The China Mail

'Stars align' as Russians reach final of Olympic tennis doubles

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva said the "stars have aligned" after she and Diana Shnaider reached the final of the women's tennis doubles Friday at the Olympics, where they are competing as neutrals.

France's Riner lands record fourth Olympic judo gold

Teddy Riner became the first judoka to win four Olympic gold medals after the Frenchman defeated South Korea's Kim Min-jong in the heavyweight final on Friday.

Reigning champ Jalolov 'runs like a cat' to reach Olympic semis

Bakhodir Jalolov marched towards a second Olympic gold as he outfoxed Teremoana Teremoana in a super-heavyweight quarterfinal on Friday, with the beaten Australian accusing him of "running like a cat".

USA set new world record in mixed 4x400m relay

The United States set a new world record in the heats of the mixed 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics on Friday.

Hassan Olympic distance treble bid off to smooth start

Dutch long-distance star Sifan Hassan launched her audacious bid for an unprecedented Olympic treble with a confident performance in the opening round of the women's 5,000m on Friday.

Lopez fires Spain into Olympic football semi-finals, Morocco march on

A brilliant brace by Barcelona's Fermin Lopez helped fire Spain to a 3-0 win over Japan and a place in the semi-finals of the Olympic men's football on Friday, after a dominant Morocco outclassed the United States.

Asalanka takes two in two as Sri Lanka-India ODI ends in tie

Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka took two successive wickets to force a tie in the opening one-day international after India's total ended level with the hosts on Friday.

Love is in the air as China win Olympic badminton gold

China's Huang Yaqiong won Olympic badminton mixed doubles gold on Friday before she was surprised by a marriage proposal from her off-court partner.

Russell says more than money behind West Indies stars' Test absence

London Spirit's Andre Russell has insisted a lack of interest more than a lack of money is why some leading West Indies cricketers have turned their back on the Test-match game and concentrated on limited-overs formats instead.

Olympic defeat felt like 'someone broke my heart', says Swiatek

World number one Iga Swiatek said Friday that her shock Olympic Games semi-final loss which ended her 25-match win streak at Roland Garros felt "like someone broke my heart".

Croatia's Sinkovic brothers win third straight Olympic rowing gold

Croatian brothers Martin and Valent Sinkovic won Olympic gold for the third straight Games on Friday to enter the pantheon of the sport's greats.

Boxing row hits Paris Olympics, Richardson cruises

A sensitive row over gender eligibility in boxing rocked the Paris Olympics Friday, threatening to distract from day one of the athletics as flamboyant American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson cruised through her 100m heat.

Matsuyama drops into tie for Olympic lead with Schauffele, Fleetwood

Hideki Matsuyama double-bogeyed the 18th hole to drop into a three-way tie for the lead at the halfway stage of the men's golf at the Paris Olympics on Friday, level with Xander Schauffele and Tommy Fleetwood.

Morocco march into Olympic men's football semi-finals

Captain Achraf Hakimi was among the scorers as a dominant Morocco outclassed the United States on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Olympic men's football tournament, winning their last-eight tie 4-0.

Alcaraz ready for 'special moment' in Olympic tennis final

Carlos Alcaraz said it will be a "special moment for me, in my life, in my career" when he bids to add Olympic gold to his four Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros on Sunday.

Delhi Capitals closing in on £120 million purchase of Hampshire - reports

The owners of the Delhi Capitals are eyeing a £120 million ($153 million) deal to buy Hampshire County Cricket Club in a move which would see them become the first overseas franchise to own an English first-class county, according to media reports.

Fulham seal five-year deal for Arsenal's Smith Rowe

Fulham have signed England midfielder Emile Smith Rowe from Premier League rivals Arsenal on a five-year contract, it was announced on Friday.

Taiwan boxer in Olympics gender row reaches quarter-finals

One of the boxers at the centre of a widening gender scandal at the Paris Olympics won her opening bout on Friday to reach the quarter-finals.

Alcaraz into Olympics final as Djokovic battles to save gold dream

Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the Olympic Games final on Friday as rival Novak Djokovic faced a desperate fitness battle to salvage his latest and probably final chance to end his gold medal jinx.

Alcaraz storms into Olympics tennis final

Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to reach the Olympic Games men's tennis final on Friday when he thrashed Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Wellalage steers Sri Lanka to 230-8 in India ODI

Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage hit his maiden international half-century to lift the hosts from a batting wobble and post 230-8 against India in the opening one-day on Friday.

Clement 'in love with Rangers' as he signs new contract

Philippe Clement said he had "fallen in love" with Rangers after it was announced on the eve of the new Scottish Premiership season that the manager has extended his contract at Ibrox until 2028.

Gary Neville buys out Singapore businessman Lim's shares in Salford

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has bought out the stake in English lower league team Salford City previously held by Peter Lim as the club go in search of "new strategic partners".

Life has passed sport as a priority, says Ukrainian star Mahuchikh

Ukraine's women's high jump world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, their great hope for an Olympic athletics gold medal, said on Friday life not sport had become the priority since the Tokyo Games.

Sha'Carri Richardson bursts into Olympics as boxing row rages

Flamboyant American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson blasted into the Paris Olympics on Friday, as a row grew over the gender eligibility of two women boxers.

England's Slade set to miss start of new Premiership rugby season

England centre Henry Slade is set to miss the start of the new season and be sidelined for four months after undergoing shoulder surgery, Exeter announced Friday

Zheng Qinwen eyes Olympics history in Li Na's Paris footsteps

Zheng Qinwen can become China's first Olympic tennis singles gold medallist on Saturday on the same court where childhood inspiration Li Na wrote her name into history 13 years ago.

Ledecky in charge but Slovak swimmer collapses

Katie Ledecky launched her bid for a fourth straight Olympic 800m freestyle title Friday by beating Ariarne Titmus in the heats during a session marred by a Slovak athlete collapsing on the pool deck.

Ingebrigtsen, Kerr on track to resume rivalry after Olympic 1500m heats

Reigning Olympic gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen and world champion Josh Kerr kept on track to resume their rivalry after sailing through qualification for the semi-finals of the men's 1500m on Friday.

Richardson cruises through Olympic 100m heat

Sha'Carri Richardson launched her bid for Olympic redemption with a comfortable victory in the opening heats of the women's 100 metres at the Stade de France on Friday.

Ingebrigtsen, Kerr on track to resume rivalry after 1500m qualifying