The Japan Times - Sports (English)

Bangladesh leave New Zealand in deep trouble in 332-run chase

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 4-40 to put Bangladesh within three wickets of a famous win over New Zealand in the first Test in Sylhet on Friday.

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Farrell's mental health decision 'a watershed moment', says Gatland

Wales boss Warren Gatland believes England captain Owen Farrell's decision to step away from international rugby is a wake-up call to the abuse suffered by players and their families.

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Min Woo Lee grabs Australian Open lead as Cameron Smith makes cut

Min Woo Lee sunk an eagle at the 18th to surge into the sole lead at the Australian Open on Friday as he targets back-to-back DP World Tour titles, while major winner Shin Jiyai took charge of the women's event.

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All Black Savea eager to test himself with Japan move

Newly crowned World Rugby player of the year Ardie Savea said Friday that he wanted to "try something new" and test himself after moving to Japan's big-spending league.

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Ex-United star Fellaini bids emotional farewell to Chinese football

Former Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini called his five years at Shandong Taishan "among the best of my life" as he bid an emotional farewell to China.

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Cowboys rally late for 41-35 NFL win over Seahawks

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott hit tight end Jake Ferguson with a 12-yard touchdown pass with 4:36 to play as the Cowboys rallied from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Seattle Seahawks 41-35 on Thursday.

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Thunder rally to beat Lakers, Bulls stun Bucks in overtime

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points to propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-110 NBA victory over LeBron James and the weary Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

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Australian rugby to trial lower tackle height to reduce concussions

Rugby Australia said Friday it will trial a lowering of the legal tackle height from the shoulder line to below the sternum in a bid to reduce concussions.

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Simmonds welcomes 'massive impact' of Whitelock arrival on Pau

Former New Zealand lock Sam Whitelock will have a "massive impact" on Pau, the French club's fly-half Joe Simmonds said before Saturday's Top 14 trip to Toulon.

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Struggling Lyon prepare for life after Grosso

Lyon travel to a resurgent Lens on Saturday, where they will be seeking to turn the page on a catastrophic season that has claimed another coaching victim - Fabio Grosso.

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Barca's Felix starts firing just in time for Atletico reunion

Barcelona forward Joao Felix ended a long goal drought with a vital strike this week, ominous timing for his parent club Atletico Madrid, who visit the Catalan capital on Sunday in La Liga.

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Leverkusen set to host Dortmund in clash of Bayern hunters

Bayer Leverkusen welcome Borussia Dortmund on Sunday with the hosts sitting clear atop the Bundesliga table, having dropped just two of a possible 36 points to start the season.

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Super Bowl star Miller turns himself in after assault allegation

Two-time Super Bowl champion Von Miller turned himself in on Thursday after police in Dallas, Texas alleged in an arrest warrant that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend.

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Arsenal plot long stay at Premier League summit

Arsenal are back on top of the Premier League with ambitions to stay there as they host Wolves this weekend while champions Manchester City play faltering Tottenham.

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Germany hosts Euro 2024 draw as contenders 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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Sam Kerr's Matildas win Australia's top sports honour

Australia's women's football team won the country's highest sporting honour on Friday for causing a "seismic shift" in the national game with their World Cup exploits.

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Focus on Paris as Australia plan small swim team for world championships

Powerhouse Australia expect to take a team of fewer than 20 to the world swimming championships in Doha in February with the Paris Olympics the focus next year.

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McIntosh topples Ledecky in US Open 400m free

Canadian teen Summer McIntosh clocked a meet-record 3min 59.42sec to win the 400m freestyle at the US Open ahead of American distance great Katie Ledecky.

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Purdy leads 49ers against Eagles in NFL showdown

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy says he isn't looking for revenge when the 49ers visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in an NFL rematch of last season's NFC conference final.

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'Hell is Real' in American soccer's new hotbed

Just six years ago, Ohio faced the prospect of being without a Major League Soccer team but on Saturday the Buckeye state will have two clubs going head-to-head for a place in the MLS Cup final.

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LeBron manager Maverick Carter used illegal bookmaker: report

Maverick Carter, the manager and business partner of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, told federal investigators in 2021 he had bet on NBA games through an illegal bookmaker, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

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Liverpool power into Europa League last 16, Brighton reach knockouts

Cody Gakpo's double fired Liverpool into the Europa League last 16 as they routed LASK 4-0, while Brighton advanced to the knockout round with a 1-0 win at AEK Athens on Thursday.

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Tiger fades late to shoot 75 in first round of World Challenge

Tiger Woods struggled late to fire a three-over par 75 on Thursday in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge, his first competitive round since the Masters last April.

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Messi's Miami to face El Salvador national team

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will face the El Salvador national team in a friendly match on January 19, the Major League Soccer club said on Thursday.

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Arrest Warrant issued for two-time Super Bowl champion Miller

Two-time Super Bowl champion Von Miller, a linebacker for the NFL's Buffalo Bills, was the subject of an arrest warrant issued on Thursday for allegedly assaulting his pregnant girlfriend.

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MLS suspends Vancouver coach Sartini for six games

Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini was suspended for six games by Major League Soccer on Thursday after multiple league policy violations in a season-ending playoff loss earlier this month.

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LeBron's son Bronny James set to return after cardiac arrest

Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of NBA superstar LeBron James, has been given medical approval to return to college basketball activities four months after suffering cardiac arrest during practice.

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Brighton and West Ham seal spots in Europa League knockout round

Brighton booked their place in the Europa League knockout stage with a 1-0 win at AEK Athens, while West Ham also advanced after a late Tomas Soucek goal against Backa Topola on Thursday.

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MLS players and referees unions clash over Miazga incident

Major League Soccer's players union has hit out at the referees union for its' role in the suspension of FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga.

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Dominica pull out of hosting T20 World Cup games

The Caribbean nation of Dominica has withdrawn from the hosting of games at next year's T20 Cricket World Cup, the country's sports ministry said on Thursday.

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Lyon end Grosso's spell as coach

Lyon coach Fabio Grosso has been provisionally replaced by academy coach Pierre Sage as the struggling Ligue 1 club announced Thursday it had begun proceedings to dismiss the 2006 World Cup winner.

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Olympic chiefs 'reassured' by Paris transport plans despite mayoral criticism

The International Olympic Committee said on Thursday it was "reassured" by transport plans for the 2024 Paris Games after the city's mayor said the system would not be ready in time.

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