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

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

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Shohei Ohtani mentor Hideki Kuriyama to become new Japan manager

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

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SoftBank’s record-holding closer Dennis Sarfate retires

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

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Paris hoping to sell record 3 million tickets for 2024 Paralympics

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

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

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

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Doubts emerge over Grand Prix Final after Japan shuts borders

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

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

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

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Making the snow stick: Wind challenges Winter Games slope makers

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

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Nadeshiko Japan held to stalemate by second-string Netherlands

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

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

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

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Portugal finds 13 cases of omicron variant at Lisbon soccer club

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

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FIFA to trial semi-automated offside technology at Arab Cup

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

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

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

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Shohei Ohtani picks up Outstanding Designated Hitter honors

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

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

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

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Lionel Messi claims record-extending seventh Ballon d’Or

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

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

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

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Triumphant Terunofuji targets double-digit championships

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

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Napoli mark Maradona anniversary with dazzling win over Lazio

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

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

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

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

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

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Kenichi Ogawa grabs vacant IBF super featherweight belt

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

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Formula One team founder Frank Williams dies at age 79

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

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

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

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Japan table tennis pairs move on to world championship finals

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

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Kyoto clinches promotion after 11 seasons in second division

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

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Flawless Terunofuji finishes with career-first perfect record

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

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Contrail bows out in triumph at G1 Japan Cup

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

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Steady MVP Yuhei Nakamura guides Swallows to Japan Series title

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

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Takehiro Tomiyasu gets first assist for Arsenal in win over Newcastle

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

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Mima Ito and Kasumi Ishikawa make quarterfinal exits at worlds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Italy finance police search Juventus offices in player trading probe

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

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Conor McGregor expects to resume sparring by April

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

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Swallows outlast Buffaloes to win Japan Series title

The Swallows are champions for the first time since 2001

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Terunofuji stays perfect, Abi stuns Takakeisho on Day 13

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

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Breeding and racing enjoy a long history in Japan

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

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International horses set to challenge Japan’s best

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

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

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

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

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

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Japanese playmaker Daichi Kamada chasing dream World Cup debut

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

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

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

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

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

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Terunofuji defeats Meisei to remain sole leader on Day 12

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

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Former Greece manager Michael Skibbe to lead Sanfrecce Hiroshima next season

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

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

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

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

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

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Pirates reportedly re-sign Yoshitomo Tsutsugo to new deal

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

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English soccer risks financial chaos without more even sharing

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

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

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

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Does the sports world still need China?

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

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Masanori Ishikawa helps carry Swallows to brink of Japan Series title

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

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WE League aims to learn from NWSL’s harassment scandals

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

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Terunofuji outlasts Ichinojo to keep sole lead on Day 11

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

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Terunofuji’s challengers likely to emerge from amateur ranks

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

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BMX giving Japan’s freestyling families a way to bond

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

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Bellmare midfielder Riuler dies at 23

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

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Study says biennial World Cup could cost leagues billions per season

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

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Swallows make themselves at home at Tokyo Dome

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Terunofuji stays perfect, takes sole lead as Takakeisho beaten

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

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Tyler Higgins credits skipper Satoshi Nakajima with Orix’s transformation

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

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Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens face final shot at Cooperstown

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

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Carp slugger Seiya Suzuki’s bid for MLB deal begins

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

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

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

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Adelaide to host two Australian Open warmups

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

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Terunofuji, Takakeisho continue to cruise with ninth straight wins

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

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Olympic memories and the record books color the 2021 Japan Series

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

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Young guns: The Japan Series showcases young pitching talent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Tim Cahill longs for monumental World Cup and recalls Japan rivalry

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

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

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

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Badminton ace Kento Momota claims first international trophy since car accident

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

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Former heavyweight wrestler Toyonoumi dies of illness at age 56

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Gran Alegria defends Mile Championship title before retiring

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

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Takumi Minamino on target for Liverpool in big win over Arsenal

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

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Brave Blossoms fall to Scotland despite gritty performance

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

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Orix infielder Yuma Mune picks perfect time to find his groove

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

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Spirit beat Red Stars to win first NWSL championship

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

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Man United set to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Watford humiliation

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

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Yuma Kagiyama takes second Grand Prix gold of the season

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

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

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

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

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

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Terunofuji beats Myogiryu to finish first week undefeated

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Buffaloes and Swallows make final preparations ahead of Japan Series showdown

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Alexander Zverev sets up semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic

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

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Former cricketer and racism target Azeem Rafiq apologizes for antisemitic messages

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

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Angels’ Shohei Ohtani named American League MVP

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

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

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

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Softball star Miu Goto motivated by experience at Tokyo Olympics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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China laments inability to make good ice and snow equipment

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

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

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

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

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

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Terunofuji downs nemesis to remain undefeated among leaders

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

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

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

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Lack of excitement threatens Kyushu Basho atmosphere

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

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

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

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IOC introduces new framework for transgender athletes

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

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

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

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Cleveland Indians settle lawsuit with roller derby team over new name

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

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USA to co-host T20 World Cup in 2024

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

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NBA to stage first preseason games in UAE

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

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Japan beats Oman to return to automatic World Cup spot

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

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Dwyane Wade says LeBron James and revamped Lakers need time

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

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Naomi Osaka concerned over Peng Shuai’s whereabouts after allegations

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

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Lone yokozuna Terunofuji beats Wakatakakage handily on Day 3

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

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Carp confirm posting of slugger Seiya Suzuki

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

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Wizards coach says team will not rush Rui Hachimura back

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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China silent on tennis star Peng Shuai despite growing concern

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

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

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

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Nick Kyrgios calls for Australian Open to be canceled

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

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NHL postpones next three Ottawa games due to outbreak

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

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Ryo Ishikawa suspended for one month after violating quarantine

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

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Yokozuna Terunofuji hangs on to beat Daieisho on Day 2

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

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Shohei Ohtani already looking ahead after historic campaign

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

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Maligned Mitchell Marsh all smiles after Australia wins T20 World Cup

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

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Defending champion Daniil Medvedev rallies to win ATP Finals opener

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

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

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

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Former Japan, Leicester midfielder Yuki Abe to retire

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

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Masahito Obayashi earns shock mass start win at World Cup event

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

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Teenager Natsu Ota becomes Japan’s youngest pentathlon champion

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

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Jubilo Iwata clinches J1 promotion with win over Mito

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

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

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

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Japan outlasts Portugal in memorable first meeting

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

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Lakers’ Anthony Davis blasts team after ’embarrassing’ defeat

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

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France and Belgium qualify for 2022 World Cup finals

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

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Saudi Arabia launches first women’s soccer league

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

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Shoma Uno and Kaori Sakamoto conquer NHK Trophy

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

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

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

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Teen Chikara Tanaka following winding road in hopes of reaching NBA

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

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

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

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England captain Joe Root demands change in cricket after racism scandal

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

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

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

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Yokozuna Terunofuji heading into Kyushu Basho with no equal in sight

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

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

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

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Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. signs with Rams

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

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Belarus detains and fines Olympic skier for violating protest laws

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

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Shohei Ohtani wins Silver Slugger Award

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

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

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

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Buffaloes and Swallows roll toward Japan Series clash

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

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China’s Winter Olympic medal forecast clouded by pandemic

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

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

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

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Karolina Pliskova gets off to winning start at WTA Finals

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

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

Ohtani was named at designated hitter and starting pitcher.

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

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

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Young aces lead league champs in final stage openers

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

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Parkour nationals to be held at Tokyo airport in December

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

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Luge federation boosts safety measures after crash at Beijing venue

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

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Despite sluggish attendance, Kyushu Basho boasts overwhelming charm

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

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Record-setting jumper Sara Takanashi primed to break Olympic hoodoo

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

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

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

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

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

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Brazil legend Formiga to retire from national team

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

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bryce Harper win Hank Aaron Award

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

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Ryo Ishikawa leaves key roles after caught violating quarantine

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

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

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

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

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

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Polish luger says Beijing crash could have been ‘tragedy’

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

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

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

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Sponsors split on Aaron Rodgers’ anti-vaccine stance

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

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Olympic medalist Mai Murakami grateful upon retirement

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

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Pioneering Japanese cyclist Fumiyuki Beppu retires from circuit

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

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Oscar Pistorius could be considered for parole

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

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

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

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J. League champion Frontale looking to extend dominance across Asia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir wins NYC marathon

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

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

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

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

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

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Novak Djokovic focuses on positives after winning Paris Masters

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

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

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

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Marines advance to Climax Series final with draw against Eagles

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

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

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

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Saul Alvarez beats Caleb Plant to make super middleweight history

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

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

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

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Barcelona crisis creates opportunity for new manager Xavi

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

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‘Gladiator’ Yuma Kagiyama skates to victory in Turin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Marines earn dramatic win over Eagles in Climax Series opener

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

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Canelo Alvarez sets sights on becoming undisputed champion

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

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Rin Kinoshita hopes to reach Olympic podium in skeleton

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

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

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

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Seon Okazawa and Tomoya Tsuboi become first Japanese world champions

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

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

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

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NBA investigating Suns owner Robert Sarver over allegations of racism

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

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NHL union plans to investigate response to sexual assault allegations

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

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

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

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

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

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Giants great Buster Posey retires

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

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Kyogo Furuhashi scores as Celtic wins in Europa League

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

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Yuzuru Hanyu to miss NHK Trophy due to injury

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

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Japan adds new faces to mix for upcoming World Cup qualifiers

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

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

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

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Liverpool cruises into Champions League last 16

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

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

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

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

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

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Yusei Kikuchi to become free agent after declining player option

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

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Dominant Kawasaki Frontale clinches fourth J1 League title in five seasons

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

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One big name notably absent in November ranking of sumo wrestlers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Handball federation ends bikini bottom requirement for women

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

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Titans’ Derrick Henry out indefinitely; foot surgery Tuesday

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

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

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

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Gary Bettman says fans should feel horrified at Blackhawks scandal

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

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Back injury shuts Kei Nishikori down for the season

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

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

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

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Shohei Ohtani mentor Hideki Kuriyama leaves Nippon Ham manager role

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

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Novak Djokovic sets sights on ending year atop rankings

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

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Saints overcome Jameis Winston’s injury to upset Buccaneers

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

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Yokozuna Terunofuji leads sumo into new era without Hakuho

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

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Kanya Fujimoto nets first goal of season for Gil Vicente

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

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