The Japan Times - Sports (English)

Eddie Jones is 'the guy' to take England to 2023 World Cup: RFU chief

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney said Thursday that Eddie Jones is the right man to lead England into next year's World Cup following a morale-boosting series win in Australia.

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ATP Tour adds six new events to replace cancelled China swing

The ATP Tour on Thursday updated its end-of-year calendar, with six tournaments added to replace the Covid-enforced cancellation of the 2022 China swing for the third year in succession.

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Covid sends Froome crashing out of Tour de France

Four-time champion Chris Froome was one of three riders to drop out of the Tour de France after testing positive for Covid ahead of Thursday's 18th stage from Lourdes to the High Pyrenees.

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India favourites in ODI series against West Indies even without stars

West Indies and India commence a three-match One-Day International series in Trinidad on Friday with the visitors, even without their most prominent players, favoured to get the better of a struggling home side.

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Feisty De Klerk looking to 'irritate' fellow Springboks in Japan

Rugby World Cup winner Faf de Klerk said Thursday he wants to "irritate" his fellow Springboks in Japan after becoming the latest South African to join the country's ambitious league.

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Ohtani scoops prestigious ESPY Award as top athlete in men's sports

The Los Angeles Angels' two-way star Shohei Ohtani was named best male athlete of the year at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, beating out luminaries including NBA star Stephen Curry and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

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Debut goals for Mane, De Ligt as Bayern thump Rooney's D.C. United

New signings Sadio Mane and Matthijs De Ligt scored debut goals as Bayern Munich thumped Major League Soccer's D.C United 6-2 in a friendly on Wednesday.

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Jeruto storms world steeple, Feng claims discus

Kenyan-born Norah Jeruto won world gold for Kazakhstan in the women's 3000m steeplechase on Wednesday while China's Feng Bin threw a massive personal best to claim the discus title.

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India poised to pile more misery on West Indies

West Indies and India commence a three-match One-Day International series at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on Friday with the visitors, even without their most prominent players, favoured to get the better of a struggling home side.

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De Bruyne at the double but Haaland kept waiting as City down America

Kevin De Bruyne's double strike was enough to help Manchester City see off Club America 2-1 in Houston on Wednesday as Pep Guardiola made Erling Haaland wait for his debut.

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Lock Arnold back for injury-hit Wallabies' Argentina tour

Towering lock Rory Arnold and uncapped back Jock Campbell were notable call-ups Thursday to an injury-hit Australia squad for two Rugby Championship Tests against Argentina, who are coached by former Wallabies boss Michael Cheika.

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Hurdles stars McLaughlin, Muhammad ready for final showdown

Sydney McLaughlin underscored her status as favourite to add a world championship gold to her Olympic 400m hurdles crown on Wednesday as she motored into a final showdown with USA team-mate and defending champion Dalilah Muhammad.

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World 100m champion Kerley out of world relays with injury

World 100m champion Fred Kerley has been ruled out of the US team for the 4x100m relay with a "slight injury to his quadriceps", a team official said Wednesday.

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Heat on Leclerc to deliver Ferrari hat-trick in France

Charles Leclerc will seek to complete Ferrari's first hat-trick since 2019 by fending off world champion Max Verstappen and a likely threat from reinvigorated Lewis Hamilton at this weekend's French Grand Prix.

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Debut goals for Mane, De Light as Bayern thump Rooney's D.C. United

New signings Sadio Mane and Matthijs De Ligt scored debut goals as Bayern Munich thumped Major League Soccer's D.C United 6-2 in a friendly on Wednesday.

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'Wife thinks I'm an idiot': ex-All Black Spencer returns to ring

Former All Blacks star Carlos Spencer will return to the boxing ring on Thursday, but admitted it was a hard fight to convince his wife about his latest charity bout.

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Harden agrees to two-year, $68.6 mn deal to stay with Sixers

NBA star James Harden has agreed to a two-year, $68.6 million deal to remain with the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday.

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Semenya falls well short in bold bid at world 5000m

Caster Semenya's first appearance in a world championships in five years on Wednesday saw the controversy-mired South African fail to qualify for the women's 5000m finals.

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England women rally to reach Euro 2022 semi-finals

England rallied from the brink of elimination to beat Spain 2-1 after extra time and reach the semi-finals of Euro 2022 thanks to Georgia Stanway's stunning strike.

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Venus Williams given singles wildcard to play Toronto

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been handed a wildcard entry to the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto in August, Tennis Canada said Wednesday.

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Fissette calls halt to coaching Osaka

Belgian tennis coach Wim Fissette said on Wednesday he was calling a halt to working with Japan's four-time Grand Slam title winner Naomi Osaka.

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Stenson stripped of Ryder Cup captaincy and signs for LIV rebel series

Henrik Stenson said Wednesday he is signing up for the rebel Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, just hours after he was axed as Europe's Ryder Cup captain.

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Minjee Lee targets Evian repeat with pressure off

Minjee Lee begins the defence of her Evian Championship title on Thursday as the sport's in-form player.

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Lewandowski says 'hungry' for success at Barca unveiling

Robert Lewandowski was officially unveiled as a Barcelona player on Wednesday and insisted he still has the hunger to continue his incredible goalscoring exploits.

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Serena, Djokovic on US Open entry list

Serena Williams was included on the entry list for the US Open on Wednesday as was Novak Djokovic even though his refusal to be vaccinated will bar him from entering the country.

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Wiegman free to lead England after negative Covid test

England women's manager Sarina Wiegman will be able to take her place on the touchline for Wednesday's Euro 2022 quarter-final against Spain after returning a negative test for coronavirus.

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Vingegaard the real winner as Pogacar edges Pyrenean Tour de France duel

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar won stage 17 of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees on Wednesday, but was once again shadowed over the line by overall leader in Jumbo-Visma's Jonas Vingegaard.

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Dutch not at Euro 2022 just to sell tickets, says coach Parsons

Netherlands manager Mark Parsons is determined to leave a mark on the pitch at Euro 2022 to match the impact of the Dutch fans who have turned stadiums in England orange.

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Pogacar wins Tour stage 17, Vingegaard stays in lead

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar won stage 17 of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees on Wednesday, but was once again shadowed over the line by overall leader in Jumbo-Visma's Jonas Vingegaard.

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Dutch boost as striker Miedema returns for Euro 2022 last eight

The Netherlands' star striker Vivianne Miedema is back with the Oranje's Euro 2022 squad after her positive Covid-19 test in time for their quarter-final against France, the champions announced Wednesday.

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Messi scores as PSG labour past Japanese champions

Lionel Messi scored but Paris Saint-Germain were made to work hard for a 2-1 win over Kawasaki Frontale on Wednesday in the first match of their pre-season Japanese tour.

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Lacking motivation, Carlsen not to defend title at 2023 World Chess Championship

Citing a lack of motivation, chess world number one Magnus Carlsen on Wednesday announced that he would not defend his world championship title in 2023, but stressed that he was not retiring from chess.

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