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Iran into World Cup final as Japan, South Korea move closer

Iran became the first team from Asia to qualify for the 2022 World Cup finals on Thursday with a 1-0 victory over Iraq as Japan and South Korea moved a step closer to Qatar.

'Big Ben' retires after 18 NFL years, two Super Bowl wins

Ben Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks, announced his retirement on Thursday after an 18-year career spent entirely with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

World champion cyclist Pieters still in coma after fall

A month after suffering head injuries on a Dutch national team training camp in Spain, track world champion Amy Pieters remains in a coma, her cycling team SD Worx said on Thursday.

Taremi fires Iran into 2022 World Cup finals with win over Iraq

Mehdi Taremi was on target as Iran confirmed their spot in the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar with a 1-0 victory over Iraq at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Thursday.

Man Utd winger Diallo joins Rangers on loan

Manchester United teenager Amad Diallo has joined Scottish champions Rangers on loan for the rest of the season.

Denmark's Hansen leads in Dubai, Morikawa makes strong start

Denmark's Joachim B. Hansen fired a seven-under-par 65 to take the lead after the first day of the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday, while Collin Morikawa, Sergio Garcia and Viktor Hovland all made good starts.

Women attend Iran-Iraq match in Tehran stadium

Iranian women were allowed Thursday for the first time in almost three years to attend a football match of their country's national team in a Tehran stadium.

Women allowed to watch Iran-Iraq match in Tehran stadium

Iranian women were allowed Thursday for the first time in three years to attend a football match of their country's national team in a Tehran stadium.

Kosovo's first female Winter Olympian Kryeziu aims for glory in China

Young, determined and willing to take chances, slalom skier Kiana Kryeziu's journey to the Olympics mirrors the recent history of her native Kosovo with the teenage skier set to become its first female Winter Olympian when she heads to Beijing.

Exeter Chiefs to end Native American branding

English Premiership club Exeter Chiefs have decided to abandon their controversial Native American branding from July.

Kosovo's first female Winter Olympian aims for glory in China

Young, determined and willing to take chances, slalom skier Kiana Kryeziu's journey to the Olympics mirrors the recent history of her native Kosovo with the teenage skier set to become its first female Winter Olympian when she heads to Beijing.

Dutch Olympic champion Kromowidjojo retires from the pool

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands said on Thursday she has retired from competitive swimming aged 31.

Cameroon government wants to 'improve' access to stampede stadium

The Cameroonian government wants to "improve" access to the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde after the deadly stampede that killed eight people at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, its spokesman told state media on Thursday.

Swiatek undone by 'fastest balls ever' from Collins

Iga Swiatek said she came up against the fastest balls she has ever faced after being blown off court by the raw power of Danielle Collins to miss out on an Australian Open final Thursday.

Keys upbeat for 2022 despite Barty thrashing

Madison Keys said that starting the year on such a strong footing gave her a lot of confidence for the season despite being thrashed by Ashleigh Barty in the Australian Open semi-finals on Thursday.

Rampant Barty to meet powerhouse Collins in Australian Open final

A ruthless Ashleigh Barty swept into her first Australian Open final on Thursday with a clinical, straight-sets demolition of Madison Keys to set-up a title match with the hard-hitting Danielle Collins.

Liverpool stars Mane and Salah on track for Africa final showdown

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have helped Liverpool conquer England and Europe, now both crave Africa Cup of Nations winners' medals.

Nteka: 'It still sounds strange when I say it - I am a professional footballer'

Randy Nteka was about to hit the big time when the phone rang.

Top seed Barty crushes Keys to make Australian Open final

A ruthless Ashleigh Barty swept into her first Australian Open final on Thursday with the top seed outgunning a resurgent Madison Keys in a clinical, straight-sets demolition.

Singapore Grand Prix gets green light for next seven years

Singapore will host the Formula One night race for another seven years from 2022 to 2028, organisers said Thursday, after the coronavirus pandemic scuppered the event for two years running.

Nadal closes in on quest for greatness, Medvedev running on empty

Rafael Nadal is two matches away from getting the jump on golden era rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer to become all-time Grand Slam leader as the Australian Open gets down to the last four on Friday.

Kyrgios smashes racquet, flips finger as he reaches doubles final

Tennis' bad boy Nick Kyrgios was at it again Thursday, smashing a racquet and flipping a finger at the crowd as he and partner Thanasi Kokkinakis ensured an all-Australian Melbourne Park men's doubles final for the first time in 42 years.

Wheelchair great Alcott bows out with Australian Open final defeat

Wheelchair great Dylan Alcott bowed out of tennis Thursday after losing the Australian Open final, drawing the curtain on a glittering career in which he became a prominent disability advocate.

Surging Cavs surprise Bucks, Suns scorch Jazz

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their NBA resurgence Wednesday with a 115-99 victory over the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks that helped propel them into third place in the Eastern Conference.

IOC to meet Peng Shuai during Beijing Olympics

The International Olympic Committee said on Thursday that it has spoken with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai again and plans to meet her in Beijing during next month's Winter Games.

Auger-Aliassime ready to take on the world after 'insane' quarter-final epic

Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime said he was ready to test the world's best in men's tennis after taking title favourite Daniil Medvedev to the brink in a quarter-final blockbuster at the Australian Open.

Surging Cavs surprise Bucks, Hornets rout Pacers

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their NBA resurgence Wednesday with a convincing 115-99 victory over the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks that helped propel them into third place in the Eastern Conference.

Olympic giants China face tough medal fight at home Games

China topped the medals table at its 2008 Summer Olympics but expectations are much lower for next month's Beijing Games as the country attempts to build a winter sports industry nearly from scratch.

Rowing: New Zealand triple Olympic champion Bond retires

New Zealand's three-time Olympic rowing champion Hamish Bond announced his retirement Thursday, saying he wanted to leave the sport on a high after winning gold in Tokyo last year.

Powell's punishing hundred powers West Indies to T20 win over England

Rovman Powell's blistering century laid the foundation for West Indies' 20-run win over England in the third Twenty20 international at Bridgetown on Wednesday as they went 2-1 up in a five-match series.

Nine-under Horschel grabs early lead at Torrey Pines

Billy Horschel fired a nine-under-par 63 to snatch the early lead the PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Wednesday.

Powell's punishing hundred powers West Indies to victory in 3rd T20