Category: Sports

More than just a game: India face Pakistan in World Cup battle royale

Virat Kohli will have history on his side when India take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a World Cup blockbuster on Sunday — a clash that is always more than just a game of cricket. India cut off bilateral cricket ties with its neighbour after the 2008 Mumbai terror […]

In Iraq, legal dispute threatens chances at 2020 Olympics

Day after day, Iraqi weightlifter Safaa Rashed Aljumaili hits a worn-down Baghdad gym to train for the 2020 Olympics. But despite all his grit, politics could keep him from competing. The single air conditioning unit in the dilapidated facility is out of service, leaving Aljumaili to pump dumbbells […]

Record-setting Woodland eyes major breakthrough at US Open

Gary Woodland, who couldn’t muster a top-10 finish in his first 27 major championship appearances, takes a two-stroke lead into the weekend at Pebble Beach eyeing a US Open title that once seemed all but impossible. The 35-year-old American, ranked 25th in the world, is a three-time winner […]

‘Incredible’ dream: Nadal faces Thiem for 12th Roland Garros title

Rafael Nadal admits the prospect of winning a 12th Roland Garros title and 18th major on Sunday would have once just seemed liked an “incredible” dream in a career so often at the mercy of a succession of morale-sapping injuries. However, he knows he cannot under-estimate Austria’s Dominic […]

Barty, Vondrousova shrug off sexism row to reach Roland Garros final

Ashleigh Barty and Marketa Vondrousova set-up a Roland Garros final showdown on Friday, shrugging off a sexism row which had seen their semi-finals shifted away from the tournament’s showpiece court. Barty, 23, reached her first final at the majors, coming back from a set and 0-3 down to […]

Nadal tops Federer in 3 sets to reach 12th French Open final

PARIS — Rafael Nadal made quick work of Roger Federer in their first French Open meeting since 2011, beating his rival 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 Friday in strong wind to reach his 12th final at Roland Garros. Nadal has never lost a semifinal at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. […]

Pakistan’s Babar tipped as World Cup star in the making

Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower has tipped gifted youngster Babar Azam to emerge as one of the best batsmen at the World Cup. Babar showed his vast potential by smashing 63 from 66 balls to lead the Pakistan assault as they piled on 348-8 in their shock win […]

No friends, no problem as a star is born in 17-year-old Anisimova

Seventeen-year-old Amanda Anisimova announced herself as a future star by powering into the French Open semi-finals on Thursday with a stunning victory over defending champion Simona Halep although the tough world of professional tennis meant the locker room celebrations may have been a little subdued. The world number […]

No. 1 Osaka’s 16-match winning streak at Slams ends in Paris

PARIS — This was one deficit too big to overcome for Naomi Osaka, whose Grand Slam winning streak is over. The No. 1-ranked Osaka couldn’t muster a comeback after falling way behind yet again at the French Open, losing 6-4, 6-2 in the third round to No. 42 […]

Federer and Nadal back in action at French Open

PARIS — Roger Federer’s third-round opponent at the French Open is the son of a player who was in the field when the 20-time Grand Slam champion made his debut in Paris in 1999. The 37-year-old Federer faces 63rd-ranked Casper Ruud — who is 17 years his junior […]

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