Chris Paul scores 41 in Game 6 to lead Suns into NBA Finals

The win means Paul will finally have the chance to shed his tag as one of the greatest players in NBA history to never win ...

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Samoa pulls weightlifting team out of Tokyo Olympics; other athletes to attend games

The withdrawal of Samoa is another setback in Japan's fraught attempts to hold the world's biggest sporting event during a pandemic.

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Kei Nishikori reaches second round at Wimbledon with 100th Grand Slam win

Nishikori, ranked 53rd in the world, needed just under two hours to defeat Australia's Alexei Popyrin.

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Japan to limit athletes attending Olympic ceremonies

Japanese athletes who can take part in the Tokyo Olympic opening and closing ceremonies will be limited to those eligible to stay at the athletes' ...

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Kyoya Sasaki hopes time with Tokyo Samurai will aid U.S. ambitions

The Morioka Municipal High School ace is among a growing number of players without an international school background who are developing through an elite basketball ...

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Spurs star Son Heung-min left out of South Korea’s Olympic squad

The omission of the Spurs star will let him avoid a potential club-versus-country dilemma and focus on the upcoming Premier League season.

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Shohei Ohtani stretches home run lead with 27th, 28th against Yankees

Tuesday's effort at Yankee Stadium marked the third time this season that Ohtani homered in three straight games.

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Hawks pull level with Bucks as Giannis Antetokounmpo exits injured

Antetokounmpo had 14 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes before exiting with 7:14 left in the third quarter.

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Is there such a thing as too much Shohei Ohtani?

The Angels' two-way star has leapt into this year's MVP conversation, but in order to prove himself a winner he will have to balance his ...

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Yuzuru Hanyu to launch Beijing Games season on home ice

The Japanese superstar will look to hone his short and free skate programs ahead of the Winter Olympics when he opens the Grand Prix season ...

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Row to Tokyo: Qatar’s lone female rower defying expectations

"I think when I first started rowing, I didn't even know what rowing was," said Abujbara, who burst onto the scene in 2018 then finished ...

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Late Artem Dovbyk winner sends Ukraine into first Euro quarterfinals

Sweden looked resigned to taking the game to penalties — but Dovbyk had other ideas, scoring in the 12st minute to send Ukraine into uncharted ...

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Gareth Southgate urges England to seize golden chance at Euros

"It didn't really need me to say it but when we got in the dressing room, we were talking about Saturday already," Southgate said after ...

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Final farewell? Injured Serena Williams quits Wimbledon in tears

Dreams of winning an eighth Wimbledon singles title and equaling Margaret Court's Grand Slam record of 24 ends as further doubt is cast on her ...

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Complacent France pays price for lacking team factor

"The best team deserves to go to the next round and tonight that is the Swiss," said former France midfielder Patrick Vieira after a night ...

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Ash Barty and Nick Kyrgios lead Australia’s Olympic tennis team

Barty's announcement comes just a day after four-time gold medalist Serena Williams revealed she would be skipping the games, which will also be without Spanish ...

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Shohei Ohtani hits 26th homer and first at Yankee Stadium

The Angels two-way star, who had previously gone 0-for-9 at the park, hammered a curveball into the right-field stands to tie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for ...

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Switzerland beats France on penalties to reach Euro 2020 quarters

"We showed courage, heart, we left everything out there. When you come back from two goals down against the world champions it is just unbelievable," ...

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Japan ditching medal targets for focus on athlete safety, JOC chief says

"If I'm asked whether it's important to achieve 30 (gold medals), I want to clearly say 'no,'" Yasuhiro Yamashita said on Monday.

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Gary Bettman says time running out on NHL participation at Beijing Games

The NHL hopes to settle the matter of whether or not its players will participate in the Olympics before the league's 2021-22 schedule is finalized ...

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Sixers’ Ben Simmons quits Australia’s Olympic basketball squad

The 24-year-old guard was heavily criticized for his wayward shooting during the team's seven-game playoff series defeat against the Atlanta Hawks earlier this month.

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Wataru Matsumoto earns win, Kaima Taira ties NPB record for Lions

The Seibu reliever pitched his 38th game without giving up a run during Monday's outing against the Hawks.

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Kevin Durant headlines U.S. men’s roster for Tokyo Olympics

The Nets forward was Team USA's leading scorer at both the 2016 Rio Games and 2012 London Games.

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Novak Djokovic wins, Andy Murray shines as soggy Wimbledon returns

Djokovic, the defending champion and current world No. 1, defeated Britain's Jack Draper to begin his quest for a 20th Grand Slam title.

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Sprinter Ryota Yamagata to be captain of Japan team at Tokyo Olympics

Table tennis star Kasumi Ishikawa is likely to be named vice captain of the nearly 600-member squad.

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Shohei Ohtani tops votes so far for MLB All-Star Game, belts 25th homer

The Los Angeles Angels two-way star will start at designated hitter for the American League in his All-Star Game debut in Denver on July 13 ...

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Serena Williams won’t play at the Tokyo Olympics

Williams has been one of the most successful Olympians in tennis, winning gold medals in doubles with her 41-year-old sister, Venus, in 2000, 2008 and ...

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Streaking Giants set sights on first place

Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.That safety warning, or some version of it, appears on the passenger side mirrors of vehicles in ...

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IOC weighs addition of pandemic-boosted virtual sports to Olympics

The inaugural virtual sports series marked the global sports body's first foray into an online gaming world that has boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Israel baseball’s path to Olympics has makings of Hollywood movie

In a story that parallels Jamaica's 1988 Olympic bobsled team, Israel will compete in an Olympic team sport this summer for the first time since ...

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Caster Semenya in last-ditch bid to qualify for Olympics

The 30-year-old South African runner needs a strong result in Liege on Wednesday in order to join the 5,000-meter race in Tokyo.

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Frontale young gun Ao Tanaka set for loan move to Dusseldorf

The German second-division club will have an option to buy out the midfielder's contract after next season.

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Japanese draftees ready for challenge of CFL training camp

Six Japanese players selected in this year's Global Draft are prepared to fight for their roster spot ahead of the league's Aug. 5 season opener.

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Novak Djokovic aiming to hit peak with 20th Grand Slam at Wimbledon

The 34-year-old, who is aiming to join Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the 20-major mark, said he is focused on giving his best performances ...

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Julian Alaphilippe in yellow after crash-marred opening Tour stage

The world champion burst away from the main pack at the end of a brutal climb, but the talk of the day was a fan-caused ...

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Brave Blossoms cherish historic Lions test despite defeat

Jamie Joseph's Brave Blossoms were able to take away a number of positives from the Edinburgh encounter ahead of their upcoming test against Ireland.

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Naoto Nishiguchi rescues Eagles in win over Hawks

The rookie took over midway through the first inning after starting pitcher Koichi Takada was ejected for hitting a batter in the head.

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Substitutes spare Italy’s blushes in win over Austria

The Azzuri looked to be in danger of a round-of-16 Euro exit in London before Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina scored in extra time.

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Abdul Hakim Sani Brown withdraws from 200, still has chance for Olympic berth

The 22-year-old could still compete in the Summer Games after running below the qualifying standard earlier this season.

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St. Petersburg to host Russian Grand Prix from 2023

Formula One hopes to make the race more accessible to Russian and international fans by relocating it from Sochi's Olympic Park.

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Defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning oust Isles, to face Canadiens in final

Yanni Gourde scored a shorthanded goal and Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded his fourth shutout of the postseason as the Lightning booked their spot in the Stanley ...

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Shohei Ohtani blasts monster 24th homer; Yusei Kikuchi earns 5th win

The homer left Ohtani's bat at 116.1 miles (187 kilometers) per hour and traveled a projected 453 feet (138 meters).

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All roads lead to Wimbledon for Roger Federer

When Wimbledon's favorite son walks out on the manicured lawns next week, he will be hoping his surgically repaired knees can deal with the rigors ...

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Lewis Hamilton calls plan for crowd of 140,000 at British Grand Prix ‘premature’

Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle is understood to have stressed to government officials that the circuit would go bust if fans were not permitted.

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Four-time Olympian Lindsey Vonn feels boycotts should be left up to athletes

"If athletes want to boycott that's their prerogative and their right," Vonn said.

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Brave Thunders use social media to raise profile

The team’s use of social media and other digital platforms has helped the Brave Thunders stand out among the B. League’s other teams.

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Athletes on edge with Tokyo Olympics less than 1 month away

Many athletes remain torn between wanting to live out their Olympic dreams and potentially playing a role in an unfolding public health disaster.

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Artturi Lehkonen’s OT goal sends Canadiens to Stanley Cup Final

Montreal won the best-of-seven semifinal series in six games, becoming the first Canadian team to reach the final since the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.

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Fighters stop streaking Buffaloes

Taiwan's Wang Po-jung drove in two runs, and rookie right-hander Hiromi Ito allowed two runs over six innings as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters beat ...

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Hiroaki Okuno and Tiago lead Cerezo past Guangzhou FC in Asian Champions League

Hiroaki Okuno and Brazilian defender Tiago headed in corner kicks in each half as J. League side Cerezo Osaka beat China's Guangzhou FC 2-0 in ...

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Pacers bring back Rick Carlisle as head coach

The Indiana Pacers have reached a deal to bring back Rick Carlisle for a second stint as head coach, announcing the agreement on Tuesday.Carlisle, 61, ...

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Confident Lizette Salas grabs lead at Women’s PGA Championship

Lizette Salas shot a 5-under-par 67 to take sole possession of the lead after the opening round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at the ...

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Yuka Saso heading into Women’s PGA Championship with new mindset

"I don't really expect anything. I'm just more focusing on what I have to do with my game."

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says new rules taking game in ‘right direction’

The league’s enhanced enforcement of foreign-substance usage by pitchers has made mandatory umpire checks a strange new sight in every game.

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Trae Young scores 48 as Hawks stun Bucks in Game 1

The Milwaukee Bucks finally figured out a way to slow down Trae Young on Wednesday night. They'd love to carry it over into Game 2 ...

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Home runs power Buffaloes to 11th-straight winning decision

The Pacific League-leading Orix Buffaloes rode solo home runs from rookie Kotaro Kurebayashi, Olympic team member Masataka Yoshida and slugger Yutaro Sugimoto to beat the ...

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Megan Rapinoe headlines U.S. women’s soccer roster for Tokyo Olympics

Strikers Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan were among 17 players from the 2019 Women's World Cup championship team named to the US women's soccer squad.

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Shohei Ohtani gets no decision as Angels fall to Giants in 13 innings

The game at Angel Stadium featured 14 pitchers and had a wild finish, with the eventual game-winning run scoring on a bases-loaded walk in the ...

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Kevin Durant set to lead U.S. team at Tokyo Games: report

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant will compete for a third Olympic title in Tokyo alongside a new group of NBA stars seeking gold, according to ...

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New Zealand shed bridesmaid’s tag with world test championship title

New Zealand shed their bridesmaid's tag by claiming the inaugural World Test Championship title with an eight-wicket victory against India in a thrilling final on ...

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Jon Rahm tops Olympic rankings as Bryson DeChambeau makes U.S. team

The Spaniard's U.S. Open victory vaulted him into the top spot over American Justin Thomas ahead of the Tokyo Games.

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Germany says UEFA sending ‘wrong signal’ with rainbow stadium refusal

City authorities had wanted Allianz Arena in rainbow colours for the crucial Group F match to "send a visible sign of solidarity" with Hungary's LGBT ...

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B. League sets standards for entry to new top flight in 2026-27

Clubs will be required to exceed $10.8 million in sales and maintain average crowds of at least 4,000 in order to take part in the ...

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Know your news: Shohei Ohtani

How closely have you been following the MLB phenomenon that is Shohei Ohtani this stellar season? Step up to plate and show us your stuff, ...

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Wrestlers preparing for tough conditions at early Nagoya Basho

With sweltering temperatures and strict restrictions on activities, sumo's first grand tournament outside Tokyo in over a year will challenge rikishi more than usual.

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Brands could flock to Raiders’ Carl Nassib after historic coming out

After fans made his jersey the league's top seller earlier this week, Nassib could be recruited by outspoken brands known for taking stands on social ...

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Chinese swimmer Sun Yang to miss Olympics after four-year doping ban

The reigning 200-meter freestyle Olympic champion, as well as an 11-time world champion, will see his ban lifted just before the 2024 Paris Games.

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Biden praises ‘inspiring’ Kumi Yokoyama and Carl Nassib for coming out

"Because of you, countless kids around the world are seeing themselves in a new light today," the U.S. president tweeted to the pair of athletes ...

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Padres’ Yu Darvish fastest MLB pitcher to get 1,500 strikeouts

The Japanese right-hander reached the mark in just 197 games, beating previous record-holder Randy Johnson's 206.

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Hajime Moriyasu looks to Europe-based players for Olympic soccer success

Half of Japan's 18-man squad for the Tokyo Games are based overseas, adding experience to a team hoping to win its first-ever gold medal when ...

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Japanese sports world welcomes move to admit fans at Olympics

Athletes, coaches and other officials expressed appreciation for a Monday decision that will allow up to 10,000 fans inside venues at the Summer Games.

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Filmmaker Naomi Kawase eager to improve WJBL’s reach as new chair

The award-winning director is among seven women appointed to the Women's Japan Basketball League's expanded board as it seeks to capitalize on basketball's rising popularity ...

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Denmark thrashes Russia to reach Euro knockouts; Austria sneaks in

A three-goal win combined with Belgium's defeat of Finland helped the Danes progress despite losing their first two games in the group.

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Athlete return could lead to easier travel for vaccinated Australians

Australia's delegation of about 480 athletes and more than 500 officials and media will be forced into mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days when they ...

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Raiders’ Carl Nassib becomes first active NFL player to come out as gay

His announcement, which comes during Pride month, was greeted with support from the league and his team, which praised his courage.

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Shohei Ohtani named AL Player of the Week for third time

The Angels two-way star earned the honor for the June 14-20 period, hitting.296 with six home runs and nine RBIs in seven games.

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Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi lead U.S. Olympic women’s basketball squad

The two will each be seeking a fifth consecutive gold medal in Tokyo on the six-time defending Olympic champion U.S. women's basketball squad named Monday.

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Nets’ Kevin Durant and James Harden commit to Olympic team: report

The pair would become the biggest stars on what is shaping up to be a star-laden team.

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Jon Rahm takes over No. 1 world golf ranking

Rahm briefly held the spot twice in 2020, after winning the Memorial and after tying for 13th at the PGA Championship.

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Hawks upset top-seeded Sixers to reach Eastern Conference finals

Kevin Huerter scored a playoff career-high 27 points as the upstart Atlanta Hawks punched their ticket to their first Eastern Conference finals in six years ...

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Justin Smoak’s departure puts family issues in spotlight in NPB

Family was the dominant theme in NPB last week.The Japanese baseball world received some stunning news on Thursday, when it was revealed Yomiuri Giants infielder ...

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Terunofuji ready to take aim at promotion to yokozuna at Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament

The 29-year-old's challenge will unfold over 15 days at Nagoya's Dolphins Arena starting from July 4.

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Jon Rahm wins U.S. Open to claim first major title

The Spaniard shot 4-under-par 67 in the final round of the U.S. Open to cap a remarkable turnaround from two weeks ago to capture his ...

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Yuki Ishikawa named captain of Japan men’s Olympic volleyball team

Yuki Ishikawa of Italian top-flight side Allianz Powervolley Milano was named captain of the men's Olympic volleyball team Monday by the Japan Volleyball Association as ...

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Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and Rikuya Hoshino secure Tokyo Olympic berths

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and Rikuya Hoshino have qualified to play for Japan at this summer's Tokyo Games following the announcement of the latest men's ...

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NPB and J-League aim to complete COVID-19 vaccinations during Olympic break

Japan's professional baseball and soccer leagues are aiming to complete COVID-19 vaccinations of all willing players and officials by the end of their Tokyo Olympic ...

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Shohei Ohtani moves into to tie for MLB home run lead during Angels’ loss

Shohei Ohtani hit his 23rd home run of the season Sunday and is now tied with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the MLB lead.

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Indian Olympic body calls Japan’s virus restrictions discriminatory

The Indian Olympic Association sent a letter to the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee complaining stricter coronavirus restrictions against its athletes and those from other countries ...

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New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard to become first transgender Olympian

"I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders,” Hubbard said in a ...

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Naoya Inoue overwhelms Michael Dasmarinas with three-round knockout

Inoue, nicknamed "The Monster," sent Dasmarinas to the canvas with a body shot in the second round before landing two more in the third to ...

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Kenya unveils its team for the Tokyo Olympics

The East African nation is an athletics powerhouse and boasts some of the world's top athletes, who regularly win medals at elite competitions in Europe, ...

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Giannis Antetokounmpo outduels Kevin Durant as Bucks oust Nets

"At the end of the day, I try not to get too high, not to get too low. But I almost got emotional a little ...

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Shohei Ohtani continues home run tear as Angels win

Ohtani has hit five home runs in his past five games, increasing his season total to 22

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Soccer player Kumi Yokoyama comes out as transgender: ‘It would be harder to live closeted’

The former Nadeshiko Japan striker, who plays for the NWSL's Washington Spirit, has received a flood of support from athletes and LGBTQ advocates following their ...

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Washington Football Team’s trademark application rejected

The denial came as a blow to the historic NFL franchise, which last year ended the use of its controversial former name after continued protests ...

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‘For Christian’: Danish fans prepare for final Euro 2020 group match

Cristian Eriksen's remarkable recovery from his mid-game cardiac arrest last week has both the team and the fans wanting to get back to their winning ...

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Caeleb Dressel flies to second Tokyo berth as Katie Ledecky locks up 800-meter free at U.S. trials

World record-holder Caeleb Dressel will try to add 100-meter butterfly Olympic gold to his two world titles after a victory Saturday at the U.S. Olympic ...

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Travyon Bromell and Justin Gatlin off mark at U.S. Olympic trials

Bromell is widely regarded as the favorite for gold in Tokyo after battling back from a series of career-threatening injuries.

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Returning U.S. Olympians rely on experience for another shot at glory

Earning a place on the United States Olympic team is tough at the best of times — but booking your ticket to a third, fourth ...

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Japan blows late lead against China in 90-84 loss at FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers

Japan head coach Julio Lamas gave his players credit for performing well for 35 minutes of the game but said that the remaining five cost ...

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Shohei Ohtani to contest Home Run Derby at MLB All-Star Game

Ohtani made the announcement to fans on his Instagram account with a video showing several of his home runs from this season so far.

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Shohei Ohtani’s two-homer night lifts Angels past Tigers

Ohtani's 400-foot shot in the fifth inning left the bat at 114 mph before clearing the wall in right-center, highlighting a five-run rally.

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Team effort pushes Japan past Taiwan at FIBA Asia Cup

All 12 players on the roster scored at least a point to help Japan post its first victory in the third and final window of ...

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UEFA has contingency plan for Euro 2020 final

UEFA has a contingency plan to replace Wembley as host stadium of the Euro 2020 final unless Britain agrees to exempt fans from outside the ...

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U.S. swimmer Allison Schmitt’s road to fourth Olympics has been ‘quite the journey’

She wants to use her time in the spotlight to advocate for mental health awareness.

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Sergio Ramos’ future uncertain after leaving Real Madrid

Sergio Ramos declared on Thursday that leaving Real Madrid had never been on his mind but that he must now find a new destination after ...

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Shohei Ohtani earns third win of year in latest two-way start

Ohtani (3-1) allowed five hits, a walk and hit a batter while striking out five in a 78-pitch effort. He walked twice in three trips ...

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Masahiro Tanaka and Atsunori Inaba to get shot at redemption at Tokyo Games

If there are any people around Samurai Japan who understand Olympic success is not a given, it's Atsunori Inaba and Masahiro Tanaka.

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Mana Iwabuchi inherits Nadeshiko Japan’s No. 10 for Tokyo Olympics

Head coach Asako Takakura has chosen five overseas-based players to join 13 WE Leaguers at Japan's first Summer Games since London 2012.

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Dominic Thiem withdraws from Tokyo Olympics to focus on defending U.S. Open title

Austria's Dominic Thiem withdrew from the Olympics on Thursday, saying he did not feel ready to give his best in Tokyo but was looking forward ...

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Louis Oosthuizen and Russell Henley share U.S. Open lead as Phil Mickelson struggles

Sunset fell with 36 players from the field of 156 needing to finish the opening round Friday after a 90-minute morning fog delay.

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Nasa Hataoka in four-way tie atop Meijer LPGA Classic

Hataoka, 22, is a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour but hasn't won since the Kia Classic in March 2019.

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Rick Carlisle resigns as Mavericks coach

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle resigned on Thursday.Owner Mark Cuban announced the news in a team statement that came one day after Cuban fired president ...

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Naomi Osaka withdraws from Wimbledon, plans to compete at Tokyo Olympics

"She will be ready for the Olympics and is excited to play in front of her home fans."

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Rafa Nadal to skip Tokyo Olympics and Wimbledon to prolong career

The 35-year-old Spaniard said the two-week gap between the French Open and Wimbledon was not enough time for him to recuperate after a demanding clay-court ...

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Sluggish Japan falls short against China in FIBA Asia Cup qualifying

A sluggish offensive performance cost Japan in its first game in the final window of FIBA Asia Cup qualifying, a 66-57 loss to China on ...

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Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori officially qualify for Tokyo Olympics

Women's world No. 2 Naomi Osaka and two men's players, Kei Nishikori and Yoshihito Nishioka, officially qualified to represent Japan at the Tokyo Olympics, the ...

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Asanoyama’s suspension to impact upper reaches of banzuke rankings

The ozeki will sit out six grand tournaments after repeatedly violating the Japan Sumo Association's COVID-19 protocols.

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Mickelson turns 51 with eye on Grand Slam at U.S. Open

Phil Mickelson celebrated his 51st birthday on Wednesday by making his final preparations for the U.S. Open as the six-time major winner chases more golf ...

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Real Madrid great Sergio Ramos to leave club after 16 years

Madrid announced the departure of one of its most iconic players in a brief statement on Wednesday.

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Giants’ Smoak leaving Japan to be with family during pandemic

"His love of family outweighed everything else," said Akihiro Otsuka, the club's assistant representative to NPB.

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LeBron James blasts NBA over rash of injuries during playoffs

James said the injuries were due to the "lack of rest" before play restarted in December

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Denmark sees surge in ‘heart runners’ after Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 match

The cardiac arrest suffered by Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen during a Euro 2020 match has seen a seven-fold increase in sign-ups for the "heart runner" ...

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Ryo Ishikawa empathizes with tennis star Naomi Osaka

"I thought she was OK — she's been so strong these past few years — but every person has a weak point."

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Shohei Ohtani connects on 19th homer in Angels’ loss to Athletics

Shohei Ohtani hit his 19th home run of the season and stole his 10th base of the year on Wednesday, but the Los Angeles Angels ...

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‘Twist Prince’ Kenzo Shirai retires to focus on coaching

The 24-year-old, who has several original skills named after him in the vault and floor exercise, failed to qualify for the Tokyo Games during April's ...

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Masahiro Tanaka and Tomoyuki Sugano highlight Samurai Japan squad for Tokyo Games

Manager Atsunori Inaba will be calling upon NPB's top players to deliver gold for the host nation when the Olympic baseball tournament begins on July ...

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Antagonism and conflict fuel England’s rivalry with Scotland

First officially played in Glasgow in 1872, the clash is international soccer's oldest fixture, but meetings between the neighboring nations have always been more than ...

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Ryo Ishikawa has one last chance to qualify for Tokyo Olympics

Only a very high finish at this week's U.S. Open can earn Ishikawa the second spot on the Japan team alongside Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama.

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Former world champion says Australia’s Olympic hopes boosted by schedule shift

The country is looking to reverse a trend of disappointing performances at the games after winning just one gold medal in London and three in ...

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Yuka Saso gets dream meeting with idol Rory McIlroy

Videos comparing the two golfers' swings went viral online as the 19-year-old captured her first major at the U.S. Women's Open on June 6.

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Carp stop Lions to put Central League on top in interleague

The result ensured that the CL would beat the rival Pacific League in the annual interleague standings for the first time since 2009.

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Ado Onaiwu hat trick propels Japan’s win over Kyrgyzstan

The 25-year-old, who leads Japanese players in the J. League with 10 goals this season for Yokohama F. Marinos, scored three goals in a six-minute ...

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Olympians could be kicked out of Japan for violating COVID-19 rules

The third and the newest version of the so-called playbook with various COVID-19 countermeasures said athletes also face other penalties for not complying with them.

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Tom Hovasse pushing Akatsuki Five hard ahead of Olympics

The American coach saw plenty of things to fix within his squad during last week's three-game exhibition series against Portugal.

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Kazuto Ioka out to restore reputation after false positive blow

The controversy was all the more damaging as the 32-year-old's initial positive result came in the wake of his high-profile 2020 New Year's Eve knockout ...

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Olympic hopeful Shelby Houlihan ‘devastated’ by four-year doping ban

The U.S. record holder in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters will be unable to compete in Tokyo after a positive test for anabolic steroids was ...

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MLB to impose 10-day suspension for doctoring baseballs, report says

Pitchers will have until June 21 to adjust to life on the mound without sticky substances that allow them to get a better grip on ...

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Andy Murray says question marks remain over fitness ahead of return

"I feel okay. I don't feel perfect, but I have been practicing well over the last month or so, pretty consistently," the 34-year-old told reporters ...

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Katie Ledecky books Tokyo spot, newcomers make waves at U.S. trials

Ledecky was close to her world record pace at the 200 mark on Monday, but settled for a comfortable win in 4:01.27.

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Richard McLaren to lead investigation into international boxing

"It is time for boxing to turn the page, but it cannot do so without a full accounting of any alleged misconduct," said McLaren, who ...

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Former Japan sprinter Dai Tamesue not sure if Tokyo should host games

The three-time Olympic participant says considerations need to be made for both the athletes and the delayed event's impact on Japanese society.

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Christian Eriksen’s teammates lament ‘no third option’ after collapse

"We were put in a position which I personally don't think we should have been put in," Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel told reporters.

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Buffaloes rise to occasion to claim interleague crown

The Orix Buffaloes made the most of interleague play.The Kansai club limped into the interleague slate three games under .500 and in fifth place in ...

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Team USA manager Mike Scioscia ready for Olympic challenge

"We have to pitch," Scioscia said. "Any team that wants to reach their goal has to have a good starting rotation and definitely a bullpen ...

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Lionel Messi admits to worrying about contracting COVID-19

Argentina striker Lionel Messi confessed on Sunday that he worries about contracting COVID-19. Messi admitted his fears a day before he kicks off another Copa ...

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Japan’s players brace for final push to make Olympic basketball team

The battle to make Japan’s 12-man roster will begin in earnest from Wednesday during the final window of FIBA Asian Cup qualifying.

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Rugby World Cup star Ayumu Goromaru has no regrets about retirement

Former international fullback Ayumu Goromaru, one of the stars of Japan's 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign, said Monday he had "no regrets" and "felt refreshed" ...

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Suns complete sweep of Nuggets

The Suns used a balanced attack to overpower the Nuggets and league MVP Nikola Jokic in Game 4.

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Naomi Osaka earns spot in Tokyo Olympics

Osaka earned her first Olympic berth for Japan on Monday with the release of the international tennis rankings used to determine automatic qualification for this ...

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Novak Djokovic rallies from two sets down to edge Stefanos Tsitsipas in dramatic French Open final

Djokovic is now just one major away from equaling the all-time record of 20, which is held by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

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Nadeshiko Japan brushes aside Mexico in Olympic warmup

The host's five different goal-scorers will give head coach Asako Takakura plenty to consider as she finalizes selections for her Tokyo 2020 squad.

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Kokoro Kageura and Sara Asahina claim heavyweight wins at worlds

Kageura broke a world championship drought for Japan in the men's over 100-kilogram division dating back to 2003 by defeating Russia's Tamerlan Bashaev in the ...

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Yusei Kikuchi denied win as Mariners blow lead at Cleveland

The left-hander overcame a shaky first two innings and was on track for the win until Rafael Montero blew the save in the bottom of ...

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Reigning 400 champion Mack Horton misses Australia team for Tokyo

The 25-year-old missed the top-two finish that would have allowed him to defend his title at next month's Olympics by just 0.65 seconds.

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Copa America rocked by Venezuela outbreak on eve of opener

Thirteen members of Venezuela's delegation have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the team to call up several emergency players ahead of Sunday's game against host ...

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Unseeded Barbora Krejcikova wins maiden Grand Slam title in Paris

The 25-year-old Czech, a former doubles No. 1, defeated Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to continue a streak of women's players winning their first major at Roland ...

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Denmark’s Christian Eriksen ‘awake’ in hospital after collapsing

The Danish Football Union (DBU) said Eriksen was "awake and undergoing further tests" following the shocking moment during the team's Euro 2020 opener against Finland, ...

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Japan overcomes ferocious Sunwolves challenge as Europe tour looms

The meeting at Ecopa Stadium Shizuoka served as a warmup for the Brave Blossoms ahead of tests in late June and early July against Ireland ...

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Japan U-24 routs Jamaica in last game before Olympic squad selection

Takefusa Kubo's quadruple-nutmeg goal was a clear highlight as the host made a clear statement of intent ahead of the upcoming Tokyo Games.

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Shohei Ohtani stars on the mound and at the plate as Angels win in 10

Ohtani struck out eight and walked two and yielded five hits. He also drove in a run, scored another and set up a run in ...

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‘One of my greatest’: Djokovic hails French Open masterpiece against ‘Everest’ Nadal

Djokovic condemned Nadal to only his third loss in 16 years and 108 matches at Roland Garros to reach his sixth Paris final.

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Women’s sports ready for take off

Those looking to invest in sports should bet on women's leagues, with post-pandemic interest presenting new opportunities, according to Angela Ruggiero, the former International Olympic ...

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Bellator president opens door for Logan and Jake Paul to compete in MMA

Logan and Jake Paul would make great mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters, Bellator president Scott Coker said.

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Bored games: Aussie softball team finds Olympic bubble ‘challenging’

No meeting fans, no eating out and no sightseeing — life in the Tokyo Olympic bubble could be "challenging" for athletes, the first team to ...

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Delayed Euro 2020 finally set for kickoff

Euro 2020 will finally get underway on Friday — a year behind schedule — with COVID-19 set to cast a shadow over the tournament.

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The Boss: Ange Postecoglou did it his way at Marinos

The Australian, who will leave Yokohama to take over Scotland's Celtic, leaves a legacy of high-intensity attacking soccer that has brought fun back to Nissan ...

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First-time finalists to meet for French Open title

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will play Barbora Krejcikova for the title

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Nadeshiko Japan scores eight goals against Ukraine in Olympic warmup

Nadeshiko Japan will continue its Olympic preparations with a friendly against 28th-ranked Mexico on Sunday.

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IOC President Thomas Bach to arrive for Tokyo Games in July

Bach's planned trip to Japan in mid-May was postponed due to the situation of the pandemic in Tokyo.

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Australian Maddie Groves pulls out of Olympic swimming trials due to ‘misogynistic perverts’

Blaming "misogynistic perverts in sport and their boot lickers," two-time Olympic silver medalist Maddie Groves has pulled out of Australia's swimming trials for the Tokyo ...

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IOC set to vote on Brisbane as 2032 Olympic host in July

The International Olympic Committee's executive board unanimously decided to propose the Australian city of Brisbane as the host of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics on ...

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Ange Postecoglou confirmed as new Celtic manager

Thursday's long-awaited announcement concluded a two-week courtship between the famed Scottish club and the Australian, who will leave Yokohama F. Marinos immediately.

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IOC expects 80% of athletes, coaches at Tokyo Games to be vaccinated

The IOC expects a decision on domestic fan attendance to be made "around the end of June."

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Tom Brady reveals Super Bowl run came on injured left knee

Tom Brady's Super Bowl-winning heroics last season came with the 43-year-old quarterback knowing he had a major injury to his left knee that required surgery, ...

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Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal set up blockbuster semifinal at French Open

Novak Djokovic set up a 58th meeting against Rafael Nadal when he reached his 40th Grand Slam semifinal.

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Ritsu Doan to depart Arminia Bielefeld following end of loan

German top-flight side Arminia Bielefeld announced the departure Wednesday of Japan winger Ritsu Doan after a season-long loan from Dutch heavyweight PSV Eindhoven.The 22-year-old attacker, ...

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Padres’ Yu Darvish takes loss despite seven strong innings against Cubs

Right-hander Yu Darvish tossed seven strong innings but was tagged with the loss Wednesday after getting little offensive support in the San Diego Padres' 3-1 ...

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Shun Yamaguchi set to restart career with Giants in Japan

Yamaguchi posted a 15-4 record and led the CL in strikeouts, wins and winning percentage with the Giants in 2019, his previous season in Japan.

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New national 100-meter record-holder Ryota Yamagata sets sights on Olympics

The "sprinting philosopher," who only hired a coach this year, feels confident in his ability to peak at the Tokyo Games after setting a new ...

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Asanoyama’s likely suspension shows change in JSA’s decision-making

The ozeki's violation of COVID-19 protocols would easily have earned a forced retirement in the past.

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Shohei Ohtani hits longest homer of MLB career in Angels win

The two-run homer at Angel Stadium had the longest projected distance of the 26-year-old's MLB career.

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Japanese-born Christa Deguchi misses out on Olympic selection for Canada

The Nagano native represented Japan before switching her competitive allegiance to Canada, her father's birthplace, to improve her chances of reaching the Olympics.

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British Olympics chief forsees ‘unpredictable’ games for Team GB

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on preparations may hamper Great Britain's effort to surpass its all-time high of 67 medals at Rio 2016, which ...

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Lewis Hamilton sends encouragement to Naomi Osaka

"For her own personal health she didn’t feel comfortable doing something, and the backlash is ridiculous,” the Formula One champion said last week.

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Australia’s baseball team gives up on Olympic bid due to COVID-19

Officials said there was not enough time after the qualifier for the team to complete its quarantine in Australia and then meet entry requirements to ...

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Rugby Australia confident series against France will go ahead

Logistics are still being worked out ahead of Les Bleus' arrival in Australia for three tests in July.

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England will stick to anti-racism stance despite boos

Head coach Gareth Southgate said his team will not "just stick to football" during the European Championship.

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Father’s tough love sets Yuka Saso up for U.S. Women’s Open success

The Filipino-Japanese golfer's rigorous training schedule, which she began at 13 years old, helped prepare her for Sunday's playoff victory over Nasa Hataoka in San ...

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Takumi Minamino ties Keisuke Honda’s scoring record as Japan beats Tajikistan

Takumi Minamino on Monday tied Keisuke Honda's record of scoring in seven straight World Cup qualifiers, netting in Japan's 4-1 win over Tajikistan in the ...

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Joshiro Maruyama and Ai Shishime become two-time world champions

Shishime took the women's 52-kilogram category, recapturing the title she last won in 2017, before Maruyama went back-to-back as men's 66-kg world champion.

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Gymnastics great Nadia Comaneci gifted NFT to commemorate ‘Perfect 10’ anniversary

The NFT is a digital necklace made of 10 pieces that are 3D renderings of vault, uneven bars, beam and floor moves she performed at ...

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LeBron James and Anthony Davis to reportedly skip Olympics

The decision by the two Lakers, who have struggled with injuries this season, could leave Team USA with considerably less star power in Tokyo.

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Novak Djokovic survives, Rafael Nadal cruises as Coco Gauff makes Grand Slam breakthrough

As World No. 1 Djokovic marched toward his quest of completing a double Grand Slam, 17-year-old Gauff reached the quarterfinals at a major tournament for ...

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Berlin Marathon organizers hope up to 35,000 can run in September

Organizers hope that up to 35,000 runners can take part in the Berlin marathon this September as part of a pilot project as Germany eases ...

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Former South Korea and F. Marinos star Yoo Sang-chul dies at 49

The 49-year-old, who won two J. League titles in Yokohama, was a key figure in the Taeguk Warriors' historic run to the 2002 World Cup ...

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Tomoyuki Sugano and Seiya Suzuki return to action as Olympics draw near

A few hours after the United States national baseball team qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, two players expected to be key members of Samurai Japan's ...

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Japan celebrates after Yuka Saso’s triumph at U.S. Women’s Open

The government's top spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, also offered his congratulations.

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Floyd Mayweather barely breaks sweat in ‘training session’ against YouTuber Logan Paul

Floyd Mayweather Jr. predictably dominated YouTube star Logan Paul on Sunday night in an eight-round exhibition fight in Miami before admitting it could have been ...

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Reigning Olympic champion Monica Puig to miss Tokyo Games after shoulder surgery

Monica Puig, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in women's singles tennis, said she will miss the Tokyo Games and the rest of the 2021 season ...

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Kei Nishikori loses in fourth round of French Open

Kei Nishikori fell short of a quarterfinal berth Sunday at the French Open, going down 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 against German sixth seed Alexander Zverev in ...

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Roger Federer pulls out of French Open

"After two knee surgeries and over a year of rehabilitation it's important that I listen to my body and make sure I don't push myself ...

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Clippers overcome 46-point effort by Luka Doncic to eliminate Mavericks

The Clippers are the sixth team in NBA history to lose the first two games at home and win a series.

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Filipino-Japanese teen Yuka Saso wins U.S. Women’s Open

Saso topped Japan's Nasa Hataoka in a playoff after the pair finished the final round tied for the lead at 4-under.

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Ryota Yamagata sets national record with 9.95-second 100m sprint

The 28-year-old became the fourth Japanese sprinter to run the 100 below 10 seconds.

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Yusei Kikuchi gives up homer to Shohei Ohtani in injury-shortened start

The Mariners starter took a lead into the fifth inning but had to be helped off the field after being hit in the leg by ...

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Successful World Grand Prix a boost for blind soccer ahead of Paralympics

Tokyo hosted the IBSA-sanctioned event in a bubble environment, enacting strict protocols to ensure the safety for the participating teams amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Handball captain Remi Anri Doi feels sting of vaccination conundrum

The Paris-born, Japan-raised Doi says he initially thought about rejecting the inoculation and urging his teammates to do similar, but eventually decided to receive the ...

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U.S. baseball team clinches spot at Tokyo Olympics

The United States baseball team won a spot in the Tokyo Olympics after defeating Venezuela 4-2 on Saturday and securing the best record in the ...

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Memorial leader Jon Rahm forced out with positive COVID-19 test

The world No. 3 was on track to become the event's second back-to-back winner after Tiger Woods before he was informed about his positive test ...

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Naomi Osaka thanks fans for ‘all the love’ after French Open withdrawal

The four-time Grand Slam champion has received an outpouring of support following her decision to pull out of Roland Garros early last week.

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League body says players should be freed from Copa obligations

The sudden decision to move the Copa America from Argentina to Brazil has sparked safety concerns as the country continues to struggle with COVID-19 infections.

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Lions overpower Swallows in three-homer ninth inning

Takeya Nakamura, Hotaka Yamakawa and Wu Nien-ting went deep in the ninth inning to help the PL side to an interleague victory.

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Japan’s Olympic hopefuls thrash Ghana U-24

Goals from Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan were among the highlights at Fukuoka's Best Denki Stadium as the team shook off Thursday's defeat to their ...

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Shohei Ohtani whiffs 10 to lead Angels past Mariners

Ohtani (2-1) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings, coming out after just 76 pitches.

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No fans would mean ‘no fun’ at Olympics, Kei Nishikori says after third-round win in Paris

Nishikori reached the last 16 of the French Open for the seventh time when Swiss opponent Henri Laaksonen retired with a leg injury in their ...

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SeaHorses’ Kosuke Kanamaru takes home first B. League MVP award

The Fukuoka Prefecture native averaged 16.8 points and 1.2 assists per contest across 53 games this season.

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Floyd Mayweather does not view Logan Paul as threat

"This is not a real fight for me. It's a real fight for him," Mayweather said.

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Ryusei Shinoyama not sure if constant roster shuffling is good for B. League

The B. League, which began play in 2016, has seen a multitude of moves across the league each offseason since its inaugural season.

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Naomi Osaka’s struggle shines light on mental health in sports

Osaka's battle with depression echoes similar struggles of other athletes in recent years.

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Kai Toews and J.R. Sakuragi honored at B. League awards show

Utsunomiya Brex guard Toews was named the Rookie of the Year for the 2020-21 season.

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Suns eliminate defending champion Lakers in first round

The Phoenix Suns, fueled by 47 points from Devin Booker, toppled the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers 113-100 on Thursday, marking the first time superstar ...

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JOC executive board member says Tokyo Olympics have already lost meaning

"The power of sports" is of little comfort to people worried about the medical situation and their future lives.

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Wizards’ Rui Hachimura reflects on progress after first trip to playoffs

"The fact that I got that much court time in the playoffs means the team trusts me, and I feel like I delivered results," Hachimura ...

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Japan’s senior team beats nation’s U-24 Olympic hopefuls in unique match

It was the first matchup between two Japanese national sides since 1980, when teams separated by their age faced each other.

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NHL suspends Jets’ Mark Scheifele for 4 games for hit on Canadiens’ Jake Evans

Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele has been suspended four games by the NHL Department of Player Safety.The punishment was meted out after Scheifele charged Montreal ...

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‘Big Three’ into third round at French Open

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all advanced at the French Open.

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Japan to vaccinate 95% of its Olympic athletes

Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita said athletes do not need to feel guilty about practicing for the Olympics despite strong public opposition.

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Naomi Osaka remains atop Forbes’ list of highest-paid female athletes

The Japanese tennis star is ranked 12th among the world's 50 highest-paid athletes, up from No. 29 last year, in the newest ranking to be ...

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Serena Williams survives scare to advance at French Open

Serena Williams survived a French Open scare to extend her latest bid for an elusive 24th Grand Slam singles title with a three-set victory over ...

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Rui Hachimura’s 21-point night not enough to save Wizards as Sixers advance

The 23-year-old star, who played college basketball for Gonzaga, made history this year by becoming the first Japanese player to appear in the NBA playoffs.

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Tsukasa Yoshida expects to claim gold in Olympic debut at Tokyo Games

"If the games are held, I'll win the gold medal," the 25-year-old Yoshida said in an online interview.

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England bowler Ollie Robinson apologizes for racist and sexist tweets

England fast bowler Ollie Robinson apologized Wednesday after a series of racist and sexist tweets came to light during his test debut against New Zealand ...

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Shun Yamaguchi leaving Giants’ organization to return to Japan

Right-hander Shun Yamaguchi, who plays for the Triple A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, revealed that he will return to Japan in an Instagram ...

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Packers not sure if Aaron Rodgers will attend minicamp

With a week to go until mandatory minicamp, the Green Bay Packers have no clue if star quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be in attendance or ...

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Marathon man Kei Nishikori reaches third round at French Open

"I feel like I have played five matches already," Nishikori said. "Trust me, I hate playing five sets. I don't do it on purpose."

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All Blacks players fret over team’s fate if Silver Lake buys in

A move by the U.S. private equity firm to purchase a stake of New Zealand Rugby's commercial operations has drawn criticism.

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BMX racer Connor Fields says U.S. has upper hand in Tokyo

The American is ready to defend his Olympic gold medal at last after the games were pushed back a year due to the pandemic.

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Jets end long wait for B. League glory

Chiba, which lost the last two finals to the Alvark Tokyo, put down feisty Utsunomiya in Tuesday's decisive Game 3 to claim its first-ever league ...

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Dual yokozuna promotion could join list of recent rare events in sumo

The possibility remains that ozeki Terunofuji and Takakeisho could both be offered the white rope depending on how results pan out at next month's Nagoya ...

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Brazil names Rio among host cities for 2021 Copa America

The legendary Maracana will be among venues chosen to hold the tournament, which was moved from Argentina due to that country's worsening COVID-19 situation.

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MLB sued for moving All-Star Game out of Atlanta

A pro-business group based in Texas, the Job Creators Network, has filed a federal lawsuit against Major League Baseball for moving the All-Star Game out ...

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NBA stars urged to end China endorsements over forced labor

A U.S. congressional commission on Tuesday called on American basketball stars to end endorsements of Chinese sportswear firms that use cotton grown in China's Xinjiang ...

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Naomi Osaka ‘brave and bold’ over withdrawal, says Novak Djokovic

"I think she was very brave to do that. I'm really sorry that she is going through painful times and suffering mentally," the men's world ...

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Nikita Nagornyy vaults into Tokyo Olympics as gold-medal favorite

Nikita Nagornyy, the world all-around champion gymnast, comes into his second Olympics as a favorite after reaching milestones that could propel him to the top ...

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Naomi Osaka’s Paris exit leaves questions on athletes’ humanity, media’s role

Heads of the four Grand Slam events had threatened further fines and disqualification Monday if the four-time winner did not attend mandatory media sessions.

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Kanoa Igarashi punches Tokyo 2020 ticket at World Surfing Games

Kanoa Igarashi sealed his Tokyo Olympic selection Monday at the World Surfing Games in El Salvador, the final qualifier for this summer's games.The 23-year-old needed ...

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