News

Japan's Naomi Osaka, a self-confessed introvert who withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon on mental health grounds, has encouraged girls around the world to embrace what makes them different. Osaka, 23, one of Japan's best gold medal prospects at the Tokyo Olympics, used her spot in the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) "Stronger Together" campaign to say that the definition of an Olympian is broader than sometimes thought. "People might think I'm quiet. Different. That I don't fit the box of what an

PARIS: Paris St Germain have signed Spain defender Sergio Ramos on a free transfer after he left La Liga club Real Madrid, the French Ligue 1 side announced on Thursday (Jul 8). Ramos left Real last month after failing to reach an agreement to extend his 16-year stay in the Spanish capital. He helped Real win four Champions League titles and five La Liga trophies. The 35-year-old, who has signed a two-year contract, joins PSG after they finished second last season behind champions

SINGAPORE: This year's Southeast Asian Games due to take place in Vietnam has been postponed to 2022. "The SEA Games Federation working committee met today and it was decided that the SEA Games will not be held this year," said the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) on Thursday (Jul 8). The biennial event was due to take place in Hanoi and 11 other locations from Nov 21 to Dec 2. Vietnam's national Olympic committee will explore new dates for consideration, added SNOC. "The

LONDON: Jordan Pickford became the England goalkeeper with the longest spell without conceding a goal on Wednesday (Jul 7), narrowly breaking a record stretching back to the Three Lions' triumphant 1966 World Cup campaign. The goalkeeper surpassed Gordon Banks’s milestone of 720 minutes during England’s Euro 2020 semi-final victory over Denmark, as they reached their first major tournament final since 1966 with a 2-1 win after extra time. Six minutes later, Mikkel Damsgaard’s ferocious free kick flew past Pickford to end his run,

TOKYO: Japan is set to declare a state of emergency for Tokyo through Aug 22 to contain a new wave of COVID-19 infections, a key minister said on Thursday (Jul 8), as the organisers consider banning all spectators from the Olympics starting in about two weeks. Medical advisers to the government have said for weeks that having no spectators at the Games would be the least risky option amid widespread public concern that the influx of thousands of athletes and officials will fuel

A total of 15 athletes will represent Qatar in 7 sports at Tokyo 2020 Olympics which will be hosted by Japan from July 23 to August 08, 2021. Team Qatar roster in Tokyo 2020 Olympics includes: Mutaz Barshim, Abderrahman Samba, Abubaker Hayder, Abdirahman Saeed Hassan, Musab Adam, Ashraf Amgad El-Seify (Athletics), Femi Ogunode, Mohamed Ahmed Al Rumaihi (Shooting), Fares Ibrahim (Weightlifting), Cherif Younouse, Ahmed Tijan (Beach Volleyball), Ayoub Al Idrisi (Judo) and Abdulaziz Al Obaidly (Swimming). The Qatari women will be represented by

REUTERS Italy reached the Euro 2020 final after edging Spain 4-2 on penalties following a compelling 1-1 draw after extra time on Tuesday, completing a remarkable revival after failing to qualify for the last World Cup. Jorginho coolly rolled the decisive kick past Spain keeper Unai Simon in the semi-final at Wembley after Alvaro Morata had been thwarted by a fine save from Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma and Dani Olmo had blasted his effort over the bar. Italy's substitutes and coaching staff poured on

MELBOURNE: The Australian Grand Prix has been axed for the second year in a row with the 21st round of the Formula 1 championship a victim of the country's tight border controls, organisers said on Tuesday (Jul 6). "We regret to announce that the 2021 Australian Grand Prix has been canceled due to restrictions and logistical challenges relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," organizers said in a statement on the Nov 21 race. The Australian round of the MotoGP world championship, scheduled for

A new England squad will be named as initial team forced to isolate due to three players and four backroom staff testing positive for Covid-19; Ben Stokes will return to England side as captain; England play Pakistan in the first ODI in Cardiff on Thursday, live on Sky Sports Cricket England have been forced to select a new team for the Pakistan ODI series after seven positive Covid-19 tests pushed the entire squad into isolation. Three England players and four backroom staff have

Emma Raducanu's brilliant Wimbledon run comes to an end in the fourth round as she is forced to withdraw during the second set of her clash with Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic after struggling with her breathing Emma Raducanu's remarkable story at Wimbledon came to an end after she was forced to retire from her match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. The teenage sensation has quickly become the story of the Championships, having only played one WTA Tour level match before this tournament. But she was

The Board of Trustees of Qatar Football Association (QFA) Award discussed the preparations for the Best Awards for the 2020-21 season and approved the final list of nominees for the awards. A total of 55 forms were sent out to participants in the voting process and 45 of them were approved while 10 forms were rejected for being incomplete. It was also decided to cancel the QFA Award Ceremony this season and the winners will be announced through the official website as well

July 6 - England are not the same team that was stunned by Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-final and the influx of young, attacking talent has them poised for success at Euro 2020, defender Kieran Trippier said ahead of Wednesday's semi-final against Denmark. Trippier scored with an early free kick in the World Cup semi-final in Russia before Croatia struck twice to snatch an extra-time win. Gareth Southgate's side face the Danes at Wembley with the chance to reach the final

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil reached the Copa America final after a first-half goal from Lucas Paqueta -- his second in two games -- gave them a 1-0 win over Peru on Monday. The host nation will play the winner of Tuesday's other semi-final between Argentina and Colombia in the title decider at the Maracana stadium on Saturday. Brazil have won the Copa America every time they hosted the tournament and in the early part of Monday's match showed exactly why they are

The Qatari national football team finished its preparatory camp outside by defeating El Salvador in a friendly match this evening at the Aldo Drosina Stadium in the Croatian city of Pula as part of its preparations to participate in the Gold Cup tournament hosted by the United States of America during the period from July 10th to August 1st. The only goal of the confrontation was scored by striker Almoez Ali in the 68th minute, although the Qatari team completed the match with

PARIS: NBA star Luka Doncic delivered a triple-double to lead Slovenia over Lithuania 96-85 on Sunday and into their first Olympic basketball tournament. Slovenia punched their ticket to Tokyo with the victory in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania. Doncic, 22, scored 15 of his 31 points in the second quarter and added 11 rebounds and 13 assists to lead Slovenia. Lithuania, led by NBA stalwarts Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas, twice clawed back from double-digit deficits. But Slovenia took control

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer headline Wimbledon on Monday (Jul 5) with the two Grand Slam heavyweights looking to edge closer to a dream title showdown. World number one Djokovic, chasing a sixth Wimbledon title and record-equalling 20th major, is already halfway to becoming just the third man to complete a calendar Grand Slam. The Serb faces Cristian Garin of Chile while eight-time champion Federer takes on Italy's Lorenzo Sonego. Chilean 17th seed Cristian Garin had never previously won a main draw match

Wolves have signed Portugal winger Francisco Trincao on a season-long from Barcelona. The deal includes a "a non-compulsory option to buy" the 21-year-old, who joined the Spanish club from Portuguese side Braga in the summer of 2020. Trincao made 28 league appearances for Barcelona last season, scoring three goals and providing two assists, and seven Champions League outings. His arrival follows Wolves' signing of Colombian defender Yerson Mosquera. "He's a really exciting player," said the Premier League club's technical director Scott Sellars of

Lionel Messi scored a free-kick and set up two goals to inspire Argentina to a 3-0 win over Ecuador and set up a Copa America semi-final against Colombia. The 34-year-old forward provided assists for Rodrigo de Paul after 41 minutes and Lautaro Martinez late on. He then curled in a free-kick in injury time after Piero Hincapie was sent off for a foul on Angel di Maria. Last-four opponents Colombia beat Uruguay 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw. "I've always said that

SPIELBERG BEI KNITTELFELD: Max Verstappen reeled off his third win in a row from pole in the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday (Jul 4) to consolidate his world championship lead over Lewis Hamilton who after finishing fourth said his toiling Mercedes team were "miles away from Red Bull". Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas took second with McLaren's Lando Norris a fine third after picking up a five second time penalty. Verstappen's latest step towards ending Hamilton's hold on the drivers' title triggered a

COPENHAGEN: Kevin de Bruyne came off the bench to inspire Belgium to a 2-1 comeback win over Denmark on Thursday and a place in the Euro 2020 knockout stages on an emotional afternoon of tributes to Christian Eriksen. Denmark got off to a dream start when Yussuf Poulsen put them ahead after 99 seconds as the team rode a wave of sentiment over playmaker Eriksen's cardiac arrest in their first game. The Danes dominated the first half but Belgium turned to a bench