Several countries, including Israel and Denmark, said they would vaccinate their athletes and staff against COVID-19 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, amid global debate over whether athletes should be given priority access in the rollout.
Dutch soccer great Johan Cruyff says he is "2-0 up in the first half" of his fight against lung cancer and confident of winning the battle. A former smoker who had heart surgery in 1991, the 68-year-old former Barcelona coach was diagnosed with cancer in October. "After several medical treatments I can say the results have been very positive, thanks to the excellent work of the doctors, the affection of the people and my positive mentality," triple Ballon d'Or winner Cruyff said in a statement. "Right now I have the feeling I am 2-0 up in the first half of a match that has not finished yet. But I am sure I will end up winning." Considered one of football's all-time greats, Cruyff helped Ajax Amsterdam win three European Cups from 1971-73 and was named European Footballer of the Year in 1971, 1973 and 1974. He joined Barcelona for a then-world record transfer fee of $2 million and it was the Catalan club that defined his coaching career as he helped them win their first La Liga title in 15 years in 1974.
The 45-year-old mum of four shared the news on Instagram.
South African off-spinner Johan Botha's 'doosra' delivery has been declared illegal by the International Cricket Council but his off-break and arm-ball were cleared after biomechanic tests.
South Africa and Sri Lanka are set to play two frontline spinners apiece on what promises to be a turning wicket at Centurion Park for their Champions Trophy opener on Tuesday. The hosts, the International Cricket Council's top-ranked one-day team, have off-spinner Johan Botha and left-armer Roelof van der Merwe while Sri Lanka will counter with off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and the unorthodox Ajantha Mendis.
Even as six hostages were taken by the gunman in the Jewish grocery store, around 30 others hid in a freezing cold storage room for about five hours, hoping they would not be found.
We live in a wonderfully weird world and here's proof of it!
Check out the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League.
Memories and images of Johan Cruyff will provide an emotional backdrop to Saturday's Nou Camp 'Clasico' against Real Madrid when Barcelona pay tribute to the man who transformed the club from also-rans into one of the game's superpowers.
'Generations of football fans will eternally be grateful to Johan Cruyff and what he did for the beautiful game,' says Aabhas Sharma.
Arsenal defender Johan Djourou is doubtful for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Villarreal after damaging his knee playing in Saturday's 4-1 win over Wigan Athletic.
Viswanathan Anand was held to a draw by Vladislav Artemiev of Russia in the eighth and penultimate round, ending the Indian challenge in the Isle of Man International Chess tournament on Sunday.
Barcelona pulled off a stirring comeback to overturn a two-goal deficit and reach the Copa del Rey final, beating Sevilla 3-0 after extra-time in Wednesday's semi-final second leg, to go through 3-2 on aggregate.
Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said bitter rivals Real Madrid were a 'spectacular' side after they won a record 13th European title in Kiev on Saturday.
While T20 is primarily a batsmen-dominated format, the bowlers have evolved over the years and left a mark with their clever innovations.
Setien was named Barcelona coach late on Monday, tasked with the job of restoring the club's iconic passing style, but the appointment represents a huge gamble for the Catalans given the 61-year-old's lack of success at the highest level.
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) reaches to score over New Jersey Nets center Johan Petro in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game in Newark, New Jersey on Monday night.
The ICC cleared Johan Botha of suspected bowling action and told Cricket South Africa that the off-spinner can resume bowling at the international level.
'We're going to work very hard to build a strong team but we'll have to make changes because the image of the other day is not what we want. We'll have to work hard to recover our prestige.'
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com picks the five best matches of the final round.
Argentina's Lionel Messi, the most unassuming and also one of the most admired talents in world sport, can join the elite of soccer greats by winning the World Cup in Sunday's final against Germany.
Pop singer Remo Fernandes, charged with threatening a minor, returned to Goa even as a local court fixed January 5 for arguments on his anticipatory bail petition.
Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez has said it is his dream to coach his former side
If the past is any guide, we should be in for something memorable on Wednesday in Sao Paulo when the Netherlands meet Argentina in the World Cup semi-final at the Corinthians arena.
Lionel Messi, 33, has been the team's spiritual leader throughout that time but the catalogue of failures in Europe has made the previously unthinkable scenario that he could leave Barca, where he has spent most his life, seem ever more plausible.
One of the first people on the scene after Oscar Pistorius shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp told a court on Thursday he feared the South African Olympic and Paralympic star, who is on trial for murder, might kill himself with the same gun.
Russians win team Figure skating gold, Valieva first woman to land Games quads
South African stand-in T20 captain Johan Botha has said the one-off match against India at the Wanderers today will provide a great opportunity for the squad's youngsters.
Former South African tweaker Johan Botha believes Pakistan refugee spinner Fawad Ahmed is the missing link in Australia's plot to regain the Ashes and No.1 Test ranking.
In an interaction with former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on the impact of lockdown on India's economy, Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto, said India tried to implement a hard lockdown which was still porous and ended up with the worst of both worlds.
A Dutch football club offered their players a free car-wash service by bikini-wearing women if any of them get a 'Man of the Match' award.
After succumbing to their seventh loss this season, Delhi Daredevils skipper JP Duminy said his team paid the price for conceding too many runs in the last five overs against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday.
World number ones Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams completed a clean sweep for tennis as they won the Laureus Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards on Monday.
With so many films shifted to the new year, it's going to be a busy year for Bollywood's actors.
Former South Africa One-day International captain Johan Botha has had doubt cast on the legitimacy of his bowling action for the third time in his career and will have to undergo biomechanical analysis.
The Warriors team for the Champions League T20, which kicks-off in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday, September 10.
Spain goalkeeper David de Gea made a rare error which led to his side drawing 1-1 at home to Switzerland in a World Cup warm-up friendly on Sunday which the hosts dominated but failed to make their superior possession count.
The Indian men and women missed out on the podium by a whisker as they finished fourth in both the categories at the World Team Chess Championships, in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia.
Italy returned to winning ways as Nicolo Barella's header just before halftime secured a 1-0 victory away to a below-par Netherlands in their Nations League clash at an empty Johan Cruyff Arena on Monday.
Lance Armstrong's former team manager, Johan Bruyneel, has denied doping accusations made against him by the US Anti-Doping Agency.
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