Football

Soccer-Betis manager Pellegrini delighted after securing Champions League return

May 13 (Reuters) - Real Betis ⁠manager Manuel Pellegrini said qualifying for the Champions ⁠League after a 20-year absence marked the completion ‌of a goal they set for themselves on the first day of the season after his side sealed a top-five finish in LaLiga ​on Tuesday.

Athletics

Athletics-World record holder Sawe to defend Berlin Marathon title in September

May 13 (Reuters) - Kenya's Sabastian ⁠Sawe, who last month became the first man to ⁠run a marathon in under two hours in an ‌official race, will attempt to improve on that record on one of the world's fastest courses at the Berlin Marathon in September, organisers said on ​Wednesday.

Football

Soccer-From tailored meals to a sense of home, Man City women open new training facility

MANCHESTER, England, May 13 (Reuters) - Lunch at Manchester City Women's ⁠new first-team facility no longer revolves around pasta on repeat or squeezing in alongside teenagers fresh back from school.

Other Sports

Sailing-Australia to launch America's Cup challenge

MELBOURNE, May 13 (Reuters) - ⁠Australia will launch its first challenge for ⁠the America's Cup in a quarter of ‌a century at the 38th edition of the prestigious regatta next year in Naples.

Football

Soccer-Man City boss Guardiola says VAR decisions like the flip of a coin

May 13 (Reuters) - Manchester City ⁠manager Pep Guardiola compared the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system ⁠to the flip of a coin on Tuesday ‌and said his side must play well enough to avoid any impact from decisions that go against them.

Football

Soccer-Ted Lasso actor signs for US second-tier club

May 13 (Reuters) - Ted Lasso ⁠actor Cristo Fernandez has taken his role as a ⁠footballer from the small screen to the soccer pitch ‌after signing a professional contract with U.S. second-tier side El Paso Locomotive FC.

Basketball

NBA-Jason Collins, first openly gay active NBA player, dies at 47

May 12 (Reuters) - Jason Collins, the ⁠first openly gay active player in the NBA, has died at ⁠the age of 47 after battling cancer, his family said ‌on Tuesday.

Football

Soccer-Magic Johnson urges fans to make Los Angeles their World Cup destination

INGLEWOOD, California, May 12 (Reuters) - Los Angeles sports ⁠royalty and former NBA great Earvin "Magic" Johnson on Tuesday urged fans from around the world to ⁠make Los Angeles their World Cup destination, calling the city the "sports capital of the world."

Football

Khairul says goodbye to Sabah after five-year stint

PETALING JAYA: Veteran goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (pic) is set to bid farewell to Sabah after a fruitful five years as he looks to spend more time with his family.

Football

Safuwan wary of Bezerra as Selangor chase final berth

PETALING JAYA: Safuwan Baharudin has singled out Rafaelson Bezerra, better known as Nguyen Xuan Son, in Vietnam as the biggest danger standing between Selangor and a place in the Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup final.

Badminton

Kai Wun serves reality check on Wei Chong’s injury

PETALING JAYA: World No. 6 men's doubles player Tee Kai Wun feels that pulling out of next week's Malaysian Masters is the right move for both his long-term career and that of his partner Man Wei Chong.

Badminton

Jonassen counting on Salim to shape junior squads’ future

PETALING JAYA: National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen believes Salim Samion's appointment can strengthen the national junior set-up and help develop the next generation of players.

Football

Mendez: Match losses to Buriram do not reflect JDT’s superiority on the pitch

PETALING JAYA: Nacho Mendez is determined to help Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) get the better of Buriram United and seal a place in the Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup final.

Badminton

Zii Jia eyes deeper run after confident qualifying victories

PETALING JAYA: Can Thailand once again inspire Lee Zii Jia (pic) as he continues his climb back towards the world elite?

Hockey

TNB powers hockey forward with RM25mil boost through 2030

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) have strengthened their partnership with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) with a five-year, RM25mil deal until 2030.

Hockey

LA gold beyond reach for hockey, says Subahan

PETALING JAYA: Being left out of the Road to Gold (RTG) programme is not a major concern for the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC), with president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal admitting Olympic gold remains a tough ask for the national team.

Other Sports

Aniq eyes bigger lift

PETALING JAYA: National weightlifter Aniq Kasdan heads into the Commonwealth Games with renewed confidence after securing a silver medal at the Asian Championships in India yesterday.

Squash

Sivasangari aiming for giant kill against world No. 1 Hania

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's challenge at the World Championships rests on the shoulders of top squash player S. Sivasangari as she prepares for another daunting clash against world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy in the quarter-finals in Egypt today.

Football

Soccer-Bento blunder delays Al Nassr's title celebrations

RIYADH, ⁠May 12 (Reuters) - Al Nassr goalkeeper Bento scored a ⁠98th-minute own goal that denied his team ‌the chance to wrap up the Saudi Pro League title in a 1-1 draw with Al Hilal on Tuesday.

Football

Soccer-Southampton to play Hull at Wembley for Premier League place

SOUTHAMPTON, England, May 12 (Reuters) - Southampton will ⁠play Hull City for a place in the Premier League after coming back from a goal ⁠down to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 in extra time of their Championship playoff semi-final second leg ‌on Tuesday.