Sports
Australia, NZ confirm joint bid for 2023 Women's World Cup
Australia and New Zealand have joined forces in a bid to host the Women's World Cup in 2023. Football Federation Australia and New Zealand Football announced the co-confederation bid on Friday in Melbourne, hours before the official bid book was to be submitted to soccer's world governing body FIFA in… Read
Beating, homesickness: Tough path to the top for Georgian sumo star
The sumo champion hauls his giant frame from the ground, sand and clay caking his sweaty back and fury flashing from his eyes as he chastises himself for his defeat. His 178-kilogram body and white mawashi, or belt, are commonplace, but his bright blue eyes and Western features instantly mark… Read
Liverpool in talks to sign Japan midfielder Takumi Minamino
Takumi Minamino could soon become the first Japanese player to sign for Liverpool. Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund said Thursday his club is in talks with Liverpool over the transfer of the 24-year-old Minamino, who impressed in two games between the teams in the group stage of the Champions League… Read
Arsenal, Frankfurt advance in Europa League
Teenager Bukayo Saka scored one goal and set up another to secure a 2-2 draw for Arsenal at Standard Liege on Thursday and lead the Gunners into the next stage of the Europa League. The result meant Arsenal finished top of Group F ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt, which gave up… Read
Angels to formulate plan for Ohtani’s throwing program soon
Once Shohei Ohtani completes the final phase of his recovery from Tommy John surgery later this month, the Los Angeles Angels will confer with surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache and the team's medical staff to determine how to proceed with the Japanese two-way star's throwing program. Ohtani threw another bullpen session… Read
Russian boxers to boycott Olympics if sanctions not lifted
Russian boxers will only take part in the Tokyo Olympics if doping sanctions forcing them to compete as neutral athletes are overturned, the general secretary of the Russian Boxing Federation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Umar Kremlev said he has spoken with the Olympic boxing team and they “unanimously”… Read
Atalanta, Atlético complete Champions League lineup
For the first time in history only five countries will be represented in the last 16 of the Champions League. Atalanta and Atlético Madrid became the last two teams to qualify for the knockout stages on Wednesday, meaning all 16 teams are from Europe's “big five” of Italy, Spain, Germany,… Read
Lost in translation: Swimmer Sun Yang's doping case hits interpretation snag
Chinese Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang's anti-doping case, in which he is facing an eight-year ban for missing a drug test, won't be settled before mid-January because of translation problems, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said. The Swiss-based court said "some concerns were raised" about the translation of Sun's… Read
French Open champ No. 1 Ash Barty chosen WTA Player of Year
Add another accolade to Ash Barty's breakthrough 2019: WTA Player of the Year. The Australian was announced Wednesday as the winner of the top year-end award for the women's professional tennis tour, following her finish at No. 1 in the singles ranking and her first Grand Slam title at the… Read
Japan rugby squad parade draws thousands of fans in Tokyo's business hub
Thousands of fans packed the streets of Marunouchi in a celebration Wednesday as the Japan rugby squad, who made history by reaching the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals, paraded through Tokyo's premier business district. The players dressed in dark suits, led by team captain and flanker Michael Leitch, waved to fans… Read
