Football

Soccer-I'm no mug, says Spurs boss Frank after Arsenal cup gaffe

Jan 8 (Reuters) - Embattled Tottenham ‌Hotspur manager Thomas Frank drew the ire of ‌fans after being photographed with a cup bearing ‌the insignia of fierce rivals Arsenal on Wednesday, with the Dane later saying the mix-up was purely accidental.

Cricket

Cricket-Business as usual for adaptable Australia despite absences

SYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Australia's squad mentality ‌enabled them to trounce England 4-1 in the Ashes despite being without a handful of top players, Player of ‌the Series Mitchell Starc said after the fifth test victory on Thursday.

Cricket

Cricket-Stokes backs McCullum but accepts England need fresh approach

SYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Ben Stokes says he wants ‌to carry on as England captain and has backed coach Brendon McCullum despite concluding the Ashes series with a 4-1 defeat to Australia.

Badminton

Pearly-Thinaah's home charge cut short after losing to Indonesians

KUALA LUMPUR: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah's hopes of reaching the Malaysian Open quarter-finals were dashed after they lost to Indonesia's Febriana Kusuma-Meilysa Puspitasari.

Badminton

Jonatan knocks out Jun Hao to end home men's singles challenge

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's men's singles challenge in the Malaysian Open came to an end after the last remaining player, Leong Jun Hao, was knocked out in the second round on Thursday (Jan 8).

Football

Resignation rumours rock FAM ahead of 'special' meeting at Hilton

PETALING JAYA: Speculation is mounting that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) executive committee could resign en masse following a 'special' meeting scheduled at a premier hotel on Thursday (Jan 8).

Tennis

Tennis-Sabalenka to skip events in 2026 to prioritise her health

Jan 8 (Reuters) - Aryna Sabalenka expects to ‌skip events again this year rather than put her health at risk over ‌the course of an "insane" season, even though she knows she is likely to ‌be sanctioned by the WTA Tour for doing so, the world number one said.

Badminton

Lane-Vendy end Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s Malaysian Open run

PETALING JAYA: World No. 7 men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were shown the exit by England's Ben Lane-Sean Vendy in the second round of the Malaysian Open on Thursday (Jan 8).

Football

Soccer-New Chelsea manager Rosenior looks to hit the ground running

Jan 8 (Reuters) - Liam Rosenior knows ‌he has no time to waste as he begins the task of ‌transforming Chelsea from Premier League also-rans to title contenders and the ‌Englishman has told the squad he wants to hit the ground running.

Badminton

Tang Jie-Ee Wei march into Malaysian Open quarter-finals

KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei overcame teammates Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin to book their spot in the Malaysian Open quarter-finals.

Cricket

Cricket-Australia win fifth Ashes by five wickets, take series 4-1

SYDNEY, ‌Jan 8 (Reuters) - Australia ‌beat England by ‌five wickets on the fifth day ‍of the fifth ‍and ‌final Ashes test on ‍Thursday ​to seal a ⁠4-1 series triumph.

Other Sports

Boxing biopic 'Giant' tells tale of 'the prince and his trainer'

LONDON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Docudrama "Giant" ‌brings the story of Britain's former world champion "Prince" Naseem Hamed to the big screen, with ‌Amir El-Masry and Pierce Brosnan portraying the boxer and his trainer. 

Cricket

Cricket-Australia get over the line in Sydney for 4-1 Ashes triumph

SYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Australia had a few nervous moments but ‌safely chased down their 160-run victory target before tea on the final day of the fifth Ashes test against England on Thursday for a five-wicket victory and a 4-1 ‌series triumph.

Football

Soccer-United's interim manager Fletcher will be in charge for FA Cup game

BURNLEY, England, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Manchester ‌United's interim manager Darren Fletcher said there was "massive disappointment" after a dominant display ‌ended in a 2-2 draw with lowly Burnley on Wednesday that denied ‌him a win in his first game in charge.

Football

Soccer-Birthday boy Semenyo signs off in style for Bournemouth

BOURNEMOUTH, England, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Antoine Semenyo ‌celebrated his 26th birthday in unforgettable fashion as he scored Bournemouth's winning goal in ‌a 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in what was almost certainly his last game ‌for the club before a likely move to Manchester City.

Football

Soccer-New Chelsea boss Rosenior watches as the Blues see red again

LONDON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Incoming Chelsea ‌manager Liam Rosenior was given some quick lessons in what he needs to do at Stamford Bridge ‌as he watched his new players lose 2-1 at Fulham on Wednesday, with fixing their terrible ‌discipline record at the top of his to-do list.

Cycling

Olympian Izzah welcomes tough test from Alyssa 

NILAI: National track cyclist Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri welcomed a stern test from rising youngster Nur Alyssa Mohd Farid after the pair went head-to-head in the opening leg of the President's Cup at the National Velodrome here yesterday.

Diving

SEA Games heartbreak only fuels Elvis’ hunger for more

KUALA LUMPUR: Diver Elvis Priestly Clement (pic) may have fallen short of his SEA Games target but he is far from broken.

Cycling

Birthday boy Azizul proves he’s still a force on home track by winning at President’s Cup

NILAI: Former keirin world champion Azizulhasni Awang turned 38 on Monday, but the national track ace showed he is far from slowing down by clinching his first win on home soil in over a year.

Badminton

Motivated Sindhu eyes world meet success in India

KUALA LUMPUR: Being married has not changed Indian women's singles star P. V. Sindhu's approach to her badminton career.