Shortstop referenced attempted assassination after hitPlayer says he will not use celebration again in gamesTampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls said that his Donald Trump-inspired celebration of a hit on Sunday was not intended as a political endorsement but he did compliment the former president’s “inspirational” behavior.Walls pumped his fist and …

The world’s best surfing talent will compete for glory at the iconic Tahitian reef but environmental concerns have dogged preparationsFew places in the world are as ominously named as the Tahitian surf spot Teahupo’o, which translates literally as “wall of skulls”. The left-hand reef break gets its name from the nearby village where it’s said that …

Leicestershire seamer feared career was over after ban that has prompted criticism of anti-doping regulationsAfter six months of sweat, toil and motorway service stations, October is a time of calm in the life of a county cricketer. “Normally that one month a year where you can pretty much do nothing,” says Chris Wright, the 39-year-old seamer.Wright is …

The manager knows his England players are hurting as he aims to make it third time lucky in a title raceThere was no one prouder than Mikel Arteta when Bukayo Saka banished the demons of his penalty miss in the final of the European Championship three years ago by burying his spot-kick against Switzerland at Euro 2024. “I was very nervous,” the Arsenal …

Tennis star will make her Olympic debut in Paris20-year-old voted as flagbearer by USA teammatesTennis star Coco Gauff will join LeBron James as a flag bearer for the US Olympic team at Friday’s opening ceremony.Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, is making her Olympic debut in Paris and will be the first tennis player to carry the US flag at the Games. …

Spain are primed for gold but all 12 teams will have to cope with a heavy workload and anxieties around player welfareOn Thursday, 12 nations will begin their bid for gold at the Paris Olympics. The eighth edition of the women’s football tournament is expected to be one of the most competitive to date. Continue reading...

Chinese swimmers tested positive before Tokyo GamesUS star looking to add to seven Olympic goldsKatie Ledecky referenced allegations around Chinese doping in her opening press conference at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, saying she hopes to face “clean” athletes in the coming weeks.Twenty-three Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned drug …

Cindy Ngamba grew up in England, went to school and university in England and has won national boxing titles in England – but she will be flagbearer for the refugees squad in ParisIt’s the stink of the gym Cindy Ngamba remembers best. Sweat, leather and bleach. It was like nothing she had ever smelled, and she loved it. She was 15, and had just finished …

High risk of protests at Parc des Princes, say authoritiesSecurity also stepped up at tie between Ukraine and IraqAround 1,000 French police officers will form an “anti-terror perimeter” around Israel’s opening football match against Mali at the Olympic Games in Paris after the game was designated as high risk.The heavy police presence has been deemed …

Campaigners have criticised clubs over betting sponsorsVoluntary framework to be implemented this seasonThe Premier League, together with the Football Association, English Football League and Women’s Super League, have released a code of conduct for gambling deals, less than 24 hours after campaigners accused top‑flight clubs of milking cash from betting …

Urska Zigart not being selected for Paris 2024 ‘didn’t help’‘She deserves her spot. She’s double national champion’The Tour de France ­champion Tadej Pogacar says the Slovenian federation’s decision not to select his girlfriend, Urska Zigart, for the Olympics was one of the reasons behind his 11th-hour decision to withdraw from the Paris …

The 37-year-old unlikely to feature in singles againFinal push for glory will be alongside Dan EvansAndy Murray says he is happy about his approaching retirement and feels it is the right time to finish his career despite ­struggling with the decision over the past few months.“I’ll feel good,” Murray said in Paris about the emotions he expects after …

Ratcliffe prioritising progression of team this seasonClub eager to establish foundation for ongoing successErik ten Hag is not under pressure to guide Manchester United to a top-four finish next season, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe prioritising considerable progression of the team as the man in charge of football operations at United aims to establish sustained …

40-year-old arrested in central Paris on SundayEspionage suspected as man charged and detainedA Russian chef who has lived in France for 14 years has been arrested on suspicion of plotting with a foreign power to stage “large scale” acts of “destabilisation” during the Olympic Games in Paris.The 40-year-old man was arrested during a raid of his …

Superchargers captain will ‘focus on Test cricket’Yorkshire batter not expecting a change of leadershipHarry Brook has played down talk of being an England white-ball captain in waiting, insisting he is focusing on Test cricket, leading the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred this summer and not expecting a change of leadership any time soon.Rob Key, …

Diver and rower to lead GB athletes at opening of GamesGlover says it is ‘probably the biggest honour of my life’Tom Daley and Helen Glover have been named as Team GB’s joint flag bearers for the opening ­ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday. The duo boast three Olympic gold ­medals between them with Daley coming into the Games as the defending …

Champion coffee, David Beckham and £70,000 of air conditioning – a look behind the scenes at the Team GB base First there is a video welcome from David Beckham and some of Britain’s greatest Olympians. Next comes a coffee made by a national barista champion. And then the serious business begins: creating a culture that Team GB’s chiefs …

GB dressage star was in line for damehood after ParisUK Sport has also suspended her lottery fundingThe video of the Team GB ­equestrian star Charlotte Dujardin ­whipping a horse 24 times in a private ­coaching session has cost her a damehood, ­official sources have told the Guardian.Dujardin was widely expected to be handed the honour if …

Game suspended and completed behind closed doorsSpain beat Uzbekistan on first day of men’s competitionThe Argentina coach Javier Mascherano said he had never witnessed such a circus after a pitch invasion triggered a dramatic and long-delayed climax to the country’s 2-1 defeat against Morocco in their Olympic opener in Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.The …