The Japan Times - Sports (English)

Controversy swirls as LIV Golf's first US event tees off

The first US event in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series teed off in Oregon on Thursday amid continued protests and threats of legal action that would further divide the global game.

Read more

Vitinha joins PSG in club's first off-season signing

Portugal midfielder Vitinha joined Paris Saint-Germain from Porto on Thursday in what is the French champions' first foray into the transfer market.

Read more

Wimbledon Day 4 - Who said what

Who said what at Wimbledon on Thursday, the fourth day of the 2022 championships at the All England Club:

Read more

Poston goes low to take John Deere Classic lead

J.T. Poston matched his career low round with a nine-under par 62 on Thursday to grab the early first-round lead in the US PGA Tour John Deere Classic in Illinois.

Read more

Duplantis sets outdoor pole vault record, Jacobs late withdrawal

Mondo Duplantis warmed up for next month's world championships in perfect style at Stockholm's Diamond League meet on Thursday, delighting home fans by setting an outdoor pole vault record.

Read more

Durant seeks trade from Nets: reports

As the NBA braced for the free agency negotiating window to open on Thursday, superstar Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets according to US media reports.

Read more

Nadal and Swiatek survive wobbles to progress at Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal was again forced to dig deep to reach the Wimbledon third round on Thursday as women's top seed Iga Swiatek survived a stumble to win her 37th match on the spin.

Read more

'Surprised' Fox sets early pace at Irish Open

New Zealand's Ryan Fox admitted he was surprised to top the Irish Open leaderboard after the first round on Thursday.

Read more

Nadal 'not perfect' but overcomes lapse to reach Wimbledon last 32

Rafael Nadal overcame another mid-match lapse to defeat Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis in four sets and reach the Wimbledon third round for the 11th time on Thursday.

Read more

Unrepentant Ecclestone says furore "good publicity" for British Grand Prix

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone told AFP that the furore over remarks he made on Russia's invasion of Ukraine were "good publicity for Silverstone", which is hosting this weekend's British Grand Prix.

Read more

Police raid hotel and homes of Tour de France team Bahrain-Victorious

Danish police raided the Bahrain-Victorious team hotel early Thursday after recent searches of the homes of team members, the Marseille public prosecutor's office announced.

Read more

England captain Stokes backs struggling Crawley as India await

England captain Ben Stokes has said Zak Crawley will be given a "lot of time to perform" as the struggling opener looks to put a run of low scores behind him in this week's Test against India.

Read more

Former Wimbledon champ Halep advances to third round

Former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep beat Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday to advance to the third round at the All England Club.

Read more

After Piquet slur, Hamilton says F1 must listen to younger people

Lewis Hamilton on Thursday asked why 'older voices' in Formula One are still given a platform for offensive and out-dated views.

Read more

Olympic champion Jacobs out of Stockholm 100m after 'pain'

Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs was a late withdrawal from the 100m at the Stockholm Diamond League on Thursday, the latest blow to his injury-hit season coming just two weeks out from the world championships.

Read more

Ukrainian doubles player mulls return to help in war effort

Ukrainian doubles specialist Denys Molchanov says he could return to his homeland to help with the war effort, admitting he is finding it tough to focus on tennis as the conflict rages on.

Read more

Buttler proud to succeed Morgan as England white-ball captain

Jos Buttler said he had been given the "greatest honour" after being named as England's new white-ball captain in succession to "inspirational" World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan.

Read more

Nadal centre stage at Wimbledon as Tsitsipas sets up Kyrgios clash

Rafael Nadal topped the bill at Wimbledon on Thursday as Stefanos Tsitsipas set up a mouthwatering third-round match against Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios.

Read more

Buttler proud to succeed 'outstanding' Morgan as England white-ball captain

Jos Buttler said he had been given the "greatest honour" after being named as England's new white-ball captain in succession to "inspirational" World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan.

Read more

Stand-in India skipper Bumrah in 'deep water' against England

India's stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah is relishing the challenge of being in "deep water" against revitalised England.

Read more

Cheika rings changes in Argentina debut against Scotland

Australian coach Michael Cheika recalled veteran hooker Agustin Creevy to his squad announced on Thursday for his first match in charge of Argentina at home to Scotland.

Read more

Britain's Boulter dedicates Pliskova win at Wimbledon to late grandmother

British wildcard Katie Boulter dedicated Thursday's shock second-round win at Wimbledon against 2021 finalist Karolina Pliskova to her late grandmother, who died this week.

Read more

'I'm pretty good': Well-behaved Kyrgios is Wimbledon dangerman

Nick Kyrgios buried the rage he showed in his Wimbledon opener to ease into the third round on Thursday and warned: "I just wanted to remind everyone that I'm pretty good."

Read more

Balls up: UK govt sports supremo mixes up rugby codes

The UK government's sports supremo, an outspoken ally of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on Thursday reinforced her reputation for gaffes as she mistook rugby league for its rival code rugby union.

Read more

Khawaja lauds Green's 'courage' as Australia build lead in first Test

Usman Khawaja on Thursday praised Cameron Green for handling the Sri Lankan spinners with aplomb after the two batsmen helped Australia to a 101-run first innings lead on a weather-hit day two of the opening Test.

Read more

Danish police raid hotel of Tour de France team Bahrain-Victorious

Danish police raided the hotel of Team Bahrain-Victorious early Thursday on the eve of the start of the Tour de France in Denmark.

Read more

'I'm pretty good': Kyrgios behaves to reach Wimbledon last 32

Nick Kyrgios buried the rage he showed in his Wimbledon opener to ease into the third round on Thursday and warned: "I just wanted to remind everyone that I'm pretty good."

Read more

France hand Jolmes, Tanga debuts against Japan

France head coach Fabien Galthie on Thursday handed debuts to lock Thomas Jolmes and number eight Yoan Tanga for the first rugby Test against Japan in Toyota on Saturday.

Read more

Bumrah to captain India in fifth Test against England

Jasprit Bumrah will captain India in Friday's delayed fifth Test against England, after regular skipper Rohit Sharma was ruled out with Covid-19, it was announced Thursday.

Read more

Gilchrist to lead Scotland in first Pumas Test

Grant Gilchrist will captain Scotland for the first time since 2018 when he leads them out for the opening Test against Argentina in San Salvador de Jujuy on Saturday.

Read more

Green, Khawaja put Australia on top in Galle Test

Cameron Green and Usman Khawaja hit half-centuries to put Australia ahead by 101 runs against Sri Lanka after abysmal weather set back the second day of the opening Test on Thursday.

Read more

Nadal centre stage at Wimbledon as Covid forces third withdrawal

Rafael Nadal tops the bill at Wimbledon on Thursday after Roberto Bautista Agut became the third player to withdraw from the Championships following a positive coronavirus test.

Read more