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Badminton is finally emerging from a pandemic that was "threatening the sport", world federation chief Thomas Lund told AFP, but China's zero-Covid policy means it may face further damaging disruption.
South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber is demanding a "big step-up" from his side and is expecting an "epic encounter" against Australia on Saturday as both teams strive to bounce back after crushing defeats in the Rugby Championship.
New Zealand on Thursday named an unchanged team for their Rugby Championship clash against Argentina, with head coach Ian Foster demanding further improvement following the rousing win against the Springboks that saved his job.
Reece Hodge was recalled to start at fullback to deal with an expected aerial assault from world champions South Africa on Saturday as Australia coach Dave Rennie rang the changes.
Paulo Dybala will lead the Roma charge on Saturday as the team seek to build on a perfect Serie A start when he returns to Juventus, the ground he last left in tears.
Max Verstappen will return to work with a spring in his step this weekend when he bids to tighten his grip on the Formula One world championship with a second triumph at the Belgian Grand Prix.
After a glittering 27-year professional career in which she became one of the greatest players of all time, Serena Williams is preparing to bid farewell to tennis at the major where it all began.
Britain's Jack Draper defeated 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the ATP Winston-Salem Open quarter-finals.
The Asia Cup begins on Saturday with top cricketers including Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and India superstar Virat Kohli in action in the United Arab Emirates.
India's Virat Kohli has the chance to find form before the World Cup while Babar Azam will look to keep Pakistan's psychological edge when the rival countries clash as the headline acts of the Asia Cup starting this weekend.
World number two Cameron Smith confirmed Thursday he will headline Australia's two top golf tournaments later this year, saying he was "so excited" to be heading home.
Argentina coach Michael Cheika on Thursday unveiled a bulked-up backline as he made three starting changes to his team to face New Zealand in their Rugby Championship Test in Christchurch on Saturday.
New Zealand coach Ian Foster on Thursday announced an unchanged starting team to face Argentina for the Rugby Championship Test in Christchurch on Saturday.
Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby set a Major League Baseball record on Wednesday with 24 consecutive strikes to start a game against the Washington Nationals.
Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali warned Wednesday that "history is not enough" and that mere nostalgia cannot guarantee the survival of grand prix landmarks.
Serena Williams ranks alongside such icons as Muhammad Ali among the greatest legends in sport, retired US tennis stars John McEnroe and Chris Evert said on Wednesday.
Antonio Colak scored the only goal that took Rangers into the Champions League group stages on Wednesday, a year after he had been responsible for knocking the Scottish side out of Europe's elite club tournament.
Hong Kong reached the Asia Cup on Wednesday where they will face India and Pakistan after defeating the United Arab Emirates by eight wickets in the final qualifying round.
The PGA Tour announced more changes Wednesday to have top golfers play against each other more often in moves aimed at preventing more lost talent to Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf.
Major League Baseball's 2023 schedule will see each club play every other team for the first time in a modern-era campaign, an altered format slashing American and National league barriers.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy launched a new technology-sparked golf series made for television on Wednesday, with team competition before live audiences using giant video screens with a January 2024 debut.
Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez can intensify his training and get back on a motorbike ten weeks after undergoing surgery on his right arm in the United States, his Spanish medical team said Wednesday.
Frenchman Rudy Molard took the overall lead of the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday after a serious accident on last year's edition, while Team UAE Emirates' Marc Soler gave the home fans a win as stage five finished at Bilbao.
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus was Wednesday axed from a planned US Open exhibition event aimed at raising money for war-torn Ukraine, officials said.
Frenchman Rudy Molard took the overall lead of the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday while Team UAE Emirates' Marc Soler gave the home fans a win as stage five finished at Bilbao.
Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the season a year early than his contract runs to after both parties mutually agreed to it the Formula One outfit announced on Wednesday.
Norway striker Caroline Graham Hansen announced on Wednesday she was taking a break from international football aged 27, blaming heart problems and exhaustion.
Japanese badminton star Kento Momota blamed his fear of failure for a "weak-spirited" second-round exit from the world championships on Wednesday after losing 21-17, 21-16 to India's HS Prannoy.
Leicester defender Wesley Fofana is training with the Under 23 squad because he has been distracted by interest from Chelsea, said manager Brendan Rodgers.
Former women's world number one Angelique Kerber announced on Wednesday that she is pregnant and has withdrawn from next week's US Open joking "two against one just isn't a fair competition."
Ollie Robinson, who last played for England in the final Ashes Test in January, has been recalled for the second Test with South Africa as the hosts bid to level the three match series.
Olympic champions Marcell Jacobs and Karsten Warholm have had the door closed on their hopes of a wild card entry for next month's Diamond League finals in Zurich.