pacific League pitching duel.

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Japan to test all Olympic athletes for COVID-19 on a daily basis

The government's approval of the new testing policy came hours before the organizing committee released its new guidelines for participants at the Summer Games.

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New Zealand Rugby mulls controversial U.S. investment

The offer from California-based firm Silver Lake has raised concerns that the famous All Blacks side could potentially exploited for its commercial value.

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Sumo’s living history traced through its banzuke

The ranking sheets, which have been produced since the 18th century, serve not only as keepsakes but as snapshots of the sport's changes over time.

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Australia to begin vaccinating Tokyo-bound athletes next week

Officials said that Olympic and Paralympic participants will be inoculated by private contractors in order to avoid burdening the public health system.

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Kenta Maeda takes loss as Twins lose fourth straight

Right-hander Kenta Maeda gave up three homers in taking his second loss of the season as the slumping Minnesota Twins were beaten 7-4 by the ...

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Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke rules out sale of club despite protests

Arsenal owners Stan and Josh Kroenke said on Tuesday they remain "100% committed" to the Premier League club, are not selling any stake and have ...

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Call your shot: Bucks to offer in-game COVID-19 vaccines

Basketball fans can obtain their first COVID-19 vaccine dose in an unusual venue this weekend — at a Milwaukee Bucks game.Those aged 16 years and ...

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RFU ‘comfortable’ with Eddie Jones advising Beau Barrett at Suntory

The Rugby Football Union said on Tuesday it was "comfortable" with England head coach Eddie Jones continuing to act as a consultant to Beauden Barrett's ...

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J. League to seek compensation over state of emergency

The J. League will seek compensation from the Japanese government for losses resulting from the ongoing coronavirus state of emergency, during which several stadiums will ...

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Yudai Ono gets first win as Dragons hold off Tigers

Yudai Ono threw eight innings of two-hit, one-run ball and earned his first win of the season Tuesday as the Chunichi Dragons came back to ...

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Formula One to hold point-scoring sprint qualifying at three races

Formula One teams and bosses have agreed unanimously to debut a new point-scoring "sprint qualifying" at three races this season, two of them in Europe, ...

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Rui Hachimura returns from injury in loss for Wizards

Rui Hachimura returned for the Washington Wizards on Monday after missing four games with a sore left knee, contributing 13 points and six rebounds in ...

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Yuki Kawamura hopes to emulate idol Isiah Thomas with Asics deal

The 19-year-old Tokai University point guard is the latest to join Asic's roster of advisors, which includes Japan stars Ryusei Shinoyama and Ramu Tokashiki.

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Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama to receive Prime Minister’s Award

The 29-year-old will become the 34th individual recipient of the honor after becoming the first Japanese man to win one of golf's four major tournaments.

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Angels’ Shohei Ohtani gets first win in two-way start since 2018

The 26-year-old, who entered the day as co-home run leader in the league, threw five innings and hit a two-run double for the victorious Halos.

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Amputee Blake Leeper won’t be allowed to race with running blades

World Athletics has rejected an application from American double amputee Blake Leeper to run on particular running-specific prostheses (RSPs), preventing him from competing in the ...

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Italian clubs who break away to be banned from domestic competitions

The Italian soccer federation (FIGC) said on Monday that clubs who join a breakaway league would be banned from all domestic competitions including the first-division ...

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WBO superfly champ Kazuto Ioka had positive doping test before fight

WBO world super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka had tested positive for doping in December when he defended the title for the second time, sources familiar ...

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‘Ultra-rare’ LeBron rookie card sells for record-setting $5.2 million

An "ultra-rare" signed rookie card for four-time NBA champion LeBron James sold for $5.2 million on Monday, breaking the record for the most expensive basketball ...

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Rafael Nadal saves match point to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas for 12th Barcelona title

Rafael Nadal saved a championship point to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 7-5 on Sunday to claim his 12th Barcelona Open title in the ...

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Man City beats Tottenham to retain League Cup in front of 8,000 fans

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said winning felt much better with fans in attendance after beating Tottenham 1-0 in front of 8,000 supporters.

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NPB prepares to go back behind closed doors

Last week began with a crowd of 17,712 at Tokyo Dome for a showdown between the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants, the top two teams ...

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Summer Grand Sumo Tournament to open behind closed doors amid state of emergency

The Japan Sumo Association announced Monday it will hold the first three days of the May 9 to 23 Summer Grand Sumo Tournament behind closed ...

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Terunofuji returns to ozeki for Summer Basho

The 29-year-old Mongolian secured his promotion by winning the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in March with a 12-3 record.

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Jerry Sands blasts decisive homer as Tigers beat BayStars

Sands walked, reached on an error and scored twice in four plate appearances as the league-leading Tigers overcame a tough fight from the last-place BayStars.

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Shohei Ohtani helps lift Angels to win with eighth-inning home run

Shohei Ohtani delivered a clutch eighth-inning home run on Sunday to spur the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros.The two-way ...

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Five Central League games postponed until after state of emergency

Nippon Professional Baseball said Sunday it will postpone five Central League games until after the May 11 end of the current coronavirus state of emergency ...

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Japan wants more pre-departure virus testing for Olympic and Paralympic teams

Athletes and support staff attending the Tokyo Games will be asked to complete two negative coronavirus tests in the 96 hours before their departure.

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Tom Hovasse’s Akatsuki Five focusing on small ball ahead of Olympics

With star forward Ramu Tokashiki still rehabbing from an ACL injury, Japan will need to find ways to make up for its height disadvantage against ...

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Olympics a chance for Mexico international Matt Clark to repay Japan

The former Dragons and Buffaloes player has become a fixture in Mexican baseball, helping the country qualify for the Tokyo Games by winning bronze at ...

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English soccer clubs to stage social media boycott in racism protest

The planned three-day blackout comes as players continue to be targeted by anonymous racist abuse from fans online.

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Kenshiro Teraji wins eighth WBC light flyweight title defense

Kenshiro Teraji defended his WBC light flyweight title for the eighth time on Saturday in a unanimous decision over compatriot Tetsuya Hisada at Edion Arena ...

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Shohei Ohtani homers, makes outfield debut in loss for Angels

Shohei Ohtani belted his sixth home run of the season Saturday with a towering shot over center field, but it was a rare highlight for ...

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Suzuka Circuit to host F1 Japan Grand Prix through 2024

Japan's Suzuka Circuit will continue to host the Japan Formula 1 Grand Prix through 2024, the facility's owner, Mobilityland Corp., said Saturday after completing a ...

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Masahiro Tanaka earns 100th Japan win in Sendai homecoming

Returning to Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi for the first time since 2013, the former Yankee star allowed just three hits in a victory over the ...

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World Cup icon Ayumu Goromaru ends rugby career after playoff loss

Ayumu Goromaru, whose 2015 Rugby World Cup performance made him a household name in Japan, marked his final match on Saturday, when his club Yamaha ...

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Marinos thrash Yokohama FC in derby to extend unbeaten run

Yokohama F. Marinos extended their unbeaten run to nine games by hammering Yokohama FC 5-0 at home in Saturday's J. League first-division Yokohama derby.Marinos, whose ...

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Urawa and Sendai share spoils as WE League preseason begins

Nadeshiko Japan regular Yuika Sugasawa's penalty kick was negated by Hinata Miyazawa's second-half equalizer in front of a healthy 1,504 fans at Komaba Stadium.

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Pro surfer Connor O’Leary embracing Japanese heritage

O’Leary, 27, was born in Australia and is a proud Australian, but his Japanese heritage is an equally important part of his identity.

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Nadeshiko Japan facing many obstacles in quest for Olympic gold

With the pandemic interrupting the international soccer calendar, world No. 11 Nadeshiko Japan lost vital warmup opportunities for the Olympics.

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Australian women leading nation’s athletics revival ahead of Tokyo Games

"We’ll still have a reasonably strong men’s program but the women have been remarkable."

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Elite clubs will attempt to seize power again despite Super League failure

With huge global fan bases, commercial appeal and sizeable brands, their attempt to launch a breakaway showed they view the rest of their domestic rivals ...

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Olympic gold medalist Callum Skinner says IOC can’t stop athletes from protesting in Tokyo

"If an athlete wants to take the knee, they will take the knee."

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Tokyo 2020 organizers stage rugby sevens test event

Thursday’s event focused mostly on logistics and measures to cope with COVID-19.

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Buffaloes edge Lions in ninth inning

Takahiro Okada and Yutaro Sugimoto delivered big hits to propel the Orix Buffaloes to a four-run ninth inning and a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over the ...

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Rafael Nadal outlasts Kei Nishikori in three sets at Barcelona Open

Nishikori fought hard against world No. 3 and top seed Rafael Nadal but was eventually defeated 6-0, 2-6, 6-2.

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Jaguars planning to keep No. 1 pick in NFL draft

Try as teams might, the Jacksonville Jaguars are not planning to part with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.Jacksonville is expected to ...

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Indy 500 to allow 135,000 fans for 2021 edition of race

The Indianapolis 500 will allow up to 135,000 spectators for the race on May 30, the largest crowd for a sporting event in the U.S. ...

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Injured Ramu Tokashiki not ready to give up on hopes of competing at Tokyo Olympics

Despite suffering a severe knee injury, Ramu Tokashiki has not yet abandoned her hopes of competing at the Summer Olympics.

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Kazuma Okamoto homers to help Giants tame roaring Tigers

Kazuma Okamoto hit a pair of solo home runs to help lift the Yomiuri Giants to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Central League-leading Hanshin ...

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Naomi Osaka saddened verdict in Derek Chauvin trial was in doubt

Women's tennis star Naomi Osaka, an outspoken critic of racial injustice, expressed dismay Tuesday that the conviction of a white police officer in the United ...

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IOC says athletes who protest during Tokyo Games will be punished

Olympians who take a knee or lift a fist in support of racial equality during the Tokyo Olympics will be punished as the International Olympic ...

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Shohei Ohtani hits 100th pro home run during Angels’ loss to Rangers

Ohtani batted second as the designated hitter and hit a solo shot off Texas starter Mike Foltynewicz in the third inning.

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IOC President Thomas Bach says plan for new state of emergency in Tokyo doesn’t affect Olympics

Bach said the decision is a proactive response appropriate for the Golden Week holiday period.

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Challenging groups await Japan’s men’s and women’s teams at Olympics

Hajime Moriyasu's men will face France, Mexico and South Africa, while Asako Takakura's Nadeshiko Japan were grouped with Canada, Great Britain and Chile.

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Controversial report could deny Hakuho deserved elder stock

Should the Japan Sumo Association adopt the recommendations of the external advisors, the all-time great yokozuna would be prevented from using his ring name after ...

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Schalke relegated after 30 years in Germany’s top flight

Last-place Schalke was relegated on Tuesday after 30 consecutive years in the Bundesliga and almost exactly ten years since reaching the Champions League's semifinals.A 1-0 ...

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Decision on Olympic spectator cap could be delayed until June

The organizing committee of this summer's Tokyo Olympics is considering delaying until June its decision on how many spectators will be allowed to enter games ...

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Tokyo 2020 athletes to undergo daily saliva testing

Olympic organizers intend to test athletes more frequently than initially planned as increasingly infectious COVID-19 strains continue to spread throughout Japan.

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Nadeshiko captain Saki Kumagai to leave Lyon at end of season

Japan women's national soccer team captain Saki Kumagai announced on Instagram on Tuesday she will be leaving Olympique Lyonnais after eight years with the French ...

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Athletics test event on May 9 to be held without spectators

Tokyo Games organizers are set to hold an athletics test event on May 9 without spectators due to the rising number of coronavirus infections in ...

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Super League breakaway in tatters after English clubs quit

Following a global wave of protests and criticism, the new competition's six Premier League sides withdrew in a stunning reversal just 48 hours after they ...

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Rugby Football Union backs Eddie Jones after poor Six Nations

The Rugby Football Union gave its backing to England head coach Eddie Jones on Tuesday following the team's fifth-placed finish in the Six Nations championship ...

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Rangers’ Kohei Arihara holds ex-teammate Shohei Ohtani hitless in win

Texas Rangers rookie Kohei Arihara held former teammate Shohei Ohtani hitless in two at-bats Monday on the way to his second major league win in ...

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Hard-working Yuta Watanabe draws praise from Toronto media

The guard/forward's efforts this season have been rewarded after the Raptors signed him to a general NBA contract.

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‘Self-serving’ Super League opens unprecedented conflict across European soccer

Sunday's announcement of a breakaway competition featuring as many as 20 elite clubs has resulted in international uproar.

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Golf officials approve return of fans at U.S. Open events

The United States Golf Association said Monday that a limited number of spectators will be allowed at the men's and women's U.S. Open championships taking ...

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Former Washington quarterback Alex Smith retires from NFL

Veteran quarterback Alex Smith announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, bringing the curtain down on a 16-year career that saw him battle back ...

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Belgium to vaccinate Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls

Around 225 Belgian athletes wanting to participate in this summer's Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be given COVID-19 vaccines in the coming days, health ...

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Angry broadcasters condemn breakaway Super League plan

Broadcasters who have spent billions of dollars to screen Champions League soccer have condemned the plan by top European clubs to form a breakaway Super ...

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Yuta Watanabe signs standard NBA contract with Raptors

Toronto Raptors forward Yuta Watanabe has signed a standard NBA contract, the club said Monday, enabling the Japanese player to make an unlimited number of ...

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Re-promoted Terunofuji, inspired by Rikako Ikee and Hideki Matsuyama, eyes yokozuna rank

The ozeki cited the Olympic-bound swimmer and Masters-winning golfer as examples he wishes to follow as he attempts to cap off his dramatic comeback story ...

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Premier League fans and former players slam plans for Super League

Former players and fans groups across the globe have slammed plans for a breakaway competition by some of Europe's top clubs, calling the move a ...

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Carter Stewart Jr. takes important first step in NPB

Stewart’s day wasn’t groundbreaking, but his career path might be.

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J. League and NPB not moving behind closed doors

Despite a rise in new COVID-19 cases across Japan, neither Nippon Professional Baseball nor the J. League are considering going back to playing behind closed ...

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Yuta Watanabe reaches double digits for third straight game; Raptors beat Thunder

Yuta Watanabe followed up a career-high 21-point outburst on Friday with another personal milestone as he reached double digits for a third straight game in ...

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Three Japanese wrestlers claim gold at Asian championships

The Asian Wrestling Championships wrapped up in Kazakhstan on Sunday, with three Japanese athletes topping the podium during the six-day tournament.The competition at Almaty's Baluan ...

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Joe Gunkel wins fourth game as Tigers continue to roll

Second-year Hanshin Tigers import Joe Gunkel allowed a run over six innings to improve to 4-0 as the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers held off the ...

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Top European clubs announce new Super League amid storm of criticism

The move sets up a rival to UEFA's established Champions League competition and was condemned by soccer officials and political leaders.

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Women say it’s time to focus on structural issues that perpetuate sexism in sports

Female athletes call for reforms of outdated structures that hurt women’s career prospects and present a challenge for young athletes unwilling to follow the footsteps ...

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Daiki Hashimoto wins maiden national title, leads race to Olympics

Daiki Hashimoto came from behind to win his maiden Japan national gymnastics championship on Sunday and take the lead in the qualification race for this ...

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Sanfrecce battles for draw against league-leading Frontale

Sanfrecce Hiroshima clawed their way to a 1-1 draw against J. League first-division leader Kawasaki Frontale on Sunday, with Tsukasa Morishima equalizing midway through the ...

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Hideki Matsuyama’s Masters win a potential boost for Japan’s golf industry

The 29-year-old's triumph at Augusta National, achieved with clubs produced by Japanese manufacturers, could raise sales and bring younger participants to ranges and courses.

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Yu Darvish loses pitchers’ duel with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw

Yu Darvish threw seven innings of one-hit, one-run ball Saturday but took his first loss of the season as the Los Angeles Dodgers shut out ...

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WTA firms up plans for upcoming tournaments after French Open delay

The WTA Tour has unveiled plans for nine more weeks of its 2021 calendar, with some changes made in light of the one-week delay to ...

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Rikako Ikee vows to provide big performance at Tokyo Olympics

Swimming star Rikako Ikee vowed Saturday to make her presence felt at the Tokyo Olympics this summer after she dramatically earned her spot on Japan's ...

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Marathon runners sweating over future of 2021 races

Steven Rojas was ready. He had already started the program of long runs, track workouts, and tempo efforts prescribed by Brooklyn Track Club in anticipation ...

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UEFA to announce Champions League reforms, Euro 2020 host decisions

UEFA is expected to formalize radical reforms to the format of the Champions League at a key meeting of its executive committee on Monday which ...

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Masahiro Tanaka has plenty to contemplate after rough NPB return

The former Yankees ace, who rejoined Rakuten over the winter after seven seasons in the majors, was tagged for two home runs in Saturday's loss ...

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Yokohama FC, Vegalta share spoils to remain winless in J1

Yokohama FC and Vegalta Sendai played out a 2-2 draw on Saturday in the J. League top flight as the two teams without a win ...

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Anna Shcherbakova hails Japan virus measures after Team Trophy win

The 17-year-old world champion's comments offered a boost to local sporting officials as they prepare to welcome thousands of athletes to this summer's troubled Tokyo ...

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Mai Murakami defends Japan all-around gymnastics title

Mai Murakami, the first Japanese woman to win a world gymnastics all-around silver medal, defended her national title on Saturday and took a step toward ...

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Fighters find enough power to spoil Masahiro Tanaka’s return to Japan

Sho Nakata hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Kazunari Ishii went deep in the second and the Fighters spoiled Tanaka's season debut.

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Yuta Watanabe scores career-high 21 points in Raptors’ win

Watanabe went 7-for-11 from the floor, sinking two of his four three-pointers, while sinking all five of his free throws.

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Human rights group chief says athletes have real concerns about Beijing Olympics

Mary Harvey said the IOC, which awarded the games, could play an essential role in upholding basic human rights.

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Daiya Seto emerges from scandal with focus on preparing for Tokyo Games

Regardless of what has gone on outside the pool, Daiya Seto has remained one of swimming's top stars and an athlete capable of representing Japan ...

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Designer Hiroko Koshino brings fashion to ‘beautiful game’

Japan midfielder Emi Nakajima, who modeled one of the new designs at the launch, said she looked forward to playing in them.

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Nathan Chen again upstages Yuzuru Hanyu at World Team Trophy event

By topping Hanyu in Friday's free skate with a score of 203.24 points to 193.76 at Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka, Chen earned the United States ...

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Caster Semenya open to 5,000-meter qualification bid for Tokyo Olympics

Caster Semenya retained her 5,000-meter title at the South African Athletics Championships on Thursday and confirmed she would not be attempting to qualify for the ...

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‘King’ Kohei Uchimura confident of walking narrow path to Tokyo Olympics

The 32-year-old told a news conference he has no room for error if he is to gain a spot at his fourth straight Olympics.

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Shauna Coxsey heading to Tokyo Olympics with newfound need for speed

Coxsey says the one-year delay the Olympics has made her even more excited, even if the games will be muted by strict COVID-19 protocols.

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Australia ponders allowing Olympic athletes to jump line for vaccine

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has asked the government to allow athletes to jump the line as the country's national vaccine program struggles with roadblocks.

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Ryoya Kurihara, Livan Moinelo step up in Hawks’ win over Buffaloes

Ryoya Kurihara's two-run double in the fifth capped a rally by the Hawks.

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Yuzuru Hanyu finishes second in short program at World Team Trophy; Japan in third place

Russia finished the first night atop the standings with 49 points after finishing first in the rhythm dance and taking the top two spots in ...

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Rikako Ikee’s already exhilarating comeback from leukemia just getting started

The return of the nation's swimming queen has been one of the biggest feel-good stories in Japanese sports this year.

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Samurai Japan manager Atsunori Inaba feels excitement building as Tokyo Olympics draw near

With the countdown to the Summer Games now below 100 days, the spotlight on one of the world’s premier baseball powers will only grow brighter ...

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White Sox lefty Carlos Rodon tosses no-hitter against Indians

Left-hander Carlos Rodon threw the 20th no-hitter in Chicago White Sox history, striking out seven batters in an 8-0 rout of the Cleveland Indians in ...

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Hideki Matsuyama begins to feel weight of Masters triumph

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was among a host of prominent Japanese to voice their congratulations as news of Matsuyama's win dominated the airwaves.

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Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Masashi Ebinuma retires from judo

"I've decided to retire. I don't feel like I can compete on an international level anymore," Ebinuma said at a news conference in Tokyo.

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Rangers rookie Kohei Arihara gets first MLB win

"I'm glad I contributed to the team's victory," said Arihara, the recipient of the Rangers' postgame cowboy hat, which is given to the team's player ...

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Seishu Hatake nearly tosses shutout to lead Giants past Dragons

Seishu Hatake lamented the fact he couldn't pitch until the end of the Yomiuri Giants' game against the Chunichi Dragons.While he didn't the shutout he ...

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Takakeisho rises to top of sumo’s depth chart

With age and momentum on his side, the burly ozeki has what it takes to add to his two Emperor's Cup titles over the next ...

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Shohei Ohtani goes deep, gets three hits again in Angels loss

The two-way player continued his fantastic run of form for the Halos with his team-best fourth home run of the season.

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Analysts predict record Olympic medal haul for Japan

Gracenote Sports expects the host nation to improve as much as 40% over its performances at the Rio Games, with swimming and judo considered the ...

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Lotte’s Ayumu Ishikawa hands Rakuten first back-to-back defeats

Ayumu Ishikawa held the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to a run over seven innings in his first start of the season as the Chiba Lotte ...

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New Zealand gives Pacific teams green light for Super Rugby

Pacific islands teams Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua have been granted conditional licences to join a proposed Super Rugby competition next year, New Zealand Rugby ...

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Kashima fires manager Antonio Carlos Zago after barren J. League run

Eight-time J. League champion Kashima Antlers announced Wednesday the club will part ways with manager Antonio Carlos Zago and appoint former player and current coach ...

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China’s Sinovac to donate vaccines for Copa America

South American soccer players will be given the Chinese Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the Copa America that starts in June, regional governing body chief ...

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Italy approves opening stadium to fans at 25% capacity for Euros

Italy's government will allow fans to attend matches at this year's European Championship in Rome's Olympic Stadium with at least 25% capacity, the country's soccer ...

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B. League to expand top division to 24 clubs from 2022-23 season

Japan's pro men's circuit said it would continue promoting teams to the B1 in order to reduce the continued financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ready or not, Hideki Matsuyama is now a national hero in Japan

With his dramatic win at the Masters, the glare of fame will be inescapable for the 29-year-old, who has preferred to focus on improving his ...

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Little certain for Nadeshiko Japan despite pair of blowout wins

A number of players excelled in friendlies against Paraguay and Panama, but questions remain over whether they've served as adequate preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.

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Pandemic poses new problems for anti-doping officials

Travel restrictions and delays in qualifying have added to the pile of logistical challenges facing anti-doping organizations ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

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Yu Darvish earns first win with Padres after two no-decisions

The 34-year-old gave up one run on three hits in seven innings for San Diego in their road victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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WBA’s Sam Allardyce calls for VAR overhaul

West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce said the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system needs overhauled after his team was controversially denied a goal in Monday's ...

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Umpire Joe West wins $500,000 from ex-player in defamation suit

Umpire Joe West was awarded $500,000 plus interest on Monday after winning a defamation lawsuit against former major league player Paul Lo Duca.Judge John Kelley ...

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All Blacks skipper Sam Cane upbeat after successful surgery

Sam Cane is looking forward to "coming back stronger" after successful surgery on his torn pectoral muscle, the All Blacks captain said on social media.Cane ...

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Barcelona reaches top of Forbes’ most valuable club list

Barcelona has leapfrogged Spanish rival Real Madrid to become the world's most valuable soccer club with a valuation of $4.76 billion, according to a list ...

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Formula One announces ‘Women’s Wildcard’ in esports competition

Formula One announced a "Women's Wildcard" on Monday to help female gamers break into its esports world championship after four years of all-male teams.It said ...

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Minnesota sports teams postpone games after police shooting

Professional sports in Minneapolis were effectively suspended on Monday following the fatal police shooting of a 20-year-old Black man in the suburb of Brooklyn Center ...

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Masters champ Matsuyama open to lighting Tokyo Olympic cauldron

"If the schedule works out and I am in Japan when that happens and they ask me, what an honor that would be," he said.

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Hideki Matsuyama: A quiet Masters winner long lionized in Japan

In 2017, his penchant for privacy became clear: He announced that he'd married months earlier and that he and his wife had had a child.

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Japan celebrates after Hideki Matsuyama’s historic Masters triumph

Even Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga weighed in, telling reporters the performance had been "really wonderful."

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Japan names swimming team for Tokyo Olympics

While the squad features a number of fresh faces, there are also veterans who have already achieved global success, such as Daiya Seto, Kosuke Hagino ...

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Tigers hit ground running as Teruaki Sato continues to excite

Let’s all stand back for a minute and marvel at Teruaki Sato.The Hanshin Tigers rookie is just 15 games into his career and already among ...

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Henrik Lundqvist not expecting to play in NHL this season following open-heart surgery

Henrik Lundqvist announced over social media Sunday that he is not expecting to play in the NHL this season.The veteran goaltender underwent open-heart surgery in ...

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Rafael Nadal shrugs off fitness concerns ahead of return at Monte Carlo Masters

World No. 3 Rafael Nadal says he is fully fit and confident about his preparations as he begins his claycourt season at the Monte Carlo ...

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Tiger Woods hails global impact of Hideki Matsuyama’s historic Masters triumph

Tiger Woods says Matsuyama's one-stroke win over American Will Zalatoris for the green jacket will resonate worldwide.

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Hideki Matsuyama wins Masters to become first Japanese man to claim major title

Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday to become the first player from Japan to claim a men's major championship.A ...

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British sports could be rescheduled to avoid Prince Philip’s funeral

Sports authorities in Britain are in talks over moving matches next Saturday following confirmation that Prince Philip's funeral will take place at Windsor Castle on ...

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Akihiro Ienaga and Leandro Damiao lead Frontale in Clasico victory

J. League first division champion Kawasaki Frontale outclassed FC Tokyo 4-2 in their "Tamagawa Clasico" game at Tokyo's Ajinomoto Stadium on Sunday behind an early ...

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Nadeshiko Japan beats Panama as Yuika Sugasawa nets hat trick

Asako Takakura's side put on a goal-scoring clinic against the outclassed Central American side in the first international game played at Tokyo's new National Stadium.

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Resurgent Rikako Ikee set for big Olympic role in hometown

Just over two years after her leukemia diagnosis, the star swimmer is now poised to become a symbol of hope for Japan after qualifying for ...

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Olympic organizers to secure hotel rooms for athletes with COVID-19

The organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics is planning to secure a hotel with about 300 rooms for athletes with minor or no ...

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Canucks to return Friday as NHL season extended

The NHL announced Saturday that the Vancouver Canucks will return to play on Friday, and the league's regular season has been extended to May 16.The ...

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Rookies spell relief as Carp get past Giants

Rookie relievers Haruki Omichi and Ryoji Kuribayashi each worked a scoreless inning on Saturday to preserve the Hiroshima Carp's 4-2 Central League win over the ...

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Hideki Matsuyama grabs share of Masters lead

Back-to-back birdie putts kept the world No. 25 in contention to become the first Japanese golfer to win a U.S. major.

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Rikako Ikee claims two more titles but misses individual Olympic spot

Ikee, who only resumed training in March last year after being diagnosed with cancer in February 2019, won both the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle ...

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Leonys Martin, Manabu Mima help Marines tame Lions

Martin homered in his first two at-bats and the Marines avoided a three-game losing streak.

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NPB strikes out with move to eliminate extra innings

Just before the Yomiuri Giants and Yokohama BayStars went into the bottom of the ninth tied 7-7 on March 26, the first night of the ...

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Justin Rose leads Masters; Hideki Matsuyama three shots off the pace

Rose, who withdrew from his last start a month ago with back spasms and began the day four shots clear, dug deep to overcome a ...

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Joe Musgrove stymies Rangers for first no-hitter in Padres history

In the franchise's 53rd season, the San Diego Padres finally have a no-hitter.

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Shohei Ohtani’s four RBIs power Angels past Blue Jays

The Japanese superstar led off the fifth with his third home run of the season.

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U.S. Olympic hopefuls share experiences of anti-Asian racism

South Korea-born gymnast Yul Moldauer and Sakura Kokumai, a female karateka is of Japanese heritage, both detailed recent experiences of anti-Asian racism.

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Kosuke Hagino finds right lane as Tokyo Olympics draw closer

Kosuke Hagino will be making his third trip to the Olympics this summer, but he’ll be a different swimmer in Tokyo than he was in ...

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U.S. Olympic hopefuls open to receiving COVID-19 vaccine

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) reiterated that it would not require athletes to get a shot to compete in Tokyo, but will ...

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Black golf pioneer Lee Elder cherishes moment in spotlight at Masters

"It was one of the most emotional experiences I've ever been involved in," Elder said. "It's something I'll cherish the rest of my life."

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Barcelona worried upcoming ‘clasico’ could be Lionel Messi’s last

Messi is not expected to consider offers to renew his contract until the end of the season.

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Former NFL player fatally shoots five in South Carolina

A former NFL player shot and killed a prominent South Carolina doctor, his wife, two grandchildren and another man before taking his own life at ...

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Justin Rose fires first-round 65 for four-stroke lead at Masters

Hideki Matsuyama and Brian Harman each shot a 69 to share second place.

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Angels rally past Blue Jays after Shohei Ohtani’s game-tying hit

Shohei Ohtani drove in the tying run in the top of the seventh on Thursday as the Los Angeles Angels battled back to beat the ...

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Tokyo Olympic qualifiers for diving and artistic swimming likely to go ahead in Japan in May

Tokyo Olympic Games qualifying events in diving and artistic swimming look likely to go ahead in Japan next month after being threatened with cancellation because ...

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Yasunobu Okugawa earns first win as Swallows beat Carp

Okugawa overcame a four-run first inning and a long rain delay to earn his first pro victory.

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Nadeshiko Japan routs Paraguay 7-0 in friendly

Five different Nadeshiko Japan players found the net at Yurtec Stadium Sendai in the team's first international outing since March last year.

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Ikee earns Olympic berth in 4×100 freestyle relay with latest win

Ikee won in 53.98 seconds and has now qualified for two Olympic events. Her 100 butterfly victory on Sunday at Tokyo Aquatics Centre earned her ...

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Rising star Shoma Sato swimming toward Olympic spotlight

Sato touched the wall on Wednesday in 2 minutes, 6.40 seconds, a national record that is second only to the world record of 2 minutes, ...

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Simone Biles not shutting door on 2024 Paris Games

U.S. gymnastics superstar Simone Biles said Wednesday she may reconsider her decision to retire after this year's Tokyo Olympics, hinting she could compete at the ...

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Masters chairman not in favor of boycotts in response to Georgia voting law

Boycotts protesting the introduction of a new Georgia voting law could end up hurting the state's most vulnerable citizens, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley said ...

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French Open may be postponed by one week

The clay-court Grand Slam was set to begin May 23, but will now get underway on May 30 in hopes more fans will be able ...

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Twins’ Kenta Maeda helps hold down Tigers for first win of 2021

Maeda earned a win before any other Japanese pitcher in MLB this season

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Excessive speed may have caused Tiger Woods’ February car accident

Tiger Woods was traveling more than 40 mph (64 kph) above the speed limit when he lost control of his car, causing the crash that ...

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Sports agency chief Koji Murofushi battling illness

The former Olympic hammer throw champion said he would continue to carry out his duties.

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Deceased Kototsurugi’s illustrations captured sumo’s essence

The former rikishi's caricaturish style, a longtime fixture of sumo merchandise and media, is widely considered a definitive representation of the sport.

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Angels lose but Shohei Ohtani continues to roll

Shohei Ohtani continued to look like his old self on Tuesday with two hits and his third stolen base of the season in the Los ...

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South Korea and China women to battle for Olympic berth

After repeated postponements stretching back more than a year because of the coronavirus, South Korea and China's women's soccer teams will finally meet Thursday for ...

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Karate official quits over bullying claim

Masao Kagawa, technical director of the Japan Karatedo Federation, said he would take "complete responsibility" for having injured former world champion Ayumi Uekusa.

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Italy approves fans for Euro 2020 matches in Rome

The Italian government has given the green light for fans to attend Euro 2020 matches scheduled for Rome's Stadio Olimpico, including the tournament's curtain raiser, ...

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Marinos beat Cerezo on late Ado Onaiwu goal

Ado Onaiwu scrambled through a late winner Tuesday as Yokohama F. Marinos narrowly defeated Cerezo Osaka 1-0 in the J. League first division.Despite dictating play ...

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Colorado to host MLB All-Star Game after Georgia voting law prompts pullout

The annual midseason event was relocated from Atlanta in protest over Georgia's new voting restrictions.

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Daiya Seto books 200 butterfly spot at Tokyo Games

Four-time world champion Daiya Seto qualified for his third event at this summer's Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday after swimming second in the men's 200-meter butterfly ...

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Masato Morishita goes distance as Carp blank Swallows

Right-hander Masato Morishita was in command for the Hiroshima Carp on Tuesday, throwing the first complete-game shutout of the Central League season in a 2-0 ...

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After Miami high, Ash Barty ready for slow transition to clay

Ash Barty is pleased with how her body coped with tough conditions during her successful title defense at the Miami Open but the world number ...

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Katsuhiro Matsumoto gunning for gold after earning first Olympic spot

The 24-year-old matched Sun Yang's winning 200-meter freestyle time at Rio 2016 during Monday's national championships and promised to lower his time even further before ...

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Fans pack stands in Texas as Rangers open stadium to full capacity

Baseball fans packed the stands of Globe Life Field on Monday after the Texas Rangers opened their doors to 100% capacity, making the game the ...

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Asian Champions League for women to kick off in 2023

A women's Asian Champions League will be launched in 2023, Asian soccer's governing body has told AFP, with the new international club tournament aiming to ...

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Jets trade quarterback Sam Darnold to Panthers

The New York Jets traded quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers on Monday in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft ...

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Georgia voting debate reaches the Masters and Augusta National

Golfers preparing for the year's first major treaded carefully around the recent uproar over state legislation that critics say restricts voting rights in Georgia.

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Olympic organizers to cancel water polo test event, reports NHK

Tokyo 2020 organizers are expected to cancel a water polo test event scheduled for this weekend, a report said on Tuesday, as the COVID-19 pandemic ...

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MLS, U.S. Soccer to allow two concussion substitutions

Major League Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Federation will implement concussion substitutions for 2021 in a pilot program aimed at player safety, replacing those with ...

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Keisuke Honda debuts for Neftchi Baku in Azerbaijan Premier League

Former Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda debuted for Azerbaijan Premier League club Neftchi Baku on Sunday, playing the second half of a 2-0 loss at home ...

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Rikako Ikee adds Tokyo Olympic berth to emotional comeback story

The 20-year-old swimming star, who is recovering from leukemia, punched her ticket to the games by winning the 100-meter butterfly final at the national championships ...

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BayStars’ Daisuke Miura learns wins do not come easily in NPB

On Sunday, he finally won his first game as the team’s manager after coming up short eight times.

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Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis apologizes for anti-Asian slur

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis has apologized for using an anti-Asian slur on Sunday in a tweet that has since been deleted, saying he ...

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Shuko Aoyama, Ena Shibahara win women’s doubles title at Miami Open

Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara won their third women's doubles title of the season when they beat the American-Brazilian pair of Hayley Carter and Luisa ...

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IOC President Thomas Bach, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tweet congratulations to Rikako Ikee

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday sent congratulatory tweets to swimmer Rikako Ikee after the leukemia survivor ...

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Shohei Ohtani pitches, homers in Angels’ victory over White Sox

Ohtani both hit and pitched in a regular season game for the first time since moving to the majors during the 2017 offseason.

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Leukemia survivor Rikako Ikee set for Olympic berth

The 20-year-old has tentatively qualified for the medley relay at the Tokyo Games after winning the women's 100-meter butterfly final at the ongoing national championships.

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Ash Barty insists she deserves world No. 1 ranking after Miami win

Ashleigh Barty insisted she is a worthy world No. 1 on Saturday after defeating Bianca Andreescu to retain her Miami Open crown.The 24-year-old Australian star ...

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Yuma Suzuki nets 15th goal of season in win for Sint-Truiden

Yuma Suzuki opened the scoring for Sint-Truiden in a 2-1 win over Mechelen on Saturday, notching his 15th goal of the Belgian top flight season ...

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Kohei Arihara makes big-league debut in Rangers’ loss to Royals

The former Fighters ace threw four scoreless innings but ended the day with a no-decision after struggling in the fifth.

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Tsubasa Kajitani wins Augusta women’s amateur title in playoff

The 17-year-old outlasted American Emilia Migliaccio at the fabled club after both finished one-over par following Saturday's final round.

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Bellmare denies Marinos fourth straight win with late equalizer

Shonan Bellmare snatched a 1-1 draw with Yokohama F. Marinos in the J. League first division on Saturday thanks to a late Naoki Yamada equalizer.Yamada's ...

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Daiya Seto takes aim at Michael Phelps’ 400 IM record

Boosted by a win in the discipline at the national championships, the former Japan team captain says he hopes to best Phelps' time at this ...

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Grant Hill to succeed USA hoops boss Jerry Colangelo

Hall of Famer Grant Hill will succeed Jerry Colangelo as the managing director of the U.S. men's national team, USA Basketball's board of directors announced ...

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Badminton federation to vote on post-Olympics scoring system change

Badminton's world governing body will vote in May on a proposal to change the sport's scoring system after this year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, it ...

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Rikako Ikee reaches women’s 100 butterfly final at nationals

She has publicly targeted the 2024 Paris Olympics, but her rapid recovery has made an appearance at this summer's Tokyo Games a possibility.

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MLB takes All-Star Game out of Atlanta in response to Georgia voting law

The announcement comes one day after U.S. President Joe Biden called for the game to be moved out of Atlanta.

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ATP updates protocols to add incentives for taking COVID-19 vaccine

Both the ATP and the women's WTA have recommended players accept vaccine shots when available after some at the Miami Open this week expressed a ...

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Uproar after New Zealand rugby commentator uses mock accent for Japanese star

Joe Wheeler, who also played for Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League, apologized over the incident directed at the Otago Highlanders' Japanese international Kazuki ...

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Kickboxing legend Tadashi Sawamura dies

Former kickboxing star Tadashi Sawamura, who dominated martial art in the 1960s and 1970s under the nickname "the Demon of Kickboxing," died of illness on ...

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British skateboard prodigy Sky Brown back from accident with renewed vigor

Twelve-year-old skateboarding prodigy Sky Brown said she has fully recovered from her life-threatening fall last May and plans to broaden her horizons by adding surfing ...

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No. 1 Ash Barty cruises into Miami Open final

World No. 1 Ash Barty bucked the upset trend at the Miami Open on Thursday, rolling into the women's final as men's No. 2 Stefanos ...

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Kevin Durant apologizes for using homophobic and misogynistic language in text exchange

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has apologized for the language he used in a social media exchange with actor and comedian Michael Rapaport.On Tuesday, Rapaport ...

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Prospects looking brighter for Japan’s senior and Olympic squads

To say that the last week was a good one for followers of Japan’s men’s teams is somewhat of an understatement.

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MLB returns with COVID-19 still big part of picture

Not even the excitement of MLB opening day on Thursday could provide a break from COVID-19 as ballparks across the United States were left mostly ...

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B. League clubs placing more emphasis on early development

The idea of starting that development from a young age is one that has been rapidly spreading around the B. League over the last several ...

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No decision for Kenta Maeda or Yu Darvish on opening day in MLB

It is only the second time two Japanese pitchers were starting opening day games in MLB.

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FINA mulling cancellation of Olympic diving qualifier in Tokyo: source

Swimming's world governing body FINA is facing the possible cancellation of the Diving World Cup, which serves as a qualification competition for the Tokyo Olympics, ...

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Teenager Shawn Williams determined to follow Hachimura’s path to NBA

Williams was among the players who turned heads during the 2020-21 B. League U-15 Championship, which wrapped up on Tuesday at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

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Fumiya Motomae notches first win as Marines blow out Eagles

Motomae worked five innings in his pro debut to earn the win.

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England’s Football Association in talks with Jaguars about playing games at Wembley

English soccer's governing body said it is in talks with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars about continuing to stage games at London's Wembley Stadium.The Jaguars had ...

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Tokaidai Sagami wins spring Koshien title amid pandemic

This year's spring tournament at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, near Osaka and Kobe, featured 32 schools and opened on March 19 with strict COVID-19 safety ...

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Swallows overcome coronavirus hit to beat BayStars

Yasutaka Shiomi and Munetaka Murakami combined to drive in five runs as the Tokyo Yakult Swallows beat the DeNA BayStars 5-3 on Wednesday after the ...

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Biden supports moving MLB All-Star Game in response to Georgia voting restrictions

U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would support moving MLB's July All-Star Game from Atlanta as a protest against Georgia's new voting restrictions."I ...

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