Sports — International

WATCH: Fresh navy video shows Thai cave boys in ‘good health’

MAE SAI, Thailand (AFP) — A new video released Wednesday filmed in the bowels of a northern Thai cave showed members of a trapped football team laughing as they greet the camera to say they are in good health after their astonishing discovery by divers. The footage, published by the Thai Navy SEAL Facebook page, runs by 11 of the 13 members of the team, each makes a traditional Thai greeting gesture to the camera […]

Sharapova insists she’s still Grand Slam force despite Wimbledon misery

by Dave James Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Maria Sharapova insists she is not finished as a Grand Slam force despite her worst ever performance at Wimbledon, a tournament which should be her perfect showcase. The 31-year-old gave up a set and a 5-2 lead to lose in the first round on Tuesday to fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko, an injury-plagued qualifier ranked a lowly 132 in the world. Diatchenko, who needed treatment […]

Two Koreas hold friendly basketball match in Pyongyang

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) – The two Koreas on Wednesday held a friendly basketball match in Pyongyang in the latest effort at sports diplomacy between the neighbours. A group of 50 male and female players from the South arrived in the North’s capital on Tuesday for four rounds of friendlies on Wednesday and Thursday — agreed at the inter-Korea summit held in April. The South’s delegation was led by Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, in the […]

NBA journeyman Howard set to join Wizards: report

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP)–The Washington Wizards are poised to sign journeyman centre Dwight Howard to a one-year contract, US media reported Tuesday. In order for Howard to join the Wizards, the 15-year veteran would have to negotiate a buyout from the Brooklyn Nets, who acquired him just last month from the Charlotte Hornets, The Atlantic reported. Players cannot officially sign contracts with teams until Friday under NBA free agency rules. In 81 games last […]

New Zealand kayaker finishes epic solo Tasman voyage

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP)–A New Zealand adventurer has become the first person to kayak the Tasman Sea solo after a gruelling two-month voyage that saw him pestered by a shark and battling “washing machine” conditions. Scott Donaldson set off from Australia’s Coffs Harbour on May 2 and paddled ashore at New Plymouth, on New Zealand’s North Island late Monday night. The 48-year-old’s 2,200-kilometre (1,370-mile) journey took him across one of the southern hemisphere’s most notorious […]

Australia’s Daniel Kickert expresses regret over team’s brawl with Gilas

(Eagle News) — Australian player Daniel Kickert expressed regret over the Philippine-Australia brawl that marred their World Cup qualifying match on Monday, July 2. “It’s a regrettable situation. I was pretty put in a position I think where I obviously made an action which is regrettable and unfortunate,” Kickert said in an ESPN interview. According to Kickert, “I think I overstepped a little bit with my response to the escalation in the game, and I […]

Cabaye leaves Palace for UAE

PARIS, France (AFP)–France international Yohan Cabaye has quit Crystal Palace for a two-year contract with Al Nasr in the United Arab Emirates. Cabaye, 32, had the option to extend his stay in the English Premier League, where he has plied his trade with Palace since 2015, but opted for Dubai. The central midfielder, capped 48 times by France and part of the national teams that played at the 2012 and 2016 Euros as well as […]

Former champs Sharapova, Kvitova crash out; Nadal, Djokovic through

by Dave James Agence France Presse Maria Sharapova suffered her first opening round Wimbledon defeat and earliest Grand Slam exit in eight years on Tuesday when she was shocked by fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko, the world number 132. Sharapova, the 2004 champion, was joined at the exit by 2011 and 2014 winner Petra Kvitova who was stunned by Belarusian world number 50 Aliaksandra Sasnovich. However, two-time men’s champion Rafael Nadal and three-time winner Novak Djokovic […]

England World Cup penalty hero Pickford says he did the homework

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP)–Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said he had done his research on Colombia and that his “power and agility” helped save Carlos Bacca’s penalty in a nail-biting shootout victory that saw England reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday. The Everton player was criticized after conceding Adnan Januzaj’s winner in a group-stage 1-0 loss to Belgium, including by his Belgian counterpart Thibaut Courtois, who said he was too small. But Pickford hit back after his […]

England ends penalty pain to beat Colombia in World Cup shootout

by John Weaver Agence France Presse England held its nerve against Colombia to win its first ever penalty shootout in a World Cup and reach the quarter-finals in dramatic fashion on Tuesday. Eric Dier scored the decisive spot-kick to win the shootout 4-3 and send Gareth Southgate’s young team through to a meeting with Sweden, who earlier beat Switzerland. A bad-tempered match at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium that featured eight yellow cards — six for Colombian […]

Australia coach Longley blames Chot Reyes for brawl

BRISBANE, Australia — Australian assistant basketball coach Luc Longley Wednesday blamed Gilas Pilipinas coach  Chot Reyes for an on-court brawl in their World Cup qualifier, alleging he incited his players to act violently. He also hit out at the Filipino players for taking “gangster selfies” after the clash. The brutal melee in Manila involving players, fans and officials on Monday left the Australian team fearing for their safety, and they sought embassy help to fast-track their departure from […]

UPDATED: Sweden beat Switzerland 1-0 to reach World Cup quarter-finals

by Thomas Allnutt Agence France Presse Sweden reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 24 years after Emil Forsberg’s deflected shot earned a scrappy 1-0 win over Switzerland on Tuesday. This was far from a classic at the Saint Petersburg Stadium and if Colombia or England’s players were watching on from Moscow, they could be forgiven for feeling bullish about their prospects in the last eight. Switzerland’s Michael Lang was sent off […]