Tennis

Tennis-Vacherot shows Shanghai success was no fluke by shining in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Valentin ‌Vacherot showed his maiden ATP Masters triumph last year was a genuine breakthrough rather ‌than a flash in the pan, after becoming the first player from Monaco ‌to reach the third round of a Grand Slam at the Australian Open on Thursday.

Badminton

It's over as Zii Jia loses to Panitchaphon in Indonesian Masters second round

PETALING JAYA: Professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia saw his Indonesian Masters campaign come to an end after he lost to Thailand's Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in the second round on Thursday (Jan 22).

Tennis

Tennis-Djokovic eases past qualifier as Keys books third round berth

MELBOURNE, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic brushed aside ‌Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3 6-2 6-2 on Thursday to reach the Australian Open third round, as women's champion Madison Keys ‌overcame a second-set wobble against Ashlyn Krueger to also advance.

Cricket

Cricket-Bangladesh seek 'miracle' to secure T20 World Cup participation

DHAKA, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The Bangladesh ‌Cricket Board (BCB) will speak to the country's interim government in a last-ditch attempt ‌to secure the team's participation in next month's Twenty20 World Cup after their ‌demand to shift their matches outside India was rejected on Wednesday.

Tennis

Tennis-Maestro Djokovic mows down qualifier Maestrelli in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Jan 22 (Reuters) - ‌Novak Djokovic systematically dismantled Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3 6-2 ‌6-2 on Thursday to reach the Australian Open third round, continuing ‌his quest to make more history at the Rod Laver Arena.

Badminton

Yew Sin urged to lodge police report over online threats

KUALA LUMPUR: Professional men's doubles player Ong Yew Sin has been advised to lodge a police report for the authorities to investigate recent online threats against him.

Badminton

Brief homecoming for Tat Meng after Sydney accident

PETALING JAYA: Former Lee Zii Jia coach Wong Tat Meng has finally returned to Malaysia following a serious accident in Sydney four months ago.

Badminton

Yew Sin latest victim in growing cyberbullying problem

PETALING JAYA: National badminton players have once again fallen victim to cyberbullying, with professional men's doubles shuttler Ong Yew Sin becoming the latest target after receiving online threats from an unknown individual.

Tennis

Tennis-Defending champion Keys survives mid-set wobble to advance

MELBOURNE, Jan ‌22 (Reuters) - Defending champion Madison Keys overcame struggles with ‌her game to advance to the third round ‌of the Australian Open with a 6-1 7-5 win over fellow American Ashlyn Krueger at Melbourne Park on Thursday.

Badminton

Early exit for Justin Hoh at Indonesian Masters

PETALING JAYA: Men's singles shuttler Justin Hoh crashed out in his opening match at the Istora Senayan after losing in the first round of the Indonesian Masters to China's Wang Zhengxing on Wednesday (Jan 21). Justin, who had beaten Zhengxing at last year's Korean Open, was unable to produce a repeat performance as he struggled against the world No. 28 and succumbed 15-21, 11-21.

Tennis

HIGHLIGHTS-Tennis-Australian Open day five

Jan 22 (Reuters) - Highlights of ‌the fifth day at the Australian Open on ‌Thursday (times GMT):

Badminton

Zii Jia breaks first-round jinx but tricky Thai awaits next

PETALING JAYA: While a first-round win is familiar to many, it has been a long wait for Lee Zii Jia (pic).

Football

Silva sees gold ahead

PETALING JAYA: With five World Cup wins, Brazil still stands as the most successful footballing nation. Adding a sixth this year will only reconfirm that.

Cycling

No ACC-tion for Shah Firdaus as he still needs time to regain physical strength

PETALING JAYA: Olympic keirin finalist Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom (pic) is not going to see action in the Asian Track Cycling Championships (ACC) in the Philippines in March despite making a surprise appearance in the second leg of the President's Cup in Nilai earlier this month.

Cycling

Glitter at end of lonely ride

PETALING JAYA: Para cyclist Mohd Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin's sacrifice in leaving his family for a two-month training camp in Suphan Buri paid dividends when he became the first Malaysian gold medallist at the Asean Para Games in Thailand.

Badminton

Arif game for scratch pairing if needed at Asian Team C’ships

PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles player Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (pic) is ready to form a scratch pairing if called upon ahead of the Asian Team Championships in Qingdao, China, which begins on Feb 3.

Football

Chance to win silverware sparks Boumous’ passion to succeed with Selangor

PETALING JAYA: The hope of a lifting a trophy this season is still alive for Selangor and this is the motivation driving the Red Giants' new import Hugo Boumous.

Badminton

Saina hangs up racquet after two years away from badminton

PETALING JAYA: Indian women's singles shuttler Saina Nehwal (pic) has called time on her playing career after two years away from the sport.

Badminton

Rexy: Aaron-Wooi Yik’s first-round loss due to their errors, not fatigue

PETALING JAYA: National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky has dismissed claims that men's doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik's shock first-round exit at the Indonesian Masters on Tuesday was due to fatigue.

Football

Athletic Bilbao fight back to beat Atalanta 3-2 and keep alive Champions League hopes

BERGAMO, Italy, Jan 21 (Reuters) - ‌Athletic Bilbao mounted a superb second-half comeback to ‌defeat Atalanta 3-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday, ‌giving the Spanish side renewed hope of progressing to the playoff qualification round.