Motorsport

Motor racing-Alonso motivated but still unsure about F1 future after 2026

Feb 9 (Reuters) - Two-times world champion Fernando Alonso ‌said on Monday he planned to enjoy every second of the new Formula One season and ‌had still not decided whether it would be his last.

Other Sports

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Childhood friends and longtime rivals join forces in new team combined race

BORMIO, ‌Italy, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Old rivals and childhood friends alike paired up to gun for Olympic glory ‌on Monday in the debut of the new men's Alpine skiing team combined event.

Other Sports

Olympics-Curling-US beat Italy set up mixed doubles gold medal clash with Sweden

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The ‌United States' Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse beat reigning Olympic and world champions Italy 9-8 in the mixed doubles ‌semi-finals at the Milano Cortina Games on Monday to set up a final against Sweden, who defeated Britain ‌9-3.

Football

Soccer-Draw means Al-Hilal drop first points in Asian Champions League

Feb 9 (Reuters) - ‌Four-times champions Al-Hilal dropped their first points of the league ‌phase of the Asian Champions League Elite on Monday as ‌Simone Inzaghi's much-changed line-up were held to a 0-0 draw by Shabab Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.

Cricket

Cricket-South Africa begin T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding 57-run win over Canada

Feb 9 (Reuters) - Captain Aiden Markram led with ‌a half-century as South Africa kicked off their Twenty20 World Cup campaign with a comfortable 57-run win over ‌Canada on Monday, aided by Lungi Ngidi's four-wicket haul in a Group D clash in Ahmedabad.

Other Sports

Olympics-Luge-Taubitz and Fraebel vie for another German gold

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 9 (Reuters) - ‌German duo Julia Taubitz and Merle Fraebel wasted little time in stamping their authority all over ‌the women's luge singles at the Winter Olympics on Monday, both posting track records to sit ‌one and two at the halfway stage, with six hundredths of a second between them.

Cricket

Cricket-Pakistan agrees to play India in T20 World Cup match, government says

Feb 9 (Reuters) - Pakistan has agreed to ‌play India in the Twenty20 cricket World Cup match scheduled to take place in ‌Sri Lanka on Sunday, Pakistan's government said on Monday, reversing its decision to ‌boycott the game citing geopolitical tensions.

Other Sports

Olympics-Mystery of breaking medals baffles Milano Games organisers

MILAN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Whether gold, silver ‌or bronze, there is one thing Milano Cortina Winter Olympics medals have in common: they can break.

Other Sports

Olympics-Biathlon-Greenland's Sondre set to follow in family footsteps with Games debut

ANTERSELVA, ITALY, Feb ‌9 (Reuters) - Having spent years counting down to his big moment, Sondre Slettemark will follow ‌in the proud footsteps of his father Oystein and big sister Ukaleq ‌when he makes his Olympic debut in the men's 20km individual biathlon race on Tuesday. 

Cricket

Cricket-Bangladesh urge Pakistan to reverse decision to boycott India game in T20 World Cup

Feb 9 (Reuters) - The ‌Bangladesh Cricket Board on Monday urged Pakistan to ‌reverse their decision to boycott the Twenty20 ‌World Cup game against India scheduled for February 15, after meeting representatives from global governing body the ICC and the Pakistan ‍Cricket Board in Lahore.

Other Sports

Olympics-Speed skating-Leerdam wins 1,000m gold in Dutch one-two with Kok at Milano Cortina

MILAN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Jutta Leerdam ‌stormed to 1,000m gold at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Monday, spearheading a Dutch sweep of the top two places ‌ahead of Femke Kok as they opened the Netherlands' medal account at the Games.

Football

Soccer-Spurs desperate for wins, says Frank, as relegation battle looms

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager ‌Thomas Frank said his side are desperate to win matches, after a seven-game run without ‌a Premier League victory has left them six points above the relegation zone in ‌contrast to their form in Europe.

Hockey

Olympics-Ice hockey-Tkachuk, Hughes siblings add extra chemistry to US band of brothers

MILAN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The ‌Tkachuk and Hughes brothers will channel their sibling rivalry into a relentless quest for Olympic ‌gold when the U.S. begin their men's ice hockey campaign at the Milano Cortina ‌Games on Thursday.

Football

Soccer-Rosenior praises revitalised Chelsea's 'extreme mental toughness'

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Liam ‌Rosenior praised his players' mental fortitude for achieving a string of wins since he took ‌over last month, with their only setbacks being two losses to Arsenal in the ‌League Cup semi-finals.

Football

Soccer-Colombia forward Duran joins Zenit on loan from Saudi's Al-Nassr

Feb 9 (Reuters) -  Colombia ‌forward Jhon Duran has joined Russia's ‌Zenit St Petersburg on loan ‌from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr on Monday, following the termination of his loan ‍spell with Fenerbahce.

Hockey

Olympics-Ice hockey-Italy reach quarters, US and Canada stay unbeaten, Germany beat France in overtime

MILAN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Hosts Italy reached the ‌quarter-finals of the Olympic women's ice hockey tournament with a 3-2 victory over Japan on Monday, and reigning champions Canada beat the Czech Republic 5-1 although their captain Marie-Philip ‌Poulin went off injured.

Other Sports

Olympics-Figure skating-Mexico's Carrillo back at Games as Latin America's unlikely standard-bearer

MILAN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Donovan Carrillo took ‌up figure skating as a child to impress a girl but the Mexican is back for his second Olympics at Milano ‌Cortina aiming to once again woo the crowds with a joyful style that has made him a fan favourite around ‌the world.

Other Sports

Olympics-Skeleton-Ukraine's Heraskevych says IOC has banned helmet showing athletes killed in war

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Other Sports

Olympics-Snowboard-American Kim says injured shoulder feeling good as she aims for third gold

LIVIGNO, Italy, ‌Feb 9 - American snowboarder Chloe Kim said her ‌injured shoulder was "feeling good" as she prepares to attempt ‌a brand-new halfpipe run at the Milano Cortina Olympics to claim a third straight gold medal.

Badminton

Blending classroom and court, Yong Hock Kin academy charts new pathway

PETALING JAYA: Expect more players to graduate into future badminton stars under the guidance of former great Yong Hock Kin.