New mother Naomi Osaka makes winning return in Brisbane

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka looked solid on her return to elite tennis after 15 months out as she beat Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 7-6(9) in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday.

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Pistons edge Raptors to end record-tying 28-game skid

Cade Cunningham scored 30 points and dished out 12 assists as the host Detroit Pistons snapped their record-tying 28-game losing streak by defeating the Toronto Raptors 129-127 on Saturday.

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Naomi Osaka's love for tennis rekindled as she makes comeback

Naomi Osaka admitted Saturday she almost retired from tennis, but said her love for the sport is back after becoming a mother earlier this year.

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Yamamoto ready for fresh start with Dodgers

Former Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Saturday declared his massive 12-year contract with MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers represented a new start after seven seasons in Japan.

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Chess federation fines player over her ‘sports shoes’

The International Chess Federation fined a 23-year-old chess player from the Netherlands at its World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for wearing "sports shoes.”

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Son leads South Korea squad 'ready' to win Asian Cup

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min was named to South Korea's Asian Cup squad on Thursday and coach Jurgen Klinsmann said it was "about time" the country ended its 64-year continental title drought.

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Who will grab the spotlight at sumo's first tourney of 2024?

Grand Sumo Tournaments in recent years have come to resemble Marvel movies.

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Japan to host soccer matches against North Korea at National Stadium

Japan will host respective women's Olympic and men's World Cup qualifying matches against North Korea in February and March at National Stadium in Tokyo, the Japan Football Association announced Wednesday.

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Boxing fans await two-division king Inoue's next move

In the wake of Naoya Inoue's second world title unification, boxing fans are waiting to see the Japanese star's next move.

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Top Japanese pitcher Yamamoto 'beyond estatic' to join Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers introduced prized Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Wednesday hours after confirming they had inked him to a 12-year deal worth a reported $325 million.

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Nadal and Osaka set for comebacks in Australia

Rafael Nadal returns from a "winding, tortuous" injury journey in Brisbane this week, while fellow superstar Novak Djokovic kickstarts his bid for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title at Perth. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka is set to play her first competitive match since September 2022.

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Jackson leaps to top of the MVP race with win over Purdy's 49ers

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has overtaken San Francisco's Brock Purdy in the MVP race after leading the Ravens to a dominant 33-19 road win against the 49ers on Christmas Day.

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Pele 'would have been sad' at state of Brazil team, says son

Pele "would have been sad" at the state of the current Brazilian national team, his son Edinho has said in an interview, days before the first anniversary of the former player's death on Friday.

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Kirishima ready for first yokozuna promotion bid

Ozeki Kirishima said Monday that he wants to seize his first chance for promotion to yokozuna as he prepares for the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament beginning Jan. 14.

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Naoya Inoue, Marlon Tapales weigh in for 4-belt super bantam showdown

Japan's Naoya Inoue and the Philippines' Marlon Tapales both weighed in successfully Monday on the eve of their four-belt world super bantamweight title unification bout at Tokyo's Ariake Arena.

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Billionaire Ratcliffe agrees deal to buy 25% of Manchester United

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has agreed a deal to buy a 25% stake in Manchester United for about $1.3 billion, vowing to return the Premier League club to the "top of world football."

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Reliever Yuki Matsui signs 5-year deal with Padres

Japanese left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui has signed a five-year contract with the San Diego Padres, the major league club said Saturday.

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Urawa finishes fourth at Club World Cup after defeat to Al Ahly

The Asian champions Urawa Reds finished the Club World Cup fourth on Friday after losing 4-2 to African winners Al Ahly of Egypt in the third-place match.

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Kaoru Mitoma's ankle injury raises Asian Cup concerns

Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma suffered a left ankle injury during his team's 1-1 draw away to Crystal Palace in the English Premier League on Thursday, raising concerns about his availability for Japan's Asian Cup campaign.

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Teams shun European Super League despite shock court victory

Plans for a European Super League bringing together elite soccer clubs such as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona won a surprise boost at the European Union’s top court after judges ruled the sport’s main governing bodies violated antitrust law by thwarting the project.

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Africa Cup of Nations organizers confident no repeat of Cameroon tragedy

All is on track for African soccer's biennial showpiece, the Africa Cup of Nations, according to organizers in Cote d'Ivoire who are confident their security measures will prevent a repeat of the tragedy that overshadowed the 2021 edition in Cameroon.

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Driverless race cars on track for April debut in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit, the scene of last month's Formula One season-ender, will be a testing ground over the coming weeks for a race car driven by software algorithms rather than any human hand.

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Reliever Matsui close to agreement with Padres, report says

Japanese left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui is nearing a multiyear agreement with the San Diego Padres, MLB.com reported Tuesday, citing a source.

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Stablemaster Shikoroyama's lasting sumo legacy

The sumo world lost one of its most recognizable characters on Sunday with the passing of the stablemaster Shikoroyama.

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Urawa beaten 3-0 by Manchester City in Club World Cup semis

Manchester City outclassed Urawa Red Diamonds in a 3-0 victory in the King Abdullah Sports City stadium on Tuesday to set up a Club World Cup final showdown against Brazilian side Fluminense.

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Fukuoka and Shakhtar draw 2-2 in charity match in Tokyo

Avispa Fukuoka and Shakhtar Donetsk played out a 2-2 draw in a charity match at Tokyo's National Stadium on Monday in front of over 600 war-hit Ukrainian evacuees, with the proceeds directed to the country's reconstruction.

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Ichiro goes back to school again as a special instructor

Ichiro Suzuki has continued his offseason ritual of coaching high school students, wrapping up a two-day session with Okinawa Prefecture's Miyako High School baseball club on Sunday.

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Japan's Oda wins women's street skateboarding world title

Japan's Yumeka Oda won her maiden street skateboarding world championship Sunday in a hotly contested women's final in Tokyo.

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Rugby in denial over concussion problem, author Sam Peters says

Sam Peters had his dream job as a rugby writer but, as his interest in the game's concussion problem came up against a wall of denial and obfuscation, he morphed into an investigative reporter, often a lone, vilified, voice demanding answers.

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PGA Tour still aims to meet deadline for Saudi alliance, Woods says

Tiger Woods said Saturday that the PGA Tour aims to reach a definitive deal to complete its partnership with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) before their self-imposed Dec. 31 deadline.

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South Korea's Lee promises to impress San Francisco Giants fans

South Korean center fielder Jung Hoo Lee joined the San Francisco Giants on Friday after signing a six-year deal worth $113 million, vowing to impress fans from the start.

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Urawa downs Leon to set up Club World Cup semi with Manchester City

Dutch substitute Alex Schalk scored the winner as the Urawa Reds, the Asian Champions League winners, saw off 10-man CONCACAF winners Club Leon of Mexico 1-0 to reach the last four of the Club World Cup on Friday.

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Inter Miami adds Tokyo stop to Messi tour next February

Lionel Messi's world tour with Inter Miami next year added Tokyo as a stop on Friday, with the Major League Soccer club announcing plans to face Vissel Kobe, the J. League's top-division champion.

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Reigning champions Spears trounce Heat for first League One win of season

Reigning champions Kubota Spears steamrolled past Division 1 newcomers Mie Heat 75-0 on Saturday to secure their first win of the season in Japan Rugby League One.

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For the Dodgers, Ohtani's megadeal could end up being a bargain

Baseball has never seen a player like Shohei Ohtani. The sport has also never seen anything like the record-breaking 10-year, $700 million (¥99.4 billion) contract he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this week.

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J. League clubs throw support behind summer start to season

A majority of J. League clubs supported the introduction of an August start to the Japanese soccer season from the 2026-2027 season, with 52 of 60 from the first to third divisions on Thursday approving the move.

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Ohtani introduced as a Dodger after inking record-setting contract

A one-of-a-kind talent who needs no introduction received a Hollywood intro anyway as Shohei Ohtani began his new chapter with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

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NFL expands overseas games and books Brazil contest in 2024

NFL team owners voted Wednesday to stage a 2024 regular-season game in Brazil and approved an increase in the number of international contests from four to eight starting in 2025.

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Wounded Eddie Jones has plenty to prove on Japan return

Eddie Jones has deep ties to Japan and led the country to its greatest rugby triumph, but the pugnacious Australian has plenty to prove as he returns as Brave Blossoms head coach.

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WTA boss Steve Simon to leave role as CEO but stay on as exec

WTA boss Steve Simon will relinquish his position as CEO but remain as executive chairman following the appointment of his replacement, the governing body of women's tennis said Tuesday as it announced an organizational restructure.

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San Francisco signs South Korean Jung Hoo Lee for $113 million

The San Francisco Giants made their offseason splash by signing South Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million contract, several media reports said Tuesday.

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Dodgers, Red Sox and Jays to meet with Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Highly coveted Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto has already met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, and per multiple media reports, he's slated to talk with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and a few other teams soon.

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Lyles and Kipyegon named track athletes of the year

American sprinter Noah Lyles and Kenya's Faith Kipyegon were named the men's and women's track athletes of the year by World Athletics on Monday.

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Ohtani mentor Kuriyama sees more landmarks for new Dodger

New Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani still has plenty more to achieve in his already unparalleled career, his first professional manager and former national team skipper Hideki Kuriyama said Monday.

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People in Japan elated with Ohtani's record deal with Dodgers

People in Shohei Ohtani's home prefecture and cities across Japan were elated on Sunday by news of the two-way star's record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Ozaki hat trick steals show in Cane, Kolbe Sungoliath debut

Seiya Ozaki scored a hat trick of tries Sunday as Tokyo Sungoliath overwhelmed reigning champions Kubota Spears 52-26 in the opening round of the Japan Rugby League One season.

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Philippines, China trade blame for collision in disputed waters

A Philippine boat and a Chinese Coast Guard ship collided near a hotly contested reef on Sunday, with both countries trading blame for the latest such confrontation in the disputed South China Sea.

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Kaori Sakamoto wins first Grand Prix Final title

Reigning world figure skating champion Kaori Sakamoto picked up her first Grand Prix Final title Saturday.

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Kawasaki tops Kashiwa in shootout to lift Emperor's Cup

Kawasaki Frontale won their second Emperor's Cup after beating Kashiwa Reysol 8-7 in an epic penalty shootout following a goalless 120 minutes on Saturday.

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All Blacks Retallick and Savea lead Kobe Steelers to big win

All Blacks forwards Brodie Retallick and Ardie Savea each scored a brace of tries to power the Kobe Steelers to an 80-15 thrashing of the newly promoted Mie Heat in the opening game of the Japan Rugby League One season Saturday.

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IOC clears some Russians to compete in Paris as neutrals

Olympic chiefs on Friday gave the green light to the participation of some Russian and Belarusian individual athletes at next year's Paris Games as neutrals, as long as they do not actively support the war against Ukraine.

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Clash of styles between Columbus and LAFC awaits in MLS Cup

The Columbus Crew are seeking their third MLS title and Los Angeles FC are aiming for back-to-back championships in Saturday's MLS Cup final which promises to be a true contrast in styles.

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Jon Rahm joins LIV in deal reportedly worth over $300 million

After weeks of speculation, two-time major champion Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf on Thursday.

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Top MLB free agent Yamamoto to travel to U.S. to meet with Yankees

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to travel to the United States to meet with the New York Yankees on Monday, according to MLB.com.

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Title holders Urawa Reds dumped out of Asian Champions League

The defending champion Urawa Reds crashed out of the Asian Champions League on Wednesday as the Japanese side slipped to a 2-1 loss against hosts Hanoi FC, meaning the three-time winners cannot qualify for the last 16.

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Yankees to acquire slugger Juan Soto in blockbuster trade

Juan Soto will be wearing pinstripes next season.

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Dreadlocked Japanese fan favorite Horie to retire from rugby

Japan rugby international Shota Horie said Wednesday he will retire at the end of this season after playing in four World Cups including a 2019 quarterfinal on home soil.

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Lionel Messi named Time's 'Athlete of the Year'

Lionel Messi has been named Time magazine's "Athlete of the Year" for 2023 after a trailblazing season marked by an eighth Ballon d'Or award and his ground-breaking move to Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.

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Shohei Ohtani decision expected 'within the week,' reports say

Shohei Ohtani plans to decide where to sign "within the week," MLB Network reported on Monday, as the Winter Meetings began in Nashville, Tennessee.

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New in-season tournament delivering early returns for NBA

If you happened to tune into an NBA game in November on a Tuesday or Friday night, you might have noticed that the court looked different — with every inch of hardwood painted, and a broad stripe running through the middle from baseline-to-baseline. The special paint jobs, as you probably figured out soon thereafter, are for the new NBA In-Season Tournament.

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'The Rocket' Ronnie O'Sullivan becomes oldest UK snooker champion

Ronnie O'Sullivan became the oldest UK snooker champion after securing a 10-7 victory over China's Ding Junhui to claim a record-extending eighth title in York on Sunday.

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City's Pep Guardiola not ready to sound alarm despite lack of wins

Manchester City's longest winless run in the Premier League in six years is no cause for alarm, according to manager Pep Guardiola after his side's thrilling 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

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Germany to take on Scotland in Euro 2024 opener as draw set

Hosts Germany will face Scotland in the opening match of Euro 2024 in Munich following the draw on Saturday, while defending champions Italy will be in the same group as Spain.

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Late draw seals J1 return for Verdy at Shimizu's expense

Itsuki Someno scored a dramatic late penalty Saturday to secure Tokyo Verdy's return to the J. League's top flight for the first time since 2008 with a 1-1 draw against Shimizu S-Pulse in the promotion playoff final.

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Tahiti villagers say barge to build Olympic surf tower damages reef

A barge planned for use building a controversial judging tower for the Paris 2024 Olympic surfing competition in Tahiti snagged on a reef and damaged coral near the contest site, local opponents said.

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Four teams remain in Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, report says

The bidding for coveted free agent Shohei Ohtani is down to four teams, with the winner expected to pay more than $500 million for the services of the two-time American League Most Valuable Player, ESPN reported Friday.

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Germany hosts Euro 2024 draw as contenders wait to learn fate

The draw for Euro 2024 takes place in the port city of Hamburg on Saturday, when France, England and the other leading contenders will learn the path to potential continental glory that awaits them next summer.

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Eagles to release pitcher Anraku over workplace abuse

The Rakuten Eagles will release pitcher Tomohiro Anraku after investigating troubling allegations of harassment against him, the Pacific League club's president, Masayuki Morii, said Thursday.

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After difficult F1 season, Hamilton admits to self-doubt

Lewis Hamilton has admitted to moments of self doubt after the 38-year-old Mercedes driver's second successive Formula One season without a win.

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Last-gasp effort keeps Urawa alive in Asian Champions League

The defending champion Urawa Red Diamonds stayed alive in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday after retiring striker Jose Kante scored a 90th-minute winner to sink China's Wuhan Three Towns.

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England's Farrell to skip Six Nations to prioritize mental health

England captain Owen Farrell will not be available for the 2024 Six Nations after deciding to take a break from international rugby "to prioritize his and his family's mental well-being."

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Sapporo left out as IOC signals 2030 and 2034 Games hosts

The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday named Salt Lake City, Utah, as its preferred host for the 2034 Winter Olympics, extinguishing Sapporo's hopes of hosting the games.

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Kirishima takes Emperor’s Cup and yokozuna hopes from Takakeisho

Like ships that pass in the night, the yokozuna promotion hopes of ozeki pair Takakeisho and Kirishima briefly intersected on the final day of the November tournament.

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Detroit Tigers sign right-hander Maeda to two-year deal

The Detroit Tigers have signed right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda to a two-year contract worth $24 million, the major league club said Tuesday.

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Five star Kawasaki ease into Asian Champions League last 16

Kawasaki Frontale cruised into the knockout rounds of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday after a 5-0 win over Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim earned them a fifth group stage win.

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Tigers rookie Murakami and Orix ace Yamamoto named MVPs

Hanshin Tigers pitcher Shoki Murakami and Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto were named MVPs of their respective leagues on Tuesday.

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Oh vows return to top of Japanese baseball for Hawks

The chairman of the SoftBank Hawks, Sadaharu Oh, expressed frustration Monday over the team's third-place finish in the Pacific League.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto named to third straight Best Nine team

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the runaway choice as the best pitcher in the Pacific League on Monday, when the winners of NPB’s annual Best Nine awards were announced.

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Free-agent pitcher Kenta Maeda set to join Tigers

Right-hander Kenta Maeda is set to join the Detroit Tigers after agreeing to a two-year, $24 million contract, MLB.com reported Sunday.

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Kirishima achieves goal by honoring stablemaster with title

Ozeki Kirishima said Monday that winning the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament under the name he inherited from his stablemaster made the victory extra special.

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Max Verstappen wraps up record-breaking season in style

Max Verstappen completed a majestic season in familiar style on Sunday, cruising to his record-extending 19th win of the year for Red Bull at an action-packed Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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Jannik Sinner carries Italy to Davis Cup title over Australia

Italy won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1976 as Jannik Sinner crushed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-0 to seal a 2-0 win over Australia on Sunday in Malaga.

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Lee holds off Hoshino to claim Australian PGA Championship

Min Woo Lee overcame an early wobble to win the Australian PGA Championship by three shots from Rikuya Hoshino on Sunday with a final-round 68, earning the Western Australian the title at Royal Queensland.

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Verstappen on pole as Tsunoda qualifies sixth

Red Bull's Max Verstappen took the final pole position of the Formula One season on Saturday with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc joining the triple world champion on the front row and Japan's Yuki Tsunoda qualifying a surprise sixth at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit.

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Vissel Kobe found own style and bucked adversity in rise to top

After making their mark with a host of big name European imports, Vissel Kobe reached the J. League summit this season led by a core of Japanese stars playing a style far removed from the Barcelona-inspired tactics that initially brought the club success.

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Yuma Kagiyama beats Shoma Uno for NHK Trophy title

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama capped his return from injury with victory at the NHK Trophy on Saturday, edging world champion Shoma Uno, who finished second, in the men's competition.

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Kirishima beats Atamifuji to take solo lead into final day

Ozeki Kirishima put one hand on his second Emperor's Cup by beating rank-and-file underdog Atamifuji in a battle between the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament's two remaining contenders on Saturday.

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Vissel Kobe wins first J. League top division title

Vissel Kobe clinched their first J-League top-flight title on Saturday by beating Nagoya Grampus 2-1 at home in the penultimate round of the season.

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Gianpiero Lambiase embraces role as man in Max Verstappen’s ear

When Max Verstappen joined Red Bull in 2016, all Gianpiero Lambiase knew about the 18-year-old was that he was "this incoming superstar.”

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Super Rugby's Chiefs and Blues to face Japanese clubs in February

The Waikato Chiefs and Auckland Blues will travel to Japan in February for games against top local teams in preparation for the Super Rugby Pacific season, officials said Friday.

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Cowboys dominate Commanders in Thanksgiving showdown

Dak Prescott continued his mastery of the Washington Commanders, and DaRon Bland set an NFL record with his fifth interception return for a touchdown of the season as the Dallas Cowboys rolled to a 45-10 victory in their annual Thanksgiving Day game in Arlington, Texas.

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Lewis Hamilton denies having talks about joining Red Bull team

Lewis Hamilton accused Christian Horner of "stirring" after the Red Bull Formula One boss said a representative of the seven-time world champion approached him about joining the team before the Briton signed a new contract with Mercedes.

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Qatar still reaping benefits of World Cup one year later

One year after the Qatar World Cup, billboards emblazoned with the tournament's official slogan, "All is now," still stand by Doha's roadsides.

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BayStars pitcher Shota Imanaga set to be posted by Monday

Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga is likely to be posted for negotiations with U.S. major league teams by Monday, according to a report from MLB.com.

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Palestinians fly flags in emotional World Cup qualifier in Kuwait

Palestinian flags and the black-and-white keffiyeh scarf flew high in Kuwait's Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium as soccer fans unleashed their emotions in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

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Rampant Japan dispatch Syria in World Cup qualifier

Japan cruised past Syria on Tuesday with their second successive 5-0 win as Hajime Moriyasu's men remained on top of Group B in the Asian second-round qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

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Italy reaches Euro 2024 after tense 0-0 draw with Ukraine

Italy qualified for Euro 2024 after drawing 0-0 against Ukraine in their final Group C qualifier on Monday, although the Ukrainians can still secure a spot through the playoffs.

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One-day format revived as Australia gatecrashes India's World Cup

India played the tournament's best cricket for nearly six weeks, but it was the familiar sight of Australia celebrating with the trophy as fireworks exploded overhead when the 13th edition of the Cricket World Cup came to a close on Sunday.

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MLB pursuit of Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets under way

Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto can begin negotiating with Major League Baseball teams on Tuesday after officially posting as a free agent.

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Moriyasu to opt for tried and tested lineup against Syria

Japan will not leave anything to chance in its "tough" Asian World Cup qualifying match against Syria, manager Hajime Moriyasu said Monday.

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Pat Cummins hails Australia's World Cup title as 'pinnacle in cricket'

Pat Cummins said captaining Australia to World Cup title glory was the "pinnacle in cricket" after his side dashed the dreams of tournament host India with a six-wicket win in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

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Samurai Japan to play two games against European select team

The Japan national baseball team will play a European select team in two practice matches on March 6 and 7 at Kyocera Dome Osaka, NPB Enterprises Inc. said Monday.

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Lions use late rally to edge Bears

Jared Goff overcame a shaky start to lead the Detroit Lions to a dramatic come-from-behind win over the Chicago Bears, as the in-form Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers cruised to easy victories in the NFL on Sunday.

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Novak Djokovic hungry for more after seventh ATP Finals triumph

Novak Djokovic has no intention of slowing down after capping another incredible year with his record-breaking seventh ATP Finals victory on Sunday.

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Elfyn Evans cruises to victory at season-ending Rally Japan

Britain's Elfyn Evans won the season-ending Rally Japan on Sunday after leading for almost the entire race, while newly crowned world champion Kalle Rovanpera finished third.

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France breaks records as trio of teams qualify for Euro 2024

Kylian Mbappe scored a hattrick in France's record-breaking 14-0 thrashing of 10-man Gibraltar as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Romania booked their places at Euro 2024 on Saturday.

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Yang and Hataoka share lead after surge at Tour Championship

South Korea's Amy Yang and Nasa Hataoka of Japan put a little distance between themselves and the field Saturday and share the lead after three rounds of the LPGA's season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.

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Takakeisho and Kotonowaka beaten on day of upsets in Kyushu

Ozeki Takakeisho's bid for yokozuna promotion took a hit with a shock loss to No. 4 maegashira Gonoyama, while sekiwake Kotonowaka missed a shot at the outright lead by falling to slippery No. 1 maegashira Ura on Saturday at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Japan routs Australia in Asia Professional Baseball Championship

Samurai Japan will take an undefeated record and a lot of momentum into the final of the Asia Professional Baseball Championship on Sunday night.

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Figure skating's Hanyu announces divorce amid slander, stalking troubles

Japanese figure skating icon and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu announced his divorce on social media Friday, only three months after his marriage was publicized, saying the couple has been troubled by slander, stalking and overheated media reporting.

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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to meet for undisputed title

Tyson Fury vowed to deliver a "fight for the ages" as his "historic" clash with Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title was confirmed for Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia.

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Japan begins World Cup qualifying in style with win over Myanmar

Asia's soccer heavyweights got off to fast starts in World Cup qualifying, with Japan, Australia and South Korea combining for 17 goals in big wins on home soil on Thursday.

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MLB owners give stamp of approval to Athletics' move to Las Vegas

Major League Baseball owners voted to approve the move of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas, the team said on Thursday, ending years of speculation over the club's future.

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Shohei Ohtani wins second American League MVP award

Shohei Ohtani was one of the top hitters in MLB again. He was also one of the top pitchers again.

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Orix ace Yamamoto headed for record first MLB contract

When Yoshinobu Yamamoto hits the market this winter following his posting by the Pacific League's Orix Buffaloes, MLB teams expect his contract will easily surpass the $155 million Masahiro Tanaka received, currently the largest for a Japanese player ahead of his American debut.

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Yankees' Gerrit Cole and Padres' Blake Snell win Cy Young Awards

After several misses in his stellar career, Gerrit Cole broke through and won his first American League Cy Young Award in unanimous fashion, it was announced Wednesday on MLB Network. In the National League, Blake Snell became a two-time winner of the award.

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Top wrestlers' hot starts set stage for dramatic Kyushu tourney

Terunofuji’s absence aside, professional sumo has just produced the most encouraging start to a tournament in several years.

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Rory McIlroy resigns from PGA Tour board

Rory McIlroy, the esteemed golfer who was among the most outspoken opponents of his sport’s swelling ties to Saudi Arabia, has resigned from the PGA Tour’s board.

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Manslaughter arrest made over U.K. ice hockey death

Police on Tuesday arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter over the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson, whose neck was cut during a game in Sheffield, England.

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Sinner digs deep to down Djokovic in ATP Finals epic

Novak Djokovic's winning streak was halted at 19 matches as home favorite Jannik Sinner roared to a tight, three-set victory in front of a partisan ATP Finals crowd on Tuesday.

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Thousands line Manchester streets to bid farewell to Bobby Charlton

Thousands of people lined the streets of Manchester on Monday to pay their final respects to Manchester United and England great Bobby Charlton, who died last month at the age of 86.

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Urawa's Ito latest to withdraw from injury-hit Japan squad

Urawa Reds midfielder Atsuki Ito on Monday joined the growing list of injury withdrawals from the Japan squad for its two second-round Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

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Young ozeki duo may be ready to step into spotlight at Kyushu Basho

Sumo moved to its current six tournament a year system in 1958 — a change which brought the number of bouts fought in a calendar year up to 90.

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Eddie Jones expects to to land new job by January

Former Australia head coach Eddie Jones expects to be working again by January, with several national teams and a European club side interested in his services, he was cited as saying in Australian media on Monday.

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Wataru Morishige wins third World Cup men's 500

Wataru Morishige won his third career men's speedskating World Cup 500-meter race, with Japanese compatriot Tatsuya Shinhama finishing second on Sunday, the final day of the season-opening meet.

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Young ozeki duo may be ready to step into spotlight at Kyushu Basho

Sumo moved to its current six tournament a year system in 1958 — a change which brought the number of bouts fought in a calendar year up to 90.

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Japan Series champion Tigers lead way with five Golden Glove winners

Hanshin Tigers second baseman Takumu Nakano continued a banner year by ending Hiroshima Carp maestro Ryosuke Kikuchi’s decade-long reign as the top defensive second baseman in the Central League.

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Shohei Ohtani captures second Silver Slugger award

Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani received his second Silver Slugger Award when he was named the American League's best offensive player at designated hitter on Thursday.

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Naomi Osaka to make return at Brisbane International

Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka will return to the WTA Tour after a break of 15 months at the Brisbane International, a warmup for the Australian Open in January, organizers said Friday.

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Manchester United on brink of Champions League exit after collapse

Manchester United are on the brink of an early exit from the Champions League after blowing a 2-0 lead to lose 4-3 on Wednesday to FC Copenhagen as Marcus Rashford was sent-off in the Danish capital.

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Eagles closer Yuki Matsui set to test MLB free agent market

Japanese left-handed pitcher Yuki Matsui said Wednesday he aims to sign with a major league club as a free agent this offseason.

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Tigers’ triumph resonates in a sumo world full of Kansai natives

Despite a losing record in September that dropped him to the lowest rung of sumo’s fourth tier (sandanme) for the upcoming Fukuoka grand sumo tournament, Naoki Shiomoto has to be feeling pretty great right now.

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Jones interested in coaching Japan again if opportunity arises

Former Japan rugby head coach Eddie Jones said Tuesday that he is interested in coaching the Brave Blossoms again but — so far — he has not received an offer.

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Second-half goals see Kawasaki stay perfect in Asian Champions League

Kawasaki Frontale moved a step closer to the Asian Champions League last 16 with a 4-2 home win over Thailand's BG Pathum United at Todoroki Stadium on Tuesday that took the Japanese side six points clear at the top of Group I.

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Three things we learned from the Brazilian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen and Red Bull continued their domination of the Formula One season on Sunday while their rivals, once again, toiled in frustrated pursuit.

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Reds captain Sakai has season-ending knee surgery

Urawa Reds captain Hiroki Sakai had meniscus surgery on his right knee Monday, the J-League football club said.

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Ito scores second goal of season to send Reims past Nantes

Japan winger Junya Ito hit the winner, his second goal of the season, as Reims beat Nantes 1-0 away in France's Ligue 1 on Sunday.

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Erasmus to coach South Africa at start of new World Cup cycle

Rassie Erasmus is to return as head coach of South Africa for the foreseeable future, he confirmed to local media on Sunday, reprising the position he held when the side lifted the World Cup in 2019.

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Buffaloes to allow ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to move to MLB

The Orix Buffaloes will make ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto available to MLB teams via the posting system, the club announced shortly after its loss to the Hanshin Tigers in Game 7 of the Japan Series at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Sunday night.

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Brazil submits letter of intent to host 2027 Women's World Cup

Brazil has submitted a letter of intent to soccer's governing body FIFA to host the 2027 Women's World Cup, the South American country's Minister of Sports Andre Fufuca said Saturday.

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Inami wins LPGA Japan Classic after Hataoka collapse

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Mone Inami won the LPGA Japan Classic on Sunday after overnight co-leader Nasa Hataoka fell apart in the final round.

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Yuzuru Hanyu performs for first time since marriage

Two-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu kicked off his first solo ice show tour Saturday in Saitama.

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In likely farewell, Yamamoto dazzles one last time for Buffaloes fans

There was a simple reason Orix Buffaloes manager Satoshi Nakajima put his complete faith in Yoshinobu Yamamoto with the season on the line and the ace pitcher coming off the worst start of his career.

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Avispa tops Urawa in Levain Cup final for first major title

Avispa Fukuoka won the first major title in club history on Saturday by beating Urawa Reds 2-1 in the J. League YBC Levain Cup final.

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Luis Suarez reportedly set to join Inter Miami

Inter Miami are continuing with their Barcelona reunion plan, as forward Luis Suarez is set to join the Major League Soccer club ahead of next season, according to an ESPN report on Friday.

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All Blacks captain Sam Cane to join Suntory

All Blacks captain Sam Cane will join Japanese club Suntory for the 2024 season, New Zealand Rugby said Friday, but will still be available to play internationals next year.

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Rangers down Diamondbacks in Game 5 for first World Series title

Bruce Bochy could hardly keep the smile off his face, his new gray T-shirt drenched in some form of liquid from his team's clubhouse celebration.

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NHL and union discuss on-ice safety after player's death in England

The National Hockey League and the union representing its players have been in contact regarding further safety measures after a player in Britain's Elite Ice Hockey League died when an opposing player's skate blade cut his neck.

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Bobby Knight, basketball coach known for trophies and tantrums, dies at 83

Bobby Knight, one of college basketball’s signature coaches and a singular personality renowned for his tempestuousness and hubris, qualities that helped bring him to the pinnacle of his sport and also tainted his success, died Wednesday at his home in Bloomington, Indiana. He was 83.

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How Yuki Udagawa’s steely nerves quieted Koshien’s raucous crowd

The noise was at deafening levels at Koshien Stadium during the late stages of Game 3 in this Japan Series.

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Offensive explosion moves Rangers to cusp of World Series title

The Texas Rangers exploded for back-to-back five-run innings, turning a Halloween Game 4 of the World Series into a nightmare for the Arizona Diamondbacks and their fans Tuesday night.

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Bridging the Gulf: How the World Cup is key to Saudi revamp

Standing on the verge of hosting the World Cup is an undeniable win for oil power Saudi Arabia as it pushes to reshape its economy and shake off its questionable image, analysts say.

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Rangers bounce back to down Diamondbacks and lead World Series

Corey Seager smashed a two-run homer as the Texas Rangers bounced back to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Monday and take a 2-1 lead in the World Series.

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Messi wins record eighth Ballon d'Or for best player in the world

Argentina captain Lionel Messi won a record eighth Ballon d'Or for the best player in the world on Monday, beating Norway's UEFA player of the year and treble winner Erling Haaland of Manchester City to the prestigious prize.

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Nadeshiko Japan beat Uzbekistan 2-0 in Olympic qualifying

Moeka Minami and Remina Chiba slotted early goals as Japan eased to a 2-0 victory away to Uzbekistan in Olympic women's football qualifying Sunday.

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World Cup defeat 'puts fire in belly' of All Black Savea for 2027

New Zealand No. 8 Ardie Savea said on Sunday that losing the Rugby World Cup final gives him extra motivation for the next edition of the tournament in 2027.

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After Game 1 loss, is this the end for Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Japan?

Yoshinobu Yamamoto emerged from the Orix Buffaloes’ clubhouse over an hour after Game 1 of the Japan Series and strode through the center of a pack of reporters watching his every move. The star pitcher then stopped to share a brief greeting and smile with a friend before hopping into a black car and riding off into the night.

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Diamondbacks rout Rangers to pull level in World Series

Arizona pitcher Merrill Kelly struck out nine and scattered three hits over seven innings to spark the Diamondbacks to a 9-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday and level the World Series.

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Siya Kolisi happy to escape 'dark place' for World Cup glory

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said New Zealand had taken his side to a "dark place" in the Rugby World Cup final, but praised his South Africa side for finding a way to win a record fourth title.

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Springboks hold off 14-man All Blacks to win World Cup

South Africa produced a magnificent defensive display to edge 14-man New Zealand 12-11 in an arm-wrestle of a Rugby World Cup final on Saturday and win the Webb Ellis Cup for a record fourth time.

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Tigers take bite out of Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Japan Series opener

The opening game of the Japan Series was playing out like the pitcher’s duel everyone expected with a pair of aces on the mound recording out after out.

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Adolis Garcia's blast lifts Rangers in World Series opener

Adolis Garcia etched his name into the record books in grand style.

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'It's real': Diamondbacks ready to silence critics, says Lovullo

The Arizona Diamondbacks are ready to show they are the real deal after an improbable run to the World Series, manager Torey Lovullo said on Thursday as the team prepares to face the Texas Rangers on the road in Friday's Game 1.

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Watarai and Takeuchi most sought-after players in NPB draft

Corporate league outfielder Ryuki Watarai and college pitcher Natsuki Takeuchi were the most sought-after players in Nippon Professional Baseball's new-player entry draft on Thursday, when both players were named by three teams each as their top choice.

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Ukrainian wrestler aims to make impact in Japan's world of sumo

A 19-year-old wrestler who fled the war in Ukraine will take a step toward fulfilling his sumo dream next month in Fukuoka.

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Itakura to undergo ankle surgery, casting doubt on Japan games

Borussia Monchengladbach and Japan defender Ko Itakura will undergo surgery for an injured ankle and will be sidelined for several weeks, the Bundesliga club said on Thursday, making him doubtful for his country's upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

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Kyogo Furuhashi scores as Celtic and Atletico play to draw

Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi scored in a second straight Champions League match and Daizen Maeda had an assist as Celtic drew 2-2 at home against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday to earn its first point after three games in Group E.

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Takakeisho heads to Kyushu Basho with yokozuna promotion in sight

Ozeki Takakeisho could be promoted to yokozuna at the end of next month.

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All-Kansai Japan Series offers new chance to remember foreign aces

This season’s Japan Series will be an exclusively Kansai affair between the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes.

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Victor Wembanyama scores 15 in NBA debut with Spurs

French prodigy Victor Wembanyama scored 15 points in his much-anticipated NBA debut on but Luka Doncic's triple-double spoiled his night as the Dallas Mavericks beat the San Antonio Spurs 126-119 on Wednesday night.

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World Rugby changes open pathway for smaller nations

It has been a long time coming, and it will be a long time until its benefits are felt, but rugby's administrators seem to have finally found a way to untie the Gordian Knot that has seen the game forever hopelessly biased toward its traditional powers.

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'Butterflies' for Victor Wembanyama ahead of NBA debut

French teenager Victor Wembanyama admitted to having "butterflies" as he prepares to make his regular season NBA debut for the San Antonio Spurs.

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Saudi gamer prince announces Esports World Cup

Saudi Arabia said on Monday it would organize an Esports World Cup starting next year, the latest boost to a sector Riyadh hopes will create tens of thousands of local jobs.

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Victor Wembanyama set to take center stage when NBA season tips off

Victor Wembanyama will launch his bid to lead the San Antonio Spurs back to prominence, while the defending champion Denver Nuggets will be hoping to start a dynasty as the NBA season tips off on Tuesday.

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Rangers beat Astros to force Game 7 in ALCS

Adolis Garcia smashed a grand slam and the Texas Rangers beat the defending champion Houston Astros 9-2 on Sunday to force a winner-take-all showdown in the American League Championship Series.

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LIV Golf heads into offseason full of uncertainty

India's Anirban Lahiri fired a seven-under-par 65 to lead Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers to the LIV Golf Team Championship on Sunday, as the Saudi-backed series entered an offseason of uncertainty.

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Dominant Max Verstappen earns 50th career win

Newly minted three-time world champion Max Verstappen completed a hat trick of Texas victories when he claimed the 50th win of his career in a tense and strategic United States Grand Prix on Sunday.

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Max Verstappen beats Louis Hamilton to Austin sprint race victory

Red Bull's triple Formula One world champion Max Verstappen won a U.S. Grand Prix sprint race from pole position on Saturday after an early challenge from Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

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Handre Pollard's late penalty sends Springboks into RWC final

Replacement flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked a last-gasp penalty as South Africa somehow found a way to get past a dominant England on Saturday and claim a 16-15 victory that sent it into a World Cup final against fellow three-time champion New Zealand.

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Hiroki Kokubo promoted from farm team post to manage Hawks

Hiroki Kokubo was named as the new manager of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on Saturday, as their former star slugger was promoted from managing the Pacific League club's farm team.

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Shintaro Mochizuki's breakout run ends in Japan Open semifinals

World No. 215 Shintaro Mochizuki's impressive run at the Japan Open tennis championships ended Saturday in a straight-sets semifinal defeat to 50th-ranked Russian Aslan Karatsev.

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Vissel thrashes Antlers with Daiju Sasaki brace to maintain J1 lead

A brace by Daiju Sasaki and a Haruya Ide header shortly before halftime gave Vissel Kobe a commanding 3-1 win over Kashima Antlers on Saturday, as the team continued its seemingly unassailable march towards its first-ever J. League first-division title.

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Astros dominate Rangers on road to pull even in ALCS

The Houston Astros have tormented the Texas Rangers in Texas' home ballpark this season by averaging nine runs in their nine meetings there.

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Tigers close in on Japan Series berth after walk-off victory

The Hanshin Tigers moved to within one win or one tie of their first Japan Series berth in nine years when Seiya Kinami's ninth-inning single drove in the winning run in a 2-1 victory over the Hiroshima Carp in Game 2 of the Central League Climax Series Final Stage on Thursday.

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Wild-card Shintaro Mochizuki upsets Taylor Fritz at Japan Open

Defending champion Taylor Fritz said he could not cope with an "incredible" turnaround from world No. 215 Shintaro Mochizuki as he crashed out of the Japan Open in a stunning second-round loss on Thursday.

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Max Verstappen keeping foot on gas with more milestones in sight

Max Verstappen will be racing for pride, points and records this weekend at the United States Grand Prix, as his rivals compete for positional prize money behind the newly crowned champion.

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Cristian Javier shines again as Astros beat Rangers in Game 3

The Houston Astros felt they were in a must-win scenario Wednesday night, and had the right man on the mound to deal with it.

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FIFA official urges nations to fully support women's soccer

National soccer associations need to properly support their women's teams so they can perform at their best,

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J. League to support idea of starting season in August

The J. League said Wednesday it will push ahead with the idea of starting its soccer season in August, instead of February as it does now, a move that would bring it into line with top competitions in Europe.

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Buffaloes rally past Marines in PLCS final stage opener

Kotaro Kurebayashi drove in three runs to back Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the Orix Buffaloes rallied to beat the Chiba Lotte Marines 8-5 in Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series Final Stage Wednesday.

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Harry Kane scores twice as England beats Italy to qualify for Euros

Harry Kane scored a brace as a Jude Bellingham-inspired England came from behind to beat reigning champion Italy 3-1 and march into the Euro 2024 finals in a Group C qualifier at Wembley on Tuesday.

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NFL wants to clear a path to Olympics for players

The Super Bowl may be the National Football League's ultimate prize, but the NFL said on Tuesday it wants to see their players on the Olympic stage going for gold after flag football was added to the program for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

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Patrick Mahomes and Rory McIlroy join investors in F1's Alpine

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and golfer Rory McIlroy have joined a cast of top athletes in investing in the Renault-owned Alpine Formula One team.

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Kyogo Furuhashi, Junya Ito score as Samurai Blue ease past Tunisia

Kyogo Furuhashi scored at his old hunting ground and Junya Ito joined him on the scoresheet as Japan beat Tunisia 2-0 on Tuesday for its sixth straight win in international friendlies.

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Kenyan marathon runner Titus Ekiru hit with 10-year doping ban

Kenyan marathon runner Titus Ekiru has been slapped with a 10-year ban for doping and trying to obstruct the investigation, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said Monday.

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Sliding events at 2026 Winter Olympics to be held outside Italy

Sliding events at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will be staged outside Italy following the failure to build a new track in Cortina, it was announced Monday.

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Marines advance to PLCS final stage with walk-off win

Hisanori Yasuda hit a walk-off double in the 10th inning as the Chiba Lotte Marines advanced to the final stage of the Pacific League Climax Series playoffs with a dramatic 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on Monday.

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Carp finish off BayStars to set up clash with Tigers

The Hiroshima Carp defeated the DeNA BayStars 4-2 on Sunday to sweep their best-of-three Central League Climax Series' first stage in two games to set up a clash with the CL champion Hanshin Tigers.

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Iwasaki earns first career win at Japan Open

Aguri Iwasaki earned his first career domestic tour title Sunday, winning the Japan Open golf championship by two strokes.

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Sebastian Coe says IOC made 'only decision' in banning Russia

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said Saturday the International Olympic Committee had made the "only decision left open to them" in suspending Russia's national Olympic body for violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine's membership.

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All Blacks end Johnny Sexton's career with more World Cup woe for Ireland

Three-time champion New Zealand inflicted more World Cup heartbreak on Ireland on Saturday, beating them 28-24 to bring a bitterly disappointing end to Irish captain Johnny Sexton's stellar career.

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Sanfrecce outlasts Albirex for WE League Cup title

Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina captured the 2023 WE League Cup on Saturday, earning the club’s first silverware in a penalty shootout win over Albirex Niigata after 120 minutes of intense but scoreless action.

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Chiefs hold off Broncos to improve to 5-1

Patrick Mahomes passed for 306 yards and one touchdown and the Kansas City Chiefs used a strong defensive performance on Thursday night to earn a 19-8 victory over the visiting Denver Broncos.

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Toshiaki Imae among candidates to become Eagles' next manager

Tohoku Rakuten Eagles hitting coach Toshiaki Imae is among the candidates being considered for the club's next manager, team sources said Friday.

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Third-place squads face long road to Japan Series

Congratulations DeNA BayStars and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks fans, your teams finished the NPB marathon in third place and qualified for the postseason.

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South Africa benefiting from Siya Kolisi's leadership at World Cup

The most vivid image from the 2019 Rugby World Cup is that of a triumphant Siya Kolisi, the first black player to captain South Africa in a test, lifting the Webb Ellis trophy after the Springboks' 32-12 win over England in Yokohama.

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IOC bans Russian Olympic Committee over annexed Ukrainian territories

The Russian Olympic Committee was banned with immediate effect on Thursday for recognizing regional organizations from four territories annexed from Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee said.

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Breakers grapple with hip-hop’s Olympic moment

The thumping music died to a whisper upon Alien Ness’ request. As the veteran breaker — never "break dancer” — stalked and snaked around the room, his many rings caught the spotlight that illuminated the dance floor.

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Upstart Diamondbacks finish off sweep of Dodgers

Not long after the Arizona Diamondbacks won another postseason series on Wednesday night, it was time to frolic in the Chase Field swimming pool beyond right field, a place where the Diamondbacks have congregated to celebrate clinching victories.

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Eagles closer Yuki Matsui interested in MLB move

Left-handed pitcher Yuki Matsui, who has recorded 236 saves during his career for the Pacific League's Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, is interested in testing the free-agent market this winter, including a possible move to Major League Baseball, a baseball source said Wednesday.

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American women make history at Sumo World Championships in Tokyo

History was made in Tokyo this week when the United States women’s sumo team claimed its first-ever Sumo World Championships medals.

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Kenta Maeda allows a run as Astros clobber Twins to lead ALDS

Kenta Maeda allowed a run over two innings of relief as the Minnesota Twins were battered 9-1 by the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Tuesday.

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'We're not monsters,' says Afghanistan coach ahead of WC qualifiers

Afghanistan will begin its first World Cup qualifying campaign since the Taliban's return to power on Thursday, with head coach Abdullah Al-Mutairi looking to push politics aside and let his team focus on beating Mongolia.

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Marines clinch playoffs and eliminate Eagles in do-or-die game

Kazuya Ojima pitched seven shutout innings as the Chiba Lotte Marines clinched a Pacific League Climax Series berth with a 5-0 win Tuesday over the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, who were eliminated from the playoff race at the final hurdle.

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Japanese rugby faces murky future following World Cup exit

The streets of Nantes on Sunday night were a sign of what could have been for Japan. Hordes of Argentinians, decked out in their national colors, gathered on the cobblestones to drink the pubs dry and belt out chants as they celebrated another week at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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Buffaloes rookie Ryuhei Sotani earns first pro win against Hawks

Orix Buffaloes rookie left-hander Ryuhei Sotani allowed just one hit over six shutout innings to earn his first professional win in a 4-1 victory over potential Pacific League playoff opponents the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on Monday.

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Hidemasa Morita scores winner as Sporting beats Arouca

Japan midfielder Hidemasa Morita's first goal of the season delivered a 2-1 home win for 10-man Sporting Lisbon against Arouca in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Sunday.

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Japan shows heart in bittersweet finale at Rugby World Cup

The phrase “do or die” was bandied around a lot in the buildup to Japan’s final Pool D game against Argentina at the Rugby World Cup.

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Buffaloes delay Marines' march into playoffs

Yutaro Sugimoto put a damper on the Chiba Lotte Marines' hopes of clinching a playoff spot Saturday afternoon, when he homered twice in the Orix Buffaloes' 4-1 Pacific League win that left Lotte's postseason plans in limbo.

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'Shigekix' Nakarai dances to Asian Games breaking gold, Olympic spot

Japan's Shigeyuki Nakarai won the men's gold medal battle for breaking, also known as breakdancing, while China's Liu Qingyi claimed women's gold at the Asian Games on Saturday.

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Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo wins La Liga monthly MVP for September

Japan midfielder Takefusa Kubo was named La Liga Player of the Month for September on Friday following a run of outstanding performances for Real Sociedad.

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Brave Blossoms braced for climactic showdown against Argentina

There is a buzz about this one. You can just feel it. At the prematch news conferences, in the Loire Valley air, atop the crenelated battlements of the Chateau des ducs de Bretagne, and along the cobblestone streets of Nantes’ Centre-Ville.

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Team Japan defies crowd to top North Korea for Asian Games soccer gold

Team Japan was booed but kept its cool in an "interesting" atmosphere to beat North Korea 4-1 and retain the Asian Games women's soccer crown on Friday.

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Japan coach Joseph makes just one change for Argentina showdown

Japan made a single change for their crucial Rugby World Cup Pool D fixture against Argentina in Nantes on Sunday as Siosaia Fifita comes onto the left-wing for the key clash, where victory will seal a quarterfinal place.

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Dragons release Cuban pitcher Yariel Rodriguez

The Chunichi Dragons made Yariel Rodriguez a free agent Friday after the Cuban right-hander went the whole season without playing, having left the club with no prior notice.

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Lewis Hamiton says 'phenomenal' Max Verstappen raised bar in F1

Lewis Hamilton praised rival Max Verstappen for “raising the bar” this season and added his voice to those who support the American Andretti team’s bid to enter Formula One.

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Akari Fujinami takes gold at Asian Games to extend win streak to 130

Paris Olympics wrestling gold medal hopeful Akari Fujinami won the women's 53-kg category in style at the Asian Games on Thursday, extending her winning streak to 130 matches.

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Giants prepare to start new era as manager Tatsunori Hara walks away

Tatsunori Hara is leaving — again.

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Yusei Kikuchi stumbles as Twins sweep Blue Jays out of playoffs

Yusei Kikuchi made his first relief appearance of 2023 in a surprise pitching change that proved costly for the Toronto Blue Jays, as they were swept from the American League Wild Card series with a 2-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

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Japan earns three bronze medals in athletics at Asian Games

Japan picked up three bronze medals in athletics on Wednesday at the Asian Games — by Roderick Genki Dean in the men's javelin throw, Tomohiro Shinno in the men's high jump and Mariko Morimoto in the women's triple jump.

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FIFA World Cup be held across three continents in 2030

The World Cup will be very different when the 2030 edition rolls around.

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Ventforet secures historic ACL win over Buriram United

After earning their first Asian Champions League point more than 8,000 kilometers away, Ventforet Kofu captured three more much closer to home on Wednesday night.

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Former star shortstop Hirokazu Ibata named to manage Samurai Japan

Hirokazu Ibata, who was named his league's best overall shortstop five times, has been hired to manage Japan's senior men's national baseball team through the 2024 Premier 12 tournament, NPB Enterprise announced Wednesday.

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JSA on right track with new rules to increase pro sumo participation

One of the more exciting rikishi of 2023 has been Hakuoho, a high school and corporate sumo champion, recruited into professional sumo by Miyagino stablemaster (former yokozuna Hakuho).

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Japan legend Luke Thompson hopeful Brave Blossoms can make last 8

Former Japan stalwart Luke Thompson, a veteran of 71 test matches for his adopted country, believes the Brave Blossoms are capable of beating Argentina and reaching their second Rugby World Cup quarterfinals with "a bit of luck" on Sunday.

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Veteran Tsuyoshi Wada leads Hawks past Eagles to brink of playoffs

Veteran starter Tsuyoshi Wada threw 5⅓ shutout innings as the second-place Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks took a big step toward the Pacific League playoffs with a 7-3 win over the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on Tuesday.

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UEFA introduces new standards framework for women's national teams

UEFA released details of its first-ever minimum standards framework for women's national teams, after consultations with players, coaches and FIFPRO Europe, in an announcement on Monday.

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Death or glory? World Cup anchors changing game of one-day cricket

The Cricket World Cup that gets under way on Thursday will provide a sharp focus for one-day international (ODI) cricket — and a chance to show how the 50-over game has evolved since India last staged the tournament in 2011.

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North and South Korea meet for gold in table tennis women's doubles

Sports and politics should be kept separate. But for North and South Korean athletes, to play an inter-Korean gold medal match is something special — even if they deny it.

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Hideki Kuriyama and Sadaharu Oh hail Shohei Ohtani's home run feat

Japanese baseball luminaries Hideki Kuriyama and Sadaharu Oh on Monday lauded Shohei Ohtani after the Los Angeles Angels star became the first player from the country to lead a U.S. major league in home runs.

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Nishimura ties third as fellow LPGA rookie Ryu wins in Arkansas

Japanese rookie Yuna Nishimura achieved her best LPGA result Sunday at the NW Arkansas Championship, finishing four strokes behind winner Ryu Hae Ran of South Korea in a tie for third.

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Pumas sharpening their claws for Brave Blossoms World Cup clash

Argentina heads into its crunch Pool D game with Japan on Oct. 8 at the Rugby World Cup knowing that a draw could be enough to see it qualify for the quarterfinals.

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North Korean soccer players clash with referee after loss to Japan

North Korea soccer coach Sin Yong Nam defended his players after several clashed with match officials on the pitch after their 2-1 defeat to Japan in the Asian Games quarter-finals in Hangzhou on Sunday.

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Ohtani becomes first Japanese MLB home run champion

Shohei Ohtani has become the first Japanese player to lead a U.S. major league in home runs, capturing the American League title with 44 on Sunday, the last day of the regular season.

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North Korean sets weightlifting world record after four-year absence

North Korea's Ri Song Gum set a staggering world record Saturday as she won gold in the first weightlifting event of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, four years after her last international competition.

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Japan's Olympic body working on athletes' mental care

The Japanese Olympic Committee is trying to improve mental support for athletes, an issue raised in recent years by some of the world's top athletes such as gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Naomi Osaka.

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Sumo association officials punished over harassment claims

The Japan Sumo Association decided at a board meeting Thursday to discipline two officials for failing to properly pay overtime and repeatedly harassing some employees.

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Darcy Graham magic keeps Scotland's last-eight hopes intact

Darcy Graham scored four tries among his country's 12 as Scotland maintained its hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the Rugby World Cup by thrashing Romania 84-0 on Saturday.

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Mao Hosoya brace propels Reysol to win over Consadole

Mao Hosoya struck twice before halftime to spur Kashiwa Reysol to a 2-1 win over Consadole Sapporo in the J. League first division Saturday.

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Pegula books clash with Kudermetova in Tokyo final

Second seed Jessica Pegula produced a near-flawless display to power past the resurgent Maria Sakkari 6-2 6-3 on Saturday to reach the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo.

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Foul-mouthed Yuki Tsunoda becoming cult star in Formula One

The pressure was on Yuki Tsunoda. Within days, he would compete in a Formula One race in his home country, Japan. Bad luck had forced early exits in two previous races, and speculation was rife that he might be demoted after some disappointing performances.

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Ohtani becomes first Japanese player to lead MLB season jersey sales

Los Angeles Angels star slugger and pitcher Shohei Ohtani had the best-selling jersey of any Major League Baseball player this season, the first time a Japanese player topped the list.

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Vissel opens up four-point lead with win over F. Marinos

Vissel Kobe took a significant step toward the club’s maiden J. League title on Friday, defeating reigning champions Yokohama F. Marinos 2-0 to open a four-point gap at the top of the table.

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Zheng Qinwen captures title at Asian Games

U.S. Open quarterfinalist Zheng Qinwen called it an "incredible feeling" after winning Asian Games gold on Friday to burnish her fast-growing reputation.

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Qin Haiyang helps China continue gold rush in pool at Asian Games

World record holder Qin Haiyang won the men's 200-meter breaststroke in dominant fashion Thursday as China's swimming gold rush continued, while Japan ended the day without a gold medal in the pool at the Asian Games.

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Surprise call-up Lomano Lemeki inspires teammates at Rugby World Cup

Four years ago in Japan, Lomano Lava Lemeki rose to the occasion as the 2019 Rugby World Cup hosts defeated Samoa on their unbeaten run through the pool stages.

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Eagles top Buffaloes to move into third place in Pacific League

The Tohoku Rakuten Eagles twice came from behind against the Orix Buffaloes to move into third place in the Pacific League on the strength of a 9-5 victory on Thursday.

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Japan keeps quarterfinal hopes alive with win over Samoa at World Cup

Japan kept alive its hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup on Thursday, beating Samoa 28-22 in front of 31,794 fans at a hot and muggy Stadium de Toulouse.

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Games-Displaced Afghan women athletes defy Taliban at Asian Games

On a pristine volleyball court on the seventh floor of a massive training center in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, a team of Afghan women prepare for their first Asian Games in defiance of the Taliban government's antipathy toward women's sports.

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Uruguay accomplishes mission with win over Namibia at Rugby World Cup

Uruguay made sure to savor its victory over Namibia on Wednesday, as it was well aware the opportunity to add another Rugby World Cup success might not come any time soon.

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Mets' Kodai Senga reaches 200 strikeouts in final start of rookie season

Kodai Senga capped a stellar rookie campaign for the New York Mets by recording his 200th strikeout in his final start of the season on Wednesday.

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Sachiya Yamasaki pitches Buffaloes to victory over Hawks

Sachiya Yamasaki threw eight innings to outpitch Carter Stewart Jr. in a 1-0 Orix Buffaloes victory over the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the Pacific League on Wednesday.

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Japan grabs two more golds in pool at Asian Games

Japan picked up its second and third swimming gold medals of the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Wednesday, with Katsuhiro Matsumoto winning the men's 100-meter butterfly and Reona Aoki winning the women's 100 breaststroke.

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Stakes high for Brave Blossoms as crucial Samoa clash looms

One win, one loss. It’s not a ratio any team relishes with two Rugby World Cup pool games to play. But that’s where Japan and Samoa find themselves coming into their head-to-head clash in Toulouse, France, on Thursday.

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Keito Nakamura nets first Reims goal; Taichi Fukui makes Bayern debut

Japan attacker Keito Nakamura scored his first goal for Reims in the first-division French Ligue 1 on Tuesday, while 19-year-old Taichi Fukui made his top-team debut for Bayern Munich in the German Cup.

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Shohei Ohtani nears first home run title after Luis Robert Jr. injury

Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, ending his season and all but handing Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani his first American League home run title.

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Spain celebrates World Cup win with record crowd for Switzerland romp

Spain's 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup winners were given a rapturous reception as they played for the first time at home after their triumph, thrashing Switzerland 5-0 in the Nations League on Tuesday in front of a record crowd.

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Orioles' star third baseman Brooks Robinson dies at 86

Brooks Robinson, a virtuoso third baseman who was known as "The Human Vacuum Cleaner" because of his defensive prowess during a Hall of Fame career spent entirely with Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles, died on Tuesday. He was 86.

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China defeats Japan for Asian Games women's table tennis team gold

Japan fell short in its bid to upset table tennis superpower China on Tuesday, losing 3-0 in the women's team final at the Asian Games.

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Samoa hoping local knowledge will offer edge against Japan

When Japan takes on Samoa in Toulouse, France, in Pool D of the Rugby World Cup on Thursday, it will be up against a team that knows more than a thing or two about Japanese rugby.

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Mike Trout says he will play for Angels in 2024

In the wake of recent chatter suggesting he could request a trade in the offseason, Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout shot down the speculation on Monday.

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Veteran Tsuyoshi Wada pitches Hawks to big win over Marines

Tsuyoshi Wada threw five solid innings, backed by home runs from Kensuke Kondo and rookie Tomoya Inoue, as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks soared to a 10-1 win Monday over the Chiba Lotte Marines with potentially big implications for the Pacific League playoff race.

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Sorato Anraku and Ai Mori win as Japan dominates lead World Cup meet

Sorato Anraku led a Japanese men's podium sweep at the sport climbing lead World Cup in China's Wujiang on Sunday, while reigning world champion Ai Mori took out the women's competition.

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40-yr-old Ayumi Fukushima takes silver at world breakdancing championships

Veteran Ayumi Fukushima won women's silver at the world breakdancing championships on Sunday after being outclassed by Lithuania's Dominika Banevic on Sunday.

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Amateur race photographers thrive at Suzuka Circuit

Dozens of professional photographers from around the world converged on Suzuka Circuit to capture Sunday’s Formula One Japanese Grand Prix for photo agencies, news outlets and other publications.

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Rikako Ikee's relay team takes second place at Asian Games

Swimming star Rikako Ikee's Asian Games campaign got off to a bitter start as her 4x100-meter freestyle relay team finished a distant second behind China on Sunday.

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Wales blows out Australia to punch ticket to World Cup quarterfinals

Wales became the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup after producing a record-breaking performance to hammer Australia 40-6 in Lyon, France, on Sunday.

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Shosei Togo and Hayato Sakamoto lead Giants past BayStars

Young right-hander Shosei Togo threw a six-hit shutout while veteran Hayato Sakamoto homered twice and drove in five runs as the Yomiuri Giants crushed the DeNA BayStars 6-0 Sunday to keep their Central League postseason hopes alive.

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Upstart Atamifuji regains outright lead on penultimate day

Surprise packet Atamifuji closed to within one win of a sensational first top-division championship with a gritty victory over fellow rank-and-file wrestler Abi at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday.

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Ireland beat South Africa in statement World Cup win as England romp

Ireland moved to the brink of the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals by beating reigning champions South Africa 13-8 in a low-scoring but thoroughly absorbing match at the Stade de France on Saturday.

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China opens Hangzhou Asian Games with dazzling ceremony

China's President Xi Jinping opened the COVID-delayed 19th Asian Games in the Eastern city of Hangzhou during a spectacular and at times raucous ceremony on Saturday, which organizers hope will lift the mood in a nation struggling with an economic slump.

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In pictures: Race day at the Japanese Grand Prix

It's race day in Japan as tens of thousands of fans descend upon Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture to cheer on their favorite teams and drivers.

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The Japanese GP: Often the scene of title deciders — and controversy

From the culmination of James Hunt’s tense title fight with Nikki Lauda in 1976 to the bitter battles between Formula One legends Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost from 1988 to 1990, the Japanese Grand Prix has seen a lion’s share of dramatic championship-deciding races over the years.

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Upstart Atamifuji regains outright lead on penultimate day

Surprise packet Atamifuji closed to within one win of a sensational first top-division championship with a gritty victory over fellow rank-and-file wrestler Abi at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday.

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China hosts esports’ biggest moment with Tencent at the wheel

China scythed nearly $600 billion off Tencent Holdings' market value in its crackdown on tech and gaming. Now the country is betting on its biggest company — and professionalized video games — to help restore some national pride.

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Tsunoda thrills home fans in qualifying ninth for Japanese GP

Yuki Tsunoda had one of his best qualifying sessions of the season on Saturday in his home grand prix, placing his AlphaTauri ninth on the grid for Sunday’s race at Suzuka Circuit.

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In pictures: Day 2 of the Japanese Grand Prix

The stakes were rising on Saturday at the Japanese Grand Prix, as the 10 teams and 20 drivers vie for the top qualifying positions on Sunday's starting grid.

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AlphaTauri makes it official: Yuki Tsunoda keeps seat for 2024

Yuki Tsunoda will have one less thing on his mind when he lines up the grid Sunday at his home race.

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Gallery: Suzuka Circuit comes alive as Japanese GP practice begins

Thousands of fans converged on Suzuka Circuit on Friday for the first practice day of the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix.

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Tsunoda races into Suzuka as his F1 career reaches critical stage

Yuki Tsunoda stepped through the gates to the paddock on Thursday at Suzuka Circuit, signed autographs for some adoring fans and marched toward the AlphaTauri hospitality tent with a boom microphone hanging overhead and several cameras and reporters following his every move.

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Sebastian Vettel creates a buzz in Japan amid biodiversity crisis

There was a buzz going around Suzuka Circuit on Thursday, and it wasn’t just the excitement of fans ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

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Japan players give insight into Rugby World Cup preparation

Former Black Rams Tokyo and England player James Haskell is known for his love of the phrase "bin juice" in reference to players who get little to no playing time and whose duties are generally confined to the training paddock.

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Red Bull's march to the title in focus as F1 arrives in Japan

All eyes are on Red Bull as the Formula One circus sets up shop in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.

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Women's soccer players in Spain to end boycott

Spain's World Cup-winning women's squad agreed to end its boycott of the national team on Wednesday after the country's football federation, RFEF, said it would make "immediate and profound changes," including reshuffling its top management.

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Yamanaka back and ready to rock with Brave Blossoms at World Cup

Ryohei Yamanaka trained with the Japan Rugby World Cup squad for the first time Wednesday in Monaco following his call-up to replace Semisi Masirewa.

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Buffaloes' title win lets fans feel team's continuing resurgence

The Orix Buffaloes’ long-suffering fans were not in the building when the team completed its worst-to-first climb by winning the Pacific League pennant in 2021. When the Buffaloes won again in 2022, the team clinched the title on the road.

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Leader Atamifuji opens two-win gap as Takayasu beaten

Sole leader and No. 15 maegashira Atamifuji recorded a superb win over komusubi Tobizaru to open a two-win lead after 11 days of action at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday when his closest rival, No. 7 Takayasu, fell to his third defeat.

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Leader Atamifuji opens two-win gap as Takayasu beaten

Sole leader and No. 15 maegashira Atamifuji recorded a superb win over komusubi Tobizaru to open a two-win lead after 11 days of action at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday when his closest rival, No. 7 Takayasu, fell to his third defeat.

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Formula One fans fill up Tokyo festival ahead of Japanese Grand Prix

Formula One roared into the Tokyo nightlife district of Kabukicho on Wednesday afternoon, inviting thousands of fans to get close to some of their favorite cars and drivers ahead of the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit.

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Urawa pays price for hooliganism after years of looking the other way

For the second time in less than a decade, Urawa Reds have been handed a historic punishment by Japanese soccer authorities.

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Buffaloes beat Marines, cutting magic number to 2

Orix Buffaloes starter Kohei Azuma threw seven innings of one-run ball as the reigning Japan Series champions inched closer to a third straight Pacific League pennant with a 3-2 victory over the Chiba Lotte Marines on Tuesday.

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Shohei Ohtani has surgery on elbow, not expected to pitch in 2024

Shohei Ohtani underwent surgery on his elbow on Tuesday morning and will not return to the two-way role that catapulted him to superstardom in Japan and North America until the 2025 MLB season.

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Low-ranked Atamifuji beats Takayasu to take outright lead

Unheralded Atamifuji took the outright lead at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday after winning a head-to-head battle with joint overnight leader Takayasu.

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Rei Higuchi gets silver at worlds in men's 57-kg freestyle

Japan's Rei Higuchi settled for silver at the wrestling world championships on Monday in the men's 57-kilogram freestyle, losing the final 7-4 to Serbia's Stevan Andria Micic.

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Victor Wembanyama targeting Spurs playoff berth in first season

French basketball prodigy Victor Wembanyama says he hopes to lead the San Antonio Spurs back to the NBA playoffs as he prepares for his first season in the league.

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Error-strewn loss to England leaves Japan facing uphill battle

A palpable sense of possibility pervaded the streetside cafes of Nice on a warm, if slightly blustery, Sunday afternoon. Japan’s traveling fans, bearing their trademark red and white stripes, were all smiles, hopeful that an unlikely win would put to bed a four-year cycle that’s given them little else to cheer about.

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Former ozeki Takayasu secures winning record on Day 9 at Autumn Basho

No. 7 maegashira Takayasu and No. 15 Atamifuji won to secure winning records after nine days of action at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday, with No. 16 Tsurugisho in pursuit with two defeats as they seek their maiden Emperor's Cup.

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Shintaro Fujinami extends scoreless streak as Orioles reach playoffs

Shintaro Fujinami threw a scoreless two-thirds of an inning as the Baltimore Orioles walked off the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in 11 innings on Sunday.

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Takefusa Kubo's star performance not enough against Real Madrid

Japan attacker Takefusa Kubo put in a stellar performance against his former club Real Madrid, but Real Sociedad suffered a 2-1 defeat, and its first loss of the new Spanish La Liga season, on Sunday.

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Fiji beats Australia for first time in 69 years in World Cup upset

Fiji kept its Rugby World Cup quarterfinal hopes alive with a thrilling and deserved 22-15 win over Australia, its first win over the Wallabies in 69 years, in Saint Etienne on Sunday.

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Max Verstappen looks ahead to Japan after end of record win streak

Max Verstappen's record run of 10 straight wins ended in Singapore on Sunday, but the Formula One leader had no doubt his Red Bull would be back up to speed in Japan next weekend — and his rivals agreed.

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Sebastian Coe looks forward to full stadiums in Tokyo for worlds

Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, is looking forward to seeing Tokyo's National Stadium packed with fans for the 2025 World Championships, but says the sport will feel the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic through 2028.

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Japan fail to go distance with England at Rugby World Cup

Japan fell to their first loss of the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Sunday, going down 34-12 to England in Pool D in front of 30,500 at Stade de Nice.

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Momiji Nishiya gets maiden Paris Olympics qualifying win

Momiji Nishiya won the fourth Paris Olympics qualifying event in the women's street event on Saturday, with the Tokyo Games gold medalist also securing her first win on the World Skateboarding Tour.

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Women's tennis returns to China after Peng Shuai boycott

Professional women's tennis tournaments return to China on Monday, less than two years after the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) vowed to boycott the country out of concern for player Peng Shuai and risks to its players and staff.

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Johnny Sexton breaks records as Ireland eyes Springkoks at World Cup

Johnny Sexton became Ireland's all-time test point-scorer as Ireland swept aside Tonga at the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Saturday, after Wales made it two pool wins in two.

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Takakeisho gives up share of lead with loss to Shodai on Day 7

Ozeki Takakeisho dropped from the top of the leaderboard Saturday at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament with an upset loss to No. 3 maegashira Shodai.

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Giant-slaying Japan turns attention to England at Rugby World Cup

Japan has made a thing of slaying giants at World Cups.

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Frontale beats Tokyo to give Bafetimbi Gomis win in Japan debut

Former France international Bafetimbi Gomis made his J. League debut with a start for Kawasaki Frontale on Friday night, playing just over an hour in his team’s 1-0 win over FC Tokyo in the Tamagawa Clasico.

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Hoshoryu defeats Asanoyama in showdown at Autumn Basho

Hoshoryu outgunned Asanoyama in a battle of current and former ozeki to improve to 3-3 at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday.

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Akinobu Okada pushed right buttons to guide Tigers to CL pennant

When Hanshin Tigers manager Akihiro Yano stunned everyone just before the 2022 season by announcing he would step down at the end of the year, it was not immediately clear which direction the Tigers would go after his departure.

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Novak Djokovic planning to try for gold medal at Paris Olympics

Chasing an elusive Olympic gold medal will be one of Novak Djokovic's main goals for next season, even though the 24-time Grand Slam champion knows he will have to be physically and mentally ready to cope with a crammed schedule.

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Ozeki Takakeisho part of eight-way tie for lead at Autumn Basho

Ozeki Takakeisho joined seven other wrestlers with one loss to lead the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament after three rank-and-filers lost their perfect records after five days on Thursday.

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Tigers clinch first Central League pennant since 2005

Teruaki Sato homered for the second straight game as the Hanshin Tigers beat the Yomiuri Giants 4-3 to clinch their first Central League title in 18 years and sixth overall on Thursday.

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England assistant coach defends tackling amid flurry of red cards

When England assistant coach Kevin Sinfield said, "Everyone wants the best players to go head to head," most people probably knew what he meant, but it was still an unfortunate slip amid his defense of his team's questionable tackling technique.

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Max Verstappen heads to Singapore looking to extend record run

Formula One leader Max Verstappen will have to win where he has never won before to continue his record run this weekend.

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Jets' Aaron Rodgers vows to 'rise again' after season-ending injury

Jets coach Robert Saleh envisions Aaron Rodgers breaking the huddle as his quarterback again next season, and a "heartbroken" Rodgers is thinking in a similar vein.

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Brave Blossoms eager to take fight to England at World Cup

The game of rugby was invented 200 years ago and has undergone many changes since then, but according to scrum coach Shin Hasegawa, the Brave Blossoms' next opponent at the Rugby World Cup has been playing the same way for much of that time.

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Hokutofuji shines early as sumo's English streaming era begins

Headlines over the first three days of the ongoing Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament have been dominated by veteran Hokutofuji.

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Zach Johnson ready for blame if U.S. should fall at Ryder Cup

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson said Tuesday he is ready to handle criticism if the Americans lose to Europe in two weeks in Italy after a dominating 2021 triumph.

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Nadeshiko Japan forward Riko Ueki joins WSL's West Ham United

Nadeshiko Japan forward Riko Ueki has transferred from Japanese side Tokyo Verdy Beleza to West Ham in the English Women's Super League, the clubs announced Tuesday.

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Vladimir Putin says IOC is 'distorting' Olympic ideal

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday of politicising sport, as it weighs a decision on Russian athletes' participation in next year's Games in Paris.

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Premier12 tournament scheduled for November 2024

The Premier12 baseball tournament, featuring the top 12 teams in the year-end world rankings, will be held from Nov. 10 to 24, 2024, the World Baseball Softball Confederation said Monday.

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Keegan Bradley, Hideki Matsuyama to play Zozo Championship in Japan

Defending champion Keegan Bradley and previous winner Hideki Matsuyama are set to play the Zozo Championship, Japan's only U.S. PGA Tour event, next month, organizers said Tuesday.

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Japan can't rest on laurels after Chile win as England awaits

While Japan's defense in its Rugby World Cup opener against Chile on Sunday was not nearly as tight as the security in and around Stadium de Toulouse, the six tries the Brave Blossoms scored, not to mention their familiarity of playing in stifling heat, ensured it did not have to be.

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Andy Murray: Novak Djokovic will dominate tennis for years

Novak Djokovic, who won his 24th Grand Slam title on Sunday, will dominate men's tennis for years because younger players have yet to reach his level, according to Andy Murray.

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Luis Rubiales quits, but women’s soccer in Spain is still troubled

After three weeks of protests and calls for his resignation, Spain’s soccer chief, Luis Rubiales, has quit, but the problems that surfaced in the wake of his forcible kiss of a player after the Women’s World Cup remain.

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Hokutofuji upsets rising star Hoshoryu on Day 2 of Autumn meet

Rank-and-file wrestler Hokutofuji claimed his second ozeki victim of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament with a stunning win against Mongolian star Hoshoryu on Monday.

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Germany dismisses soccer coach Hansi Flick after loss against Japan

Germany's soccer federation sacked Hansi Flick as national team head coach on Sunday in the wake of a 4-1 friendly loss to Japan.

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Luis Rubiales steps down amid scandal over unsolicited kiss

Spanish soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales quit his post on Sunday after three weeks of scandal over allegations he gave an unsolicited kiss to a player on the women's national team as they celebrated their World Cup victory last month.

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'Team-first' mentality carries Germany to first Basketball World Cup title

Head coach Gordon Herbert hailed Germany's "team-first" attitude after it beat Serbia to win the Basketball World Cup for the first time on Sunday, going unbeaten throughout the tournament.

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Novak Djokovic wins U.S. Open to capture 24th Grand Slam title

Novak Djokovic would not let Daniil Medvedev spoil his date with history a second time, battling past the Russian 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to win the U.S. Open on Sunday and equal Margaret Court's record haul of 24 Grand Slams.

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Canada outlasts Team USA in OT for first-ever FIBA World Cup medal

Canada bagged its first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup podium finish at the expense of undermanned United States 127-118 in overtime in a riveting, record-setting bronze medal game on Sunday in Manila.

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Hoshoryu makes winning start as ozeki at Autumn meet

Newly promoted Hoshoryu won his first bout as an ozeki Sunday at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, where the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament got underway in the absence of sole yokozuna Terunofuji.

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Yama-no-no: Orix ace puts world on notice with second no-hitter

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, pitching in the denouement of what most expect to be his final season in NPB, added another highlight to his jaw-dropping five-year run of excellence on Saturday night.

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U.S. teen Coco Gauff fights back to win U.S. Open

American teenager Coco Gauff mounted a fierce comeback to beat Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-3 6-2 in the U.S. Open women's final on Saturday and claim her first Grand Slam title in front of adoring home fans.

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Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws second career no-hitter

Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw the second no-hitter of his career Saturday as he spearheaded the Pacific League leaders to a 4-0 win over the second-place Chiba Lotte Marines.

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Fantastic George Ford kicks 14-man England to win over Argentina

Flyhalf George Ford kicked England to a remarkable 27-10 World Cup victory over Argentina on Saturday in a performance full of intensity and tactical guile and all the more astonishing as the 2019 runner-up played with 14 men from the third minute.

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Japan makes final preparations for Rugby World Cup opener against Chile

Japan opened the doors of Stade Ernest Wallon to the rugby-mad Toulouse public on Thursday as it held its final training session before Jamie Joseph announces the team that will take on Chile in the Brave Blossoms' Rugby World Cup opener on the weekend.

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Lions upset defending champion Chiefs in NFL season opener

The Detroit Lions, touted as NFL contenders after decades of playoff futility, stunned the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs 21-20 on the road on Thursday to kick off the 2023 season.

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Katsuki Azuma tosses complete game to help BayStars end slide

Katsuki Azuma threw a complete game to pick up his Central League-leading 13th win, as the DeNA BayStars beat the Hiroshima Carp 3-1 on Thursday.

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All Blacks prepared to unleash haka at Rugby World Cup

Before France takes on New Zealand in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup, it will have to face the ferocious challenge laid down by the All Blacks in the haka.

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Seiya Suzuki drives in three runs as Cubs earn fourth straight win

Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki drove in three runs for the third straight game to help the team to an 8-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on Wedesday.

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World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev win to set up semifinal clash

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz finished off an exhausted Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday to move into the U.S. Open semifinals where he will take on Daniil Medvedev in an intriguing clash featuring the last two champions at Flushing Meadows.

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Chiefs hope to continue streak of fast starts against Lions in NFL opener

Conventional wisdom suggests maybe it's best to get the first shot at the defending champs, to run into them early before the complete calibration of systems around MVP Patrick Mahomes.

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Power of ozeki trio on display in muted return of open practice session

The first Yokozuna Deliberation Council sōken training session to be open to the public in four years took place at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Saturday.

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World Cup puts bounce in Japan basketball's step ahead of Olympics

Japan's success at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Okinawa could trigger a leap in the sport's domestic popularity, as it edges upward behind baseball and soccer in recognition from the wider public as a game to view via live broadcasts.

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Japan will not take 'gritty' Chile for granted in Rugby World Cup

Japan will not be taking its Rugby World Cup Pool D opener against Chile for granted, defense coach John Mitchell warned Tuesday, saying the South Americans are a well-coached, cohesive unit.

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Djokovic and Gauff steam into U.S. Open semifinals

Novak Djokovic charged into his 13th U.S. Open semifinal on Tuesday with a straight-sets win over Taylor Fritz, while home favorite Coco Gauff stayed on track for her first Grand Slam title.

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Suzuki and Yoshida each hit their 15th home run of MLB season

Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki set a career high with his 15th home run of the major league season and Masataka Yoshida matched it with the 15th homer of his rookie season for the Boston Red Sox, as the Japanese players helped their respective teams to wins on Monday.

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First-timers Chile not at Rugby World Cup 'to take photos'

Chile embarks on its first Rugby World Cup on Saturday with a sense of excitement and a determination not to play the tourist.

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Coco Gauff ends Caroline Wozniacki's comeback tour at U.S. Open

Teenager Coco Gauff ended Caroline Wozniacki's U.S. Open comeback with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory to reach the quarterfinals on Sunday.

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Japan's veterans prepare to scale Everest again at Rugby World Cup

Japan coach Jamie Joseph said that despite "a mass of problems," his team was preparing to scale Mount Everest at the Rugby World Cup.

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Masataka Yoshida ends home run drought as Red Sox top Royals

Masataka Yoshida ended a 12-game home run drought and sparked the Boston Red Sox to a 7-3 win over the Kansas City Royals with a three-run blast on Sunday.

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Canada knocks defending champion Spain out of Basketball World Cup

Canada dumped defending champion Spain out of the Basketball World Cup in the second round on Sunday, while Italy, Serbia and tournament sensation Latvia also advanced to the quarterfinals.

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Coco Gauff ends Caroline Wozniacki's comeback tour at U.S. Open

Teenager Coco Gauff ended Caroline Wozniacki's U.S. Open comeback with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory to reach the quarterfinals on Sunday.

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'Ferrari' Kotaro Matsushima looking to drive Japan to World Cup glory

Kotaro Matsushima is the "Ferrari" who helped drive Japan to the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals — now he's looking to find an extra gear as the Brave Blossoms launch an outside bid for the title.

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Ons Jabeur beats Marie Bouzkova to reach fourth round at U.S. Open

An ailing Ons Jabeur scraped by Czech Marie Bouzkova 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to keep her latest U.S. Open campaign on track despite an error-riddled performance in the third round on Saturday.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches Buffaloes past Fighters

Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto went head to head with World Baseball Classic teammate Hiromi Ito and just barely scraped out a 1-0 victory over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Saturday.

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Japan secures Olympic berth with World Cup win over Cape Verde

FIBA Basketball World Cup co-host Japan punched its ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics after holding on for an 80-71 victory over Cape Verde on Saturday.

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Springbok icon Siya Kolisi defies odds to return in time for World Cup

South Africa's Siya Kolisi had difficulty speaking immediately after his Springboks completed an emphatic 35-7 demolition of New Zealand's All Blacks in their final warmup before the Rugby World Cup.

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Lewis Hamilton looks to Tom Brady as role model for longevity

Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton pointed to seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady as a role model for longevity in sports after signing a deal to continue racing into his 40s.

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No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz cruises into third round at U.S. Open

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz moved closer to a U.S. Open rematch against Italy's Jannik Sinner on Thursday, as Grand Slam winners Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova booked their places in the third round in New York.

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Hawks' Kenta Imamiya decides pitchers' duel with walk-off double

In a game electrified by twin pitching gems, Kenta Imamiya's two-out walk-off double provided the big finish, lifting the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 1-0 win over the Orix Buffaloes on Thursday.

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With victory over Venezuela, Japan inches closer to Olympics

Japan took a giant step toward Olympic qualification at the Basketball World Cup on Thursday, while South Sudan and Egypt also gave themselves a chance of a Paris Games berth.

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Chinese basketball fans despair over Basketball World Cup result

Chinese basketball fans were in despair on Thursday after the national team crashed out of the World Cup without winning a game, dubbing the dismal performance as "our deepest humiliation."

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Djokovic ramps up U.S. Open bid as Swiatek and Gauff stroll

Novak Djokovic sailed into the U.S. Open third round Wednesday in his quest for a 24th Grand Slam triumph as Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff stayed on a quarterfinal collision course in New York.

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Spain must break 'pact of silence' over sexism, equality minister says

Spanish society must break a "pact of silence" and stop normalizing sexist behaviour and support women brave enough to speak out when it happens, acting Equality Minister Irene Montero said on Wednesday.

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Japan ready to shake off COVID-19 legacy at Rugby World Cup

Japan should have been riding a wave of momentum after hosting a successful 2019 Rugby World Cup but the COVID-19 pandemic has hampered efforts to build on their success.

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New sumo ranks highlight rise of next generation

The release of the September grand sumo tournament rankings on Monday morning came alongside in-person news conferences at three stables in the Tokyo area.

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Now or never for favorites France as Rugby World Cup hosts

There used to be a lazily used cliche about France claiming "you never knew what French team would turn up" but in the build-up to this year's Rugby World Cup that remark has been consigned to the past.

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Japan baseball star Yamakawa won't face charges over alleged rape

Tokyo prosecutors on Tuesday decided not to indict Hotaka Yamakawa, a member of Japan's 2023 World Baseball Classic-winning team, due to insufficient evidence over an allegation of rape.

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Japan's World Cup run ends with loss to Australia

Co-host Japan's bid to reach the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup ended Tuesday with a 109-89 loss to heavyweight Australia.

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Darvish placed on 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation

Yu Darvish has been placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, the San Diego Padres said Monday.

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Djokovic back on top after U.S. Open return as Swiatek advances

Novak Djokovic ensured he will return to the top of tennis's world rankings with an emphatic first round victory at the U.S. Open on Monday as women's world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and American rival Coco Gauff advanced.

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