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Scottie Pippen set to auction treasure trove of hoops memorabilia

The Chicago Bulls star’s Sotheby’s collection includes a pair of Michael Jordan shoes that could be worth up to US$3.5 million.

🟡AFP

US vice-president Vance greeted in Milan on eve of Winter Olympics opening

JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance were welcomed at the airport with a round of applause from a few dozen athletes.

🟡Reuters

Probe on sprinter’s ‘forced’ SEA Games withdrawal nearly done

The investigation report will be completed in two weeks and submitted to the Malaysia Athletics president and youth and sports minister.

🟡Bernama

A long-delayed promise kept for Malaysia’s athletes of the year

After public scrutiny sparked by FMT, nine sportsmen and sportswomen of the year finally see a long-standing promise honoured.

🟡Minderjeet Kaur

Boxer Khelif reveals ‘hormone treatments’ before Paris Olympics

Imane Khelif reaffirms she is not transgender, noting she has the SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome that indicates masculinity.

🟡AFP

NFL chief expects Bad Bunny to unite Super Bowl audience

The Puerto Rican singer, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, is set to perform the halftime show entirely in Spanish.

🟡AFP

Football News

Ultra Selangor banned from 3 matches after Kuala Terengganu drawbridge incident

Selangor FC also says those convicted of drug-related offences will be barred from attending matches for three years.

🟡FMT Reporters

Rights groups issue Florida travel alert ahead of World Cup

International visitors were warned that stepped-up immigration enforcement could increase the risk of racial profiling, wrongful detention and deportation.

🟡Reuters

Leeds boost survival bid with win over relegation rivals Forest

Leeds struck twice in four minutes in the first half at the start of a vital 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest.

🟡AFP

Carrick looking forward to Frank reunion when Man Utd face Spurs

Manchester United’s interim head coach Michael Carrick will face Thomas Frank just months after interviewing for Tottenham Hotspur’s managerial role.

🟡AFP

Familiarity key to Wirtz’s rise at Liverpool, says Slot

Manager Arne Slot says Florian Wirtz’s recent good form at Liverpool is the result of a blossoming understanding with his teammates.

🟡AFP

PSG brace for tough run as ‘strange’ Marseille come to town

Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi seeks continuity and consistency in a team he describes as ‘hard to figure out’.

🟡AFP

Tennis News

Alcaraz beats Djokovic to win maiden Australian Open title

After a slow start, the Spaniard was imperious in dismissing the 38-year-old 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena to claim a seventh Grand Slam title and cement his status as undisputed world number one.

🟡AFP

Rybakina beats Sabalenka in tense Australian Open final

Kazakhstan’s fifth seed Elena Rybakina held her nerve to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6–4, 4–6, 6–4.

🟡AFP

History awaits as Djokovic, Alcaraz meet in Australian Open final

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz meet in Sunday’s match, with Djokovic chasing a 25th Grand Slam and Alcaraz aiming to win all four majors.

🟡Reuters

Harrison, Skupski win Australian Open doubles title in first major together

Sixth seeds Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison beat Australia’s Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans 7-6(4), 6-4 to win the Australian Open men’s doubles.

🟡Reuters

Mertens and Zhang win Australian Open women’s doubles title

Belgium’s Elise Mertens and Chinese partner Zhang Shuai downed Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

🟡AFP

Djokovic to meet Alcaraz in Melbourne final after 5-set marathon

The 38-year-old Serb rolled back the years to battle past reigning champion Jannik Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

🟡AFP

Badminton News

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

All 3 M’sian women’s singles shuttlers reach 2nd round in Thai Masters

K Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching and Goh Jin Wei shine in the opening round at Bangkok.

🟡K. Parkaran

Motorsports News

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

Norris feels ‘good’ as McLaren hit track for F1 testing

Lando Norris returned to the track as McLaren made their first appearance at Formula One’s private testing sessions in Barcelona.

🟡AFP

Williams say new F1 car is now ready for testing

Media reports have speculated about a problem with the car passing the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile crash tests required to participate.

🟡Reuters

Aprilia’s Martin to miss pre-season test after surgeries

The 27-year-old Spaniard had two revision surgeries on his left wrist and right collarbone last month and has not fully recovered.

🟡Reuters

Red Bull, Ferrari defy rain as F1 testing continues

Formula One endured a rainy day of private testing in Barcelona, with only Red Bull and Ferrari braving the wet conditions.

🟡AFP

Hadjar crashes Red Bull car in Barcelona pre-season testing

Isack Hadjar lost control at the final corner and spun backwards into the barriers during a session being held behind closed doors.

🟡Reuters