The Japan Times - Sports (English)

Arsenal ready for title push, Man City face Liverpool test

Arsenal enter the final furlong of the Premier League title race with a clash against Leeds on Saturday as they bid to be crowned champions for the first time in 19 years.

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Dortmund target overcoming Munich hoodoo on Tuchel's big day

Borussia Dortmund can gatecrash former boss Thomas Tuchel's unveiling party at Bayern Munich on Saturday and take another step closer to thwarting the Bavarian giants' bid for an 11th consecutive Bundesliga title.

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Van der Poel can go the distance at Tour of Flanders

Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel says he is peaking ahead of the 19 cobbled climbs of the Tour of Flanders in the Flemish Ardennes on Sunday.

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Naples gearing up for title party as faltering Milan come to town

Naples is getting ready for the mother of all title parties as AC Milan travel south on Sunday for the first of three major clashes between the Serie A giants in a matter of weeks.

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Saka's 'rare' talent fuels Arsenal's title charge

Bukayo Saka will re-focus on Arsenal's Premier League title push on Saturday after enhancing his reputation as one of the world's top young players with a wonder goal in England colours.

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Ricciardo says 'signs pointing' to 2024 grid return

Daniel Ricciardo says he still has the hunger to compete in Formula One and the "signs are pointing" to him getting back on the grid in 2024.

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Four share Texas Open lead as weather wreaks havoc

Matt Kuchar and Padraig Harrington shared a four-way clubhouse lead at the PGA Tour's Texas Open on Thursday as poor weather wreaked havoc with first round play.

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Medvedev and Alcaraz beat Americans to reach Miami semis

World number one Carlos Alcaraz and in-form Russian Daniil Medvedev booked their places in the Miami Open semi-finals with convincing victories over American opponents at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday.

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Hayes hails Berger as Chelsea stun Lyon in Champions League shoot-out

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes lauded Ann-Katrin Berger as the "best pen-saving goalkeeper I've worked with" after the Germany international's heroics helped the Blues knock holders Lyon out of the Women's Champions League on Thursday.

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Ukrainian athletes' human rights ignored by IOC, says legal expert

Ukrainian athletes' human rights have been ignored by IOC president Thomas Bach and a UN expert in weighing Russia and Belarus's readmission into global sports events, a leading authority on human rights says.

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Berger stars as Chelsea stun Lyon in Champions League shoot-out

Ann-Katrin Berger made two saves in a penalty shoot-out as Chelsea knocked holders Lyon out of the Women's Champions League on Thursday to set up a semi-final with Barcelona.

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Medvedev to face Khachanov in Miami Open semi-finals

Daniil Medvedev ended American qualifier Christopher Eubanks' impressive run at the Miami Open with a 6-3, 7-5 victory in their quarter-final on Thursday.

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St. Louis look to extend perfect MLS start

St. Louis City head coach Bradley Carnell has challenged his players to keep improving as they look to extend their 100% start to the Major League Soccer season against unbeaten Minnesota United on Saturday.

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Judge blasts first homer as Yankees win to open MLB season

Aaron Judge blasted the first home run of the 2023 Major League Baseball season, sparking the New York Yankees to victory to begin the 2023 Major League Baseball season Thursday with new rules and familiar feats.

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Medvedev ends run of US qualifier Eubanks at Miami Open

Daniil Medvedev ended American qualifier Christopher Eubanks' impressive run at the Miami Open with a 6-3, 7-5 victory in their quarter-final on Thursday.

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Eubanks' Miami run ends at the hands of Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev ended American qualifier Christopher Eubanks' impressive run at the Miami Open with a 6-3, 7-5 victory in their quarter-final on Thursday.

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Yankees captain Judge blasts first homer as MLB season begins

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge blasted the first home run of the 2023 Major League Baseball season, which began Thursday with new rules and familiar feats.

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Wolfsburg sink PSG to set up Women's Champions League semi with Arsenal

Wolfsburg will face Arsenal in the Women's Champions League semi-finals after beating Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 on aggregate following a 1-1 draw at home on Thursday.

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Bagnaia eyes landmark Argentina win as MotoGP laments fallen stars

World MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia targets a first Ducati win in Argentina on Sunday in a drastically reduced grid stripped of four riders injured in the chaotic season-opener in Portugal.

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Herve Renard named coach of France women's football team

Herve Renard was on Thursday appointed as the new coach of the France women's football team after the sacking of Corinne Diacre, the French football federation announced.

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T-Wolves center Gobert says NBA refs helping stars win

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert says NBA referees try to help teams with star players defeat teams from smaller markets with unfair foul calls.

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Arsenal 'unity' strengthens Arteta's belief in title charge

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal's charge towards the Premier League title is being fuelled by his players' "unity and togetherness".

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Ageless Hodgson braces for Crystal Palace 'dogfight'

Former England boss Roy Hodgson says he does not feel old enough for retirement after being tempted back to Crystal Palace to take on the challenge of a Premier League relegation scrap.

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Sanchez key to Marseille's pursuit of PSG in Ligue 1

Alexis Sanchez has no intention of letting Paris Saint-Germain ease to another Ligue 1 title after helping drag Marseille back into a position from where they could yet catch their bitter rivals.

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England's Bairstow hopes to return for Ireland Test

Jonny Bairstow hopes to be fit for England's opening Test of the summer against Ireland in June, according to Yorkshire head coach Ottis Gibson.

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IOC Russia recommendation not binding for Paris 2024: French minister

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommendation to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals is not binding for Paris' 2024 Olympics, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said on Thursday.

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Man Utd fans would be 'backbone' of Zilliacus's proposed takeover

Thomas Zilliacus said in an interview published on Thursday that Manchester United supporters would be at the centre of his proposed takeover of the Premier League club, with a say on major issues such as ground redevelopment and squad building.

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Aussie F1 rookie Piastri pumped up for home grand prix

Rookie McLaren driver Oscar Piastri grew up 15 minutes away from the Australian Grand Prix circuit and used to play cricket on the ovals being used as the race paddock.

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Hamilton praises Brazil for fining Piquet over racist comments

Lewis Hamilton Thursday applauded the hefty fine imposed on three-time Formula One champion Nelson Piquet for racist remarks about the British driver, saying people "full of hate" should not be tolerated.

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Alonso brimming with confidence in Australia

Veteran Fernando Alonso said Thursday he was brimming with confidence heading into the Australian Grand Prix, but was cautious about whether Aston Martin could maintain their red-hot early season form.

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'No miracles' from Ferrari in Australia: Leclerc

Charles Leclerc cautioned Thursday against expecting any "miracles" from Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix, in stark contrast to last year when he was the runaway winner.

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Hamilton says he will be with Mercedes till 'last days'

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton on Thursday emphatically put to bed any concerns that he wanted to leave Mercedes, saying he planned to be the team "till my last days".

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