Football

Humble Pavithran embraces challenges to step up for team in AFF Cup

PETALING JAYA: G. Pavithran (pic) may be a new name in the Harimau Malaya set-up for the AFF Hyundai Cup, but Malaysian football fans already know exactly what he is capable of.

Football

Soccer-Argentina defender Otamendi retires from international football

July 23 (Reuters) - Argentina ⁠defender Nicolas Otamendi announced his retirement from ⁠international football on Thursday, bringing the curtain ‌down on a 17-year career during which he won the 2022 World Cup and two Copa America titles.

Athletics

Athletics-American Lyles still hungry in off year

NEW YORK, July ⁠23 (Reuters) - There is no such thing as an off year for ⁠Noah Lyles, as the Olympic gold medallist cruised through the opening ‌heats of the 100 metres at the U.S. championships on Thursday, hungry to fit more competition into his calendar.

Other Sports

Kalshi hits the back of the net with $27 billion FIFA World Cup windfall

July 23 (Reuters) - Prediction market ⁠startup Kalshi scored well during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, netting roughly double ⁠its projected user traffic and trading volume as fans scrambled to turn their ‌soccer savvy into profits.

Football

Soccer-Barcelona's De Jong ruled out for weeks due to serious knee injury

July 23 (Reuters) - ⁠Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de ⁠Jong is facing several weeks ‌on the sidelines after the LaLiga champions said the Netherlands international had ​returned from the ⁠World Cup with ⁠torn knee ligaments.

Cycling

Cycling-Tour returns to Alpe d'Huez with back-to-back summit stages

ORCIERES-MERLETTE, France, July 23 (Reuters) - ⁠Alpe d'Huez will host consecutive summit finishes on Friday and Saturday, as the Tour ⁠de France's intense Alpine trilogy concludes, with the general classification at stake.

Football

Soccer-Modric, 40, extends Milan stay until 2027

July 23 (Reuters) - ⁠AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric has ⁠signed a contract extension that ‌will keep the Croatian with the Serie A team until June 2027, the club said on ​Thursday.

Football

Soccer-From Wallsend Boys Club to Man City's record signing, Anderson eyes next step

LONDON, July 23 (Reuters) - Elliot Anderson says his ⁠rise from youth player at one of Tyneside's renowned boys' clubs to become England's most expensive transfer at the time of his ⁠move to Manchester City has been steeper than he expected, but says the best is yet to come.

Football

Soccer-Forest sign midfielder Schlager from Leipzig

July 23 (Reuters) - ⁠Nottingham Forest have signed Austria midfielder ⁠Xaver Schlager from RB Leipzig ‌on a two-year deal, the Premier League club said on Thursday.

Other Sports

Izzat off to a winning start at Commonwealth Games

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian lawn bowler Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple got off to a strong start after beating Falklands Islands' Cecil Alexander 2-0 in the Commonwealth Games men's singles sectional play at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) Centre in Glasgow on Thursday (July 23).

Cycling

Cycling-Carapaz secures solo victory in Tour de France stage 18, Pogacar stays in yellow

ORCIERES MERLETTE, France, July ⁠23 (Reuters) - Ecuadorean Richard Carapaz launched a decisive attack during the final climb to Orcieres-Merlette to ⁠secure a solo victory in stage 18 of the Tour de France on Thursday.

Athletics

Athletics-Defending champion Johnson-Thompson withdraws from Commonwealth Games

July 23 (Reuters) - Defending heptathlon ⁠champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson has pulled out of the Commonwealth ⁠Games, which begin in Glasgow later on Thursday, as ‌she continues her recovery from injury and prioritises next month's European Championships.

Cricket

Cricket-Sooryavanshi smashes maiden half-century as India thump Zimbabwe

July 23 (Reuters) - Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ⁠scored his maiden half-century in international cricket when he smashed 50 ⁠from 19 balls to steer India to a comfortable seven-wicket ‌victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 International in Harare on Thursday.

Football

Soccer-Italy sounded out Ancelotti before Guardiola about coach role

MILAN, July 23 (Reuters) - Italy ⁠approached Carlo Ancelotti about the national team coaching job before discussing the role with Pep ⁠Guardiola, Italian technical director Paolo Maldini said on Thursday.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Russell confident Mercedes have resolved car issue

BUDAPEST, July 23 (Reuters) - George Russell ⁠believes Mercedes have fixed the issue that was slowing his car and he has come out of ⁠the situation mentally stronger.

Football

Soccer-Aston Villa sign winger Garnacho on loan from Chelsea

July 23 (Reuters) - Aston ⁠Villa have signed Argentinian winger Alejandro Garnacho ⁠from Chelsea on an initial season-long ‌loan deal, with a conditional obligation for the move to become permanent next summer, the Premier League clubs announced on ​Thursday.

Football

Soccer-Arsenal sign forward Tzolis from Club Brugge

July 23 (Reuters) - Arsenal ⁠have signed Greece forward Christos Tzolis from Club ⁠Brugge on a long-term contract, the Premier League ‌club announced on Thursday.

Badminton

Pearly-Thinaah power on as Malaysia's lone survivors in China

PETALING JAYA: National women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah kept Malaysia's hopes alive in the China Open after emerging as the country's lone survivors following the second round on Thursday (July 23).

Football

Soccer-Barcelona sign pacy winger Adeyemi from Dortmund

July 23 (Reuters) - Barcelona have ⁠signed German winger Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund ⁠on a deal until 2031, the LaLiga club ‌said on Thursday.

Football

Soccer-Oiwa to succeed Moriyasu as Japan coach after Asian Cup

July 23 (Reuters) - Hajime ⁠Moriyasu will continue as Japan's head coach ⁠until next year's Asian Cup before Under-21 ‌manager Go Oiwa takes charge, the Japan Football Association (JFA) said on Thursday.