The China Mail

France's Noel trumps Strolz for Olympic slalom gold

Clement Noel claimed France's first alpine skiing gold medal of the Beijing Olympics when he won the men's slalom on Wednesday.

Giannis pours in 50 in Bucks victory, Celtics win ninth straight

Giannis Antetokounmpo led a potent Milwaukee attack, scoring a season-high 50 points Tuesday as the Bucks snapped a modest two-game losing skid with a 128-119 win over the Indiana Pacers.

Early riser Hall 'gambles' to bag slopestyle gold at Beijing Games

Alex Hall admitted that he was "not a morning person" but he still managed to rise and shine to claim freeski slopestyle gold at the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday.

Green wicket holds key to New Zealand-South Africa first Test

New Zealand and South Africa are focusing on the notoriously green Hagley Oval wicket as they draw up battle plans for the first Test starting in Christchurch on Thursday.

Fresh twist in Valieva doping scandal after three substances claim

The Beijing Olympics doping controversy engulfing Russian skater Kamila Valieva took a fresh twist Wednesday after a US media report said she had three substances used to treat heart conditions in the sample which triggered the scandal.

Barcelona clash with Napoli headlines Europa League play-offs

Barcelona's new reality will hit home on Thursday when they play in Europe's second-tier club competition for the first time in 18 years as Napoli visit the Camp Nou in the Europa League.

Crosby scores 500th goal as Penguins rally past Flyers

Canadian hockey superstar Sidney Crosby, who has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, scored his 500th NHL career goal on Tuesday.

Austria's Strolz in pole after Olympic slalom first leg

Austria's Johannes Strolz sat in pole position of the men's Olympic slalom after topping times for the first leg on Wednesday.

Troubled Barca face European reality check on road to recovery

Joan Laporta claimed Barcelona are "back as big players" but Thursday will mark another checkpoint in the club's decline as they face Napoli in the knock-out stage of the Europa League.

'Unstoppable' Mbappe underlines value to PSG and leaves Messi in shade

Kylian Mbappe's importance to Paris Saint-Germain was all too evident long before his stoppage-time strike gave them a narrow win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League showdown on Tuesday and left them on course for a place in the quarter-finals.

Ronaldo ends barren run as Man Utd climb back into top four

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his six-game goal drought on Tuesday as Manchester United recovered from an insipid first-half display to beat 10-man Brighton 2-0 and clamber back into the Premier League top four.

Ronaldo strikes as Man Utd climb back into top four

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his goalscoring drought on Tuesday as Manchester United recovered from an insipid first-half display to beat 10-man Brighton 2-0 and clamber back into the Premier League top four.

Mbappe strikes late to give PSG edge over Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe struck in the fourth minute of injury time to give Paris Saint-Germain a precious 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their heavyweight Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Man City on brink of Champions League quarters after Sporting rout

Manchester City are on course for the Champions League quarter-finals after Bernardo Silva's brace inspired a masterful 5-0 rout of Sporting Lisbon in the last 16 first leg on Tuesday.

Valieva had multiple substances in system: report

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva had three different substances used to treat heart conditions in the sample which triggered the doping storm at the Beijing Olympics, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Simmons 'mentally ready' to return after Nets move

Ben Simmons said Tuesday he is mentally ready to return to basketball following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets after a turbulent end to his Philadelphia 76ers career.

Murray dispatches Daniel to start Qatar campaign

Andy Murray took revenge on Taro Daniel with a 6-2, 6-2 first round victory in the Qatar Open on Tuesday.

Benzema back for Real Madrid against PSG, Neymar on bench

Karim Benzema was passed fit to return to the Real Madrid starting line-up for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, for whom Neymar was named among the substitutes.

Harden relishing 'perfect fit' with Sixers

James Harden said Tuesday he is relishing the prospect of getting down to work with his Philadelphia Sixers team-mates, revealing that the franchise had been his preferred destination all along.

F1 driver Latifi hired bodyguards after 'extreme' death threats

Formula One driver Nicholas Latifi revealed on Tuesday that he hired bodyguards in London because of death threats after the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Jacobs aims to recapture Tokyo heights with world championships looming

Lamont Marcell Jacobs told AFP he wants to prove that his shock Olympic 100 metres triumph was no fluke as he gears up for this year's indoor and outdoor world championships.

Liverpool eyeing treble chance, says Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold said Tuesday that Liverpool are capable of winning a treble this season as they prepare for their Champions League last-16 tie against Inter Milan.

Jaissle's Salzburg poised for Bayern Munich 'storm' to hit

Matthias Jaissle says his Red Bull Salzburg side are preparing for "a storm" to hit them in the shape of German giants Bayern Munich who are bristling after losing 4-2 to Bundesliga minnows Bochum on Saturday.

Norwegian Olympian blows medal chance after taking wrong turn

Norwegian nordic combined athlete Jarl Magnus Riiber has had a Beijing Olympics to forget.

Liverpool captain Henderson fit to travel for Inter Milan clash

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been passed fit to travel to Italy for the first leg of the club's last-16 Champions League tie at Inter Milan on Wednesday.

Russia's Valieva comes top in Olympic figure skating short programme

Russia's Kamila Valieva placed top in the Olympic figure skating short programme Tuesday, after being allowed to compete despite testing positive for a banned substance before the Games.

France's Villiere out of Scotland Six Nations trip

France winger Gabin Villiere will miss this month's Six Nations visit to Scotland with a facial injury, sources told AFP on Tuesday.

Tearful Valieva skates again at Olympics amid doping scandal

Russian teenager Kamila Valieva skated at the Beijing Olympics for the first time on Tuesday since sport's top court cleared her to compete despite failing a drugs test, bursting into tears at the end of her performance.

'Not a level playing field': Skaters react to Valieva

Olympic figure skaters up against Russia's Kamila Valieva, who was competing Tuesday despite testing positive for a banned substance, are determined not to let the scandal ruin their own Games.

Wales centre Halaholo gets chance to prove England fitness

Wales centre Uilisi Halaholo has been given a chance to prove his match fitness ahead of next week's Six Nations trip to England by being released for club duty, the Welsh Rugby Union said on Tuesday.

Wales centre Haloholo gets chance to prove England fitness