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Football

Soccer-Mourinho seeks Real Madrid turning point in Clasico full of new faces

Oct 22 (Reuters) - Spain's biggest football fixture ⁠arrives on Sunday night at Camp Nou with as many as 14 new faces that could make their Clasico debuts, ⁠but the return of Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho to the fixture will attract the most attention of all.

Football

Soccer-French league moves PSG-Lyon clash as Paris braces for fresh protests

PARIS, Oct 23 (Reuters) - The Ligue 1 match ⁠between Paris St Germain and Olympique Lyonnais at the Parc des Princes has been moved ⁠from Sunday to Monday, the French top flight said on Friday, after police raised security concerns ‌as the capital prepares for another weekend of protests.

Football

Soccer-Carrick accepts blame for United slump, backs himself to turn things around

MANCHESTER, England, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Michael ⁠Carrick mounted an impassioned defence of his leadership on Friday, accepting responsibility for the club's collapse in form and saying he remains convinced ⁠he can lead the team out of their current crisis.

Football

Soccer-Conte says no advanced talks with Man United as Carrick's future hangs in balance

Oct 23 (Reuters) - Former Chelsea and Napoli coach ⁠Antonio Conte said on Friday he was not in advanced negotiations to replace Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, ⁠and called reports that he had demanded full control at the club as "unfounded".

Football

Soccer-Trabzonspor goalkeeper Onana escapes injury in car crash in Turkey

ANKARA, Oct ⁠23 (Reuters) - Trabzonspor goalkeeper Andre Onana escaped ⁠injury after being involved in ‌a multi-vehicle traffic accident in northern Turkey following his team's UEFA Conference League match on ​Thursday, Turkish media reported.

Football

Soccer-Asian Cup to move to even years under AFC governance reforms

Oct 23 (Reuters) - The Asian ⁠Football Confederation approved sweeping changes to its statutes on ⁠Friday, including a decision to move the Asian Cup to ‌even-numbered years from 2032 as part of efforts to align with FIFA's evolving international calendar.

Badminton

Christo, Alex in semis as France aim to end 80-year men's singles title wait at home

PETALING JAYA: French badminton is enjoying a renaissance, with three men's singles players currently ranked in the world's top 15.

Other Sports

Soccer club Valencia says group backed by KKR founders buys 42% stake

HONG ⁠KONG, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Spain's Valencia ⁠CF said on Friday that an ‌investment group backed by KKR co-founders George Roberts and Henry Kravis would buy a 42% ​stake in the soccer ⁠club in a ⁠deal which gives it an enterprise value ⁠of €1.25 ‌billion ($1.4 billion).

Other Sports

Hyrox and Xenom aspire to make fitness 'largest sport on earth'

LONDON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Global indoor fitness race company Hyrox ⁠is teaming up with new player Xenom to expand participation and maybe one day even ⁠be accepted into the Olympics, the companies' executives say.

Athletics

Athletics-World marathon champion Jepchirchir provisionally banned by AIU over EPO finding

Oct 23 (Reuters) - Kenya's ⁠world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for ⁠the banned blood booster EPO in a sample taken before her Sydney Marathon victory, ‌the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Friday.

Badminton

Pumped up Pang Ron-Pei Jing storm into French Open semi-finals

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing smashed their way to the semi-finals of the French Open after slaying giantkillers Marvin Seidel-Nguyen Thuc Phuong on Friday (Oct 23).

Football

Soccer-Not easy for Saudi Arabia to host Asian Cup as scheduled due to security situation, Japan FA chief says

TOKYO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - The ⁠ongoing security situation in Saudi Arabia makes it ⁠difficult for the country to host next year's ‌Asian Cup as scheduled, Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said on Friday.

Cycling

Motorcycling-MotoGP to press ahead with Qatar GP despite regional tensions, rider concerns

Oct 23 (Reuters) - MotoGP will forge ahead ⁠with next month's Qatar Grand Prix despite Middle East tensions and concerns from some riders over safety, while others said they ⁠trusted organisers Dorna to ensure the race could be staged safely.

Athletics

Athletics-CAS clears Japan's Ikeda of doping violation, overturns four-year ban

Oct 23 (Reuters) - The ⁠Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday upheld ⁠an appeal by Japanese race walker Koki ‌Ikeda against World Athletics, clearing the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist of an anti-doping rule violation and making him immediately eligible to ​compete again.

Rugby

Rugby-Fiji pitches pride over money in bid to lure Nawaqanitawase

MELBOURNE, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Fiji has no chance ⁠of matching the financial rewards Australia can offer Mark Nawaqanitawase but the nation's rugby union hopes the ⁠lure of representing his ancestral homeland will persuade the dual international to wear the Flying Fijians ‌jersey at next year's World Cup.

Rugby

Rugby-Wilson hopes to add own Wallabies jersey to family collection

MELBOURNE, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Teddy Wilson ⁠grew up surrounded by reminders of his father's illustrious Wallabies career ⁠and the young scrumhalf now has the chance to add his own ‌Australia jersey to the family collection.

Cricket

Cricket-India's Kishan ruled out of second New Zealand T20 with adductor strain

Oct ⁠23 (Reuters) - India batter ⁠Ishan Kishan has been ‌ruled out of the second Twenty20 against ​New Zealand with ⁠a low-grade ⁠right adductor strain, the ⁠country's ‌cricket board (BCCI) said ⁠on Friday.

Rugby

Rugby-Australia coach names uncapped Wilson, Lambert in squad for Nations Championship tests

MELBOURNE, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Australia ⁠coach Les Kiss on Friday included the uncapped duo of ⁠scrumhalf Teddy Wilson and prop Tom Lambert in his ‌squad for Nations Championship tests in November against England, Scotland and Wales.

Squash

Smashing Sivasangari reaches Silicon Valley Open semis

PETALING JAYA: National squash ace S. Sivasangari secured her place in the semi-finals of the Silicon Valley Open, defeating compatriot Rachel Arnold in straight sets on Thursday (Oct 22).

Football

Soccer-Asian confederation boss backs Infantino's reelection bid

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