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Crippa, Demise Claim Paris Marathon Victories

Athletics - Paris Marathon - Paris, France - April 12, 2026 Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa and Ethiopia's Shure Demise celebrate on the podium after winning the men's and women's elite race respectively REUTERS/Tom Nicholson
Athletics - Paris Marathon - Paris, France - April 12, 2026 Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa and Ethiopia's Shure Demise celebrate on the podium after winning the men's and women's elite race respectively REUTERS/Tom Nicholson
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Crippa, Demise Claim Paris Marathon Victories

Athletics - Paris Marathon - Paris, France - April 12, 2026 Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa and Ethiopia's Shure Demise celebrate on the podium after winning the men's and women's elite race respectively REUTERS/Tom Nicholson
Athletics - Paris Marathon - Paris, France - April 12, 2026 Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa and Ethiopia's Shure Demise celebrate on the podium after winning the men's and women's elite race respectively REUTERS/Tom Nicholson

Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa won the Paris marathon on Sunday, while Ethiopia's Shure Demise claimed victory in the women's category in a new course record.

The Ethiopian-born Crippa, 29, clocked a personal best of 2hr 05min 16sec for the win in the French capital.

Bayelign Teshager of Ethiopia finished second, just five seconds off Crippa, with Kenya's Sila Kiptoo rounding off the podium (2:05:26).

The women's race saw 30-year-old Demise smash the course record by more than a minute.

She won in 2:18:33 ahead of compatriot Misgane Alemayehu (2:19:06) and Kenya's Magdalyne Masai (2:19:18).

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Belgium Shock United States to Reach Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova (R) and team captain Barbora Strycova celebrate winning their Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers round between Switzerland and Czech Republic in Biel, Switzerland, 11 April 2026. EPA/PETER SCHNEIDER
Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova (R) and team captain Barbora Strycova celebrate winning their Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers round between Switzerland and Czech Republic in Biel, Switzerland, 11 April 2026. EPA/PETER SCHNEIDER
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Belgium Shock United States to Reach Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova (R) and team captain Barbora Strycova celebrate winning their Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers round between Switzerland and Czech Republic in Biel, Switzerland, 11 April 2026. EPA/PETER SCHNEIDER
Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova (R) and team captain Barbora Strycova celebrate winning their Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers round between Switzerland and Czech Republic in Biel, Switzerland, 11 April 2026. EPA/PETER SCHNEIDER

Belgium knocked out 18-times champions the US to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on Saturday, as Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Spain, Ukraine and Czech Republic also secured places in the season-ending team event alongside hosts China.

Belgium sealed qualification in Ostend, where world number 149 Greet Minnen completed the upset with a 7-5 6-3 victory over Iva Jovic, sending her team back to the finals for the first time since 2022.

Britain booked their spot with a 3-1 win against Australia in Melbourne, wrapping up the tie with victory in the doubles after taking a commanding 2-0 lead from ⁠Friday’s singles matches.

Harriet ⁠Dart and Jodie Burrage sealed the contest with a 6-3 6-4 win over Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez, ending the Australian pair’s unbeaten doubles run in the Billie Jean King Cup dating back to November 2022.

Champions Italy also progressed after a 3-1 home win over Japan on clay in Velletri. Holding a 2-0 advantage overnight, Jasmine ⁠Paolini and Sara Errani clinched the tie by defeating Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi 6-2 7-5 in the doubles, Reuters reported.

Ukraine booked a return to the finals for a second straight year with a dominant 4-0 victory over Poland in Gliwice.

Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok secured the decisive point with a 7-5 6-7(4) 6-3 win over Maja Chwalinska and Martyna Kubka, and then Oleksandra Oliynykova completed a perfect couple of days for Ukraine with a 6-4 6-1 win over Linda Klimovicova.

Spain took an unassailable 3-1 lead against Slovenia in Portoroz, with Aliona Bolsova ⁠and Sara ⁠Sorribes Tormo sealing qualification thanks to a 6-4 6-3 doubles win over Veronika Erjavec and Nika Radisic.

Kazakhstan advanced after Yulia Putintseva outlasted Canada’s Bianca Andreescu in a three-hour and 39-minute singles marathon in Astana.

Putintseva’s 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(4) victory gave her side an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five tie.

Elsewhere, Czech Republic defeated Switzerland 3-2, with Marie Bouzkova sealing victory by defeating Viktorija Golubic 7-6(4) 6-3 in the deciding singles.

The Czechs forced a decider after Linda Noskova saved three match points to beat Belinda Bencic 6-3 3-6 7-6(9), before Bouzkova returned to the court to clinch the tie.

The Finals will be held in Shenzhen from September 22-27.

Sports

Al-Nassr Break Club Record with 14th Consecutive League Victory

It was Al-Nassr’s 14th straight victory. Photo: Al-Nassr website
It was Al-Nassr’s 14th straight victory. Photo: Al-Nassr website
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Al-Nassr Break Club Record with 14th Consecutive League Victory

It was Al-Nassr’s 14th straight victory. Photo: Al-Nassr website
It was Al-Nassr’s 14th straight victory. Photo: Al-Nassr website

Leaders Al-Nassr claimed their longest-ever Saudi Pro League winning streak with a 2-0 victory at Al-Akhdoud thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix on Saturday.

Al-Nassr top the standings with 73 points from 28 ⁠games, five ahead ⁠of second-placed Al-Hilal with six games to go.

It was Al-Nassr’s 14th straight victory, which broke their previous ⁠record posted in the 2013-2014 season, the Pro League said on its website.

Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a close-range strike for his 24th goal of the season, three ⁠shy ⁠of Al-Ahli’s league top scorer Ivan Toney.

Joao Felix doubled their advantage two minutes into the second half from close range, capitalizing on a rebound after Kingsley Coman’s header hit the post.

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Neymar Has Two Months to Show He Is Ready for World Cup, Says Ancelotti

Brazil's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks during a friendly football match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
Brazil's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks during a friendly football match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
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Neymar Has Two Months to Show He Is Ready for World Cup, Says Ancelotti

Brazil's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks during a friendly football match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
Brazil's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks during a friendly football match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, 2026. (AFP)

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti ‌has left open the possibility of Neymar earning a place in his 26-man squad for this year’s World Cup, saying the forward has two months to prove he has the required qualities.

Ancelotti has consistently maintained that Neymar will be in contention if he is fully fit, but the attacker was excluded from Brazil’s squad for last month’s warm-up matches against France and Croatia.

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer with ‌79 goals, ‌has not played for the national ‌team ⁠since suffering a ⁠serious knee injury in October 2023 and has struggled to maintain a consistent run of matches since returning to Santos last year. Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to France in Boston prompted fans to chant Neymar’s name but Ancelotti dismissed the reaction at the ⁠time, saying attention should focus on the ‌players selected.

Now, however, the ‌Italian has suggested that the Santos forward remains part of ‌his thinking as Brazil assess their options ahead ‌of the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 in North America and Mexico.

"He's a great talent, and it's normal that people think he can ‌help us win the next World Cup," Ancelotti said in an interview with ⁠French newspaper ⁠L'Equipe.

"He's currently being evaluated by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) , by me, and he still has two months to show that he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup.

"After his knee injury, Neymar has made a good comeback; he's scoring goals. He needs to continue in this direction and improve his fitness. He's on the right track."

Brazil are in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in the World Cup and will begin their campaign on June 13 at New Jersey Stadium.