Scottish boxer Towell dies after bout

LONDON (Reuters) - Scottish boxer Mike Towell has died in hospital after the 25-year-old suffered serious injuries in a welterweight bout in Glasgow on Thursday.

Heavyweight world champion Fury tests positive for cocaine: ESPN

(Reuters) - Heavyweight world boxing champion Tyson Fury has tested positive for cocaine, ESPN reported on Friday citing a leaked letter sent by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).

Captains at logger-heads in Ryder Cup 'spin' game

CHASKA, Minnesota (Reuters) - U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III and European supremo Darren Clarke showed off their skills as master motivators and polished spin doctors after Friday's see-saw opening day of action at Hazeltine.

I planned animated celebration before victory, says McIlroy

CHASKA, Minnesota (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy was so excited to win his afternoon fourballs match at the Ryder Cup on Friday that he planned his animated celebration before the point was won and also had to apologise to a member of the opposition.

Everton up to third despite being held by Palace

(Reuters) - Everton moved up to third place in the Premier League despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace as Belgium strikers Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku both got on the scoresheet in a battling encounter on Friday.

Spieth and Reed inspire U.S. foursomes sweep

CHASKA, Minnesota (Reuters) - A fired-up Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed set the tone as the United States took early control at the Ryder Cup on Friday with a stunning 4-0 sweep of the opening foursomes matches against holders Europe.

Ice hockey: World Cup has a way to go to reclaim stature

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada may have captured the World Cup of Hockey in dramatic fashion this week on home soil but the tournament failed to generate much buzz and will need time to reclaim the stature it once enjoyed.

Hot Ryder Cup start for U.S. on chilly morning

CHASKA, Minnesota (Reuters) - England's Justin Rose struck the first shot of the 41st Ryder Cup on a chilly Friday, finding the fairway off the tee at the par-four opening hole to launch the morning's foursomes matches before the U.S. took early control.

Winning grand slams is no longer my priority, says Djokovic

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic no longer sees winning grand slam titles or staying top of the men’s ATP rankings as a priority in his tennis career, Serbia’s world number one said on Friday.

Kvitova upsets Halep to close on second Wuhan Open title

(Reuters) - Czech Petra Kvitova romped to a 6-1 6-2 victory over world number five Simona Halep in the Wuhan Open semi-finals on Friday to move a step closer to winning the tournament for the second time.

Motor racing: Alonso encouraged by Honda progress

SEPANG, Malaysia, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Fernando Alonso was encouraged after trying out an updated Honda engine in his McLaren, even if running it in Friday’s practice sessions means he will be forced to start Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix from the back.

Motor racing: Renault’s Magnussen feels the heat

SEPANG, Malaysia, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Not even the blaze that engulfed his Renault could melt Kevin Magnussen’s Scandinavian reserve in Friday’s opening practice for the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix, though he certainly felt the heat.

Athletics: European athletics expects big viewer boost for 2018 event

BERLIN (Reuters) - The sport of athletics will witness a 20 percent rise in television viewing figures at the first multi-sports European Championships in 2018, the continent's athletics chief Svein Arne Hansen said on Friday.