Reuters Sports News Summary

07/30/2016 19:53

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Over 105,000 watch Real Madrid beat Chelsea in Michigan

A near-record crowd of 105,826 saw Real Madrid score three first-half goals and hang on for a 3-2 win against Chelsea in a friendly at Michigan Stadium on Saturday. The attendance was less than 4,000 shy of the United States record attendance for a soccer match, set two years ago at the same stadium in Ann Arbor when 109,318 watched Real Madrid and Manchester United square off.

Rosberg takes pole for home race ahead of Hamilton

Nico Rosberg set a scorching pace under pressure on Saturday to seize pole position, ahead of Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, in qualifying for his home German Formula One Grand Prix. Rosberg, determined to take back the championship lead from Hamilton on Sunday after losing it in last weekend's race in Hungary, lapped the 4.5-km Hockenheim track in one minute 14.363 seconds.

Pain and pride of refugee team shine through Misenga's tears

With tears streaming as he spoke of one day being reunited with the brother he lost in the terrifying chaos of the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil war, Popole Misenga showed the potential power of the Olympics' Refugee Team on Saturday. It is not often a room packed with sports journalists breaks into spontaneous applause but it seemed the only adequate response to Misenga's moving account.

IOC panel to have final say on Russian athletes cleared for Rio

A three-member International Olympic Committee (IOC) panel will have the final say on which Russian athletes can compete at the Rio Games, reviewing all decisions taken by the international federations, the IOC said on Saturday. The IOC earlier this month set criteria for Russians to be eligible to compete in Rio after revelations of state-backed doping in the country.

Whistleblower Stepanova again asks IOC to review her Rio ban

Whistleblower Yulia Stepanova, who helped expose state-backed doping in Russian sports and has fled the country, asked again on Saturday for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reassess her exclusion from the Rio Games. Stepanova's hopes of running at the Olympics, which start next week, as an independent athlete where dashed when the IOC ruled earlier this month that no Russian with a doping background could take part.

Bobsledder runs joint-third fastest 100m by a British man

Great Britain bobsledder Joel Fearon ran the joint-third fastest 100 meters by a British male when he won the sprint final at the English Athletics Championships in Bedford on Saturday. The 27-year-old Birchfield Harrier's time of 9.96 seconds was the quickest time by a British sprinter this year.

Nishikori stuns Wawrinka to reach Rogers Cup final

Japan's third-seeded Kei Nishikori came from 2-5 down in the opening set to stun Swiss second seed Stan Wawrinka 7-6(6) 6-1 in the semi-finals of the Rogers Cup in Toronto on Saturday. Wawrinka, a two-times grand slam champion who has won 14 ATP World Tour titles, became increasingly dispirited as he lost 11 of the last 13 games at the Aviva Centre after squandering four set points in that opening set.

Halep upsets Kerber, will face Keys in final

Fifth-seeded Romanian Simona Halep overcame a crisis of confidence in the second set to reach the final of the Rogers Cup with a 6-0 3-6 6-2 upset victory over second seed Angelique Kerber of Germany in Montreal on Saturday. Halep had been a set and a break up before Kerber reeled off six straight games to lead 2-0 in the third before the Romanian regained control, sealing the win after a topsy-turvy encounter that lasted one hour 38 minutes in Montreal.

Third round of PGA washed out, play to resume on Sunday

The third round of the PGA Championship was washed out on Saturday, as heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Baltusrol with 49 players yet to finish and the top 10 players still to tee off. Players will return on Sunday to the drenched par-70 layout at 7 AM ET to resume play, with more threatening weather in the forecast.

Bryan brothers pull out of Rio Games citing health concerns

Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful doubles team in men's tennis history, have pulled out of the defense of their title at the Rio Games saying their family's health is their top priority. "After countless hours of deliberation Mike and I have decided to forego the Rio Olympics," the pair wrote on their Facebook page on Saturday.

07/30/2016 19:53