Olympics: JOC head Takeda likely to retire amid corruption probe – report
Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda is likely to retire without serving another term as French prosecutors are investigating him for suspected corruption in Japan’s successful bid to host the 2020 Games, public broadcaster NHK reporte…
Raonic downs Kecmanovic, Thiem gets walk over at Indian Wells
Canadian Milos Raonic fired down 13 aces to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3 6-4 and set up a BNP Paribas Open semi-final against Dominic Thiem after the Austrian’s opponent, Gael Monfils, withdrew injured before their match on Thursday.
NFL transactions: Bridgewater re-signs with Saints
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater agreed to re-sign with the New Orleans Saints rather than join the Miami Dolphins, according to multiple reports on Thursday.
Rallying: Via farm field and volcano, Munnings primed for WRC debut
Self-confessed adrenaline junkie Catie Munnings likes to live out of her comfort zone, which is why next week the British rally driver will accelerate her Peugeot 208 to over 100kph along the rim of an Azores volcano.
Athletics: Coach Hohn lays out pathway for Chopra’s Tokyo success
India’s Neeraj Chopra is reluctant to discuss specific targets for the next couple of years but his coach Uwe Hohn has laid out a comprehensive roadmap for the former javelin world junior champion to win a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Figure skating: Reigning champions to battle for men’s crown at worlds
(This March 15 story corrects Medvedeva’s win in paragraph 20 to Russian Cup, not Russian nationals)
Golf: Fleetwood, Bradley set hot pace with 65 at Players Championship
Tommy Fleetwood and Keegan Bradley continued their recent strong form to set the pace with seven-under-par 65s in the first round at the Players Championship in Florida on Thursday.
MLB notebook: All-Star, HR Derby bonuses coming
The winner of the 2019 Home Run Derby will earn a $1 million bonus, and there is a boost coming for this year’s All-Star selections, MLB announced Thursday in a rules update for the upcoming season.
Tennis: Raonic overwhelms Kecmanovic to reach semis
Big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic fired down 13 aces to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3 6-4 on Thursday and reach the BNP Paribas Open semi-finals in Indian Wells for a second consecutive year.
Spring training roundup: Red Sox’s Pearce hits two HRs
Steve Pearce got back to his World Series form on Thursday, hitting two home runs for the Boston Red Sox in a 4-4 spring training tie with the Detroit Tigers at Lakeland, Fla.




