Badminton

No early round fears for Pearly-Thinaah, but danger lurks in quarters

PETALING JAYA: World No. 2 women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are expected to make up for last year's early exit at the Asian Championships, but their real test will begin if they reach the quarter-finals.

Hockey

MHC turn to East Malaysia to widen national talent pool 

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) hope to unearth more talents from East Malaysia as quite a number of players from the Borneo states have shone in the national set-up.

Cycling

TSG Under-21 squad seek important exposure at JCM Series

PETALING JAYA: The opening round of the Junior Cycling Malaysia (JCM) Series 1, set to take place in Langkawi on April 3, will serve as a key platform for TSG Cycling Academy's development squad to benchmark their performance at the start of the 2026 season.

Cycling

Azizul’s impressive rise in UCI rankings raises possibility of LA28 outing 

PETALING JAYA: Veteran cyclist Azizulhasni Awang's continuing rise in the UCI world rankings for men's elite sprint has raised the interesting question of whether he is game to take another shot at the Olympics in 2028.

Cycling

Hope for Velodrome Rakyat to be restored

PETALING JAYA: There may be hope yet for the Velodrome Rakyat to be restored to working condition soon, thanks to Malaysian National Cycling Federation president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill meeting with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah at the Perak Palace yesterday.

Badminton

Separate ways for Hon Jian and Haikal

PETALING JAYA: More changes have also taken place in the national badminton camp, with doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri the latest to be split as they form new combinations.

Football

Soccer-Ronaldo scores twice on return as Al Nassr thumps Al Najma

April ⁠3 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return from ⁠a month-long injury layoff by scoring twice in ‌the second half as Al Nassr maintained their winning run with a 5-2 victory over bottom side Al Najma in ​the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

Football

Soccer-Canadian clubs and officials get ready for FIFA offside experiment

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, April 3 (Reuters) - ⁠Players and match officials in Canada's national soccer league are rewiring their brains and bodies ⁠as a critical test of provisional FIFA offside rules takes place on Saturday.

Other Sports

French prosecutors drop probe into Paris Olympics 2024 chief Estanguet

PARIS, April ⁠3 (Reuters) - French financial ⁠prosecutors have dropped ‌an investigation of Paris 2024 Olympics chief Tony Estanguet ​regarding his ⁠salary, the prosecutor's ⁠department said on Friday.

Cricket

Cricket-Thain becomes first injury substitute in English county cricket

April 3 (Reuters) - Essex ⁠all-rounder Noah Thain became the first ever ⁠injury substitute in county cricket in ‌England on Friday when he replaced captain Tom Westley, who broke a finger while batting against Hampshire in Southampton.

Football

JDT thrash KL for comfy cushion in Malaysia Cup semis

KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) secured a comfortable cushion in the Malaysia Cup semi-finals after beating Kuala Lumpur 4-0 in the first leg match on Friday (April 3)

Football

Soccer-Arteta keeps cards close to chest as injury-hit Arsenal eye FA Cup semis

April 3 (Reuters) - Arsenal will be ⁠without injured England attacker Noni Madueke when they face Southampton ⁠in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final, but Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber ‌may return from injury, manager Mikel Arteta said.

Football

Soccer-Guardiola eyes record eighth straight FA Cup semi-final for Man City

April 3 (Reuters) - Manchester City will ⁠look to secure a historic eighth straight semi-final appearance in the FA Cup ⁠when they face Liverpool on Saturday, manager Pep Guardiola said.

Football

Soccer-Gattuso leaves Italy job after missing out on World Cup again

ROME, April 3 (Reuters) - Gennaro Gattuso's reign as Italy ⁠manager ended on Friday, the country's football federation (FIGC) said, after the national team's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Hockey

Carolan eyes new blood as MHL kicks off ahead of Asiad

PETALING JAYA: New national hockey team head coach Brendon Carolan has the perfect opportunity to scout for fresh faces when the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) starts next week.

Football

Soccer-'Unbelievable' Salah can win more trophies before Liverpool exit, says Slot

April 3 (Reuters) - Manager Arne Slot hailed ⁠the impact Mohamed Salah has had on Liverpool during his nine years at the ⁠club, and is hoping the Egyptian forward will win two more trophies with ‌them before leaving.

Football

Pan-gon wary of Kuching threat ahead of Malaysia Cup semis

PETALING JAYA: Selangor head coach Kim Pan-gon has his eye on several key Kuching players who could prove dangerous when the two sides clash in the Malaysia Cup semi-final first leg match at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Sunday (April 5).

Cycling

Royal audience rekindles hope for Velodrome Rakyat

PETALING JAYA: There may be hope yet for the Velodrome Rakyat to be restored to working condition soon, thanks to Malaysian National Cycling Federation president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill's meeting with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah at the Perak Palace on Friday (April 3).

Football

Soccer-Chelsea drop Fernandez for two games for comments on his future

April 3 (Reuters) - Chelsea have dropped ⁠their record signing Enzo Fernandez for two matches after the midfielder publicly cast ⁠doubt over his future at Stamford Bridge, manager Liam Rosenior said on ‌Friday.

Other Sports

Chess-Nakamura criticises FIDE's anti-cheating measures at Candidates tournament, victory hopes fade away

April 3 (Reuters) - U.S. grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura ⁠has criticised the International Chess Federation (FIDE) over what he described as excessive anti-cheating measures at ⁠the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus before his final victory chances went up into thin ‌air on Friday.