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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Tang Jie-Ee Wei need to regain rhythm and self-belief after early exit

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei are still trying to rediscover their rhythm and confidence.

Cycling

Shah Firdaus’ knee free from pain, but he stresses need for caution

PETALING JAYA: Track cyclist Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom's right knee is no longer giving him pain but he will still be treading with caution.

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.

Football

Soccer-Albacete stun Real Madrid in thrilling 3-2 Copa del Rey upset

ALBACETE, Spain, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Substitute Jefte ‌Betancor scored twice as second-tier Albacete pulled off a dramatic 3-2 victory over Spanish giants Real Madrid on Wednesday, eliminating ‌them from the Copa del Rey at the round-of-16 stage on Alvaro Arbeloa's managerial debut.

Football

Soccer-Advantage Arsenal in League Cup semi-final after win at Chelsea

LONDON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Arsenal edged towards their ‌first League Cup final since 2018 as they beat London rivals Chelsea 3-2 in the opening ‌leg of their semi-final at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Other Sports

Sailing-Spray, speed and a sprint to Antigua as trade winds supercharge RORC Transatlantic Race

Jan 14 (Reuters) - The trade winds ‌have turned the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race into a high-speed Atlantic charge, producing extraordinary daily runs and setting ‌up a tense race finish in Antigua.

Football

Soccer-Inter open gap at the top with laboured win over Lecce

MILAN, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Inter Milan were ‌far from their best but a late 1-0 win over relegation-battling Lecce at the San ‌Siro on Wednesday was enough to give them a healthy lead at the top ‌of the Serie A standings.

Football

Soccer-Bayern beat Cologne 3-1 to set Bundesliga record at halfway mark

COLOGNE, Germany, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Bundesliga leaders ‌Bayern Munich battled past hosts Cologne 3-1 on Wednesday to record the best first ‌half of a season in the league's history and maintain their 11-point lead ‌at the top of the standings.

Football

Soccer–Racist chants target Vinícius Jr before Real Madrid's Copa del Rey clash

ALBACETE, ‌Spain, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Racist chants against Real Madrid's ‌much-abused Brazilian forward Vinícius Jr were heard ‌outside the Carlos Belmonte stadium on Wednesday ahead of a Copa del Rey tie against second division side Albacete.

Football

Soccer-Napoli's title defence hit by scoreless draw with Parma

NAPLES, Italy, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Napoli's Serie A ‌title defence was dealt another blow when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by ‌Parma on Wednesday, a third successive stalemate for the hosts which could see them lose further ground ‌at the top.