Swimming

Swimming-Ledecky clocks second-fastest 1500m free swim at Pro Series

Jan 15 (Reuters) - Nine-time Olympic ‌gold medalist Katie Ledecky clocked the second-fastest swim ever ‌in the women's 1,500-metre freestyle at the 2026 U.S. Pro ‌Swim Series event in Austin on Wednesday, winning the race in 15 minutes, 23.21 seconds.

Tennis

Tennis-Top trio eye Grand Slam glory with Sabalenka targeting third Australian Open crown

MELBOURNE, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Australian Open favourite Aryna ‌Sabalenka headlines a powerful cast of characters at Melbourne Park along with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff as they look to ‌shape the early-season narrative at the year's opening Grand Slam.

Tennis

Tennis-Federer hopes 'Sincaraz' rivalry can thrill fans at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The era-shaping ‌rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has injected fresh energy into men's tennis, 20-times Grand Slam champion ‌Roger Federer said on Thursday as he looked forward to a blockbuster Australian Open showdown between ‌the pair.

Cricket

Cricket-India-origin Bajwa to lead Canada in T20 World Cup

Jan 15 (Reuters) - India-born Dilpreet ‌Bajwa will lead Canada at the Twenty20 World ‌Cup next month, the country's cricket board said ‌on Wednesday as it announced a 15-member squad for the competition. 

Cricket

Cricket-Afghanistan approve three-foreign-league annual cap for top players

KABUL, Jan 15 (Reuters) - ‌Top Afghanistan players such as Rashid Khan ‌can play a maximum of three ‌franchise leagues abroad per year, alongside mandatory availability for a rebooted domestic competition, according to a new policy approved by ‍the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

Tennis

Tennis-Sinner to meet Gaston in Australian Open first round, Sabalenka to play French wildcard

MELBOURNE, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Defending champion ‌Jannik Sinner will meet French world number 94 Hugo Gaston in the first round of the ‌Australian Open in his bid for a third straight title at Melbourne Park, while women's ‌top seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga.

Football

Soccer-CAF bans Eto’o for four matches over AFCON conduct

Jan 15 (Reuters) - Cameroon ‌Football Federation (FECAFOOT) President Samuel Eto'o has ‌been handed a four-match ban for ‌alleged misconduct during the team's 2-0 defeat by hosts Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations last ‍Friday, the Confederation of African ‍Football (CAF) said in ‌a statement.

Football

Soccer-Chelsea’s Rosenior takes blame for Sanchez's errors in League Cup loss

Jan 15 (Reuters) - Chelsea ‌manager Liam Rosenior said he should be ‌held accountable for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez's errors ‌after their 3-2 League Cup loss in the opening leg of their semi-final at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Athletics

British runner Porter pulled from ultramarathon after death threats

Jan 14 (Reuters) - British runner ‌Sarah Porter was pulled from the Montane Winter Spine Challenger South ‌race after receiving death threats related to her charity work ‌supporting Afghan women and girls, race organisers said.

Tennis

Tennis-Keys braces for defending champion pressure at Australian Open

Jan 14 (Reuters) - Madison ‌Keys said she was preparing to handle the added scrutiny of returning to ‌the Australian Open as defending champion, while fellow American Coco Gauff appears poised ‌to make a deep run when the season's first Grand Slam begins on Sunday.

Football

Soccer-Blame me, says Arbeloa, as Real Madrid crash out of Copa del Rey

ALBACETE, Spain, Jan 14 (Reuters) - ‌New coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he was not afraid of failure as he took the blame ‌for Real Madrid's stunning 3-2 defeat to second-division Albacete in the Copa del Rey round ‌of 16 on Wednesday.

Rugby

Rugby-'Gutted' Robertson steps down as All Blacks coach after critical review

Jan 15 (Reuters) - New Zealand are looking ‌for a new All Blacks head coach midway through the World Cup cycle following a shock decision to part ‌ways with Scott Robertson in the wake of a critical review of the team's coaching and performance.

Football

FIFA receives record 500 million ticket requests for 2026 World Cup

Jan 14 (Reuters) - FIFA said ‌on Tuesday it received more than 500 million ticket requests ‌for the 2026 World Cup during a 33-day application window ‌that closed this week, describing it as a new milestone in world sporting history.

Football

Soccer-Morocco beat Nigeria on penalties to set up Cup of Nations final v Senegal

RABAT, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Yassine Bounou saved ‌two penalties and Youssef En-Nesyri netted the decisive spot kick as hosts Morocco secured a ‌4-2 shootout victory over Nigeria following their 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of ‌Nations semi-final in Rabat on Wednesday.

Golf

Jeneath eyes more history in bid to be first back-to-back WAAP winner

PETALING JAYA: Golfer Jeneath Wong will be aiming for a notable slice of golfing history when she tees off in the eighth edition of the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship next month.

Football

Turtles’ new imports get off the mark early

PETALING JAYA: Terengganu's two new imports from Tajikistan, Ehson Panshanbe and Shervoni Mabatshoev, did not take long to win over the Turtles' supporters after playing key roles in a 1-0 Super League win over Brunei on Tuesday.

Bowling

Esther’s final frame

PETALING JAYA: Three-time world tenpin bowling champion Esther Cheah just can't roll with the physical challenges anymore, prompting her to announce her retirement from the sport after 22 years of representing Malaysia.

Badminton

That’s no stage for worlds

PETALING JAYA: The less than conducive conditions at the Indian Open held at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex have raised concerns among several top players, especially with the World Championships set to be held at the same venue in August.

Taking up the gauntlet

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are ready to answer men's doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi's call to step up in support of national No. 1 pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.

Badminton

Singles sorrow as Jun Hao retires and Justin’s debut ends early

PETALING JAYA: It was a disappointing end for both men's singles shuttlers Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh in the Indian Open.