Cricket

Cricket-Australia captain Smith laughs off fiery exchange with Archer

Dec 7 (Reuters) - Australia captain Steve Smith downplayed his fiery exchange with Jofra Archer at the Gabba as "good banter" after letting his bat deliver the final riposte in the first major flashpoint of the Ashes on Sunday.

Football

Soccer-Celik sees red as Roma lose at Cagliari

Dec 7 (Reuters) - AS Roma suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday, with a second-half red card for Mehmet Celik leaving them unable to prevent Gianluca Gaetano's late winner.

Football

Soccer-Rutter rescues point for Brighton with late equaliser against West Ham

BRIGHTON, England, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Brighton & Hove Albion were held to a 1-1 draw at home by West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday after Jarrod Bowen's stunning second-half goal for the visitors was cancelled out by Georginio Rutter's equaliser in stoppage time.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Norris answers his critics with first F1 title

ABU DHABI, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Mentally fragile, too cocky, a privileged Gen Z kid bankrolled by a wealthy father, rapid but lacking the killer instinct that separates champions from the rest -- Lando Norris has faced plenty of criticism on his road to the top in Formula One.

Cricket

Cricket-Former England captains unleash scathing verdict as Ashes dream crumbles

BRISBANE, Dec 7 (Reuters) - England's Ashes hopes have shifted from improbable to near-impossible after another eight-wicket hammering by Australia on Sunday, prompting criticism from former captains who believe Ben Stokes's side have squandered their best chance Down Under.

Athletics

Marathon-Kenyans Korir and Jepkosgei win Valencia Marathon, triathlete Yee impresses

VALENCIA, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Kenyan runner John Korir silenced his doubters in spectacular fashion on Sunday by claiming his second marathon victory of the season at Valencia while proving the "Korir name" is far from fading.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Tearful Norris takes F1 title as Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi race

ABU DHABI, Dec 7 (Reuters) - McLaren's Lando Norris sobbed tears of joy and relief as he won the Formula One championship for the first time and ended Max Verstappen's four-year reign with a nervy third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

Badminton

All eyes on Ee Wei-Pei Kee as women's team chase SEA Games final berth

PETALING JAYA: The battle for a spot in the final of the women's team badminton event at the SEA Games Thailand between Malaysia and Indonesia on Monday (Dec 8) promises to be thrilling, especially with mixed doubles world champion Toh Ee Wei set to feature.

Badminton

Red-hot Aaron-Khai Xing seal Guwahati Masters in style

PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles pair Aaron Tai-Khang Khai Xing are on a roll.

Cricket

Cricket-Australia's Neser hails special Ashes spell at Gabba after long absence

Dec 7 (Reuters) - Australia quick Michael Neser said he will cherish his bowling performance at his home ground in Brisbane after he picked a five-wicket haul in the second Ashes test, helping the hosts to a comprehensive eight-wicket win on Sunday.

Golf

Golf-Denmark's Neergaard-Petersen holds nerve to claim Australian Open title

Dec 7 (Reuters) - Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen pipped former British Open champion Cam Smith to the Australian Open title on Sunday with a par at the final hole to lift the winners trophy with a 15-under par total at Royal Melbourne.

Cricket

Cricket-England not standing up under pressure in Ashes, says Stokes

Dec 7 (Reuters) - England's Ben Stokes lamented his team's failure to stand up in pressure moments after defeat by Australia in the second test at the Gabba on Sunday but the captain refused to concede the battle for the urn is over.

Motorsport

Motor racing-F1 title contenders shake hands before the gloves go on

ABU DHABI, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Formula One's three title contenders shook hands before saluting their fans ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand prix on Sunday.

Cycling

Azizul strikes gold in New Zealand in first triumph since Olympics heartbreak

PETALING JAYA: Former world champion track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang showed he still has the legs to compete and win on the international stage.

Badminton

Pros Hang Yee-Eng Cheong rise above challenges to clinch national title

PUTRAJAYA: Professional men's doubles pair Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong finally ended 2025 on a high note by emerging as the national champions after a challenging year.

Badminton

Zi Yu-Aina’s bid to become youngest National Champions falls short

PUTRAJAYA: Women's doubles pair Low Zi Yu and Nuraina Maisarah Hatta saw their hopes of becoming the youngest champions dashed after falling to second seeds Lee Xin Jie and Low Yeen Yuan in the National Championships final on Sunday (Dec 7).

Golf

Golf-McIlory calls for Australian Open rescheduling in bid to lure stronger field

Dec 7 (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy, the world's second-ranked golfer, has called on organisers of the Australian Open to reschedule the event in an effort to attract a stronger international field to the tournament in the future.

Badminton

Heroics from Siti send M'sia into SEA Games women’s team semis, men also assure bronze

PETALING JAYA: Siti Zulaikha Azmi was the hero for Malaysia as she secured the decisive point to send the women's team into the semi-finals of the Thailand SEA Games with a 3-1 win over Vietnam on Sunday (Dec 7).

Other Sports

Mixed Martial Arts-Yan beats Dvalishvili on points to claim UFC bantamweight title

LAS VEGAS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Russian Petr Yan put on a superb striking performance to dethrone Merab Dvalishvili and win the UFC bantamweight title via unanimous decision after a five-round war of attrition at UFC 323 at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. 

Cricket

Cricket-Old is gold: Kohli and Rohit shine bright

NEW DELHI, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Age may not be on their side, but Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are busy proving they are not a spent force yet in the one international format they still call home.