The Fiji Times

Labasa in uphill battle

The Digicel Labasa team’s dream of winning the first-ever OFC Women’s Champions League was dashed when the side went down to New Caledonia’s AS Academy Féminine 4-1 in its third match in Papua New Guinea on Monday evening. Labasa went into the match having one loss and a win, and needed a positive result to...

Boost for Suva in title defence

Fresh from playing the final of the Oceania Football Confederation Champions League, the Suva football side has set its sights on defending the Digicel Fiji FACT title. The Babs Khan-coached side received a major boost ahead of the tournament which starts this Friday. Extra Supermarket, Container Haulage and All Freight Logistics have come on board...

Navua ready for big guns

The Navua football side is heading into this year’s Digicel Fiji FACT with an aim to continue the tournament form they had last year. In the last tournament held on the Fiji FA calendar last year, Navua made the final of the IDC at the HFC Bank Stadium before losing to Suva. The side held...

A step up! | Byrne: Finals footy a whole new game

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side will not be riding on their 25-24 regular season win when they take on the Crusaders in the quarter-finals of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific this Saturday. The Drua travel to Christchurch this week to play in its first ever quarterfinal after joining the competition last year....

England’s Moeen considering test return ahead of Ashes – reports

(Reuters) – England all-rounder Moeen Ali is considering a comeback to test cricket ahead of the Ashes against Australia after spinner Jack Leach was ruled out with a lower back stress fracture, British media reported. The 35-year-old, who announced his retirement from the longest format of the game in September 2021, is said to have...

Last Argentine standing Etcheverry into French Open quarter-finals

(Reuters) – Tomas Martin Etcheverry reached the quarter-finals at the French Open, becoming the last Argentine player in the tournament after countryman Francisco Cerundolo fell in an epic five-set battle against sixth seed Holger Rune. The 23-year-old Etcheverry overcame an injured Yoshihito Nishioka from Japan, 7-6(8) 6-0 6-1 on Court Suzanne Lengle to reach his...

Seven players to leave Leicester City after relegation

(Reuters) – Seven players will leave Leicester City when their contracts expire in June, officials from the club who were relegated from the Premier League said on Monday. Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy, Ryan Bertrand, Ayoze Perez and Tete will leave the club. “The Football Club extends its thanks to all seven...

Brazil and Spain to play friendly in anti-racism campaign

(Reuters) – Brazil will play a friendly against Spain next March as part of an anti-racism campaign under the slogan ‘One skin’, both countries’ football federations announced on Monday. A statement from the Spanish soccer governing body (RFEF) said the match will be held in Spain to “reinforce the commitment of both entities against violence...

Zverev knocks out Dimitrov for French Open quarter-final spot

PARIS (Reuters) – An aggressive Alexander Zverev punched his ticket into the French Open quarter-finals with a 6-1 6-4 6-3 win over Bulgarian 28th seed Grigor Dimitrov on Monday to raise hopes that his barren Grand Slam run could finally end. Playing in the late session on Court Philippe Chatrier for the third match in...

Haddad Maia first Brazilian woman in 55 years to reach Grand Slam quarters

(Reuters) – Beatriz Haddad Maia became the first Brazilian woman in 55 years to reach the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam when she beat Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-7(3) 6-3 7-5 at the French Open on Monday. Maria Bueno, who won seven singles titles at the slams, was the last Brazilian woman to reach the...

For its 2024 Olympics, Paris wants the Seine river swimmable

PARIS (Reuters) – On a sunny spring day, Dan Angelescu was testing the water quality of Paris’ Seine river by the bridge Alexander III – a scenic view for next year’s swimming marathon and triathlon Olympic trials. Angelescu has been working for the city since 2017 on its longtime project to make the Seine swimmable....

Seven punished by Spanish government for racist insults against Vinicius

(Reuters) – Seven people involved in different racist attacks against Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr have been punished by Spain’s State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport, the country’s Sports Commission said on Monday. Four men were fined 60,001 euros ($64,255) and banned from sports venues for two years after hanging a...

Saudi wealth fund to take control of soccer star Ronaldo’s club

DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund will take control of four of the kingdom’s top soccer clubs including Al-Nassr, which Cristiano Ronaldo plays for, as the government revives a plan to privatise several state-owned sports clubs. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) will own 75% of al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, and Al-Hilal, the sports ministry...

Europa Conference final is real deal for West Ham and Fiorentina

(Reuters) – The Europa Conference League might be very much UEFA’s third club competition but for West Ham United and Fiorentina, whose solitary European successes came over half a century ago, Wednesday’s showdown is being treated like a World Cup final. Fiorentina, who lost to Real Madrid in the second European Cup final in 1957,...

Argentina’s Messi keen on rejoining Barcelona, says father

(Reuters) – Lionel Messi, who last week played his last game for Paris St Germain, is open to making a return to LaLiga side Barcelona, the Argentine forward’s father said on Monday. Barca were forced to let their talisman leave in 2021 because his high wages coupled with strict LaLiga financial rules could have jeopardised...

India batters must get ready to grind in WTC final v Australia – Rohit

LONDON (Reuters) – India’s batters should be prepared to grind out runs in tricky English conditions against Australia’s fiery pace attack in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval, skipper Rohit Sharma said on Monday. Facing a prodigiously swinging Dukes ball fired by Pat Cummins or Mitchell Starc would be a totally different...

Fijiana lose Oceania title

The Vodafone Fijiana XVs side will play in the tier three of the World Rugby WXV after failing to defend their Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship title in the final against Samoa on the Gold Coast in Australia on Sunday. Samoa’s Manusina XV side created history by winning the championship for the first time after edging...

Ready the sails! Drua test uncharted waters in first Super Rugby Pacific finals

The HFC Bank Stadium was covered in a sea of blue as the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua showcased a masterpiece of success against the Reds in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition. Like strokes of brilliance on a canvas, their journey illuminated the hearts of rugby enthusiasts across the nation and the world....

Capital City boys out to defend FACT title

Suva football head coach Maxwell Thaggard and his side will be out to maintain their status as defending champions of the Digicel Fiji FA Cup Tournament (FACT) when it kicks off this weekend. Thaggard said their goal was to defend their title for a third time and was adamant his side had what it takes...

Cho clinches ladies title

Sadhu Kuppuswamy Memorial College (SSKMC) student Bella Cho took out the ladies division during the 52nd GM Motors-sponsored Fiji Golf Open championship that ended on Sunday at the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club. The 17-year-old shot nine under 207 (68, 69, 70) after 54 holes. “I had to believe in myself always which has always...

Hussein tops amateur category

Nadi businessman Abid Hussein claimed the amateur category at the 52nd GM Motors-sponsored Fiji Golf Open championship at the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club on Sunday night. He shot nine under par 208, ahead of Rajat Rai (219) who finished in second place. New Zealand-based Anuresh Chandra finished third with 223. Speaking on the tournament,...

Tuivuna wins Fiji Open

Fiji PGA Order of Merit leader Tomasi Tuivuna took out the 52nd GM Motors-sponsored Fiji Golf Open championship that ended on Sunday at the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club. He shot 12 under 204 (66, 73, 65). Three shots behind was Zoheer Ahmed with 207 (69, 69, 69). Tied in third place were schoolteacher Roneel...

Super Rugby Pacific | Fijian Drua exceeds target

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua coaching management set a target of 50 tries for their regular season this year, but with a spot in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals this weekend, the Drua are likely to add more to that number. They scored a total of 30 tries in their inaugural season...

Skipper shares secret to win

FAITH in God and the support of fans played a huge part in the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team’s win against the Reds last week. Skipper Meli Derenalagi said this allowed the team to reach a historic Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals berth in only their second year in the competition. The side...

Popular singer Zemfira spotted in Russian player’s box at French Open

PARIS (Reuters) – Popular Russian singer Zemfira, who left the country because of her opposition to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, was spotted at the French Open on Sunday sitting in the player’s box of her compatriot Daria Kasaktina. Zemfira was placed on a Russian Justice Ministry list of foreign agents in February on grounds that...

Soccer-Sevilla’s Navas named Europa League Player of the Season

(Reuters) – Sevilla’s Jesus Navas was named Europa League Player of the Season on Sunday after the 37-year-old was a key part of his side’s record-extending seventh success in the competition. Navas played a pivotal role in Wednesday’s final against AS Roma, delivering a cross that lad to an equaliser for the Spanish side, who...

Tennis-Records are good but now it’s about the next step says Djokovic

PARIS (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic took one French Open record away from 14-time champion Rafa Nadal on Sunday when he became the first player to reach the Roland Garros quarter-finals for a 17th time — but the Serb will not let that milestone distract him from the job at hand. Djokovic’s main focus has been...

Soccer-Benzema scores on farewell but Real held at home by Bilbao

MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema netted a penalty in his final LaLiga game at the Bernabeu but was unable to inspire them to victory as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Earlier on Sunday, Real announced that Ballon d’Or winner Benzema will leave the club as a...

Venkaiya hopes to return next year

The three-day 52nd GM Motors-sponsored Fiji Golf Open championship has left a positive impression on many overseas participants despite the wet weather. For Jerah Venkaiya, 19, from California, US, it was his first time participating in the tournament. “I really liked it. Even your playing partners are really friendly and everyone seems to be having...

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Cold awaits flying Drua | Byrne calls on Fijians in New Zealand to flood stadium