MatchPoint Times

Home

Sports News

Los Angeles mayor calls for 2028 Olympics chairman to step down over Epstein files

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass called it “unfortunate” that 2028 Olympics organisers backed Casey Wasserman after his past emails with Ghislaine Maxwell were revealed.

🟡AFP

He saw them when no one else did

Jeffrey Kok built more than an archery centre — he gave former champions something greater than victory: a way forward.

🟡Frankie D'Cruz

Great Britain celebrates best-ever Winter Olympics

Great Britain had never previously won more than one gold at a single Winter Games but they have three already in Italy.

🟡AFP

EPL is now English Panic League

Sackings reveal Spurs’ and Forest’s desperation to stay in the top flight at any cost.

🟡Bob Holmes

Chinese Olympic snowboarder avoids serious injury after nasty crash

Liu Jiayu sustained no spinal abnormalities after somersaulting into the snow during the halfpipe qualifying round.

🟡AFP

Australian Olympic snowboarder airlifted to hospital with broken neck

A fall in training leaves Cam Bolton with his neck broken in two places, ending his 2026 Winter Olympics campaign.

🟡AFP

Football News

Martinez missing as Inter limp to Lecce after Bodo/Glimt humbling

Italian media reported Lautaro Martinez is suffering from a calf issue, which coach Christian Chivu blamed on the artificial pitch at the Aspmyra Stadion.

🟡AFP

Endrick adds class as Lyon suddenly can’t stop winning

Lyon travel to Strasbourg on Sunday, riding a 13-match winning streak that has advanced them in the Europa League and French Cup.

🟡AFP

Mexico fears Colombians linked to local cartels may enter as World Cup fans

Colombian mercenaries have been coveted by militias and crime groups around the world for their combat experience in fighting leftist guerrillas.

🟡AFP

Fifa to lead US$75mil Palestinian football rebuilding fund

Donald Trump made the announcement at the first ‘Board of Peace’ meeting, where Fifa president Gianni Infantino was present.

🟡AFP

Alcaraz fights back to book last four berth in Qatar, Sinner stunned

Playing his first tournament since completing his career Grand Slam at the Australian Open earlier in February, Carlos Alcaraz will next face Andrey Rublev for a spot in the final in Doha.

🟡AFP

The Stupid One!

Jose Mourinho sinks to a new low in trying to win over Benfica fans by failing to call out his own player over alleged racism.

🟡Bob Holmes

Tennis News

Cover Image for Andreeva, Bencic receive walkovers in Dubai

In-form Czech youngster Sara Beljek withdrew with an abdominal injury, giving Belinda Bencic a place in round three, while Daria Kasatkina’s hip injury withdrawal cleared the way for Mirra Andreeva.

AFP
AFP

Top seed Fritz beats Cilic to reach ATP Dallas Open final

Taylor Fritz blasted 22 aces in advancing to the ATP Dallas Open final by defeating Croatian Marin Cilic 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3).

🟡AFP

Top seed Fritz makes ATP Dallas semis with fantastic finish

Top seed Taylor Fritz captured the last five points in a deciding tie-breaker to defeat fellow American Sebastian Korda 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).

🟡AFP

Swiatek, Rybakina dumped out of Qatar Open

Top seed Iga Świątek was ousted by a determined Maria Sakkari, who fought back to win 2‑6, 6‑4, 7‑5, while 10th seed Victoria Mboko outmuscled Elena Rybakina 7‑5, 4‑6, 6‑4.

🟡AFP

Wawrinka shrugs off 23‑year age gap to beat teenager

The 40-year-old’s match against Thijs Boogaard featured the second-largest age gap in ATP and Grand Slam history, after Dominic Thiem, 18, beat 44-year-old Thomas Muster in Vienna in 2011.

🟡Reuters

Swiatek, Rybakina fight back to reach Qatar Open quarter-finals

Both world No 2 Iga Swiatek and No 3 Elena Rybakina came from a set down to rally for wins, keeping their title hopes alive.

🟡AFP

Cilic says 600th tour-level win shows his dedication to the sport

Marin Cilic said joining the elite group of players with at least 600 ATP Tour wins proves his dedication to tennis.

🟡Reuters

Badminton News

Birthday girl Jin Wei books final berth in Thailand Masters

It is the first time that a Malaysian women’s singles player has reached a World Tour Super 300 final.

🟡K. Parkaran

Malaysia guaranteed spot in Thai Masters women’s singles final

Wong Ling Ching beats India’s Isharani Baruah in the quarter-finals and will meet compatriot Goh Jin Wei in the semi-final.

🟡K. Parkaran

Zii Jia retires in Thailand Masters quarter-final

The Malaysian decides not to continue after taking the first game and losing the second against the much-younger Indonesian Alwi Farhan.

🟡K. Parkaran

BAM appoints 3 new coaches to boost performance

BAM performance committee chairman Lee Chong Wei says the experience and expertise of these coaches will add significant value to the national training programme.

🟡Bernama

Malaysia’s women’s singles players shine at Thailand Masters

All three women’s singles players in the tournament, K Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching and Goh Jin Wei, have qualified for the quarter-finals.

🟡K. Parkaran

Zii Jia books quarters berth at Thai Masters

This was his best performance yet since his return from a six-month injury layoff.

🟡K. Parkaran

Motorsports News

Alonso motivated but still unsure about F1 future after 2026

Fernando Alonso plans to enjoy every second of the new Formula One season and has not decided whether it will be his last.

🟡Reuters

Martin eyes Thailand GP return as Aprilia future remains uncertain

The 28-year-old has not yet received the all-clear ahead of the 2026 season opener that starts on Feb 27.

🟡Reuters

Alex Marquez tops final day pre-season Sepang test

Spaniard Marquez blitzed through the Sepang circuit on the final day of MotoGP pre-season testing to secure a lap time of 1 min 56.402 sec on his third lap outing.

🟡AFP

Piastri expects a ‘fair shot’ from McLaren again in 2026

Oscar Piastri says McLaren gave him a fair shot at the Formula One title last season and expects the same this year against champion teammate Lando Norris.

🟡Reuters

Marquez fastest on opening day pre-season test

The reigning world champion clocked 1 min 57.018 sec at the Sepang circuit on Tuesday.

🟡AFP

Mercedes ready to win F1 world title, says Russell

Under the leadership of Toto Wolff, Mercedes won eight consecutive constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ titles between 2014 and 2021.

🟡AFP