(Reuters): Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has become the first NASCAR driver to test positive for COVID-19 and will miss this weekend's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports said on Friday.   Johnson, who will not return to competition until being cleared by a physician, has not experienced COVID-19 symptoms and was tested upon learning earlier on Friday that his wife had tested positive after having allergy-like symptoms.

(Reuters): Under mounting pressure from sponsors and Native American rights groups, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder said on Friday he would consider changing the name of the National Football League team whose roots date back to the 1930s.   Snyder, who has previously stated he would not change the name, softened his stance a day after FedEx Corp <FDX.N>, which owns the naming rights to the team's Landover, Maryland, stadium, called for the NFL club to be

(Reuters): The Cleveland Indians followed the lead of the NFL's Washington Redskins on Friday as the Major League Baseball club said it too will consider changing a team nickname that has been in place for 105 years.   The Indians, who have come under fire in the past for their controversial nickname, said the recent social unrest in the United States has underscored the need to improve as an organization on issues of social justice.   "We are commit

LONDON, July 04 (Reuters): Arsenal's Brazil Under-23 striker Gabriel Martinelli has signed a new long-term contract at the Premier League club.   The news comes 48 hours after fellow teenager Bukayo Saka, 18, also agreed a new long-term deal with the Gunners.   The 19-year-old Martinelli - who penned his new contract exactly a year after joining Arsenal - has scored 10 goals in 26 games for the club since moving from Brazilian side Ituano last year.

Beijing, July 4 (Reuters): China's two-time Olympic badminton champion Lin Dan, one of the sport's greatest singles players, announced his retirement on Saturday.   Fondly called 'Super Dan' by badminton fans across the world, Lin became the first shuttler to retain the Olympic title when he won in the 2012 London Games after his triumph in the home event in Beijing in 2008.   "I've dedicated everything to the sport I love. My family,

New Delhi, July 4 (IANS): Union Sports Minister Kiren Riiju has said the government is set to remove the salary cap of Rs 2 lakhs for Indian coaches training elite athletes.   "Several Indian coaches are showing very good results and need to be rewarded for their hard work. The government is also keen to attract the best coaching talent from across the country to train our elite athletes and we do not want the cap on compensation to be a deterrent for good coaches to jo

Jaipur, July 4 (IANS): Jaipur shall soon be getting one of the largest cricket stadiums in the world, with a seating capacity to accomodate around 75,000 spectators.   The world-class green stadium shall have modern grand pavilion stands, corporate boxes, plush sports field, modern club house and many other world class features for indoor games and sports training facilities, said Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) Secretary Mahendra Sharma. He added that the stadium will b

'I tested positive five times during my stay in hospital. It was very traumatising because I would see people, who came after me, leave before me but somehow I kept going thanks to the doctors and nurses.'   New Delhi, July 3 (PTI): Asian Games gold-winning former boxer Dingko Singh has recovered from COVID-19, testing negative for the deadly virus on Friday over a month after the cancer-stricken legend was hospitalised in Imphal.   Back at his home, but i

New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Cricket fraternity took to social media to wish veteran India off-spinner Harbjahan Singh on his special day as he turned 40 on Friday.   Harbhajan is regarded as one of the finest spinners ever to grace the sport as he scalped 417 wickets in the longest format and 269 wickets in ODIs. Besides, he has also played 28 T20Is in which he picked up 25 wickets.   He was also part of the Indian teams that won the inaugural edition of the WT20 in

Spielberg, July 3 (IANS) Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel has revealed there was no offer on the table with respect to a new Ferrari deal but accepted he was left a bit surprised when he was made aware about the team's decision.   Vettel has so far won 14 races for Ferrari but failed to add to the four titles he won with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013. It was earlier announced by both Vettel and Ferrari that their association with come to an end after the

New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Former Australia batsman Michael Hussey believes M.S. Dhoni is a champion cricketer and the ongoing forced break would provide him with an opportunity to introspect and see whether he wants to play again for the Indian team.   "I am obviously not an Indian selector but I don't think you can discount MSD. You should never write off champions and champion players, and he has given so much to the country as a player and leader," Hussey sai

Madrid, July 3 (IANS) Putting his rivalry aside with Barcelona, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has said he wants star forward Lionel Messi to stay at the Catalan Giants amid rumours linking him with a move away from the club.   According to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, Messi has stopped contract negotiations with Barcelona amid reports of growing tensions within the club. His current deal runs till 2021.   "I don't know what will happen but we hope not

Spielberg, July 3 (IANS) Reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has unveiled a new helmet in support of the 'Black Lives Matter' movement for the upcoming season which begins with Austria GP. He wore the helmet in the first practice session on Friday.   Hamilton's customised helmet comes after Mercedes had announced black-liveried cars for the 2020 season as the world champions aim to make a visual stand against racism and for diversity.   Apart

PARIS, July 2 (Reuters): Up to 60% of the usual capacity will be allowed inside the Roland Garros grounds for the 2020 edition of the French Open amid the COVID-19 crisis, organisers said on Thursday.   French federation president Bernard Giudicelli told a news conference that on the main courts, a maximum of four people could sit together with an empty seat between groups.   On the other courts, one seat out of two will be empty when the main tournament

BELGRADE, July 3 (Reuters): Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena have tested negative for COVID-19, nine days after returning a positive test, the world number one tennis player's media team said on Thursday.   Djokovic, along with Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki, tested positive after playing in the Adria Tour, an exhibition tournament organised by the 17-times Grand Slam champion.   "Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena tested nega

(Reuters): Twelve different parties have shown interest in buying Wigan Athletic and they must now prove they have necessary funds to progress in negotiations, said Gerald Krasner, a joint administrator of the Championship club.   Wigan entered administration on Wednesday -- the first professional English club to do so in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic -- and are set to be handed a 12-point penalty by the English Football League (EFL).   Krasner, Paul S

(Reuters): Six times world champion Lewis Hamilton says he was not targeting Formula One rivals when he condemned the sport's silence on racial injustice and the lack of diversity.   Hamilton, who starts his bid for a record equalling seventh title in the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, has been vocal in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and racial equality.   The 35-year-old Mercedes driver, who will be in black overalls and drivin

LONDON, July 2 (Reuters): Substitute Andriy Yarmolenko marked a rare West Ham United appearance with a dramatic late goal to earn his side a priceless 3-2 Premier League win over Chelsea on Wednesday.   The Ukrainian, who made his first appearance for six months as a late substitute in their 2-0 defeat by Wolves, was introduced in the 78th minute with a topsy-turvy derby on a knife edge at 2-2.   With Chelsea pushing for a late winner, West Ham counter-attack

MELBOURNE, July 2 (Reuters): Cricket Australia said on Thursday it has dropped the British-made Dukes ball from its 2020/21 Sheffield Shield season and will use only the Kookaburra to encourage more spin bowling on home pitches.   Dukes were introduced to Shield cricket in 2016/17 to help prepare players for the ball used on English pitches in the leadup to the 2019 Ashes.   Australia retained the urn in England last year for the first time since 2001 with a

(Reuters): Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says he does not need any assurances about his future despite the deepening threat of relegation after Wednesday's 4-1 defeat by Newcastle United.   Bournemouth slipped to 19th in the 20-team Premier League and while they are just a point from safety they face a daunting run of fixtures with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Manchester City due up next.   "I don't need assurances,&q