The China Mail

NBA boss Silver pushes for Irving anti-semitism apology

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday he will meet with Kyrie Irving in the next week to push for an apology from the Brooklyn Nets star for publicizing anti-semitic material.

'Legend' Murray set for landmark 100th cap against Springboks

Andy Farrell said he is in awe of Conor Murray who will become the eighth Irish player to reach the 100 caps landmark when he starts against world champions South Africa in Saturday's autumn international Test match at Lansdowne Road.

Wallabies recall White for 'familiar' French test

Australia fly-half Bernard Foley said on Thursday Nic White's experience in the Top 14 will stand the scrum-half in good stead as he returns to the starting lineup to face France this weekend.

Germany striker Werner ruled out of World Cup with ankle injury

Germany striker Timo Werner has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup in Qatar with an ankle injury, his club RB Leipzig announced on Thursday.

Hogg returns for Scotland against Fiji

Stuart Hogg will make his first Scotland appearance since losing the captaincy to Jamie Ritchie last month after being named in the side to face Fiji at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Alcaraz cruises into Paris quarters, Musetti beats Ruud

World number one Carlos Alcaraz swatted aside Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets on Thursday to reach the Paris Masters quarter-finals, while Lorenzo Musetti dumped out third seed Casper Ruud.

Irish great Murray set for century landmark against Springboks

Conor Murray will become the eighth Irish player to reach the 100 caps landmark when he starts against world champions South Africa in Saturday's autumn international Test match at Lansdowne Road.

European golfers get pay guarantee in face of LIV threat

DP World Tour players will be guaranteed minimum earnings of $150,000 next season in the latest response from the established tours to the threat from the lucrative rebel LIV Golf series, it was announced on Thursday.

CAS rejects Quintana's Tour de France appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday rejected Colombian Nairo Quintana's appeal against his disqualification during the last Tour de France for using a banned painkiller.

Wales hand Dyer baptism of fire against New Zealand

Uncapped Dragons winger Rio Dyer faces a baptism of fire after being named in the Wales team to play New Zealand at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday.

Wallabies' White back at scrum-half to face France

Experienced scrum-half Nic White will start Australia's Autumn Nations Series Test with France this weekend in four changes from the Scotland victory, the Wallabies announced on Thursday.

Pakistan keep slim World Cup hopes alive with South Africa win

Pakistan kept their slim Twenty20 World Cup hopes alive with a 33-run win over South Africa in a dramatic rain-affected match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

South Korean fans abuse Marseille defender online after Son injury

South Korean football fans have subjected Marseille's Chancel Mbemba to a torrent of abuse online, some of it racist, and demanded he apologise to Son Heung-min with the forward's World Cup in doubt.

France's fit-again Ntamack 'ready' to face Wallabies

France head coach Fabien Galthie said on Thursday Romain Ntamack was "ready" to start their Autumn Nations Series opener with Australia this weekend despite last playing for his club in September.

Smith to leapfrog Carter as most capped All Blacks back against Wales

Scrum-half Aaron Smith was named in New Zealand's team to play Wales on Saturday, when he will surpass Dan Carter as the most capped back in All Blacks history.

French Alps village says goodbye to ski lift of winters past

Older residents of Saint-Firmin can recall learning to ski on slopes served by one of the first lifts above the village, one that will now be seen only in pictures of days when winter meant abundant snow.

Fit-again Ntamack returns for France against Wallabies

Fly-half Romain Ntamack will start France's Autumn Nations Series opener with Australia this weekend despite last playing for his club in September, Les Bleus head coach Fabien Galthie announced on Thursday.

Irish tougher under Farrell, says Springbok boss Erasmus

Rassie Erasmus stirred things up in Ireland in 2019 when he labelled their Rugby World Cup team 'softies' but South Africa's director of rugby says the present team are quite the opposite.

Home players dominate on LPGA return to Japan as new no.1 lurks

Thai teenager Atthaya Thitikul was six shots behind leaders Ai Suzuki and Momoko Ueda after teeing off as world number one for the first time at the LPGA Japan Classic on Thursday.

From sickly child to world number one, golf's Atthaya chases Tiger's tail

Atthaya Thitikul took up golf as a sickly six-year-old to improve her poor health. Now she has joined Tiger Woods as one of the sport's youngest world number ones.

Injured Australia captain Finch could miss crunch T20 World Cup clash

Australia captain Aaron Finch said Thursday he could pull out of his team's pivotal final Super 12 match at the Twenty20 World Cup against Afghanistan because of a hamstring injury.

Sakkari into last four at WTA Finals as Jabeur on track

World number five Maria Sakkari advanced to the last four of the WTA Finals for the second straight year on Wednesday as Tunisia's Ons Jabeur got her campaign back on track with a battling victory.

Williamson wants to hit top gear with T20 World Cup semi-final in sight

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said Thursday he was staying patient and working to hit top gear as the Black Caps look to clinch a Twenty20 World Cup semi-final berth against Ireland.

Sakkari into WTA Finals semis as Jabeur on track

World number five Maria Sakkari advanced to the last four of the WTA Finals for the second straight year on Wednesday as Tunisia's Ons Jabeur got her campaign back on track with a battling victory.

Javier outstanding as Astros no-hit Phillies in 5-0 World Series win

Christian Javier led Houston pitchers in an unprecedented World Series combined no-hitter Wednesday as the Astros beat Philadelphia 5-0 to level Major League Baseball's championship showcase.

Final places at stake as England, New Zealand seek Rugby World Cup glory

All-conquering England will be driven by the prospect of more women's Rugby World Cup glory when they face Canada before defending champions New Zealand look to end a losing run against France in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Chilwell's World Cup in severe doubt after injury

England are likely to be without Ben Chilwell at the World Cup after the left-back pulled up with a hamstring injury in Chelsea's 2-1 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.

Jabeur rallies to keep WTA Finals bid on track

World number two Ons Jabeur of Tunisia rallied from a set down to beat Jessica Pegula 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday and push the American to the brink of elimination in the WTA Finals.

Nadal stunned by Paul in opening match at Paris Masters

Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Paris Masters in the second round on Wednesday after losing in three sets to American Tommy Paul, boosting Carlos Alcaraz's hopes of finishing the year as world number one.

Irving to make $500,000 donation after anti-semitism furore

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving will make a $500,000 donation to groups working to eradicate hate after admitting on Wednesday that a film slammed as anti-semitic which he boosted on social media had a "negative impact" on the Jewish community.

Nadal stunned by Paul at Paris Masters as Alcaraz cruises