Category: Sport

MOHAMED SALAH said the death of Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota in a car crash had left him “frightened” to return to the club as the Premier League champions postponed the return of some players for pre-season training. The Portugal forward and his younger brother Andre Silva, died in the early hours of Thursday after their… Continue reading Salah ‘frightened’ to return to Liverpool after Jota death

FERRARI driver Charles Leclerc told AFP he is determined to get the most “iconic team” in Formula One back to the summit after a difficult start to the season. The 27-year-old Monegasque, who has eight Grand Prix wins to his name since his debut in 2018, takes heart that he has finished on the podium… Continue reading Driven Leclerc determined to restore Ferrari to the top of F1

FRENCH cyclist Jacques Marinelli, the oldest surviving holder of the Tour de France yellow jersey, has died aged 99. On the eve of the start of the 112th Tour de France in Lille, race director Christian Prudhomme on Friday paid tribute to a rider, nicknamed “the parakeet”, who was one of the legends of the… Continue reading Oldest surviving Tour de France yellow jersey wearer Marinelli dies at 99

RED BULL team boss Christian Horner on Friday suggested that despite “all the noise”, four-time world champion Max Verstappen is hoping to remain with the team next year. The 27-year-old Dutchman has been heavily linked with a move to Mercedes next season, with some Italian media reporting that Verstappen had accepted an offer. Speaking during… Continue reading Red Bull boss says Verstappen wants to stay despite Mercedes links

IN summer 2024, Lionel Messi emphasized that Inter Miami would be the last club he played with in his illustrious career. Now, with his contract set to expire at the end of the MLS season, the Herons are looking to extend Messi’s run on the pitch. ESPN reported Friday that Messi and Inter Miami remain… Continue reading Lionel Messi, Inter Miami in talks to extend contract

CHELSEA have been fined 31 million euros ($36.50 million) by UEFA for breaches of its financial rules, while Aston Villa, Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais were also levied with large fines, UEFA announced on Friday. The punishments come with the potential for far harsher fines down the road, with Chelsea, who agreed to a four-year settlement… Continue reading Chelsea given huge fine for breach of financial rules

GERMANY forward Jule Brand scored one goal and made another as her side battled to a 2-0 win over tournament debutantes Poland in their Group C opener at the Women’s Euros in St. Gallen on Friday, but the Germans suffered a blow when captain Giulia Gwinn left the field injured. Gwinn, who has suffered two… Continue reading Brand on target as Germany battle to 2-0 win over Poland at Women’s Euros

BRAZIL’S Fluminense continued their fairy-tale run at the Club World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal on Friday in Orlando, Florida, to book their place in the semi-finals. The tournament underdogs struck first through Matheus Martinelli in the opening half before Al-Hilal hit back after the break when Marcus Leonardo found the… Continue reading Fluminense stun Al-Hilal to reach Club World Cup semi-final

ARYNA Sabalenka looked shaken and stirred on Friday as it appeared she would become the most high-profile name to join the mass exodus of Wimbledon seeds before her survival instincts kicked in to secure a 7-6(6) 6-4 third-round win over Emma Raducanu. Wimbledon fans are no strangers to floodlit blockbusters featuring British home favourites, with… Continue reading Sabalenka douses Raducanu fire to reach fourth round

DOZENS of Portuguese from the president to a childhood friend grieved for Diogo Jota in his hometown on Friday after the Liverpool star and his brother’s death in a car crash. Jota, 28, and Andre Silva, 25, were killed on Thursday after their vehicle veered off a motorway in northwestern Spain and became engulfed in… Continue reading Dozens pay tribute to Liverpool star Diogo Jota in Portugal

NATIONAL motocross rider Muhamad Habibullah Mohd Saleh, popularly known as Gabit, has received much-needed support from the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) for his nasal cancer treatment. The aid comes as a relief for the athlete, who has been battling the disease since 2021. Yakeb Chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail confirmed the assistance, stating that… Continue reading Yakeb supports motocross rider Gabit with cancer treatment aid

THE Grand Cycle Tokyo Executive Committee has confirmed that “The Road Race Tokyo Tama 2025” will be held on July 13, showcasing top-tier cycling talent from around the world. The event will take place in Tokyo’s Tama area, a venue previously used for a major international sporting event in 2021. The elite men’s road race,… Continue reading Tokyo to host elite international cycling race on July 13

A glance at the quarter-final line-up for the Club World Cup suggests that whoever comes out on top in the heavyweight last-eight showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich on Saturday will be the favourites to go on and win FIFA’s new competition. Real Madrid can never be ruled out, but the Spanish giants are… Continue reading Bayern stand before PSG in battle of Club World Cup favourites

NATIONAL mixed doubles shuttler Cheng Su Yin is embracing head coach Nova Widianto’s challenge to secure at least one championship title this year. After a season marked by inconsistent performances, Su Yin and her partner Hoo Pang Ron are intensifying their training to turn their fortunes around. Su Yin acknowledged the pressure to deliver results,… Continue reading Cheng Su Yin aims for badminton title under Nova Widianto’s guidance

MOURNERS will gather in Portugal on Friday morning to pay respects to Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash in Spain. The wake will be held at Capela da Ressurreicao before their funeral on Saturday at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar. The 28-year-old Jota, married just 11 days… Continue reading Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota’s wake set in Portugal after tragic crash

NATIONAL mixed doubles player Cheng Su Yin is ready to take up the challenge of head coach Nova Widianto to win at least one title this year. She said that she and her partner Hoo Pang Ron are indeed training hard to realise their dream after a rather lacklustre season so far. “If we can… Continue reading Su Yin ready to rise to Nova’s challenge for a title this year

SIX contingents are set to participate in the Borneo Games 2025, which will be held from Sept 24 to 28 at the Petra Jaya Sports Complex here. Sarawak Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the contingents involved are Brunei, Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan, and Indonesia’s East and West… Continue reading Six contingents to compete in Borneo Games 2025 in Sarawak

NATIONAL doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky wants his pack to maintain the encouraging run displayed throughout the first six months of this year in the pursuit to win at the 2025 World Championship in Paris from Aug 25-31. Rexy reminded all the national players not to be easily satisfied with the achievements made so far… Continue reading Maintain momentum to chase world title – Rexy

HARIMAU Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski is taking on the challenge that awaits his team at the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup, especially the clash against tournament favourites and World Cup qualifiers Iran. Describing the showdown as a major yardstick for Malaysia’s development, Cklamovski said, “It’s a massive challenge for us, a massive opportunity. ALSO READ:… Continue reading Clash against World Cup qualifiers Iran – a true test of Harimau Malaya’s progress – Cklamovski

KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu FC (TFC) continues to strengthen the frontline with the signing of another French-born import player, Yann Kevin Mabella, for the 2025/26 Malaysia League (M-League) football season. Acting chief executive officer of Terengganu Football Club Sdn Bhd (TFCSB) Mohd Syahrizan Mohd Zain confirmed that the 29-year-old forward has signed a one-season contract with… Continue reading Terengganu FC signs up French striker Mabella to face Malaysia league season

FORMER Nigeria international goalkeeper Peter Rufai has died aged 61 following an illness, the national football federation said on Thursday. Popularly known as Dodomayana, Rufai earned 65 caps for Nigeria and featured at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also was part of the Super Eagles squad when Nigeria won a second… Continue reading Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai dies aged 61

CARLOS Alcaraz will step up his bid for a third successive Wimbledon title when the world number two faces German underdog Jan-Lennard Struff on Friday. And Britain’s Emma Raducanu will be aiming to add to the All England Club’s spate of giant-killings against world number one Aryna Sabalenka. AFP Sport picks out three matches to… Continue reading Alcaraz searches for perfect serve at Wimbledon, Raducanu eyes Sabalenka shock

AL HILAL coach Simone Inzaghi said the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota had impacted his team ahead of their Club World Cup quarter-final against Fluminense on Friday. The Saudi club’s full-back Joao Cancelo is a Portugal international and midfielder Ruben Neves was a team-mate of Jota with both the Portugal national team… Continue reading Difficult day’ for Al Hila’s Portugal pair – Inzaghi

REIGNING champion Tadej Pogacar is pleased to be the man to beat in the Tour de France, which starts in Lille on Saturday, the Slovenian said on Thursday. The 26-year-old world champion is looking for a fourth Tour de France victory after he triumphed in 2020, 2021 and 2024. “It’s been a great season, so… Continue reading Being Tour de France favourite is an honour, says Pogacar

FOLLOWING are quotes and reaction to the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain on Thursday: Liverpool football club “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. “The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following… Continue reading Reaction to death of Liverpool and Portugal player Jota

SPAIN showed why they are favourites to win Women’s Euro 2025 by hammering Portugal 5-0 in their Group B opener on Thursday as both teams paid tribute to Portuguese men’s international Diogo Jota who was killed in a car crash. The world champions were two ahead inside seven minutes in Bern thanks to goals from… Continue reading Spain thump grieving Portugal to make Euro 2025 statement

JANNIK Sinner swept into the third round of Wimbledon on Thursday as the world number one thrashed Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. While several of Wimbledon’s top stars have suffered shock exits, including third seed Alexander Zverev and world number four Jack Draper, there has been no hint of an upset in Sinner’s opening… Continue reading Sinner strolls into Wimbledon round three

MEXICAN boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been arrested by US immigration officers and is being processed for deportation from the United States, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday. Chavez, a former world champion and the son of legendary Mexican fighter Julio Cesar Chavez, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in… Continue reading Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. arrested by US immigration authorities: officials

PALMEIRAS coach Abel Ferreira is hoping teenage sensation Estevao Willian can wave goodbye to the Brazilian team’s fans by producing “one amazing game” and helping them beat his future employers Chelsea in Friday’s Club World Cup quarter-final. Winger Estevao, 18, will leave Palmeiras at the end of the tournament in the United States to join… Continue reading Palmeiras ask for ‘amazing game’ from Estevao against future employers Chelsea

DIOGO Jota was quickly hailed by the Liverpool support as “better than (Luis) Figo” and the shocking death of the Portuguese international on Thursday has left the English champions in mourning. The 28-year-old died alongside his younger brother Andre after their vehicle veered off a motorway in northern Spain before bursting into flames. A product… Continue reading Diogo Jota: Liverpool’s ‘exceptional player, exceptional boy’

LIVERPOOL forward Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car crash in Spain on Thursday, police said, sparking widespread grief just after the Portugal star had got married. The Civil Guard said a vehicle veered off a motorway and burst into flames shortly after midnight in the municipality of Cernadilla in the northwestern Zamora… Continue reading Liverpool football star Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain