Tag Archives: Sports – Asia

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand fast bowler Will O’Rourke has been ruled out of the second cricket test against Australia with a hamstring strain. Ben Sears, who has played 13 Twenty20 internationals for New Zealand but is uncapped in tests, has been called into the squad and is likely to play in the match which starts Friday at …

TOKYO (AP) — Japan defeated North Korea 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the women’s soccer tournament at the upcoming Paris Olympics. But not without a tiny bit of VAR controversy. The first match in the two-game series to determine one of Asia’s two qualifiers ended in a 0-0 draw on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Japan had three clear standout …

PHOENIX (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is unique in Major League Baseball history, a two-way Japanese superstar who can excel as a hitter and a pitcher, sometimes in the same game. But for the 2024 season, Ohtani will be just a hitter. That’s because Ohtani is recovering from an injured elbow ligament — the ulnar collateral ligament — that often leads …

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentina scheduled exhibitions against El Salvador and Nigeria in the United States next month as part of Copa America preparations, replacing a China tour canceled after Lionel Messi didn’t play at Inter Miami’s preseason game in Hong Kong. Argentina will play El Salvador on March 22 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Field and Nigeria four days later at …

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (AP) — Fast bowler Wafadar Momand held Kamindu Mendis to defend 19 runs in the last over and hand Afghanistan a three-run win over Sri Lanka in the third and final Twenty20 international Wednesday. Sri Lanka won the series 2-1. Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran won the toss, elected to bat first, and they made 209-5 in 20 …

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (AP) — Fast bowler Wafadar Momand held Kamindu Mendis to defend 19 runs in the last over and hand Afghanistan a three-run win over Sri Lanka in the third and final Twenty20 international Wednesday. Sri Lanka won the series 2-1. Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran won the toss, elected to bat first, and they made 209-5 in 20 …

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Alexander Volkanovski wore a flat cap and old-man glasses to his news conference for UFC 298 this week, poking fun at the persistent notion that the 35-year-old kingpin of the featherweight division is headed into his golden years. Unbeaten challenger Ilia Topuria is only eight years younger, yet he also played into his prescribed role as …

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — After four weeks filled with drama and upset, the Asian Cup ended with host nation and defending champion Qatar celebrating its second consecutive title. AP photographers captured the emotion and excitement on and off the field throughout the tournament. A hat trick of penalties for the tournament’s star player and leading scorer Akram Afif secured a …

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Akram Afif has produced some magical performances during the Asian Cup. And after firing Qatar into a 1-0 lead in Saturday’s final against Jordan, he did likewise with his celebration. The forward scored his sixth goal of the tournament from the penalty spot at Lusail Stadium after being brought down by Abdallah Nasib in the first …

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — On a golden day for China, reigning Olympic champion Quan Hongchan gave herself a huge boost of momentum heading into the Paris Games by winning the 10-meter platform at the World Aquatics Championships on Monday. The 16-year-old Chinese star edged teammate Chen Yuxi, totaling 436.25 points over five dives. Chen, the two-time reigning world champion, settled …