Sports

F1 stars hail ‘very exciting’ prospect of Audi, Porsche

MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Top drivers led by Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen welcomed the “very exciting” news Friday that Porsche and Audi could be lining up on the Formula One grid in 2026. Their Volkswagen parent group told AFP on Thursday that they were in the “final phase” of a study to assess the possibility. Seven-time world champion Hamilton said ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix that he “knew about it a long time […]

Celtics march on, Durant sparks Nets comeback

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Jaylen Brown scored 25 points on Wednesday as the Boston Celtics kept up their push for the number two playoff seed in the Eastern Conference with a 117-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls. With the identity of the six automatic playoff teams in the East already settled, the only issue remaining is to determine the final playoff seedings. Boston sits behind leaders Miami with two games remaining in the […]

Warriors confirm Curry won’t return before NBA playoffs

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, sidelined by a sprained ligament in his left foot, won’t return to action before the playoffs, the NBA team said Friday. In a statement posted on the team Twitter feed, the Warriors said Curry was making “good progress” in his recovery but wouldn’t play again in the regular season, which concludes on April 10. “Stephen will gradually begin individual on-court activities next week, […]

Antetokounmpo, Bucks, deny 76ers in key NBA Eastern Conference clash

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 40 points and rejected a Joel Embiid shot with seconds remaining to propel the NBA champion Bucks to a key 118-116 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Khris Middleton scored 22 points and Jrue Holiday added 18 for the Bucks, who moved a half-game behind the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference as the Sixers dropped two places to fourth […]

Siakam and Raptors upset Celtics

TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Pascal Siakam poured in 40 points as the Toronto Raptors snapped the Boston Celtics’ six-game win streak with a 115-112 overtime victory on Monday. Siakam and the Raptors took advantage of a depleted Celtics line-up to grab a crucial victory that boosts Toronto’s hopes of securing an automatic postseason berth. The win moves Toronto level with the Chicago Bulls on 43 wins and 32 losses in the East, just ahead of […]

LeBron makes triple double in triumphant homecoming

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — LeBron James made a triumphant return home with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists on Monday to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Cleveland Cavaliers 131-120. Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James sparked the Lakers team he led to the 2020 NBA crown over the Cavs hometown club he made into a 2016 NBA champion, spectators cheering and chanting the 37-year-old star’s name as he walked out […]

Warriors guard Curry gets new foot injury look in two weeks

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry will have his sprained left foot injury reevaluated in two weeks, the NBA club announced Friday. The 34-year-old sharpshooter underwent an MRI exam Wednesday night after suffering the injury late in the second quarter of a loss to the Boston Celtics. The MRI revealed Curry had suffered a sprained left foot ligament, the Warriors said, and that he will be reexamined at […]

Jokic wins MVP duel as Nuggets down Sixers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Nikola Jokic won his duel with potential MVP successor Joel Embiid as the Denver Nuggets came from behind to score a 114-110 road victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. The much-anticipated showdown between reigning NBA MVP Jokic and Sixers ace Embiid — seen as the front-runner for this year’s award — did not disappoint. Serbian star Jokic finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as Denver […]

Nets rout Sixers after huge NBA trade as Harden humbled

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving led the Brooklyn Nets to a blowout 129-100 victory over ex-teammate James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers in an NBA grudge match on Thursday. Durant scored 25 points and had 14 rebounds and Irving added 24 points in the clash at Philadelphia, the first meeting of the clubs since their blockbuster NBA trade deadline deal last month sent Harden to the 76ers with Ben Simmons […]

Irving scores 50 as Nets sting Hornets

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kyrie Irving erupted for 50 points as the Brooklyn Nets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 132-121 road victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. The fifth 50-point game of Irving’s career came courtesy of a superb shooting performance, with the seven-time All-Star shooting 15 of 19 attempts from the field including nine from outside the arc. The Nets improved to 33-33 with the victory, which keeps them […]

Sudanese women footballers tackle hurdles to play the game

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP) – Sudan’s women’s football team is yet to win a match, but members say they have scored a victory by overcoming challenges including discrimination and a coup to play the game. “The girls are still taking their very first steps in international football,” said coach Salma al-Majidi, training the team that was formed just last year. A few years ago, the prospect of a Sudanese women’s national team was inconceivable, given the […]

Russian, Belarusian athletes banned from Winter Paralympics

by Lisa MARTIN Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — Russian and Belarusian athletes were on Thursday banned from the Beijing Winter Paralympics over the war in Ukraine, with organisers bowing to international pressure and threats of a boycott. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had just a day earlier said athletes from the two countries would be allowed to compete as “neutrals” in the Games, which start on Friday. It said that was the “harshest […]