Olympic champion

Badminton: Viktor Axelsen reaches Japan Open final, faces Lee Chong Wei

Tokyo - Muslimchronicle

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen defeated world number one Son Wan-Ho in the men’s singles semifinals at the Japan Open on Saturday. Axelsen, who beat two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of China to clinch the world title in Glasgow last month, overpowered South Korea’s Son with a 21-16, 21-16 win. He now faces Malaysian Lee Chong Wei who has won the JapanRead more

One-lap wonder Van Niekerk targets Johnson double

London - Muslimchronicle

Wayde van Niekerk's bid for a first world double since 1995 now turns to the 200m after he stormed to a comfortable victory in the 400m. After initially struggling with the cold, the 25-year-old ran a solid final bend to blast to victory in 43.98 seconds with a lot to spare, and went straight into recovery ahead of Wednesday's 200mRead more

Pliskova squeaks past Puig at Indian Wells

Indian Wells - Arab Today

World number three Karolina Pliskova battled back to beat Olympic champion Monica Puig 1-6, 6-4 6-4, but says she'll have to do better to go further at Indian Wells. "I don't even think I deserved to win tonight," third-seeded Czech Pliskova said after recovering from a break down in the third set to reach the third round. Puig, ranked 43rdRead more

Track and Field world champions pace field for US Indoors

Washington - Arab Today

Reigning world indoor champions Michelle Carter, Jenn Suhr and Vashti Cunningham are among 39 Olympians in the field for the US Indoor Track and Field Championships that start Friday. The three-day meet at Albuquerque, New Mexico, also boasts 2012 Olympic champion Aries Merritt and two members of the US women's gold medal 4x400m relay from last year's Rio Olympics, PhyllisRead more

Rose concedes Hong Kong Open golf title, focuses on 'rehab'

Hong Kong - Arab Today

Justin Rose admitted his Hong Kong Open title defence was all but over on Saturday and said he was treating the $2 million tournament as "rehab" for a painful back injury. The Olympic champion carded level-par 70 for an aggregate score of one-under 209 for the tournament, trailing the leaders by a distance after round three. Rose displayed signs ofRead more

USA stretch Ryder Cup lead

Chaska - Arab Today

Moving closer to their first Ryder Cup victory since 2008, the United States captured Saturday's three final four-ball matches to seize a 9 1/2 - 6 1/2 edge over Europe. Heckling crowds that Europe star Rory McIlroy says have gone over the top with insults at Hazeltine were delighted as the Americans put themselves in prime position to snap aRead more

Rio 2016: Brazil's Women's Volleyball Beat US, Advance to Final

Rio de Janeiro - Arab Today

Brazil beat Wednesday the Americans in the women's beach volleyball semifinals and ended the gold medal run of three-time Olympic champion Kerri Walsh Jennings. Agatha and Barbara won 22-20, 21-18 to earn a matchup in the final against Germany. The best Walsh Jennings and her partner, April Ross, can do is a bronze medal when they play Brazil's other women'sRead more

Doping accused takes over Russian bobsleigh federation

Moscow - Arab Today

Weeks after his name emerged in damaging doping allegations two-time Olympic champion Alexander Zubkov has been elected president of Russia's troubled bobsleigh federation, local media reported on Thursday. The former head of Russia's anti-doping laboratory alleged last month that Zubkov, 41, was among those involved in an elaborate doping cover-up scheme during the Sochi Games in 2014. Zubkov has rejectedRead more

Hanyu, Medvedeva favored

Boston - Arab Today

Mao Asada and Patrick Chan are the most decorated athletes slated to compete at the the World Figure Skating Championships this week, but both are considered underdogs in their comeback season. The sport's landscape has changed markedly since the three-time world champions stepped away from competition in 2014 to ponder their respective futures. On the men's scene, Japan's 2014 OlympicRead more

Olympic champion Guo wins women's 10m air pistol at World Cup

BANGKOK - Arab Today

Two-time Olympic champion Guo Wenjun secured the women's 10m air pistol gold medal for China at the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup here Sunday evening. The Beijing 2008 and London 2012 champion managed for a margin of 0.6 points prior to the last two shots, before her chief rival Tien Chia Chen of Chinese Taipei had an unexpected 8.3Read more