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TOKYO: National para athletics champion, Abdul Latif Romly can compete in the normal category if he wants to, says his coach Shahrul Amri Suhaimi. Shahrul said he would support Abdul Latif, who successfully defended his T20 long jump (intellectual disability) gold at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, if he decides to compete in the normal category in the future. “Abdul Latif has no problem competing in the normal category as he had competed in the Malaysia Games and the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. If that is his wish, we will not stop him and will give our best support,” said Shahrul in an online press conference. The 38-year-old coach he will draw up a new plan to determine the future of the Perlis athlete after his charge recovered from the leg injury he suffered in the final on Saturday in Japan. In the final, Abdul Latif, who won his first Paralympics gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, was in a class of his own when he led the standings with his second jump of 7.45m which was ... » Learn More about Coach will not stop Abdul Latif from competing in normal category

(Reuters) - Seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton is under "way more pressure" than his Formula One title rival Max Verstappen, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said on Friday. Verstappen, 23, leads Mercedes' Hamilton by five points in the championship after 14 of 22 races but will start Sunday's Russian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after an engine change. Hamilton, 36, will be expected to regain the overall lead in Sochi, with a compliant team mate in Valtteri Bottas and at a track where Mercedes have won every race since the first in 2014. The two title rivals sparred verbally on Thursday with Hamilton saying he knew from experience how much pressure Verstappen was under in chasing a first crown and the Dutch driver saying he was "very chilled" and loving the fight. "I think Lewis trying to get his eighth title is under way more pressure than Max going for his first," said Horner. "Max is just enjoying what he's doing, he's driving better than ever. If ... » Learn More about Motor racing – Hamilton under more pressure than Verstappen, says Horner

(Reuters) - Andy Parkinson stepped down as chief executive of British Rowing on Friday, nearly two months after Britain's disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Britain won only two medals in Tokyo, bringing home a silver in men's quadruple sculls and bronze in the men's eight competition. It was the first time Britain's rowers failed to win a gold medal since 1980. Britain's dominant run at the Games dried up as they finished 14th in the sport's medal table, with New Zealand topping the Olympic rowing medal table for the first time. British Rowing said Parkinson, who held the post for six years, had resigned to "explore new opportunities". "I'm looking forward to a new challenge and wanted to give a successor time to input into, and importantly own, plans for the next investment cycle and beyond," Parkinson said in a statement https://www.britishrowing.org/2021/09/british-rowing-statement-11. "I also have every confidence in the team, rowers, coaches and ... » Learn More about Rowing-Parkinson steps down as British Rowing CEO after poor Olympics display

PERTH, Australia (Reuters) -A fast-finishing Melbourne Demons ended a 57-year premiership wait on Saturday, claiming the Australian Football League's top honour with a 74-point Grand Final victory against a shell-shocked Western Bulldogs under lights at Perth Stadium. Christian Petracca amassed 39 disposals and two goals in a dominant midfield display, helping the Demons to a 21.14 (140) - 10.6 (66) win before a 61,118 strong capacity crowd. The AFL awarded coronavirus-free Western Australia its first Grand Final because of a prolonged lockdown in the game's traditional home state of Victoria. The Demons settled early by scoring four of the first five goals, but the Bulldogs fought back in the second quarter with midfielders Adam Treloar and Marcus Bontempelli kicking two majors apiece to set up an eight-point lead at halftime. Melbourne's victory quickly became assured after the break as they piled on 12 unanswered goals, with forwards Bayley Fritsch (six goals) and Ben Brown ... » Learn More about Australian Rules-Demons scorch Bulldogs in AFL decider, end 57-year drought

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's top-ranked sumo wrestler Hakuho, who holds a record 45 tournament wins, intends to retire after struggling with injuries in recent years, NHK public television reported on Monday. Hakuho, 36, made his sumo debut in 2001 and fought his way up to the top rank of yokuzuna in May 2007, becoming the second Mongolian native to hold that rank. NHK quoted sources as saying Hakuho had firmed up his intention to quit and that he would be taking the necessary steps to run a sumo "stable," where wrestlers live and train. Hakuho, who gained Japanese nationality in 2019, a prerequisite for opening a stable, has said that training wrestlers would be a "way of showing my gratitude". The Japan Sumo Association said it had no comment to make on the report. Hakuho, born Monkhbatyn Davaajargal, broke records for tournament wins and the number of bouts won in a calendar year, and his tenure as yokozuna was also the longest in sumo history. But injuries hampered his ... » Learn More about Sumo-Top-ranked Hakuho intends to retire – NHK

LONDON (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton retook the lead in the Formula One championship with his 100th win in Russia on Sunday but engine concerns are hanging over the Mercedes driver's bid for a record eighth title. Team mate Valtteri Bottas took a hit and started 16th on the grid in Sochi after Mercedes replaced some power unit elements in his car. While the Finn is now using his fifth engine, two more than permitted without penalty, Hamilton is still within his allowance. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said there were "some question marks" and decisions to be made regarding the power units, with customer teams Williams and McLaren also experiencing problems in Sochi. "We are in a phase of assessment how to continue this season in terms of power units," added the Austrian. Adding to the concern, Hamilton's Red Bull title rival Max Verstappen looks in good shape for the remaining seven races after taking a new engine in Russia and still finishing second after starting last. ... » Learn More about Hamilton hits 100 but engine concerns hang over title bid

SB19 member Ken thanked fans on Sunday, September 19, after the release of his debut solo single, " Palayo ." The single, a slow and smooth R&B track in several languages (Bisaya, Filipino, and English), is about walking away from a person and relationship that's turned toxic. Ken released the single under his real name, Felip. "Binuhos namin ang lahat sa paggawa nito. Dahil sa 'Palayo,' sana'y nabigyan kayo ng inspirasyon pa mas mahalin ang inyong mga sarili, lalo na sa mga pagkakataong nagiging masakit na ang magmahal," he said in a handwritten note posted on SB19's official accounts. (We poured our hearts into making the song and the music video, with hopes that "Palayo" inspires you to love yourself more, especially in times when it's difficult and painful to do so.) "Daghang salamat, gihigugma ko kamo tanan," he added. (Thank you, and I love you, A'TIN!) Ken hails from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, where most ... » Learn More about ‘Daghang salamat’: SB19’s Ken thanks supporters after ‘Palayo’ release

Actress Maris Racal spoke openly about the real deal between her and singer Rico Blanco. “ Kami po ni Rico. I think basing po sa post na ginawa ko po (We’re a couple. Basing on the post I made), I think it's very obvious,” said the 23-year-old actress in a media conference streamed live on social media on Monday, May 31. “Right now, we are very excited and busy din. We are preparing such beautiful music together. Kaya abangan nila 'yon soon (So watch out for that).” Maris was speaking at a media conference for Maalaala Mo Kaya , the long-running anthology series based on the real stories based on both letters sent by viewers and viral anecdotes on social media. She’s set to star in the two-part MMK Father’s Day special on June 12 and 19, alongside Cris Villanueva. Maris and Rico first made headlines after the actress greeted the former Rivermaya frontman on his birthday. For Rico’s birthday, Maris shared a video of herself and Rico singing ... » Learn More about Maris Racal confirms she’s dating Rico Blanco