Motorsport

Indian actor Ajith swaps film set for fast lane in Sepang

PETALING JAYA: Popular Indian actor Ajith Kumar has caused lots of excitement in Malaysia as he is currently racing in Sepang.

Diving

Diving-Ukraine strips Lyskun of titles after Russia switch

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Ukraine's diving federation said it has stripped Sofiia Lyskun of her titles following her decision to switch allegiance to Russia.

Cricket

Cricket-Hope's hundred keeps West Indies afloat against weakened New Zealand

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Shai Hope's unbeaten hundred steered West Indies to 212-4 in a mammoth chase of 531 on day four of the opening test against New Zealand at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Friday.

Cricket

Cricket-Weatherald gets maiden fifty as Australia race to 130-1

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Jake Weatherald scored his first half-century for Australia as the hosts charged to 130 for one at tea on day two of the second Ashes test on Friday in reply to England's first innings 334.

Football

Soccer-On eve of World Cup draw, MLS commissioner says US soccer is thriving

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said the arrival of elite players such as Lionel Messi has helped the sport cement its place in a crowded U.S. market, as anticipation builds across the country for Friday's World Cup draw in Washington.

Other Sports

Sailing-Australian swimming great Thorpe to take part in Sydney-Hobart yacht race

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Five-times Olympic swimming gold medallist Ian Thorpe said he has joined the crew of supermaxi LawConnect as it chases a third consecutive victory in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race.

Tennis

Tennis-Potapova switches allegiance to Austria from Russia

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Anastasia Potapova has become the latest Russian-born tennis player to switch international allegiance after the world number 51 said her application for Austrian citizenship was approved.

Cricket

Cricket-England all out for 334 in first innings in second Ashes test

Dec 5 (Reuters) - England were dismissed for 334 in their first innings on day two of the second Ashes test in Brisbane on Friday.

Football

Soccer-Salah's benching shows every player has to earn their place at Liverpool: Van Dijk

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said the decision to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench in back-to-back Premier League games shows that no player is guaranteed a spot in the side regardless of their contribution to the club's success in recent years.

Football

Soccer-Man United looked frightened against West Ham, says Keane

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Manchester United looked frightened against West Ham United and were not "nasty" enough to secure the three points, said their former captain Roy Keane after they conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 Premier League draw at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Football

England's Tuchel might keep substitutes inside if World Cup heat gets too fierce

Dec 4 (Reuters) - England manager Thomas Tuchel said he might keep his substitutes in the dressing room during matches at the 2026 World Cup next summer in an attempt to mitigate the impact of extreme heat.

Bowling

Siti’s experience fuels Malaysia’s charge for Japan clash

PETALING JAYA: Experience may be Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman's greatest weapon but even Malaysia's most seasoned bowler knows Japan cannot be taken for granted at the World Championships.

Football

Take a chance on the other Abba

PETALING JAYA: Eight years ago in Kuala Lumpur, national Under-23 defensive midfielder Ahmad Haziq Kutty Abba sat in the stands at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, watching the Harimau Muda take on Thailand in the 2017 SEA Games football final.

Other Sports

Ridzwan’s the one for futsal team to count on

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia futsal team player Mohd Ridzwan Bakri knows winning a medal at the Thailand SEA Games will be a major challenge, but he believes Malaysia can finally end their eight-year wait for a podium finish.

Basketball

Home in on the gold!

PETALING JAYA: Bring home the SEA Games gold medal and become a homeowner instantly.

Squash

Sangari finds Hania too hot to handle again, but q-final finish in Hong Kong a positive

PETALING JAYA: National squash player S. Sivasangari closed out her year with a quarter-final finish in the Hong Kong Open.

Cricket

Virandeep seeks SEA Games redemption after World Cup heartbreak

PETALING JAYA: The sting of missing out on the ICC T20 World Cup has not faded for national cricket vice-captain Virandeep Singh and he wants the Thailand SEA Games to be Malaysia's stage for redemption.

Badminton

Opposites off court

PETALING JAYA: They smash in sync on court, but women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah could not be more different when it comes to winding down.

Football

Selangor coach Gamel admits sore point feels like a loss

PETALING JAYA: Selangor left Manila with heavy frustration after their 1-1 draw with Dynamo Herb Cebu in the Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup on Wednesday, a result coach Christophe Gamel described bluntly as a ''loss'' given his team's dominance and the number of missed chances.

Badminton

BAM boss Zafrul believes shuttlers can win four golds

PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) believe the shuttlers bound for the SEA Games in Thailand from Dec 9-20 will be able to meet the ambitious target of four gold medals set for them.