TOKYO: Japan’s Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu announced his marriage late on Friday (Aug 4), drawing congratulations from his fanbase, though some seemed sad that the photogenic 28-year-old would no longer be romantically available. Hanyu did not say who his partner was when declaring his new marital statusContinue Reading
BEIJING: Dinner, drinks and a selfie with Lionel Messi sounds like every football fan’s dream, but Chinese police have warned it’s just one of numerous scams surrounding his visit to Beijing. The Argentine legend’s presence in China for a friendly against Australia in the capital on Thursday (Jun 15) hasContinue Reading
Chinese players Liang Wenbo and Li Hang have been handed lifetime bans for match-fixing by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), the governing body said on Tuesday (Jun 6). The pair have been found to have fixed snooker matches, persuaded or encouraged other players to fix matches andContinue Reading
RIYADH: Luka Modric and Hugo Lloris feature on a list of “more than 10” top-level Saudi Arabian football transfer targets headed by Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema, a source close to the negotiations has told AFP. Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, N’Golo Kante, Angel Di Maria and Roberto FirminoContinue Reading
KUALA LUMPUR: A former Olympian says there is a “toxic and negative” team culture in Malaysian swimming, following a poor showing at the Southeast Asian Games. Marilyn Chua, who competed at the 2000 Olympics, spoke out ahead of the Asian Games this year in China. Now the Selangor state coach,Continue Reading
BEIJING: Chinese badminton great Chen Long has announced his retirement aged 34, ending a decorated career that included Olympic gold and two world titles. The former world number one won the Olympic crown at Rio 2016 and followed it up with silver at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021. HeContinue Reading
PHNOM PENH: Nearly two weeks of triumphs, tears and the occasional tantrum will come to an end on Wednesday (May 17) when the Southeast Asian Games close in Cambodia, with Vietnam topping the final medal table. Women’s football gold capped a glittering Games for Vietnam, who reigned over the medalsContinue Reading
PHNOM PENH: Indonesia won footballing gold at the Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday (May 16), beating Thailand in a hot-tempered match that had seven goals, four players sent off and two brawls. The match had been billed as a chance for Indonesia to restore some pride to a national game recentlyContinue Reading
Indonesia, who are ranked 149th in the world, have qualified for the expanded Asian Cup, which takes place in Qatar in January and February next year. The last time they contested the regional showpiece was in 2007 as co-hosts. Signs of success on the pitch come during a dark timeContinue Reading
PHNOM PENH: Everyone in Phnom Penh, it seems, wants a selfie with Bou Samnang. The Cambodian runner has become a star of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games since her gritty performance in the 5,000m event. Although she came last, her determination to finish the race under torrential rain charmed theContinue Reading