Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Figure skating: Defending champion Chen takes strong lead in men's short program
Defending world champion Nathan Chen of the United States took a commanding lead in the men's short program at the World Championships on Thursday with a dynamic skate, while home favorite and Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu came in third. Chen, 19 and juggling training with courses at Yale University, produced a series of clean, crisp quad jumps in his playful and energetic routine that brought a rousing reaction from the audience at Japan's Saitama Super Arena.
Athletics: Jamaica's Campbell told he had 'died' after collapse in New York
Jamaican distance runner Kemoy Campbell, who collapsed during the men's 3,000m at last month's Millrose Games, was told by doctors he had "died" on the track, the 28-year-old said. Campbell, who collapsed while acting as a pacesetter, was given medical treatment on site and later taken by a stretcher for further treatment. He spent 17 days in a hospital.
USGA wants communication on rules but no popularity contest
The U.S. Golf Association (USGA) wants professionals to feel comfortable questioning the rules, but the organization's mission does not include engaging in a popularity contest, says senior director of governance Thomas Pagel. A raft of new rules were introduced for 2019 and there has been vocal dissent from certain players, including American Justin Thomas.
Athletics: CAS delays decision on Semenya testosterone case
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Thursday it would postpone its decision on Caster Semenya's appeal hearing against the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) until the end of April. South African 800-meters double Olympic champion Semenya is seeking to overturn a new set of IAAF regulations that are aimed at lowering the testosterone levels of hyperandrogenic athletes.
NHL roundup: Vasilevskiy sets saves mark in OT win over Caps
Victor Hedman scored 3:01 into overtime, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made a franchise-record and career-high 54 saves as the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Washington Capitals for the second time in five days, 5-4 on Wednesday night. The old Lightning record for saves was 48, set by Ben Bishop in Jan. 19, 2014, and matched by Vasilevskiy on Dec. 13, 2018. Vasilevskiy was stellar at times, but he allowed Washington's Evgeny Kuznetsov to tie the game with 52.6 seconds left in regulation.
Rowing: Surgery puts Tokyo 2020 into fresh focus for champion Satch
Heart surgery and then a shoulder operation came as "a bit of a kick in the teeth" for 2016 Olympic champion rower Will Satch last year but time off the water has provided fresh focus for the hard slog toward next year's Tokyo Games. The 29-year-old from Britain's rowing heartland of Henley-on-Thames stroked Britain's men's eight to gold at the Rio de Janeiro Games and says he is now fully motivated and ready for more.
NBA roundup: Grizzlies top Rockets in OT despite Harden's 57
Jonas Valanciunas' offensive rebound and free throw with 0.1 second left in overtime helped the host Memphis Grizzlies topple the Houston Rockets 126-125 on Wednesday. Valanciunas paired a career-high 33 points with 15 rebounds and teamed with Mike Conley (35 points, eight assists) to help Memphis fend off James Harden and the rallying Rockets. Valanciunas corralled a miss by Conley before absorbing a foul from Houston center Clint Capela on the game's deciding play.
U.S. team heading in positive direction from dark place, says Biles
Simone Biles believes U.S gymnastics is moving in a positive direction after the "dark place" it found itself in a year ago following a sex-abuse scandal. The Texas-based 22-year-old, winner of a record-equalling four gold medals at the Rio Olympics, was one of more than 100 gymnasts who say they were abused by former Gymnastics USA doctor Larry Nassar who was jailed last year.
Team mates weep as Ichiro, baseball's most prolific hitter, retires at 45
Ichiro Suzuki, the most prolific hitter in baseball history and an icon on both sides of the Pacific, retired on Thursday as his fellow Seattle Mariners wept, bowed and hugged him in a Tokyo stadium rocking with cheers. Suzuki, 45, made the announcement after playing for the Mariners in the second game of their Major League Baseball opening series in Japan against the Oakland Athletics.
Horse racing: Frost to miss Grand National with broken collarbone
Jockey Bryony Frost will miss next month's Grand National meeting after breaking her collarbone in a fall four days after her victory at the Cheltenham Festival, the 23-year-old said on Thursday. Frost, who last week became the first woman to ride a top-level Grade One Cheltenham Festival winner aboard Frodon in the Ryanair Chase, was injured after falling from Midnight Bliss at Southwell on Monday.
