Five female U.S. soccer players file wage complaint - lawyer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Five prominent members of the World Cup champion U.S. women's national soccer team filed a federal complaint on Wednesday charging the United States Soccer Federation with wage discrimination, the players' lawyer said.

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Dnipro banned from European football for one season

ZURICH (Reuters) - Last season's Europa League runners-up Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk were among three teams banned from European competition for one season by UEFA on Thursday for breaching financial regulations.

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Wei Nan dumps Chong Wei out of Indian Open

PETALING JAYA: It is all over for Lee Chong Wei at the Indian Open in New Delhi after losing to Wei Nan of Hong Kong in the second round.

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Germans on 300,000 euro a man for winning Euro 2016

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's players will each receive a bonus of 300,000 euros if they win Euro 2016, national football association DFB said on Thursday, announcing the same scale of top-up payments on offer when the tournament was last played in 2012.

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A cool Liu Ying Goh-ing strong despite knee pain

PETALING JAYA: Every time mixed doubles shuttler Goh Liu Ying takes to the court, she does so with trepidation. That’s because her right knee would swell and hurt after every match.

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Leicester title may spark big changes - Forest heroes

NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Leicester City's surge towards a first top-flight crown may spark a major power shift in England, according to players from the 1978 Nottingham Forest team that produced a similarly unexpected title triumph.

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Koo-Tan Indian Open exit a blessing for Goh-Tan

PETALING JAYA: Independent shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong blew a good chance to strengthen their bid for an Olympic spot after they crashed out in the first round of the Indian Open.

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Analysis - England must get defence right to have a chance in France

LONDON (Reuters) - After scoring four and conceding four in two games against Germany and the Netherlands, it is obvious where England's strengths and weaknesses lie ahead of the European Championship in June.

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Rooney excited by competition for England places

(Reuters) - Injured captain Wayne Rooney is excited to be part of the fierce competition for places in England's starting line-up for the Euro 2016 finals in France.

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Late contested goal gives Netherlands win over England

LONDON (Reuters) - England came crashing down to earth with a frustrating 2-1 loss to an inexperienced Netherlands side at Wembley on Tuesday, failing to build on their heroic defeat of world champions Germany last weekend.

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France full of goalscoring threats in 4-2 win over Russia

PARIS (Reuters) - France bristled with goalscoring threat just 10 weeks before they host Euro 2016 as they beat Russia 4-2 in a friendly international on Tuesday.

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Germany cruise past Italy to make up for England reverse

MUNICH (Reuters) - World champions Germany crushed Italy 4-1 in their friendly international on Tuesday to equal their biggest win against their opponents and recover from a surprise loss to England as they put down a marker for the European Championship.

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Messi scores 50th Argentina goal in 2-0 win over Bolivia

CORDOBA, Argentina (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored his 50th international goal to help Argentina beat Bolivia 2-0 in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

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Chong Wei back to ABC next month

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei will be back to compete in the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) after an eight-year absence.

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Wei Feng says adios to BAM

PETALING JAYA: SEA Games gold medallist Chong Wei Feng has severed ties with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

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We won't man-mark Messi, says Bolivia coach

CORDOBA, Argentina (Reuters) - Bolivia will resist the temptation to man-mark brilliant Barcelona forward Lionel Messi when they visit Argentina for a 2018 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

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Wenger certain of Arsenal future despite growing criticism

(Reuters) - Arsene Wenger has "no doubt" he will still be the manager of Arsenal next season despite pressure from the club's supporters to end his 20-year stay with the north London side.

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Northern Ireland set unbeaten record with Slovenia win

BELFAST (Reuters) - Northern Ireland set a record of 10 games unbeaten with a 1-0 win over Slovenia after a goal by Conor Washington in a friendly on Monday in the build-up to their first European Championship.

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Ukraine beat Wales 1-0 thanks to Yarmolenko strike

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko scored with a half-volley from a clever set-piece to secure a 1-0 win over Wales as the teams continued preparing for Euro 2016 with a friendly on Monday.

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'Two jobs' Redknapp open to extending Jordan spell

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Harry Redknapp's opportunity to coach at an international level has not come the way he once hoped it might, but the Englishman is having a ball and open to extending his spell with Jordan beyond Tuesday's crunch World Cup qualifier with Australia.

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Ibrahimovic confirms Premier League interest

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic hinted on Sunday at a move to the Premier League and promised big things to come in his career.

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Romania hold Spain as Casillas equals European record

CLUJ-NAPOCA, Romania (Reuters) - Romania held European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw on Sunday in a Euro 2016 warm-up that saw visiting goalkeeper Iker Casillas equal the record for most international caps by a European player.

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Argentine coach to thank for rise of English Spurs - Dier

(Reuters) - Midfielder Eric Dier has credited his Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino for the surge of Spurs players making their mark in the England team.

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Homegrown talents key to Manchester United future - Giggs

(Reuters) - Big-spending Manchester United must always continue their tradition of bringing through players from the youth academy, assistant manager Ryan Giggs has said.

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BAM sign sponsorship worth RM24mil with Celcom

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian badminton is in the pink of financial health, thanks to Celcom Axiata Berhad.

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England come from two down to beat Germany in friendly

BERLIN (Reuters) - Substitute Jamie Vardy scored with a stunning flick, his first international goal, and Eric Dier headed a last-gasp winner as England hit back from two goals down to beat old rivals Germany 3-2 in a friendly on Saturday.

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Dunga calls up home-based pair to replace Neymar and Luiz

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Santos striker Gabriel and Corinthians defender Felipe were called up to the Brazil squad on Saturday to replace David Luiz and Neymar, both of whom will serve out suspensions in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

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Poland thrash Finland 5-0 to extend winning streak

WARSAW (Reuters) - Kamil Grosicki and Pawel Wszolek scored two goals each as an experimental Poland lineup thrashed Finland 5-0 in a friendly on Saturday to extend their winning streak to five games in the run-up to Euro 2016.

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Austria thwart Albania fightback in Vienna

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria struck twice in the first 13 minutes before surviving an uncomfortable second half on the way to a 2-1 friendly win over fellow Euro 2016 finalists Albania on Saturday.

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Peng Soon-Liu Ying land first title this year in Auckland.

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying finished strongly to lift the New Zealand Open title in style in Auckland.

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Close but no cigar for Malaysians in Polish Open

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia ended up empty handed despite contesting in two finals at the sixth-tier Polish Open badminton championships.

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Chan-Goh defy the odds to reach NZ Open final

PETALING JAYA: There was joy for veterans Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying but not for youngster Soo Teck Zhi at the New Zealand Open badminton championships.

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Ronaldo misses penalty as Bulgaria shock Portugal

LEIRIA, Portugal (Reuters) - Brazilian-born Marcelinho scored on his Bulgaria debut while Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty for Portugal as the visitors pulled off a shock 1-0 friendly win over the Euro 2016 finalists on Friday.

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Cahill named England captain for Germany friendly

BERLIN (Reuters) - Defender Gary Cahill is to captain England in Saturday's friendly against Germany in the absence of injured skipper Wayne Rooney while Tottenham Hotspur full back Danny Rose makes his debut.

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Suarez scores on Uruguay return in 2-2 draw against Brazil

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Luis Suarez ended his nine-match biting ban in fine style on Friday, grabbing the second-half equaliser that gave Uruguay a 2-2 draw in an enthralling battle with Brazil in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

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Hernandez goal sets up Mexico's 3-0 win over Canada

(Reuters) - Javier Hernandez scored in the 31st minute to set Mexico on the way for a 3-0 away victory over Canada in 2018 World Cup qualifying in Vancouver on Friday.

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Late goals rescue Ecuador, Colombia in qualifiers

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Lionel Messi's return sparked Argentina to a 2-1 win over Chile in Santiago on Thursday, breathing new life into their South American qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.

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Kian Meng-Pei Jing through to Polish Open semis

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing stayed on track for their first title after checking into the Polish Open semi-finals.

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Soo-per fightback earns Teck Zhi semis spot in Nz Open

PETALING JAYA: Youngster Soo Teck Zhi continued his fine run in Auckland by storming into the men’s singles semi-finals of the New Zealand Open badminton championships.

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Sweet Yen Mei Pole-axed defending champion Karin

PETALING JAYA: Ho Yen Mei created the biggest upset at the Polish Open when she sent defending champion Karin Schnaase of Germany packing in the first round on Thursday.

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Benteke bemused by silent treatment from Reds boss Klopp

(Reuters) - Liverpool striker Christian Benteke had admitted he finds it difficult to understand why club manager Juergen Klopp is ignoring him.

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Soo happy to be back in business, says Teck Zhi

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Soo Teck Zhi dusted himself off and went back to his winning ways at the New Zealand Open.

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BWF gets tough, lifetime bans for flouters, match-fixers

KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton players and others linked to the sport face possible lifetime bans for betting on or fixing matches under toughened rules announced by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

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Martino welcomes Messi return, mulls forward choice

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina coach Gerardo Martino welcomed Lionel Messi’s return to the team and said he was mulling over which of his top two centre-forwards to pick for Thursday’s World Cup qualifier away to Chile.

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Schweinsteiger to miss Germany friendlies due to injury

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss friendly matches against England and Italy after injuring a ligament in his right knee, coach Joachim Loew said on Wednesday.

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Italy forward Immobile to miss friendlies

Italy forward Ciro Immobile will be out of action for a month due to a thigh injury and will miss friendly internationals against Spain and Germany, his club Torino said on their website.

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Juve's Khedira banned for two matches

Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira has been banned for two matches after being sent off in the derby against Torino for verbally abusing the referee.

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Chan-Goh aiming to build momentum for Rio in NZ Open

PETALING JAYA: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying are not leaving anything to chance as they gear up for the Rio Olympics.

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Suarez says he won't change his game on return from bite ban

MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) - Uruguay striker Luis Suarez said he will not change the way he plays, but will come back to international football with 'moderation' when he makes an expected return on Friday from a nine-match ban for biting.

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Postecoglou wants Australia to dominate world qualifying

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia coach Ange Postecoglou wants the Socceroos to dominate their Asian rivals as they continue their quest to qualify for the 2018 Russia World Cup.

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Belgium call off second training session

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Belgian national team will not train for a second day following the Brussels bomb attacks, calling off a scheduled session on Wednesday in the wake of the deaths of at least 30 people, the country's football association said

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Manchester United line up pre-season games in China

(Reuters) - Manchester United look set to play Premier League rivals Manchester City in a 'derby' in Beijing in July after announcing on Tuesday an eight-day pre-season tour of China.

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Struggling Argentina relieved to have Messi back - Aguero

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina were relieved to have Lionel Messi back from injury having made a troubled start to their South American 2018 World Cup qualifiers without their best player, striker Sergio Aguero said on Monday.

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Hiddink pushing to get best out of Chelsea in last games

(Reuters) - Manager Guus Hiddink is determined to take Chelsea to the "best position possible" in his final eight games in charge as the defending Premier League champions aim to close out a forgettable season on a high note.

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Pochettino looks to sharpen Spurs for title race run-in

(Reuters) - Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is readying his squad for a final tilt at the Premier League title, aware that he can ask his players to remain focussed on one game at a time when a bulk of them return from the international break.

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Carrick hopes Hodgson keeps England door open for Euros

(Reuters) - Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick remains positive over his chances of being named in the England squad for the Euro 2016 tournament in France, admitting he has discussed the matter with national coach Roy Hodgson.

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A positive start for Daren in French Open

PETALING JAYA: Liew Daren got off to a winning start in his first tournament as an independent shuttler.

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Iskandar racing against time to be fit for Thomas Cup

PETALING JAYA: National champion Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is keeping his fingers crossed that he will be fit for the two major events – the Malaysian Open and Thomas Cup Finals.

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Frost says Malaysia can top group at Thomas Cup Finals

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia have every reason to be pleased after receiving a favourable draw for the Thomas Cup Finals from May 15-22.

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Shuttlers Prannoy, Bingjiao win big in Basel

PETALING JAYA: India’s H.S. Prannoy lifted his second Grand Prix Gold title at the Swiss Open after beating German Marc ZwiebleR and He Bingjiao of China stunned world No. 4 Wang Shixian.

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Klopp plays down angry exchange with Benteke

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp played down his angry reaction to striker Christian Benteke after his side surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Mitrovic ends Newcastle's wretched streak in Sunderland draw

(Reuters) - Aleksandar Mitrovic headed a late equaliser to end Newcastle's miserable losing run against fiercest neighbours and rivals Sunderland on Sunday but the 1-1 draw still left both teams deep in the Premier League relegation mire.

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Mane scores twice as Southampton hit back to beat Liverpool

(Reuters) - Southampton staged a remarkable recovery from 2-0 down with Sadio Mane scoring twice to damage Liverpool's hopes of moving into top-four contention in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Derby victory give Van Gaal big hope of top-four finish

(Reuters) - Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes his side has a "big chance" of securing a top four finish to qualify for the Champions League next season after defeating neighbours Manchester City on Sunday.

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Malaysia, South Korea are in same Thomas Cup Finals group

SINGAPORE: Malaysia have been drawn together with South Korea in Group C for the Thomas Cup Finals in Kunshan, China from May 15-22.

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Finally, Ying Ying wins first senior title in Romania

PETALING JAYA: Lee Ying Ying finally lifted her first senior title after 16 attempts when she emerged victorious at the Romanian International badminton championships.

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Boon Heong laments on wasted chance to bridge the gap

PETALING JAYA: Tan Boon Heong- Koo Kien Keat squandered a glorious chance to cut the gap on their compatriots in the hunt for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics spot after losing in the Swiss Open semi-finals in Basel on Saturday.

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Wenger praises Arsenal's resolve

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsene Wenger applauded his side's mental resolve after a 2-0 win at Everton salvaged something from a miserable week and kept them just about in the Premier League title race on Saturday.

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Runaway leaders Leicester must keep calm, says Ranieri

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City must keep calm and carry on, manager Claudio Ranieri said on Saturday after a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace put them eight points clear at the top of the Premier League with seven games to play.

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Koo-Tan make an exit from the Swiss Open after semis flop

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's challenge at the Swiss Open badminton championships has come to an end with men's doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong exit in the semi-final.

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United still trust home-made recipe to revive fortunes

LONDON (Reuters) - This season's Manchester United highlights reel is hardly vintage but Marcus Rashford's cameo contribution to it offers a glimpse of more entertaining times ahead.

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FIFA signs sponsorship deal with China's Wanda Group

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA president Gianni Infantino said a wind of change was blowing through soccer's scandal-plagued world governing body after announcing a sponsorship deal with China's Wanda Group on Friday.

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JDT going strong for FA Cup with Police win

PETALING JAYA: Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) have extended their winning run in all competitions after the 1-0 win over Police in the FA Cup quarter-finals first-leg match.

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Last-gasp Nugent header gives Middlesbrough win over Hull

(Reuters) - Middlesbrough's David Nugent scored in stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 home win over English Championship promotion rivals Hull City on Friday and go second in the table as the congested scrap to reach the Premier League intensifies.

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Koo-Tan reach Swiss Open semis

PETALING JAYA: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong continued their smashing form as they reached the semi-finals of the Swiss Open.

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Klopp's Liverpool drawn against his old club Dortmund

ZURICH (Reuters) - Juergen Klopp's Europa League nightmare came true on Friday when his Liverpool side were drawn to meet former club Borussia Dortmund in next month's quarter-finals.

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Birthday girls Khe Wei and Vivian out of the Swiss Open

KUALA LUMPUR: Birthday girls Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo failed to reach the women’s doubles semi-finals at the Swiss Open in Basel on Friday after losing 16-21, 16-21 to Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand.

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BAM are cool over 'new' venue for Malaysian Open

KUALA LUMPUR: It will be just fine. This is the assurance given by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) on staging the Malaysian Open at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam from April 5-10.

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Tarasov fined by UEFA for Putin T-shirt gesture

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Dmitri Tarasov has been fined 5,000 euros (£3,901) by UEFA's disciplinary committee for wearing a T-shirt at a Europa League tie in Turkey that displayed a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

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Swiss prosecutors open criminal proceedings against ex-FIFA boss Valcke

ZURICH (Reuters) - Former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, banned for 12 years by soccer's governing body for ethics violations, is facing criminal proceedings by the Swiss attorney general's office, the law enforcement agency said on Thursday.

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Blatter appeals against six-year football ban - arbitration court

ZURICH (Reuters) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has lodged an appeal against his six-year ban from soccer for ethics violations, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced on Thursday.

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Barca face big test against high-flying Villarreal

BARCELONA - Barcelona can extend their La Liga winning streak to 13 matches at fourth-placed Villarreal on Sunday in one of the few big tests remaining for Luis Enrique's champions elect.

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Argentine director and player banned after fist fight

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The violence that has marred Argentine first division Gimnasia's season worsened following an indefinite ban for a club director and a player who came to blows in the VIP box at the weekend's La Plata derby.

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Dardai is no dreamer but Hertha are aiming high

BERLIN (Reuters) - Hertha Berlin's excellent Bundesliga season has taken fans by surprise because the team are more used to battling against relegation than fighting for a Champions League spot.

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Disaster for V Shem-Wee Kiong in Basel but Vivian-Khe Wei save the day

PETALING JAYA: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, who performed superbly to reach the All-England semi-finals last week, crashed out in the second round of the Swiss Open in Basel on Thursday.

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Injured Iskandar is unlikely to make a quick comeback

PETALING JAYA: National singles shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is worried about being sidelined for a “long time”. He injured his heel during the second-round match against Indonesia’s Muhammad Bayu Pangisthu at the Swiss Open on Wednesday.

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Extra-time goals send Bayern past Juve into last eight

MUNICH (Reuters) - Bayern Munich staged a sensational comeback, scoring twice in extra time after battling back from two goals down to beat Juventus 4-2 on Wednesday and march into the Champions League last eight with a 6-4 aggregate victory.

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All over for Malaysian men's singles in Swiss Open

PETALING JAYA: National champion Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin’s hopes of competing in next month’s Malaysian Open is in doubt after limping out injured in the second round of the Swiss Open in Basel.

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Arsenal dangerous despite deficit, says old boy Vermaelen

BARCELONA, March 15 (Reuters) - - Defender Thomas Vermaelen has urged his Barcelona team mates not to underestimate how dangerous Arsenal will be in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

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Combative Conte would bring steely resolve to Chelsea

LONDON (Reuters) - Confirmation that Antonio Conte is to stand down as Italy coach after Euro 2016 appears to clear the way for the 46-year-old to take over the reins at Chelsea.

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Man Utd's pulling power undiminished - Pallister

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United no longer lord it over their Premier League rivals but are still a club the world's top players dream of joining, according to former Reds defender Gary Pallister.

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Man City ease into last eight after Kiev stalemate

MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Celebration was tinged with disappointment for Manchester City who eased into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time on Tuesday but lost Vincent Kompany to injury in a 0-0 draw with Dynamo Kiev.

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AFC Cup: Lao Toyota clash will be no cakewalk for JDT

JOHOR BARU: Johor Darul Ta’zim coach Mario Gomez has issued a warning to his players ahead of their Lao Toyota clash in the AFC Cup Group H at Larkin Stadium.

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Giggs ready to take United hot seat, says Robson

MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Ryan Giggs is ready to become Manchester United’s next manager if Louis van Gaal is shown the door a year early at the end of this season, former club captain Bryan Robson told Reuters.

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Lin Dan's revival can only mean trouble for Chong Wei

SEPANG: China badminton ace Lin Dan has sounded an early warning to his rivals of intention to go for a record third Olympic gold medal.

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Chong Wei's All-England early exit might be a blessing in disguise

SEPANG: They say that every cloud has a silver lining. And that’s how national singles coach Hendrawan views Lee Chong Wei’s first-round exit at the recently concluded All-England.

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Frustrated Rooney eyes return against old club Everton

(Reuters) - Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has said he expects to make his first-team return from a knee ligament injury next month.

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Milestone man Terry all gold for Chelsea, say team mates

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea team mates Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel have hailed captain John Terry's "amazing achievement" in reaching 700 first-team appearances for the Stamford Bridge club.

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Man City's Sterling raises Champions League expectations

(Reuters) - Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has said a first Champions League quarter-final will not be enough and the English side should be aiming to lift the trophy with the talent in their squad.

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Spurs sharp-shooter Kane revelling in goal rush

(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is loving his duel with Leicester City forward and England team mate Jamie Vardy for the Premier League golden boot this season.

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'Small' Arsenal won't win league title - Watford's Gomes

(Reuters) - Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has labelled Arsenal a "small team" and played down the north London side's Premier League title chances after the Hornets ended their FA Cup campaign on Sunday.

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Birthday girl Khe Wei wishes for good health, good results in Switzerland

PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles shuttler Woon Khe Wei will celebrate her 27th birthday on Friday.

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Frost: Stop being too defensive V Shem-Wee Kiong

PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong can only get better. But first, the world No. 16 pair must stop being too defensive, says Morten Frost.

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Relief for Van Gaal, misery for Wenger in Cup dramas

(Reuters) - The heat on Arsene Wenger intensified but Louis van Gaal could breathe a sigh of relief after a weekend of high drama in the FA Cup quarter-finals piled more pressure on the Premier League's two most high-profile managers.

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Third-placed Real grab last-gasp winner at Las Palmas

MADRID (Reuters) - Casemiro headed an 89th minute winner to earn Real Madrid a barely deserved 2-1 victory at Las Palmas in La Liga on Sunday as they closed the gap on second-placed Atletico Madrid to four points.

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Man City look for long-awaited breakthrough against Kiev

(Reuters) - With all their vast wealth and boundless ambition, Manchester City are in the perfect position to at last start punching their weight in Europe this week by reaching the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

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PSG dominance also down to lacklustre rivals

PARIS (Reuters) - Four goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic spurred Paris St Germain to their fourth successive Ligue 1 title with a 9-0 rout of Troyes, becoming the first team to win the championship after 30 matches.

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Holders Arsenal knocked out of FA Cup by Watford

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal's bid to win the FA Cup for a third successive year ended on Sunday when they lost 2-1 at home to Watford in the quarter-finals.

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China's Lin leaves best to last for sixth English title

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - China’s Lin Dan swept to his sixth All-England Championships title on Sunday and then insisted he was good enough to win a third Olympic men’s singles gold medal at Rio 2016.

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JDT reclaim Super League top spot after trouncing Police

PETALING JAYA: Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) reclaimed the Super League top spot after an easy 2-0 win over Police at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Malacca.

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Five talking points from Kelantan v Penang Super League match

GEORGE TOWN: Kelantan gave their demanding fans reasons to cheer in the 3-1 Super League win over Penang at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadim in Kota Baru on Saturday.

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All the hard work come undone with wrong strategy for Goh-Tan

KUALA LUMPUR: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong said a wrong approach put paid to their chances at the All-England badminton championships.

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New pair Teo-Ong land first title in Portugal

KUALA LUMPUR: Promising young pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi won their first title at the Portuguese International badminton championships.

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Rio failure would be disastrous for Indonesia - Mainaky

BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) - Badminton great Rexy Mainaky, who won doubles gold at the 1996 Olympics, says it would be a huge setback if Indonesia failed to win another medal at the Rio Games.

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Zidane unsure of long-term future at Real Madrid

MADRID (Reuters) - cast doubt on his long-term future at Real Madrid by saying he is unsure if he will be in charge of the club next season.

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Angry Costa at centre of Chelsea storm after red card

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - As Chelsea's season suffered a final sorry implosion with an FA Cup defeat at Everton on Saturday, it was fitting that it should end with another display of fury from their angry young man, Diego Costa.

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PSV take eye off Dutch league with Champions League distraction

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Preoccupation with their Champions League trip to Spain on Tuesday could prove costly to PSV Eindhoven’s quest to retain their Dutch league, coach Phillip Cocu said after a weekend setback.

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Chelsea season ended by Everton's two-goal Lukaku

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Romelu Lukaku scored two goals, one demonstrating strength and rare skill, to knock his old side Chelsea out of the FA Cup 2-0 in a dramatic quarter-final featuring two sendings-off on Saturday.

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Lin eyes sixth All-England title after beating Xue

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - China's Lin Dan will attempt to become only the fourth player to win six All-England Championship men’s singles titles after beating Xue Song to secure his berth in Sunday’s final.

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Kelantan win at home, Felda United top Super League

PETALING JAYA: Kelantan produced a sterling performance in front of their home fans to chalk up a convincing 3-1 win over Penang in a Super League match at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium on Saturday.

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Man City suffer blow to title hopes with Norwich stalemate

NORWICH, England, (Reuters) - Manchester City's hopes of regaining the Premier League title suffered a potentially grievous blow on Saturday as they were held to a goalless draw by struggling Norwich City at Carrow Road.

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End of the road for V Shem-Wee Kiong in All-England

PETALING JAYA: World No. 16 Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong crashed out of the All-England after losing to Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa of Japan in the semi-final.

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Sorry Malaysia, the Philippines is back as Suzuki Cup host

PETALING JAYA: The Asean Football Federation (AFF) have reinstated the Philippines as co-host of this year’s AFF Suzuki Cup together with Myanmar.

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Philippines remains as AFF Suzuki Cup co-host

PETALING JAYA: The Asean Football Federation (AFF) have reinstated the Philippines as co-host of this year’s AFF Suzuki Cup together with Myanmar.

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V Shem-Wee Kiong reach their first All-England semi-finals

PETALING JAYA: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong stayed solid to beat former internationals Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong 21-19, 22-20 in a tight 49-minute quarter-final match in Birmingham on Friday.

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Lin lines up Chinese showdown with Xue

BIRMINGHAM, England, March 11 (Reuters) – - Five-times winner Lin Dan set up a Chinese showdown in the semi-finals of the All-England Championships after coming through a tactical battle against Danish rival Jan O Jorgensen on Friday.

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Newcastle United put faith in Benitez to save them

LONDON (Reuters) - Newcastle United put their faith in Rafa Benitez on Friday, hoping the Spaniard will keep them in the Premier League after they won only six of 28 league games under the sacked Steve McClaren.

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Chong Wei will miss the Swiss Open

PETALING JAYA: World No. 2 Lee Chong Wei has pulled out of the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold next week. The 33-year-old cited fitness problems for pulling out.

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Newcastle sack McClaren as manager

LONDON (Reuters) - Steve McClaren was sacked as Newcastle United manager on Friday with the club facing relegation from the Premier League 10 matches from the end of the season.

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Reus double helps Dortmund punish under-strength Spurs

LONDON (Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund underlined their status as Europa League favourites with a masterclass show against a largely second-string Tottenham Hotspur, winning their last-16 first leg clash 3-0 on Thursday.

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Leicester still not title favourites, says Ranieri

LONDON (Reuters) - Claudio Ranieri denied his Leicester City side are the Premier League title favourites on Thursday and said he has set no points target for the final nine games.

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Aguero says will quit City for Independiente after World Cup

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina striker Sergio Aguero said on Thursday that he will leave Manchester City to return home to his first club Independiente after his contract expires following the 2018 World Cup.

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No results, so Pahang coaches resign

KUANTAN: It’s game over for Pahang coach Ahmad Shaharuddin Rosdi and his assistant Azaruddin Aziz. The two former stalwarts have tendered their resignation with the Pahang Football Association (PFA)

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Champion Chen sent packing by close friend Xue

BIRMINGHAM, England, March 10 (Reuters) – - Holder Chen Long was dumped out of the All-England Championships as fellow Chinese and close friend Xue Song continued the upsets in the men's singles on Thursday.

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Koo-Tan shocked world champions Ahsan-Hendra to reach All-England quarter

PETALING JAYA: Independent pair Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong have earned a major boost in their Olympics bid by creating one of the major upsets at the All-England. The world No.17 Kien Keat-Boon Heong produced brilliant performances to stun reigning world champions and second seeds Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia 21-15, 15-21, 21-17.

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Ratchanok seeks to make up for disappointment in Rio

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Ratchanok Inthanon has blazed a trail in women’s badminton since she became the youngest ever world champion in 2013 at the age of 18.

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China's Lin through after early scare

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - China’s Lin Dan staved off any threat of a second shock upset at the All-England Championships on Thursday as the five-times champion advanced to the men’s quarter-finals with a defeat of Japan's Sho Sasaki.

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Thailand's Intanon aims to banish London blues in Rio

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon has blazed a trail in women’s badminton ever since she became the youngest ever world champion in 2013 at just 18.

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A shaken Chong Wei aims to regain footing after All-England blunder

PETALING JAya: World No. 2 Lee Chong Wei will need to reassess his Olympic gold medal hopes after the embarrassing first-round exit at the All-England badminton championships. He lost 24-22, 22-20 to world No. 37 B. Sai Praneeth of India on Wednesday.

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Liverpool bid to avoid historic fifth defeat to Man United

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp stands on the brink of history ahead of their Europa League clash against Manchester United on Thursday, but it is an unwanted record the German coach is battling to avoid.

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Premier League clubs cap away tickets at 30 pounds

LONDON (Reuters) - England's top flight football clubs have agreed to cap the price of tickets for away fans at 30 pounds for the next three seasons, the Premier League said on Wednesday.

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Puskas nominee Faiz gets Player of the Month award

GEORGE TOWN: Penang striker Mohd Faiz Subri wishes to use his Professional Footballers Association Malaysia (PFAM) Player of the Month award as a stepping stone for better performances this season.

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Arsenal players held crisis talks after poor run - Walcott

(Reuters) - Arsenal players held a "closed doors" crisis meeting without their manager's or coaches' knowledge before Tuesday's FA cup win against second tier Hull to discuss a woeful run of five games without a win in all competitions, striker Theo Walcott said.

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Chong Wei beaten in first round of All England

PETALING JAYA: It's the end of the road for Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei in the first round of the All-England..

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Chen and Marin made to work for opening All-England wins

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - World champions Chen Long of China and Spain's Carolina Marin were tested as they got the defence of their singles titles underway with contrasting wins at the All-England Championships on Wednesday.

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Five talking points from Selangor v Tampines AFC Cup tie

SELANGOR, helmed by their former ace Zainal Abidin Hassan, have failed to make an impact in the AFC Cup competition – with a draw and a defeat.

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Amelia taking the positives despite shattered Olympic dream

PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles shuttler Amelia Alicia Anscelly is staying positive even though the Olympic dream is over for her.

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Wei Feng fails to reach All-England main draw

PETALING JAYA: Chong Wei Feng’s year went from bad to worse as he failed to make the main draw of the All-England badminton championships.

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Frank to test SEA Games boys during FIFA international break

PETALING JAYA: Project 2017 SEA Games coach Frank Bernhardt will test the Under-22 players from the M-League in friendly matches during the international break later this month.

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Gomez to field JDT's strongest side against Bengaluru in AFC Cup

PETALING JAYA: Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) will get down to serious business when they take on Bengaluru FC of India in their AFC Cup Group H match on Wednesday.

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V Shem-Wee Kiong can make it big in All-England, only if ...

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s No.1 pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong have what it takes to ruffle some feathers at the All-England.

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Chelsea are underdogs against PSG, says Hiddink

LONDON (Reuters) - It is hard to imagine former boss Jose Mourinho ever calling Chelsea underdogs, but that's how successor Guus Hiddink has described them before their Champions League Last 16 second leg clash against Paris St Germain on Wednesday.

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Carneiro demands public apology from Mourinho over departure

(Reuters) - Former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro has called for a public apology from Jose Mourinho as part of her constructive dismissal and sex discrimination claim against the Premier League champions and the club's former manager.

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Leicester fan accepts 72,000 pounds offer on 5,000-1 bet

LONDON (Reuters) - An anonymous gambler has pocketed 72,000 pounds ($102,715) after cashing in on a 50-pounds bet he wagered at the start of the season on Leicester City winning the Premier League at odds of 5,000-1.

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Bale in Zidane's plans for return against Roma

MADRID (Reuters) - Gareth Bale looks set to reinforce Real Madrid against AS Roma in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Bernabeu on Tuesday (1945 GMT) after a promising return from injury at the weekend.

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Early danger for Chong Wei at the prestigious All-England

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei needs to watch out for in-form Chou Tien-chen when the All-England start in Birmingham Tuesday. The Malaysian No. 1 and Taiwanese Tien-chen are in the same half of the men’s singles draw at badminton’s oldest championships.

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Man United's Mata keen to learn from red card

(Reuters) - Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata said he was keen to learn from his early red card in Saturday's 1-0 Premier League loss to West Bromwich Albion.

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Arsenal will not give up on league title, says Wenger

(Reuters) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is refusing to write off his side's chances of lifting the Premier League trophy this season after Saturday's 2-2 draw with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur left them eight points behind leaders Leicester City.

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Hiddink urges anger management for Chelsea to beat PSG

(Reuters) - Chelsea must channel their anger properly and focus of being 'tough underdogs' when they host French champions Paris St Germain in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Wednesday, manager Guus Hiddink has said.

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Zii Jia laid it all on the court to win Dutch Junior Open

PETALING JAYA: Promising shuttler Lee Zii Jia gave himself an early birthday gift after winning the Dutch Junior Open.

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PKNS get Sime Darby for FA Cup quarter-final, but it won't be easy says coach Elavarasan

PETALING JAYA: Giantkillers PKNS FC will finally get an “easier” opponent after being drawn against fellow Premier League side Sime Darby in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

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JDT reserve players deserve a pat on the back

JOHOR BARU: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) coach Mario Gomez believes that even the reserve players in his team have performed with flying colours. The Argentine says his team have the depth and that has helped Southern Tigers remain unbeaten in seven matches - in all competitions this season.

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Jeremy laments on V Shem-Wee Kiong's poor finish

KUALA LUMPUR: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong paid dearly for the inability to close out games at the German Open badminton championships. They twice surrendered their advantage against South Koreans Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol and eventually lost 20-22, 21-23 in the men’s doubles quarter-finals in Mulheim on Friday.

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Jeremy laments on V Shem-Wee Kiong's poor finish

KUALA LUMPUR: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong paid dearly for the inability to close out games at the German Open badminton championships. They twice surrendered their advantage against South Koreans Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol and eventually lost 20-22, 21-23 in the men’s doubles quarter-finals in Mulheim on Friday.

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Five talking points from Kedah v Kelantan FA Cup tie

Kedah put a stop to Kelantan’s sterling record in the FA Cup in recent years by eliminating the Red Warriors in the third round on Friday. Here are five talking points from the game.

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Suarez returns to Uruguay squad after biting ban

MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) - Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is set to play his first competitive international later this month since being banned for biting an opponent at the 2014 World Cup after he was called up on Friday for qualifiers against Brazil and Peru.

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Roma in seventh heaven after beating Fiorentina

ROME (Reuters) - AS Roma won their seventh straight Serie A game as Mohamed Salah scored twice in a 4-1 win at home to Fiorentina on Friday to move clear of their opponents in the race for a Champions League spot and maintain their faint title hopes.

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Kedah deny Kelantan in FA Cup to reach quarter-finals

GEORGE TOWN: Kedah got the better of Kelantan in the FA Cup third round tie to reach the quarter-final stage.

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Liverpool's Lucas out for five weeks with thigh injury

(Reuters) - Liverpool midfielder and emergency centre back Lucas Leiva will miss the next four to five weeks with a thigh injury, manager Juergen Klopp said on Friday.

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It's all over for Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in German Open

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 16 Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong’s fine run ended at the German Open when they crashed out 20-22, 21-23 to Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol of South Korea in the men’s doubles quarter-finals in Mulheim.

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Selangor exit FA Cup, JDT in the last eight

PETALING JAYA: Five-time champions Selangor kissed goodbye to the FA Cup after an embarrassing third-round exit.

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Double joy as Malaysia qualify for Thomas-Uber Cup Finals.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia have qualified for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals by virtue of their world rankings. At the Asia Team Championships cum Thomas-Uber Cup qualifiers in India last month, Malaysia failed to earn the automatic top-four berths after crashing out in the men’s and women’s quarter-finals but garnered enough ranking points to make the Finals in Kunshan, China, from May 15-22.

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Messi hat-trick helps Barca to record 35-match unbeaten run

(Reuters) - Barcelona set a Spanish record of 35 matches unbeaten in all competitions with a thumping 5-1 win at nine-man Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Thursday after goal-machine Lionel Messi scored his 35th hat-trick.

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Kompany believes Man City can afford no more mistakes

(Reuters) - Manchester City cannot afford to make any more mistakes if they hope to launch a serious bid for the Premier League title this campaign, captain Vincent Kompany has said.

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Pochettino questions Arsenal credentials ahead of derby

(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino believes Arsenal are no better equipped to handle pressure than his side ahead of Saturday's north London derby between the title-chasing neighbours.

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Hello, Celcom likely new title sponsor for Malaysian Open

KUALA LUMPUR: It is learnt that Celcom, the mobile telecommunications provider, who is listed under Government-Linked Companies (GLC), will be the new title sponsor for the Malaysian Open at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam from April 5-10.

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Goh-Tan upset Chinese pair to reach German Open quarters

PETALING JAYA: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong checked into the German Open quarter-finals in super style after upsetting second seeds Chai Biao-Hong Wei of China 19-21, 21-12, 22-20.

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Kedah preparing for retribution from Kelantan in FA Cup

GEORGE TOWN: Kedah are expecting a backlash from Kelantan when the two teams meet for the second time this week in the FA Cup third round at the Darulaman Stadium on Friday.

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Pellegrini bemoans City fatigue as Liverpool go 'boom'

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes tiredness was behind their 3-0 defeat by Liverpool on Wednesday after a third successive Premier League loss put a hefty dent in their faltering title hopes.

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Chelsea's Matic yet to give up on top four finish

(Reuters) - Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic hopes a late season flourish can make amends for the champions' dreadful start to the current campaign and put them in contention to break into the Premier League's top four for Champions League spots.

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Bilic plays down Champions League hopes after Spurs win

(Reuters) - Manager Slaven Bilic has played down West Ham United's chances of qualifying for the Champions League after Wednesday's 1-0 Premier League win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

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JDT is good but we are not scared, says Negri keeper

PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are in mean mood but Negri Sembilan are not worried. But the Premier League side Negri Sembilan are ready to face the Super League champions when they travel to the Southern Tigers’ den – Larkin Stadium in Johor Baru – for tonight’s FA Cup third round.

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V Shem-Wee Kiong clear first hurdle in German Open

PETALING JAYA: National top men's doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong wasted little time securing their berth in the second round of the German Open in Mulheim.

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Fox hunt has begun, City skipper Kompany warns Leicester

(Reuters) - Manchester City have entered 'hunting season' and know what is required to chase down the 10-point gap on surprise Premier League leaders Leicester City, captain Vincent Kompany said.

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Malaysia Cup champs Selangor show intent in Super League

SELANGOR are back in business. The Red Giants underlined their ambition to end their six-year wait to win the Super League with a comprehensive 4-2 win over Sarawak on Tuesday.

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The new title sponsor of Malaysian Open badminton is...

SUBANG JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have found a new title sponsor for the Malaysian Open at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam from April 5-10.

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Atletico win 3-0 to close gap to Barcelona

MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid cruised to a 3-0 home win over Real Sociedad on Tuesday to close the gap behind La Liga leaders Barcelona to five points.

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Arsenal midfielder Cazorla suffers injury setback

(Reuters) - Injured Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has suffered an Achilles problem in training which will delay his return to first-team action, manager Arsene Wenger has said.

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Milan ruin fairytale and romp into Italian Cup final

(Reuters) - AC Milan ruthlessly extinguished any remote prospect of a footballing fairytale as they hammered third-tier Alessandria 5-0 in the second leg of their Italian Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

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JDT fought hard to go second in Super League

JOHOR BARU: Two-time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) edged 10-man Felda United 2-1 in a cagey match.

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Sterling can handle the Anfield boos, says Pellegrini

LONDON (Reuters) - Raheem Sterling can expect plenty of boos from the crowd when he returns to face his former Liverpool team mates at Anfield for the first time on Wednesday but Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is confident his winger can handle it.

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Injured De Bruyne eyes return to Man City training

(Reuters) - Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is targeting a return to full training by the end March after damaging his knee ligaments last month.

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V Shem-Wee Kiong can seal Olympic spot in German Open

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s make or break time for top men’s pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong at the German Open.

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Pato close to Chelsea debut, says Hiddink

(Reuters) - Chelsea's new Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato could make his debut in the next two games, with Diego Costa being rested, manager Guus Hiddink said on Monday.

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Infantino begins search for non-European chief exec

MIAMI (Reuters) - The victory celebration over, new FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s first major decision in charge of the troubled world football organisation will be to appoint a secretary general, effectively a chief executive, to run day-to-day operations.

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Leicester stay strong heading for 'squeaky-bum time'

LONDON (Reuters) - Alex Ferguson famously described the Premier League title run-in as "squeaky-bum time" and leaders Leicester City and second-placed Tottenham Hotspur look best-placed to handle the pressure.

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