Sok Lim Heng crowned King of Khmer chess at Angkor Sangkran

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1TaK-uODIDla2JEEwwPIA2eXjpC55dbwBqXZVMjEP_OQ7TSTiFQTMPjT8lkKMoj8SyATSOKLeQpY3hyphenhyphenDvi8ywReR3qn2MqC78jOk9bqAADrpI4jNV7F_BKrw8YN7dzUBDynDemUGQEk/s1600/chess_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1TaK-uODIDla2JEEwwPIA2eXjpC55dbwBqXZVMjEP_OQ7TSTiFQTMPjT8lkKMoj8SyATSOKLeQpY3hyphenhyphenDvi8ywReR3qn2MqC78jOk9bqAADrpI4jNV7F_BKrw8YN7dzUBDynDemUGQEk/s640/chess_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Youth triumphed over experience as 19-year-old Sok Lim Heng outmoved two-time champion Chheav Bora in the final round of the 2018 Angkor Sangkran Khmer Chess Championship.<br /> <br /> The final battle to crown the new ‘King of Chess' was a highlight of the traditional Khmer New Year festivities at Angkor Wat on Monday.<br /> <br /> After Bora and Lim Heng smoothly made their way through a select field of eight qualifiers to set up the pieces for the championship game, there was lively anticipation that the fast emerging Phnom Penh prospect Lim Heng and Kampong Cham's Bora would produce a game of high quality.<br /> <br /> And chess enthusiasts and onlookers including tourists were not disappointed as a confident Lim Heng handled his pieces tactically better than his rival to be crowned the King of Khmer chess.<br /> <br /> The champion received a gold medal along with prize money of 10 million riel (around $2,500), and additional rewards for Lim Heng also came from Prime Minister Hun Sen, who offered 20 million riel, and Siem Reap Governor Khim Bunsong, who added another 10 million riel.<br /> <br /> Runner-up Bora had to be content with a silver medal and 18 million riel in total, including 12 million riel from the Prime Minister.<br /> <br /> Third-placed Thim Dy from Kampong Cham was compensated for his efforts with a bronze medal and a prize of 12 million riel, out of which the Prime Minister's personal contribution was 8 million riel.<br /> <br /> In the lead-up to the grand final, 24 players from seven cities and provinces – Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap, Kratie and Battambang – vied to qualify for the eight places in the Angkor Sangkran finals.<br /> <br /> The final field of candidates included Chheav Bora, Dim Dina, Keo Vathana, Bun Kea Seng, Bou Pon Malika, Eng Sengheak, Siv Sin and Sok Lim Heng.

Sok Lim Heng crowned King of Khmer chess at Angkor Sangkran

Youth triumphed over experience as 19-year-old Sok Lim Heng outmoved two-time champion Chheav Bora in the final round of the 2018 Angkor Sangkran Khmer Chess Championship. The final battle to crown t…

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Hockey hopefuls beat Thai club in build-up to qualifiers for 2018 Youth Olympics

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA2xArvuxNJkO-KXbQWADhAucnehPl9t-_0TWAOHTq8zVWn-nMyQ8vug-Nt2s2xqF-cxA4Pn4XBi3rk9-HFTMbMKHZoSHX4uoCySVxRWsvgWpmllgsLuSqzNJH2hl67jYhYhJb6GrXYs/s1600/hockey_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA2xArvuxNJkO-KXbQWADhAucnehPl9t-_0TWAOHTq8zVWn-nMyQ8vug-Nt2s2xqF-cxA4Pn4XBi3rk9-HFTMbMKHZoSHX4uoCySVxRWsvgWpmllgsLuSqzNJH2hl67jYhYhJb6GrXYs/s640/hockey_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Cambodia's raw but enthusiastic group of young field hockey players turned in a gutsy performance on Wednesday, beating one of Thailand's frontline clubs Saraburi 5-2.<br /> <br /> The victory came after Cambodia were outplayed by Thailand's national team in a friendly just days earlier in the build-up to Asia zone Youth Olympic Games five-a-side hockey qualifiers to be held in Bangkok from April 25 to 29.<br /> <br /> While Cambodia entered the women's hockey arena a few years ago, this will be the first foray into regional competition by the Kingdom's boys, who will be matching skills with some of the best in the continent aiming for two qualification spots to the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Argentina later this year.<br /> <br /> Apart from Argentina as hosts, last year's beaten finalists Canada and Mexico have already qualified from the Pan American zone.<br /> <br /> While the Asia, Europe and Africa zones will send two teams each, Oceania has been granted three slots.<br /> <br /> The Bangkok qualifiers will be contested by 11 teams after Oman pulled out.<br /> <br /> Cambodia have been grouped with India, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore in Pool A, while Pool B is made up of Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, Bangladesh and Chinese Taipei.<br /> <br /> Despite falling behind twice, a strong second-half showing saw Cambodia sound the boards four times to complete a morale-boosting 5-2 win ahead of the qualifiers.<br /> <br /> Saraburi shot into the lead nine minutes into the game, but Cambodia drew level within three minutes.<br /> <br /> The Thai club then made it 2-1 just before half-time.<br /> <br /> But after the restart it was Cambodia all the way as they scored at regular intervals in the second session.<br /> <br /> <b>'Happy with our boys'</b><br /> <br /> As the Khmer New Year celebrations were in full swing, the Kingdom's young hockey hopefuls aiming for their first big competitive test could not match strides against a strong Thailand in the country's first ever international hockey friendly.<br /> <br /> Though Rama Anas managed to level Thailand's first-half strike, the hosts were too strong and wily in the second half as they powered to a 5-1 win.<br /> <br /> "This was a good game for us. The team had zero experience before today and this was our first international friendly," team coach Asif Rana Masqsood said.<br /> <br /> "I was happy with the way our boys handled the game against Saraburi. They were stiff competition for our team playing at this level in the qualifiers without any regional exposure at all.<br /> <br /> "But playing against some of the best teams will certainly give our players a chance to improve in this futuristic 5s format,'' Masqsood added.<br /> <br /> The compact hockey 5s on a smaller field was introduced at the Youth Olympic Games in China's Nanjing in 2014 after the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010 used the outdoor format.<br /> <br /> Australia beat Pakistan to clinch gold at the first ever Youth Olympics in 2010, and the Aussies went on to retain the gold four years later, beating Canada in the final 3-2 on penalties after regulation time ended 3-3.

Hockey hopefuls beat Thai club in build-up to qualifiers for 2018 Youth Olympics

Cambodia's raw but enthusiastic group of young field hockey players turned in a gutsy performance on Wednesday, beating one of Thailand's frontline clubs Saraburi 5-2. The victory came after Cambodia…

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IOC monitoring Samsung Olympic lobbying claims: Bach

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFb0gz5QBjK8geVaZKIWAcq15HPINWOpNpaRJH8vh64HWKOmkzevqsLwDjKGCh3-NBr6rDKz1JzI26tvEwfMXz36jjdIQsRVlLL9JaNGSayW7N9NDEvvtbpoR4joQKX2hS85MonMTVzvY/s1600/bach_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFb0gz5QBjK8geVaZKIWAcq15HPINWOpNpaRJH8vh64HWKOmkzevqsLwDjKGCh3-NBr6rDKz1JzI26tvEwfMXz36jjdIQsRVlLL9JaNGSayW7N9NDEvvtbpoR4joQKX2hS85MonMTVzvY/s640/bach_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> The Olympics ethics watchdog will "monitor" developments after South Korean media said Samsung carried out illicit lobbying for Pyeongchang to be awarded this year's Winter Games, IOC president Thomas Bach said on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Samsung, a top sponsor of the Olympics, has denied the claims made by the SBS television network that the company offered incentives to get votes from International Olympic Committee members.<br /> <br /> Bach told a press conference during a visit to New Delhi that the allegations "have been clearly denied by Samsung, this is all that we know so far. But I am sure that our our ethics commission will monitor the situation".<br /> <br /> SBS TV said it had obtained copies of 137 emails including messages between Samsung executives and Papa Massata Diack – the son of the scandal-tainted former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Lamine Diack.<br /> <br /> The mails included one listing 27 IOC members with voting rights in the decision for the 2018 Games, which was contested by Pyeongchang, Munich in Germany and Annecy in France.<br /> <br /> <b>'Success fee'</b><br /> <br /> The report said Papa Diack had promised to convince each of the named members to vote for Pyeongchang.<br /> <br /> In one 2010 mail Diack requested $12 million in funds – including a three-year, $9.5 million sponsorship for the IAAF's Diamond League athletics meetings. He also asked for a "success fee".<br /> <br /> The emails were confiscated by South Korean prosecutors last year during a graft investigation into former president Park Geun-hye, SBS said.<br /> <br /> As a top level Olympics sponsor, Samsung is not allowed to lobby for Games venue candidates. It strongly denied the allegations last week.<br /> <br /> "Samsung has never engaged in any illegal lobbying activities to have Pyeongchang win the bidding", the South Korean tech giant said in a statement.

IOC monitoring Samsung Olympic lobbying claims: Bach

The Olympics ethics watchdog will "monitor" developments after South Korean media said Samsung carried out illicit lobbying for Pyeongchang to be awarded this year's Winter Games, IOC president Thoma…

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Alvarez banned for six months over failed drug test

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNje5z8xjoECl8HpM9sHfNBpCe6D3xwQv3RReWILPsvTX_Z9wSBhCoYVudk9AhTFfLvhuH5Ne1XmBisS7GrAq8NqLYyGCi9jOcRIK4t91_hTzHQCiX1yi3DjM6DJNl4OxX0QDjZkGaOs/s1600/canelo_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNje5z8xjoECl8HpM9sHfNBpCe6D3xwQv3RReWILPsvTX_Z9wSBhCoYVudk9AhTFfLvhuH5Ne1XmBisS7GrAq8NqLYyGCi9jOcRIK4t91_hTzHQCiX1yi3DjM6DJNl4OxX0QDjZkGaOs/s640/canelo_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Mexican middleweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez was handed a six-month ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday over the failed drug test which forced his rematch with Gennady Golovkin to be cancelled.<br /> <br /> At a hearing in Las Vegas, the commission unanimously approved a deal that will see Alvarez suspended for six months from the date of his failed test on February 17.<br /> <br /> The ruling means Alvarez, who did not attend the hearing, will be free to fight again in August – raising the possibility of a rescheduled Golovkin fight in September.<br /> <br /> Alvarez tested positive for Clenbuterol twice, on February 17 and February 20, during voluntary out-of-competition tests as he prepared for his May 5 rematch with Golovkin.<br /> <br /> He later blamed the tests on eating contaminated meat in his native Mexico, where several athletes across different sports have encountered similar problems in recent years.<br /> <br /> The 27-year-old risked a one-year ban over the failed test, but Nevada authorities said he had been given a six-month suspension citing his cooperation with authorities.<br /> <br /> In a statement, Alvarez's promoters, Golden Boy Promotions said they accepted the sanction – and indicated they aimed to reschedule the Golovkin rematch for September.<br /> <br /> "Canelo looks forward to returning to the ring in September for Mexican Independence Day weekend to represent Mexico and boxing in what will be the sport's biggest event of the year," Golden Boy said.<br /> <br /> "He is ready to continue his remarkable record of fighting at the highest level."<br /> <br /> <b>'Forget Mexican meat'</b><br /> <br /> Any rematch between Alvarez and Golovkin will be tinged with animosity. The two fighters have traded verbal blows in the months since Alvarez's positive drug test came to light.<br /> <br /> At a news conference in Los Angeles earlier this month, Alvarez insisted he was the victim of an innocent mistake, hitting back at claims from Golovkin that he was dope cheat.<br /> <br /> "I am truly shocked about what has happened, and for those who have doubts and suspicions about my integrity, I have always been and always will be a clean fighter," Alvarez said. "I respect this sport. I will always be a clean fighter."<br /> <br /> Alvarez and Golovkin fought to a controversial draw in their first meeting in Las Vegas last September, a fight most neutrals believed unified champion Golovkin had won.<br /> <br /> Their rematch at the T-Mobile Arena next month was expected to be one of the biggest fights of 2018 but was thrown into uncertainty after news of Alvarez's drug test emerged.<br /> <br /> Golovkin has dismissed Alvarez's claims that he ingested the Clenbuterol inadvertently, telling reporters last month at his training camp in Big Bear, east of Los Angeles, that he believed the Mexican was guilty of doping.<br /> <br /> "Forget Mexican meat," Golovkin said. "Come on . . . Canelo's cheating. They're using these drugs and everybody's trying to pretend it's not happening."<br /> <br /> The unbeaten 35-year-old will now fight American Vanes Martirosyan on May 5 in an open-air bout at Los Angeles' StubHub Center.

Alvarez banned for six months over failed drug test

Mexican middleweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez was handed a six-month ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday over the failed drug test which forced his rematch with Gennady Golovkin to …

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Mourinho backs Pogba after Scholes taunt

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xSUoUgBYsz1xhJr1CAqrsv4t_3BeDLNy9P7jW5K3xEZOoCiS-Og6It9jH4FGkwjPc9n_PdK4iTtgrgxUgGFxmUZnWbi9BgI35kGQT6a-l3Rbvodeg1_ZdxQCd7269_omc1wu4TKyCXw/s1600/pogba_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xSUoUgBYsz1xhJr1CAqrsv4t_3BeDLNy9P7jW5K3xEZOoCiS-Og6It9jH4FGkwjPc9n_PdK4iTtgrgxUgGFxmUZnWbi9BgI35kGQT6a-l3Rbvodeg1_ZdxQCd7269_omc1wu4TKyCXw/s640/pogba_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Jose Mourinho has defended Paul Pogba after the Manchester United star was branded "disrespectful" by Paul Scholes.<br /> <br /> United legend Scholes claimed Pogba's lacklustre display in Sunday's shock defeat against lowly West Bromwich Albion showed a lack of respect for Mourinho.<br /> <br /> Scholes's criticism came amid growing speculation that Mourinho is ready to sell Pogba following the France midfielder's inconsistent form over the last two seasons.<br /> <br /> But Pogba produced one of his better performances in United's 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday as he set up Romelu Lukaku for the second goal at Dean Court.<br /> <br /> Asked to comment on Scholes's criticism of Pogba, Mourinho said: "I don't agree. I agree that it wasn't a good performance at all [against West Brom] – with that I agree."<br /> <br /> Mourinho made seven changes from the West Brom loss as he axed some of his underperforming players and rested others for Saturday's FA Cup semifinal against Tottenham.<br /> <br /> His decision to keep Pogba in the starting line-up raised questions about the chances of the midfielder retaining his place at Wembley.<br /> <br /> But Mourinho, who has dropped Pogba several times this season, offered an enthusiastic review of his man of the match display on the south coast.<br /> <br /> "Top performance. Top performance. Obviously the performance against City was special, coming with two goals," he said.<br /> <br /> "But this performance was a very similar level. So top performance. He can do it."<br /> <br /> United's return to winning ways was not enough to ease Mourinho's frustrations over Sunday's woeful loss to West Brom.<br /> <br /> That result gifted the title to Manchester City, but Mourinho believes he can catch the champions next season.<br /> <br /> "My face is still the face of last Sunday and not the face of somebody who just finished a game and a win," Mourinho said.<br /> <br /> "I still live with the emotions of last Sunday.<br /> <br /> "I know how to win titles. In case some of you guys don't know, I won eight championships in four different countries, and three in this country.<br /> <br /> "I know why you win; I know why you don't win.<br /> <br /> "OK, no doubts about City's quality, and that in any circumstances they would win this title because they are the better [team].<br /> <br /> "But we could have, perfectly, I would say 10 more points than we have."

Mourinho backs Pogba after Scholes taunt

Jose Mourinho has defended Paul Pogba after the Manchester United star was branded "disrespectful" by Paul Scholes. United legend Scholes claimed Pogba's lacklustre display in Sunday's shock defeat a…

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All Blacks past and present slam Folau anti-gay comments

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHz0yG4uuA4a8Dw-WSVnpDIzQp40TDaOFsN3Poby3OiilUeoDZXbYPLa5o68a2QbIqssnUtDUkDAAL24fVAi2mdxdm10axyXRoGNUrmkQsQhWmtLBV91dg3eDIVAn43aywQIlVY4bzDw/s1600/folau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHz0yG4uuA4a8Dw-WSVnpDIzQp40TDaOFsN3Poby3OiilUeoDZXbYPLa5o68a2QbIqssnUtDUkDAAL24fVAi2mdxdm10axyXRoGNUrmkQsQhWmtLBV91dg3eDIVAn43aywQIlVY4bzDw/s640/folau.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> All Black halfback TJ Perenara has become the highest-profile rugby player to condemn Wallaby Israel Folau's anti-gay comments, with New Zealand legend Michael Jones also saying he disagreed with the Australian player's stance.<br /> <br /> Perenara, who shares Polynesian heritage with Folau, said homophobic remarks from an athlete of Folau's stature were particularly hurtful to young Maori and Pacific islanders struggling with their identity.<br /> <br /> "You don't need to look far to know that young Maori/PI are overrepresented in youth suicide statistics and, as I understand it, even more so when you look to those who are part of the Rainbow community," he tweeted late Wednesday.<br /> <br /> "Comments that cause further harm cannot be tolerated."<br /> <br /> The 45-Test All Black added: "As professional rugby players, whether we like it or not, we are role models for a lot of young people."<br /> <br /> Folau wrote on social media this month that God's plan for gay people was hell unless they repent their sins.<br /> <br /> He later explained that his remarks were prompted by deeply held religious beliefs and Rugby Australia decided against sanctioning him.<br /> <br /> <b>'Dumb jock card is history'</b><br /> <br /> Jones, the loose forward who fired the All Blacks to victory in the inaugural World Cup in 1987, said his own faith did not prevent him from accepting gays.<br /> <br /> A devout Christian from a Polynesian background who refused to play on Sundays during his international career, Jones urged 'wisdom' from Folau.<br /> <br /> "There's members of my family from those [gay] communities and we love them, they're integral in our lives and they're a big part of who we are," he told reporters.<br /> <br /> "Being able to express yourself is important, but doing it respectfully, with wisdom. There needs to be a lot of love and grace, particularly as Christians."<br /> <br /> Waikato Chiefs back Brad Weber became the first player to challenge Folau about his comments this week, saying they left him disgusted.<br /> <br /> Perenara said young people should ignore them and realise: "It's OK to be you; you are perfect as you are."<br /> <br /> "I am 100 percent against the comments that were made by Israel. It was not OK to say that," he tweeted.<br /> <br /> "It's not an attitude I want to see in the game I love."<br /> <br /> <i>New Zealand Herald</i> rugby writer Gregor Paul welcomed the fact that players now felt comfortable calling out intolerance, rather than shying away from controversy.<br /> <br /> "The dumb jock card may now be consigned to history, no longer valid or appropriate for players to use," he wrote.<br /> <br /> "They are professional athletes some of the time, but human all of the time and because of that, players have the same responsibility as everyone else to speak out against wrongdoing."

All Blacks past and present slam Folau anti-gay comments

All Black halfback TJ Perenara has become the highest-profile rugby player to condemn Wallaby Israel Folau's anti-gay comments, with New Zealand legend Michael Jones also saying he disagreed with the…

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Spurs coach Popovich loses wife to illness

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqppB7YFntjTumQTbQNyUm7DPPks_3wQhT4fc3JPM_zSSFbemWVZbBIDD4iXQmrR4yVs_rASkucKmjd5GcSkRELKWZaKi2NH717aEV-IqeUtkv060PGx5obu7hJ7yP6olWiNnQ-7B-oY/s1600/popovich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqppB7YFntjTumQTbQNyUm7DPPks_3wQhT4fc3JPM_zSSFbemWVZbBIDD4iXQmrR4yVs_rASkucKmjd5GcSkRELKWZaKi2NH717aEV-IqeUtkv060PGx5obu7hJ7yP6olWiNnQ-7B-oY/s640/popovich.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Erin Popovich, the wife of San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, died on Wednesday after a long illness, the NBA team announced. She was 67.<br /> <br /> "We mourn the loss of Erin," Spurs general manager RC Buford said in a statement. "She was a strong, wonderful, kind, intelligent woman who provided love, support and humor to all of us."<br /> <br /> Erin Popovich is survived by her husband, two children and two grandchildren.<br /> <br /> San Antonio's next game is on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors. It is not known if Gregg Popovich will be behind the bench.<br /> <br /> The 69-year-old Spurs coach married his wife while he was helping coach the American Air Force Academy team from 1973-79.<br /> <br /> Former Spurs player and now Warriors star Kevin Durant was at a loss for words but said he was willing to provide whatever support Popovich needs.<br /> <br /> "It's bigger than the game. It's bigger than winning and losing. I feel so bad for Pop and his family. That's just tough to hear about," Durant said.

Spurs coach Popovich loses wife to illness

Erin Popovich, the wife of San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, died on Wednesday after a long illness, the NBA team announced. She was 67. "We mourn the loss of Erin," Spurs general manager …

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Underwhelming Real held to draw at home by Athletic Bilbao

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-fZT5whvj2ZtnRygJk3DFM_V4XkA0gOotFoPOOAtoMKEarjGMJ08RNFF3AeAO07BjWzQHc4vLpNuP9pJ6UOsrPqTlCypYNB2C4SaK4dap-NL_1j6cD2_n9EMiE-y4zutnj-AF6gayf4/s1600/zidane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-fZT5whvj2ZtnRygJk3DFM_V4XkA0gOotFoPOOAtoMKEarjGMJ08RNFF3AeAO07BjWzQHc4vLpNuP9pJ6UOsrPqTlCypYNB2C4SaK4dap-NL_1j6cD2_n9EMiE-y4zutnj-AF6gayf4/s640/zidane.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Real Madrid may the favourites for the Champions League but a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday will hardly have struck fear into Bayern Munich.<br /> <br /> Zinedine Zidane's side started complacently at the Santiago Bernabeu and ended frantically, with Cristiano Ronaldo's 87th-minute equaliser cancelling out a delightful early chip from Athletic's Inaki Williams in between.<br /> <br /> Barcelona's commanding lead at the top of La Liga, which now stands at 12 points over Atletico Madrid and 15 on Real, means these matches carry reduced significance and inevitably lack a certain edge.<br /> <br /> But Zidane may at least be concerned by a loss of momentum, particularly given this side is likely to be very close to the one that starts the semifinal first leg at the Allianz Arena in a week's time.<br /> <br /> Real have managed to hit a different gear in the Champions League knockout stages but this draw means they have now won only once in their last four matches, having strung together 11 victories from their previous 12.<br /> <br /> "The result wasn't what we wanted today and mentally, also, we were a little off," Zidane said. "What we have to do is rest. We have five days before the game on Wednesday, we will prepare well and then we will give everything. We have a semifinal and we will fight to the death to defend our title."<br /> <br /> Dress rehearsal<br /> <br /> Ronaldo's late flick was his 22nd goal in 12 games and with the Portuguese in this sort of form, almost any performance can be salvaged.<br /> <br /> But Real's night was better summed up by one moment in the second half when Sergio Ramos repeatedly failed to clear and then turned to face the crowd's jeers with his arms outstretched. The jeers grew louder.<br /> <br /> If the Real team that faced Malaga on Sunday was aimed at resting players ahead of Bayern, this looked more like a dress rehearsal.<br /> <br /> Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo all returned, but there was no place for Gareth Bale, who had also been left out against Malaga. His preserved energy was deemed only valuable enough for 30 minutes off the bench.<br /> <br /> "There is no problem with Gareth," Zidane said. "I have 25 players and I have to be attentive to everyone, Bale is one of them. There are others who play and do well too."

Underwhelming Real held to draw at home by Athletic Bilbao

Real Madrid may the favourites for the Champions League but a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday will hardly have struck fear into Bayern Munich. Zinedine Zidane's side started complacentl…

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Four VAR officials, giant screen replays at every World Cup match: FIFA

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_e-vMaEnhUbC1o2fo0n2Zba9HcXBFsBmPMNklP2sBCIEsKXfIeW7vstXokhLTIwsb5IcbJNaczCS_7Ooqr-BiV6B_JXG3BN16cJNKebeHGK-5nHvVxfcr6kOSJkuDLDnp1q6mxt24dSo/s1600/world_cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_e-vMaEnhUbC1o2fo0n2Zba9HcXBFsBmPMNklP2sBCIEsKXfIeW7vstXokhLTIwsb5IcbJNaczCS_7Ooqr-BiV6B_JXG3BN16cJNKebeHGK-5nHvVxfcr6kOSJkuDLDnp1q6mxt24dSo/s640/world_cup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Four video assistant referees will be present at every game at the World Cup in Russia, with replays to be shown on giant screens inside the stadiums, FIFA said on Wednesday.<br /> <br /> "Everything will be centralised in a single location in Moscow and all referees will be based in Moscow," explained FIFA's referees' chief Pierluigi Collina during a training seminar organised at Coverciano, near Florence.<br /> <br /> Over the next two weeks two groups of 36 referees and 63 assistants will be trained for the World Cup in Coverciano, with workshops organised on the VAR system, which will be used at the tournament for the first time.<br /> <br /> Another Italian former referee, Roberto Rosetti, explained how VAR would work during the tournament.<br /> <br /> "There will be four VAR officials. The VAR principal will communicate with the main referee and can suggest that he comes to verify images on the sidelines," Rosetti explained.<br /> <br /> "The VAR assistant No1 will be in charge of following the match live while the review is taking place. VAR assistant No2 will be specially in charge of offside."<br /> <br /> Two specially adapted cameras will be used to watch out for offside players during the World Cup.<br /> <br /> A third VAR assistant will be in charge of supporting the VAR principal, focusing on the respect of protocol and to assure good communication between the whole team.<br /> <br /> In addition to the VAR officials there will also be four technicians in charge of screens and camera angles, with a FIFA representative present to relay decisions with explanations on giant screens.<br /> <br /> "We have to remember that the the very clear objective and the success of VAR will also depend on how it is understood," Collina said.<br /> <br /> "It's about avoiding clear and obvious major errors. It's not a question of refereeing the match with technology. The goal has never been to check every minor incident."

Four VAR officials, giant screen replays at every World Cup match: FIFA

Four video assistant referees will be present at every game at the World Cup in Russia, with replays to be shown on giant screens inside the stadiums, FIFA said on Wednesday. "Everything will be cent…

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New style, new era: Australia captain promises to rebuild trust

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiXa-EbsyPZIR938tYHKTpxqlev7qmEdtSe2usBZ1tWXHCYiOrRLKypZYLJPxVEe679paxteXxc5wOKFBfxW8wP9cTUNSt1ZuKC9u9nJwWawCwqWPPtlY-RuGPjlNgceT3JijJONeKXo/s1600/paine_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiXa-EbsyPZIR938tYHKTpxqlev7qmEdtSe2usBZ1tWXHCYiOrRLKypZYLJPxVEe679paxteXxc5wOKFBfxW8wP9cTUNSt1ZuKC9u9nJwWawCwqWPPtlY-RuGPjlNgceT3JijJONeKXo/s640/paine_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Australia Test captain Tim Paine pledged on Thursday to embark on a new era of "respectful" cricket and rebuild public trust after the ball-tampering scandal that rocked the sport.<br /> <br /> The newly appointed leader said the fallout from the tampering episode was greater than players had anticipated and promised a different style of cricket in the future.<br /> <br /> "Going forward, we have a clean slate. We can rewrite the way we play a little bit," the 33-year-old told reporters in Tasmania's capital Hobart.<br /> <br /> "The main thing for us is to bring the fans back to Australian cricket and make sure they like the way we are going about it – they want to come and watch and be proud of the Australian cricket team," he added.<br /> <br /> The ball-tampering scandal during the third Test in South Africa last month stunned the sport and sparked reviews into the culture within Australian cricket.<br /> <br /> Then captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner have been banned from international and domestic cricket for a year, while Cameron Bancroft was exiled for nine months, leaving the squad badly weakened.<br /> <br /> They have all apologised and accepted the sanctions.<br /> <br /> Paine said all three would be welcomed back to the national side but in a new environment that met public expectations.<br /> <br /> "Certainly playing international cricket you have to be as competitive as you possibly can be, but we just have to look at different ways of doing that," he said, "more respectful ways of putting opposition teams under the pump."<br /> <br /> Meeting on new head coach<br /> <br /> Australia has been under heavy scrutiny for sledging and Paine said on-field talk with the opposition "will be very different going forward".<br /> <br /> Cricket Australia (CA) announced a meeting for Friday to discuss who will replace head coach Darren Lehmann, who despite being cleared of any wrongdoing resigned amid the scandal fallout.<br /> <br /> But it denied media reports that former Aussie opener Justin Langer had already been selected for the job.<br /> <br /> "The process to be undertaken for the appointment of a new Australian men's head coach will be discussed and agreed at the CA board meeting this Friday," a spokesperson said in a statement.<br /> <br /> "No appointment has been made, and nor will any candidate be put to the board for ratification on Friday."<br /> <br /> Paine on Thursday endorsed Langer but added there were many highly regarded candidates worldwide.<br /> <br /> Langer remains favourite to take the top job but has indicated he wants to maintain his coaching and family commitments in his home state of Western Australia.<br /> <br /> Former Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting and former pacemen Jason Gillespie have also been touted as potential replacements for Lehmann.<br /> <br /> Some commentators have suggested the coaching appointments be split across the three forms of the game – Tests, one-day internationals and Twenty20s.

New style, new era: Australia captain promises to rebuild trust

Australia Test captain Tim Paine pledged on Thursday to embark on a new era of "respectful" cricket and rebuild public trust after the ball-tampering scandal that rocked the sport. The newly appointe…

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PSG project called into question after latest European letdown

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq4rj2bC2FpJ_G-nNwCYu_gZfOYwyPFErOD9eQscHhF5qDR23BgUvbPagxsagYEtbNRLDqgq6uNk4R6Ens4TfvcHeI1-uUDrEhfIJTXaXT53lnbhQqEUnYJmpEbIkvJTEIUvxC_22dnY/s1600/psg_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq4rj2bC2FpJ_G-nNwCYu_gZfOYwyPFErOD9eQscHhF5qDR23BgUvbPagxsagYEtbNRLDqgq6uNk4R6Ens4TfvcHeI1-uUDrEhfIJTXaXT53lnbhQqEUnYJmpEbIkvJTEIUvxC_22dnY/s640/psg_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> After an honourable defeat to Barcelona on away goals in the Champions League quarterfinals in 2013, Paris Saint-Germain"s Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated the club"s objective was to win the competition "in the next five years".<br /> <br /> That deadline expired with Tuesday"s limp defeat to holders Real Madrid in the last 16, leaving the French side as far away from being European champions as at any point since Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) bought the club in 2011.<br /> <br /> For all their lavish spending, PSG have still not made it past the quarterfinals of the competition this decade, and there have now been consecutive exits in the last 16, the 5-2 aggregate loss to Cristiano Ronaldo"s Real coming after a spectacular collapse saw them crash out in Barcelona a year ago.<br /> <br /> The strategy after that defeat was to commit to paying the two biggest transfer fees in football history last August to sign Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for a combined €402 million ($499 million), an attempt to buy immediate success on the biggest stage.<br /> <br /> It has not worked, with Neymar left watching Tuesday"s 2-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes that sealed PSG"s fate from Brazil, where he is recovering from a foot operation.<br /> <br /> "All that for that", was the headline on the front of French sports daily L"Equipe today, a reference mainly to the bold transfer strategy.<br /> <br /> "We believe in our players. We want to continue the project, with the two of them because they are the future of the club," said Al-Khelaifi on Tuesday when asked if the club"s investment should be called into question.<br /> <br /> Seven years after QSI"s arrival, PSG have still managed to beat just three teams in the Champions League knockout stage: Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea.<br /> <br /> That is a damning statistic for a club with their means and ambitions.<br /> <br /> "We will continue, as much as patience allows, to build a team which can win in the future," said coach Unai Emery on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> "When I came here I said I was sure this team can win the Champions League. But it"s a process."<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>Neymar to stay, Emery out</b><br /> <br /> Soon to be out of contract, Emery will not be given another crack at the competition in Paris. The club will look for a new coach, and they will be tempted to go for a big name after the failure of the Emery experiment – the Spaniard won three Europa Leagues with Sevilla but has never won a Champions League knockout tie in six seasons of trying.<br /> <br /> They also need to revamp their squad again, and replace the likes of Thiago Silva, Thiago Motta, Dani Alves and Angel Di Maria, all in their 30s.<br /> <br /> The club insist they are not worried about falling foul of UEFA"s Financial Fair Play rules, even if a premature European exit will mean a shortfall of millions of euros.<br /> <br /> "We are relaxed about it. It is more of an issue outside the club than inside. It is March and we have until the end of June. There are no worries," sporting director Antero Henrique told L"Equipe last weekend.<br /> <br /> One thing that is unlikely to happen is Neymar leaving, despite ongoing speculation that the Brazilian has not settled in France.<br /> <br /> Al-Khelaifi"s beIN Sports owns the exclusive international distribution rights for television coverage of the French league, and the network is currently in the process of negotiating new deals around the world. In that context, PSG selling a star such as Neymar this year is unthinkable.<br /> <br /> But in the meantime another period of soul searching will begin for PSG and their Qatari owners.<br /> <br /> "Now is not the time to talk about change, everyone is upset. We want to calm down before working out what needs to be changed. We have time to think about that," said Al-Khelaifi on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> PSG still have three domestic trophies to go and win before the end of the season, but that seems instantly less appealing once the big prize of the Champions League is no longer up for grabs.

PSG project called into question after latest European letdown

After an honourable defeat to Barcelona on away goals in the Champions League quarterfinals in 2013, Paris Saint-Germain"s Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated the club"s objective was to win t…

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Athletics maintains Russia ban over doping

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-1zHulF2BkunJJCzW5wv_0huwfGfNQZLW9dCeZikYSK-ur73D4SAO_S0qRMdqHYqO4ySQE3m_m4zL710rTJJwMz2ky9twITmlExgQHu772J8PkpXmOi3SUw8VtLECpLf_PgpLBq9S3o/s1600/iaaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-1zHulF2BkunJJCzW5wv_0huwfGfNQZLW9dCeZikYSK-ur73D4SAO_S0qRMdqHYqO4ySQE3m_m4zL710rTJJwMz2ky9twITmlExgQHu772J8PkpXmOi3SUw8VtLECpLf_PgpLBq9S3o/s640/iaaf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> The governing body of world athletics said on Tuesday that it was maintaining Russia's ban from the sport over mass doping, saying Moscow had failed to provide evidence it was adequately testing Russian competitors.<br /> <br /> Despite Russian athletes being allowed back into Olympic competition, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said the country's anti-doping body RUSADA had met some of the requirements to be reinstated, but not all.<br /> <br /> The IAAF's medical expert Rune Andersen said the sport's anti-doping task force had "recommended to the IAAF Council and the Council accepted that [the Russian athletics federation] RUSAF not be reinstated'.<br /> <br /> "Because, while many reinstatement conditions had been met, there are several that still have not been satisfied," Andersen told a press conference in the English city of Birmingham.<br /> <br /> "For example, RUSAF and RUSADA have still not provided a test distribution plan for 2018 that shows an adequate amount of testing of Russian athletes."<br /> <br /> Andersen also said RUSAF had not demonstrated "that it has fixed previous legal issues that meant it was unable to enforce provisional doping bans".<br /> <br /> The International Olympic Committee lifted its ban on Russia at the end of the Pyeongchang Winter Games last month.<br /> <br /> Russia had been banned from the Olympic movement over allegations it put in place a huge system of state-sponsored doping culminating at the 2014 Russian-hosted Sochi Winter Games.<br /> <br /> A team of 168 Russians competed in Pyeongchang under the banner of Olympic Athletes from Russia, but a Russian curling medallist tested positive for a banned substance.<br /> <br /> Dmitry Shlyakhtin, the head of Russian athletics, said he would seek a meeting with IAAF President Sebastian Coe and Andersen to argue his case.<br /> <br /> "We've sent them all the materials and the documents [they asked for]," he said, adding that the IAAF task force "has not been in touch with us since October".<br /> <br /> Sergei Shubenkov, Russia's 2015 world 110m hurdles champion, said the IAAF's decision was incomprehensible.<br /> <br /> "I just have no idea how to take all this," he told R-Sport agency. "For a long time now I have not understood what's going on at these [IAAF] meetings and their decisions.<br /> <br /> "In any case there's no choice [for us athletes] and I'll continue training and preparing."<br /> <br /> Several Russian athletes competed as neutrals in last week's World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, including the winners of the women's and men's high jump competitions, Mariya Lasitskene and Danil Lysenko.

Athletics maintains Russia ban over doping

The governing body of world athletics said on Tuesday that it was maintaining Russia's ban from the sport over mass doping, saying Moscow had failed to provide evidence it was adequately testing Russ…

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Klopp targets more after Liverpool end long wait for last eight

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPruFB5UtHcUlkhSc0h3xCC0c2xgGlEMPeqiTjgnE2Xd8VEu44PzLhmd__msvVXlqBIGqh8ZzipNGZ_dkG4VQBGugktTAjzIHgb0AuxrpKaUkYTnDpzfG3MPw8Fw4X2kBL-a_U50-qYXE/s1600/liverpool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPruFB5UtHcUlkhSc0h3xCC0c2xgGlEMPeqiTjgnE2Xd8VEu44PzLhmd__msvVXlqBIGqh8ZzipNGZ_dkG4VQBGugktTAjzIHgb0AuxrpKaUkYTnDpzfG3MPw8Fw4X2kBL-a_U50-qYXE/s640/liverpool.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted the Champions League quarterfinals is where his side belong after ending a nine-year wait to reach the last eight on Tuesday night.<br /> <br /> Despite settling for a goalless draw in an uninspiring last 16, second leg at Anfield, Liverpool eased past Porto 5-0 on aggregate thanks to a comprehensive win in Portugal three weeks ago.<br /> <br /> "It feels really good," said Klopp, who is only in his second full season in charge. "I think this year we belong there to be honest. It should not be a big surprise<br /> <br /> "The next round will be difficult, seven other very good teams, maybe four of them are from England, which doesn't make it easier.<br /> <br /> "I think we will have a chance for sure to go to the semis. We'll take it step by step and tonight it is cool."<br /> <br /> With the job done in Portugal, Klopp could even afford the luxury of starting top scorer Mohamed Salah and club-record signing Virgil van Dijk on the bench with one eye on Saturday's vital visit to Manchester United in the Premier League.<br /> <br /> "Now we can prepare for the Manchester game. I'm looking forward to it," added Klopp.<br /> <br /> Liverpool have made a habit of fast starts in Europe this season, but took time to warm to their task with the German having made five changes in all from the side that beat Newcastle at the weekend.<br /> <br /> Ovation for Cassillas<br /> <br /> It took 17 minutes for the hosts to threaten when Joe Gomez's cross was acrobatically flicked towards goal by Mane, but looped just over the bar.<br /> <br /> Mane was inches away from his fourth goal of the tie on the half-hour mark when he controlled James Milner's lofted pass on his chest before smashing the inside of Iker Casillas's far post.<br /> <br /> Dejan Lovren then headed narrowly over as Liverpool threatened to raise the pulse of an understandably more subdued Anfield than is customary on a European night.<br /> <br /> "Probably if you draw away and then win at home it feels maybe different," continued Klopp.<br /> <br /> "But the maximum you can achieve is the next round and we did that in a comfortable way."<br /> <br /> Casillas was given a standing ovation by the Liverpool fans in the Kop end as he took to the field after the break on his record 167th and possible farewell appearance in the Champions League.<br /> <br /> "I think he has more [appearances] than our whole squad," said Klopp, who embraced Casillas at full-time.<br /> <br /> "I don't say the number of years, but I think he obviously wants to play a bit more."<br /> <br /> However, that was one of few moments that got the home fans off their feet as Liverpool settled on their substantial lead.<br /> <br /> Roberto Firmino had one clear chance to add to his seven Champions League goals this season when his shot was blocked by Porto captain Felipe before the Brazilian was protected by Klopp for the weekend as Danny Ings was introduced for the final half hour.<br /> <br /> Salah was given 15 minutes to find the winner when he replaced Mane.<br /> <br /> The Egyptian had one opportunity to extend his scoring streak to eight straight games, but Casillas smothered his low effort.<br /> <br /> And the Spanish veteran made his best stop of the night two minutes from time to deny Ings and hold onto his clean sheet.

Klopp targets more after Liverpool end long wait for last eight

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted the Champions League quarterfinals is where his side belong after ending a nine-year wait to reach the last eight on Tuesday night. Despite settling for a goal…

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Paul and Harden fire as Rockets roll to sweet 16th

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUilu3Q_33JithNsoVAcdUxWu6dZzOAw4y5aZEbGyeQqJhFVED9laJVTynRpKsd3rxgX0GMH7bkYW1eLZZiJruy-XHtvvmuAjhmHagjeh8wLKUPjdywOXjth92-PnexG6U6_9s8BLqolA/s1600/rockets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUilu3Q_33JithNsoVAcdUxWu6dZzOAw4y5aZEbGyeQqJhFVED9laJVTynRpKsd3rxgX0GMH7bkYW1eLZZiJruy-XHtvvmuAjhmHagjeh8wLKUPjdywOXjth92-PnexG6U6_9s8BLqolA/s640/rockets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Chris Paul scored 25 points as the Houston Rockets overpowered Russell Westbrook's Oklahoma City Thunder to tighten their grip on the Western Conference with a 16th straight victory on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> Paul produced a scintillating display of shooting which included five 3-pointers to help the Rockets bring up their 50th win of the season, a 122-112 victory.<br /> <br /> Houston now lead the West at 50-13, one game ahead of the Golden State Warriors, who defeated the Brooklyn Nets 114-101 on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> The Thunder, meanwhile, remain firmly in the battle for one of the lower-seeded playoff spots, lying seventh at 37-29.<br /> <br /> Against the Rockets, the talismanic figure of Westbrook once again led the way for the Thunder with 32 points, while Carmelo Anthony finished with 23.<br /> <br /> Paul George had 17 points, while New Zealand's Steven Adams chipped in with 16.<br /> <br /> Houston's greater depth in offence, however, was to prove decisive, with seven players cracking double digits.<br /> <br /> MVP hopeful James Harden was happy to take a backseat to Paul, but he still managed to come up with 23 points, 11 assists and five rebounds.<br /> <br /> Harden, meanwhile, warned against complacency as the Rockets targeted a strong finish to the regular season.<br /> <br /> "We've still got a long away to go, especially these last 20 games or whatever we've got left," he said.<br /> <br /> "Every single game is going to be a different challenge that we're going to face."<br /> <br /> Turnovers costly<br /> <br /> Thunder coach Billy Donovan bemoaned his team's tendency to concede cheap turnovers.<br /> <br /> "We turned the ball over too much, both halves," Donovan said. "We need to do a better job of taking care of the basketball.<br /> <br /> "I thought the difference in the game was the 3-point line and the free-throw line. We didn't get there enough and probably put them there too many times."<br /> <br /> In Oakland, Stephen Curry scored 34 points as Golden State eased past Brooklyn at the Oracle Arena.<br /> <br /> Kevin Durant had 19 points with Klay Thompson 18 and Draymond Green 16 to maintain the reigning NBA champions' pursuit of Houston.<br /> <br /> In Los Angeles, Anthony Davis exploded for 41 points as New Orleans edged the Clippers 126-121 to claim a ninth straight win. The Pelicans improved to 37-26 with the result.<br /> <br /> In the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, DeMar DeRozan led the scoring as the Toronto Raptors notched a fifth consecutive victory to remain firmly on top of the standings with a 106-90 romp against the Atlanta Hawks.<br /> <br /> The Raptors improved to 46-17 with the win, helped by Jonas Valanciunas contributing 15 points and CJ Miles 14 off the bench. Serge Ibaka and Delon Wright also made double figures with 10 points apiece.<br /> <br /> John Collins and Kent Bazemore each made 14 points for the Hawks, but the visitors were unable to prevent a sixth defeat in eight games.<br /> <br /> Atlanta remain rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference with a 20-45 record.<br /> <br /> In Charlotte, Robert Covington led an all-round scoring display from the Philadelphia 76ers in a 128-114 defeat of the Hornets.<br /> <br /> Covington scored 22 points for the Sixers, one of seven players to finish in double figures for the visitors, who improved to 35-28 and remain sixth in the standings.<br /> <br /> Dario Saric had 19 points, while Joel Embiid snared 18. Australian star Ben Simmons got 16 points with 13 assists and eight rebounds. Charlotte fell to 28-37 in the defeat.<br /> <br /> In Washington, Bradley Beal had 30 points, while Markieff Morris exerted his influence as the Wizards maintained their playoff push, winning 117-113 over the Miami Heat. Morris had 16 points with 13 rebounds to help the Wizards improve to 37-28.

Paul and Harden fire as Rockets roll to sweet 16th

Chris Paul scored 25 points as the Houston Rockets overpowered Russell Westbrook's Oklahoma City Thunder to tighten their grip on the Western Conference with a 16th straight victory on Tuesday. Paul …

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Thai team and Gaels take first Gaelic event honours

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XELrIeMXg16LSrsMDeeO1efmpHOsIVP-zq3G-oChRIr8YlcLKR65oTRVoGy_ieqEzvULyycN3L05mPxHzMwZfq_KLBrpmvRC8t2TlHamQTO5wsy3AcceVYKsEv7YFx5rEfuWuegzl5Q/s1600/18_story_3_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XELrIeMXg16LSrsMDeeO1efmpHOsIVP-zq3G-oChRIr8YlcLKR65oTRVoGy_ieqEzvULyycN3L05mPxHzMwZfq_KLBrpmvRC8t2TlHamQTO5wsy3AcceVYKsEv7YFx5rEfuWuegzl5Q/s640/18_story_3_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Cambodia's first ever Gaelic football and hurling games played out to great success at Phnom Pennh's ISPP grounds on Saturday.<br /> <br /> Teams from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore battled it out in men's and ladies' Gaelic football matches. To close the event, an exhibition hurling game was played under floodlights.<br /> <br /> The tournament was organised by the world's newest GAA Club, Cairde Khmer, which was only formed in September.<br /> <br /> A total of 85 players braved the heat to represent their clubs, while an estimated 250 spectators viewed the action throughout the day.<br /> <br /> A pitchside after-party and presentation ceremony rounded off the historic day.<br /> <br /> On the field, Thailand were crowned men's Gaelic football champions, while Saigon Gaels scooped the ladies' Gaelic football crown. In the exhibition hurling match, Thailand beat a mixed Cambodian and Vietnamese team. Several player of the tournament awards were bestowed for each of the three sporting codes on display throughout the day.<br /> <br /> The men's awards went to Thailand's Niall Geraghty, for his Gaelic football endeavours, and Saigon's Damien Maloney, for his hurling prowess.<br /> <br /> The ladies Gaelic football award was given to Cairde Khmer's Keelyn Grandon.<br /> <br /> Cairde Khmer chairperson and co-founder, Conor Wall, said afterwards: "The day exceeded all expectations. Both the spectators and players enjoyed themselves immensely.<br /> <br /> "The aim of the tournament was to use sport to help develop stronger bonds between Irish and Cambodians, as well as highlight the GAA<br /> values of community volunteerism, cooperation and development.<br /> <br /> "I would like to think we went some way to achieving this today."

Thai team and Gaels take first Gaelic event honours

Cambodia's first ever Gaelic football and hurling games played out to great success at Phnom Pennh's ISPP grounds on Saturday. Teams from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore battled it out in m…

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Alvarez tests positive ahead of Golovkin showdown bout

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sZO7pMZpkn_kFi-y6U09_SjXnRU0ZPW-ldPXV25G92efEIWFM0hoWSZjf42pCGyzZ46j8dofuo6-tPoQwFzq_1k35fj759QPlMRvGM6o_RvZ2dMjuzCe6qI9JgMiwiZzOElXMfjm2rw/s1600/canelo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sZO7pMZpkn_kFi-y6U09_SjXnRU0ZPW-ldPXV25G92efEIWFM0hoWSZjf42pCGyzZ46j8dofuo6-tPoQwFzq_1k35fj759QPlMRvGM6o_RvZ2dMjuzCe6qI9JgMiwiZzOElXMfjm2rw/s640/canelo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Mexican middleweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, preparing for a May 5 title rematch with Gennady Golovkin, has tested positive for banned clenbuterol, his promoters blaming tainted meat.<br /> <br /> A voluntary drug test showed Alvarez had trace amounts of the drug in his system and Golden Boy Promotions said in a statement on Monday that the level was "consistent with meat contamination that has impacted dozens of athletes in Mexico over the last years".<br /> <br /> "These values are all within the range of what is expected from meat contamination," Golden Boy quoted Daniel Eichner, director of the WADA-accredited SMRTL lab that conducted the tests, as saying.<br /> <br /> The promotion company headed by Mexican ring great Oscar de la Hoya said it had notified the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Golovkin's promoter Tom Loeffler.<br /> <br /> "We're waiting to get a ruling from the Nevada commission," Loeffler said.<br /> <br /> "Whenever you have a positive test, it's never a good thing. But we'll wait until we get the information. As of now, nothing has changed from our side. Gennady is still training and hoping that the fight continues, but we'll leave it up to the commission."<br /> <br /> Undefeated Golovkin and Alvarez fought to a split draw in a September 16 thriller that ended amid some controversy.<br /> <br /> While one judge scored the fight for Golovkin and one had it even, there was widespread astonishment at the card of judge Adalaide Byrd, who marked it 118-110 in favor of Alvarez.<br /> <br /> "This is a fight that Gennady has wanted," Loeffler said. "He was begging Canelo for the first fight and naturally wanted the second fight after the controversy with the judges in the first.<br /> <br /> "He's certainly not looking to get out of this fight for any reason. But at the same time, there's a reason why testing is in place. But we just have to wait for the results and see how that shakes out."<br /> <br /> Golden Boy said Alvarez will immediately move his training camp from Mexico to the United States "and will submit to any number and variety of additional tests" deemed necessary in the build up to the May bout.<br /> <br /> Alvarez said the positive result "surprises and bothers me".<br /> <br /> "I will submit to all the tests that require me to clarify this embarrassing situation and I trust that at the end the truth will prevail," he said.<br /> <br /> Tainted meat has been blamed before for positive clenbuterol tests in Mexico, where it is sometimes used to fatten cattle.<br /> <br /> The World Anti-Doping Agency warned athletes at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara to be careful about what they ate during the event.<br /> <br /> FIFA, world football's governing body, concluded that contaminated meat resulted in positive tests of 109 players at the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico that year, when five members of Mexico's national team also tested positive.

Alvarez tests positive ahead of Golovkin showdown bout

Mexican middleweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, preparing for a May 5 title rematch with Gennady Golovkin, has tested positive for banned clenbuterol, his promoters blaming tainted meat. A voluntary drug…

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Wiggins says he is victim of smear attempt

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rY5Qfo5QDYnxiBeqt-Y7XlrtNLk_3pFgx5vosRpVWVNbFng8bCkgMxXyhIrHGBsuouZvHXckE_0PKL_DJwx7wp2W5UF0-97O5fsFaEozbjLTWVXCA7OZY5pztY2nZsl3V9lt7W6Zp30/s1600/wiggins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rY5Qfo5QDYnxiBeqt-Y7XlrtNLk_3pFgx5vosRpVWVNbFng8bCkgMxXyhIrHGBsuouZvHXckE_0PKL_DJwx7wp2W5UF0-97O5fsFaEozbjLTWVXCA7OZY5pztY2nZsl3V9lt7W6Zp30/s640/wiggins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins says he is the victim of a "malicious" attempt to smear his reputation, vehemently denying he has cheated during his glittering career, which also features five Olympic gold medals.<br /> <br /> A damning report by lawmakers on Monday said Wiggins and Team Sky had crossed an "ethical line" by using drugs to enhance performance and not just to treat medical need.<br /> <br /> It comes after Russian computer hackers revealed in 2016 that the British rider had applied for therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) to have injections of the powerful corticosteroid triamcinolone before three of his biggest races, including the 2012 Tour de France, which he won.<br /> <br /> But Wiggins said in an interview with the BBC that he only used prescribed drugs for valid medical reasons and when asked if he categorically denied cheating, added: "A hundred per cent. Never, throughout my career."<br /> <br /> "This is malicious," said the five-time Olympic champion, who was the first British cyclist to win the Tour. "This is someone trying to smear me. These allegations, it's the worst thing to be accused of.<br /> <br /> "It's also the hardest thing to prove you haven't done. We're not dealing in a legal system. I'd have had more rights if I'd murdered someone."<br /> <br /> The UK government's Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee report centred around the team's use of triamcinolone.<br /> <br /> Triamcinolone, used to treat asthma, is an anti-inflammatory steroid that can also help cyclists shed weight without losing power.<br /> <br /> Wiggins, 37, denied the team had crossed an ethical line by using the medication.<br /> <br /> <b>'This is malicious'</b><br /> <br /> He said he had only used triamcinolone on one occasion other than the three TUEs, which had already been made public, but the report said he may have taken it nine times in four years.<br /> <br /> "I don't know where that's come from," Wiggins said. "I really would like to know. This is an anonymous source, this is an anonymous person who has said this.<br /> <br /> "I refute that 100 per cent. This is malicious. This is someone trying to smear me."<br /> <br /> Wiggins said he had stuck to the rules in place at the time and had been granted permission by cycling's governing body to take the drug.<br /> <br /> When asked if he would have won the Tour de France without it in 2012, he replied: "Well, had I had an asthma attack, no, probably not. No."<br /> <br /> Team Sky said they took full responsibility for mistakes that were made but strongly refuted the claim that medication was used to enhance performance.<br /> <br /> Wiggins said he would try to repair his damaged legacy.<br /> <br /> "I don't know how I'm going to pick the pieces up with the kids and stuff, and I'm left to do that as well as trying to salvage my reputation from this," he added. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone."

Wiggins says he is victim of smear attempt

Former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins says he is the victim of a "malicious" attempt to smear his reputation, vehemently denying he has cheated during his glittering career, which also feature…

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Pacquiao eyes Malaysia for next fight in May or June

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZNvSfQd7iGqY9mo5mXGs7nqBZL9YXGlnRKegWBTbvIBLvI3gv2qkEUeHXqXBIXsRf_r0yNjYdMyWjGY-ZFdacibl_zH983mNlA2r_ZaR6Gx9G8Wx-Q6enVdkldYpqShbR3eUQAq9iDs/s1600/pacquiao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZNvSfQd7iGqY9mo5mXGs7nqBZL9YXGlnRKegWBTbvIBLvI3gv2qkEUeHXqXBIXsRf_r0yNjYdMyWjGY-ZFdacibl_zH983mNlA2r_ZaR6Gx9G8Wx-Q6enVdkldYpqShbR3eUQAq9iDs/s640/pacquiao.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Philippine boxing idol Manny Pacquiao said his next opponent would be either world champion Lucas Matthysse or Danny Garcia in Malaysia in May or June, after rejecting an undercard offer to face Mike Alvarado.<br /> <br /> Pacquiao told ABS-CBN television in an interview aired today that his camp had narrowed the choices down to World Boxing Association welterweight champion Matthysse, of Argentina, or the American former WBA super-welterweight and World Boxing Council welterweight champ Garcia, who was unbeaten until last year.<br /> <br /> "Definitely, Malaysia is where we will fight. If not May, this coming June, maybe third week of June, so the preparation will not conflict with my work," said Pacquiao, who is also a senator.<br /> <br /> Last week Pacquiao, 39, rejected an offer to fight on the undercard of the Jeff Horn-Terence Crawford fight in the US in April.<br /> <br /> Pacquiao, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, previously said he was eyeing an April date with Ukraine's World Boxing Organization superfeatherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko during a break from his senatorial duties.<br /> <br /> Asked why he would fight in Malaysia, Pacquiao said "because those in Malaysia appealed to also have a fight there".<br /> <br /> Pacquiao is a national hero in the Philippines but there have been growing questions about whether the ageing boxer can still command the mammoth paydays that his fights used to earn.<br /> <br /> He lost his WBO welterweight title to the Australian Horn last year to leave his record standing at 59 wins, seven losses and two draws, and is now in the twilight of his career.<br /> <br /> The Filipino southpaw retired briefly in 2016 but made a comeback to retake his WBO title from Jessie Vargas just months later. He has not scored a knockout win in the past eight years.<br /> <br /> In January, Pacquiao rejected calls to retire for good, adding he did not believe his recent losses tarnished his record.<br /> <br /> He used his sporting fame to get elected to the influential Senate in 2016 and has had to juggle his training and matches with his legislative schedule.

Pacquiao eyes Malaysia for next fight in May or June

Philippine boxing idol Manny Pacquiao said his next opponent would be either world champion Lucas Matthysse or Danny Garcia in Malaysia in May or June, after rejecting an undercard offer to face Mike…

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Kante collapse shocks Chelsea teammates

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAGBA2DuhsRRMrQndx3O3RTVHu0jiF2w1W3XmCy0NIVcE9wDIFdCCmAawQQ74NGTvIh3gxIEatdI6jwC9dRhQM91aaYKTph6hm-Kv1j4Lhtv-hhnFFYbVbT2UmRMwb0da7g6xp6enFM0/s1600/kante.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAGBA2DuhsRRMrQndx3O3RTVHu0jiF2w1W3XmCy0NIVcE9wDIFdCCmAawQQ74NGTvIh3gxIEatdI6jwC9dRhQM91aaYKTph6hm-Kv1j4Lhtv-hhnFFYbVbT2UmRMwb0da7g6xp6enFM0/s640/kante.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> N'Golo Kante did not feature in Chelsea's match against Premier League leaders Manchester City at the weekend after fainting at the club's training ground, reports today said.<br /> <br /> The Daily Telegraph newspaper said shocked teammates feared the France international had suffered a heart problem when he briefly passed out after training on Friday.<br /> <br /> It said a Chelsea doctor was on the scene within seconds of Kante slumping to one side in the dressing room at the club's Cobham training ground southwest of London.<br /> <br /> The 26-year-old was given the all-clear after cardiology tests, the report said, and Kante travelled with the squad to Manchester for Sunday's match. He was cleared to play but felt unwell on Sunday morning.<br /> <br /> The midfielder was back in training on Monday and is expected to be available for Saturday's Premier League home game against Crystal Palace.<br /> <br /> Kante's health scare came two days before Fiorentina captain and Italy international Davide Astori, 31, was found dead in his hotel room in Udine.<br /> <br /> Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who coached Astori when he was in charge of the Italian national team, said the player's death was a "tragedy".<br /> <br /> Kante, who has played 38 matches for club and country this season, won the Premier League title with Leicester in 2015-16 and repeated the feat under Conte after joining the London club.<br /> <br /> He won the Football Writers' Association and Professional Footballers' Association player of the year awards last season.

Kante collapse shocks Chelsea teammates

N'Golo Kante did not feature in Chelsea's match against Premier League leaders Manchester City at the weekend after fainting at the club's training ground, reports today said. The Daily Telegraph new…

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Guardiola accepts FA charge over Catalonia ribbon

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4-S8snLOE_5x2tcQQQggICnt7SDqFTU7FGMYWdbc4-mZ8hutb6AZ2RnWQfQc_g6hKLm6PqsPSvpx0oLartcBnyJhw8RC3Gcn0q4qw-Mh_ON57NItOrhGLCSBzNE3yWCO-Dz4bQOprYA/s1600/19_story_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4-S8snLOE_5x2tcQQQggICnt7SDqFTU7FGMYWdbc4-mZ8hutb6AZ2RnWQfQc_g6hKLm6PqsPSvpx0oLartcBnyJhw8RC3Gcn0q4qw-Mh_ON57NItOrhGLCSBzNE3yWCO-Dz4bQOprYA/s640/19_story_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted a charge from the Football Association for wearing a political symbol, the English governing body announced on Monday.<br /> <br /> Guardiola has said he wears a yellow ribbon to support imprisoned pro-independence politicians in his native Catalonia.<br /> <br /> The FA ruled it breached their rules on kit and advertising regulations.<br /> <br /> Guardiola said in November: "If one day in prison was already too much, look how many days they've been there now.<br /> <br /> "Like everybody knows, hopefully sooner or later I can stop wearing it."<br /> <br /> The 47-year-old has been wearing the ribbon in support of the political leaders jailed following the Catalonia independence referendum last October, which was declared illegal by Spain.<br /> <br /> An FA statement read: "Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted an FA charge for wearing a political message, specifically a yellow ribbon, in breach of the FA's kit and advertising regulations. A paper hearing has been requested, with a date to be set in due course."<br /> <br /> His much publicised stance over the controversy in Catalonia has become a major issue in his homeland where, according to reports in Spain, the City manager's private plane was searched at Barcelona's El Prat airport two weeks ago by police looking for exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.<br /> <br /> Since the charge was issued Guardiola has either covered up the ribbon during games or not worn it.<br /> <br /> However, Guardiola insists that, even though his protest aims to highlight the fates of a jailed group that includes Catalan politicians Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, it is not a political issue.<br /> <br /> "When men and women put on a pink ribbon it's because of the support for the breast cancer initiative," he said.<br /> <br /> "The same when I wear the the prostate cancer badge, it's the same, the idea is the same, there are a lot of ribbons.<br /> <br /> "I'm pretty sure there are people all around the world in Spain and Catalunya who do not want to be independent, but they are not agreeing with putting people in 'prevention' jail.<br /> <br /> The FA's stance on the matter differs from European governing body UEFA, who allow the ribbon to be worn. City also believe the symbol is not generally considered offensive<br /> <br /> The yellow emblem worn by Guardiola during Sunday's Premier League win over Chelsea was the daffodil of the Marie Curie cancer charity.

Guardiola accepts FA charge over Catalonia ribbon

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted a charge from the Football Association for wearing a political symbol, the English governing body announced on Monday. Guardiola has said he wears a…

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