The Japan Times - Sports (English)

All Black Barrett looking to 'mentally refresh' in Japan

All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett said Thursday that he plans to "mentally refresh" during his season-long sabbatical in Japan before returning to play for New Zealand next year.

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Suarez fires farewell double to end Brazilian adventure

Luis Suarez scored twice in his farewell match for Gremio as the Brazilian side defeated Fluminense 3-2 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.

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Kyrgios, Raducanu missing from Australian Open entry list

Showstopper Nick Kyrgios and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu were notable absentees Thursday from the 2024 Australian Open entry list, but Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka are set for their Grand Slam comebacks.

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World Cup stars 'make some coin' as Japan rugby season kicks off

Almost half the players who started the World Cup final including All Blacks captain Sam Cane will be in action when Japan's club rugby season kicks off this weekend.

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Curran redemption as England thrash West Indies to level ODI series

Sam Curran bounced back with a match-winning bowling display as England scored a series-levelling six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second One Day International in Antigua on Wednesday.

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Klopp slams 'ignorant' TV presenter after kick-off comment

Jurgen Klopp blasted an "ignorant" television presenter for making a joke about Liverpool's next game after Wednesday's 2-0 win at Sheffield United being on a Saturday lunchtime.

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Relentless Villa beat stuttering Man City, Liverpool win

Aston Villa beat champions Manchester City on Wednesday to extend their remarkable winning run at home as Liverpool closed to within two points of leaders Arsenal with victory at Sheffield United.

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Wallabies star winger Nawaqanitawase quits for rugby league

Rising Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase is set to switch codes and join rugby league powerhouse Sydney Roosters, with the winger opting Thursday against a new contract with Rugby Australia.

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Guardiola has to 'find a solution' to Man City woes after Villa loss

Pep Guardiola admitted he has to "find a solution" to Manchester City's woes after the Premier League champions crashed to a damaging 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday.

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New Zealand name uncapped duo for home Bangladesh ODI series

New Zealand named two uncapped players on Thursday in the squad for their looming home one-day international series against Bangladesh.

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Relentless Villa beat off-colour Man City, Liverpool win

Aston Villa beat champions Manchester City on Wednesday to extend their remarkable winning run at home as Liverpool closed to within two points of leaders Arsenal with victory at Sheffield United.

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Relentless Villa beat Man City, Liverpool win

Aston Villa beat champions Manchester City on Wednesday to extend their remarkable winning run at home as Liverpool closed to within two points of leaders Arsenal with victory at Sheffield United.

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McTominay double delivers big Man Utd win for Ten Hag over Chelsea

Scott McTominay scored twice as Manchester United beat Chelsea 2-1 on Wednesday to ease the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag and put Mauricio Pochettino under the spotlight.

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Marseille beat Lyon in game rearranged after bus attack

Marseille eased to a 3-0 win over beleaguered Lyon on Wednesday in a Ligue 1 game that was rescheduled from October after the away team bus was stoned on its approach to the Velodrome.

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Villa climb above Man City as Bailey rocks reeling champions

Aston Villa dealt a major blow to Manchester City's Premier League title challenge as Leon Bailey clinched a 1-0 win against the reeling champions on Wednesday.

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Stuttgart send Dortmund out as German Cup upsets continue

Stuttgart won 2-0 at home to boot Borussia Dortmund out of the German Cup last 16 on Wednesday, as third-tier Saarbruecken, who previously eliminated Bayern Munich, knocked out Eintracht Frankfurt.

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Liverpool close on Premier League leaders Arsenal, Forest slump

Liverpool beat Premier League basement club Sheffield United 2-0 on Wednesday to move just two points behind leaders Arsenal as Fulham hammered Nottingham Forest 5-0, heaping the pressure on manager Steve Cooper.

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Brazilian Ribeiro strikes as Mamelodi Sundowns win 10 in a row

Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro scored to earn Mamelodi Sundowns a 1-0 win over AmaZulu on Wednesday, and a record-extending 10th straight South African Premiership victory since the season started.

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Disgraced former Spanish football chief 'forcefully kissed' England star

Disgraced former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales behaved inappropriately towards England players after the Women's World Cup final, according to Football Association chairwoman Debbie Hewitt.

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Rashford dropped by Man Utd for Chelsea clash

Marcus Rashford paid for his slump in form as the Manchester United star was dropped to the bench by Erik ten Hag for Wednesday's Premier League clash against Chelsea.

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Golf ball changes will bring back skills, says McIlroy

Rory McIlroy says golf ball rules announced on Wednesday aimed at taming the biggest hitters will bring certain "skills" back to the sport and make it more entertaining.

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Man City's De Bruyne named in Club World Cup squad despite injury

Manchester City's injured midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was a surprise inclusion in the treble winners' squad for the FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday.

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Golf chiefs change rules to shorten hitting distances

Golf's biggest hitters are expected to lose up to 15 yards in driving distance under new rules relating to ball specifications announced by the game's governing bodies on Wednesday.

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Surfing governing body 'welcomes' pause in Olympics works at Tahiti venue

The International Surf Association (ISA) said on Wednesday it welcomed the decision by authorities to suspend work on the venue in Tahiti for the Paris Olympics events.

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Dyche warns Everton to ignore rivals in fight for survival

Sean Dyche has warned his Everton players to ignore their relegation rivals' results as they battle to climb out of the bottom three.

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Nadal confident he will be 'competitive' on return

Rafael Nadal on Wednesday insisted he will be "competitive" when he returns to professional tennis next month after enduring nearly a year out of action due to injury.

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Bayern Munich agree deal to sign Spain's Zaragoza next season

Bayern Munich have reached an agreement to sign Spain winger Bryan Zaragoza from La Liga side Granada next summer, the German champions announced on Wednesday.

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New sliding track in Cortina for 2026 Olympics back on table

Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini has insisted a new track for sliding events at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics could be built at Cortina d'Ampezzo, despite the plans previously being shelved.

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International Surf Association 'welcomes' pause in Olympics works at Tahiti venue

The International Surf Association (ISA) said on Wednesday it welcomed the decision by authorities to suspend work on the venue in Tahiti for the Paris Olympics events.

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Newcastle 'keeper Pope out for 'around four months' with injury

Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope will be sidelined for "around four months" with a shoulder injury, manager Eddie Howe said on Wednesday as his list of absentees continued to grow.

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Spinners drag Bangladesh back into contest as Kiwis teeter on 55-5

Spinners Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam shared five wickets between them to help Bangladesh claw their way back into contention with New Zealand struggling at 55-5 in Wednesday's opener to the second Test.

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Bangladesh 172 all out against New Zealand after rare dismissal

Mushfiqur Rahim became just the second batsman in Test history to be dismissed for obstructing the field as Bangladesh were bowled out for 172 on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand on Wednesday in Dhaka.

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