A Frenchman who lost his limbs in an electrical accident swam from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia in strong winds and currents Thursday, finishing the first stretch in a mission to swim between five continents.

Japan midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake, a member of the country's under-23 squad for the London Olympics, will join German side Nuremberg on July 1, his J-League club Cerezo Osaka said Thursday.

China's Guangzhou Evergrande announced on Thursday they had signed World Cup-winning Italian coach Marcello Lippi, in the latest foreign acquisition by clubs in the nation's Super League.

India's World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh hopes to return to cricket in "three to four months" after recovering from a cancerous tumour, media reports said on Thursday.

Spanish giants Barcelona are setting up a football school in India as they expand their coaching network worldwide with the aim of training 10,000 youngsters in the next three years.

NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant struck for 22 points, five coming in a game-ending 9-0 run, as Oklahoma City stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 77-75 in the NBA playoffs on Wednesday.

A limbless Frenchman planning to make four challenging swims around the world finally got his epic journey under way Thursday after sorting out paperwork problems in Papua New Guinea.

Former Australia international defender Tony Popovic was on Thursday confirmed as the inaugural coach of the Australian A-League's new western Sydney team.

World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi is poised for a sensational move to China, with Guangzhou Evergrande set to part ways with current manager Lee Jang-Soo, official Chinese media said on Thursday.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) said on Thursday it had not banned firebrand Samoan Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, despite claims from the Pacific nation's coach that he was told to drop the player.

Kevin Garnett scored 27 points while Paul Pierce added 24 and Rajon Rondo had 23 as Boston cruised past Philadelphia 107-91 to grab the lead in their NBA playoff series.

New Jersey's David Clarkson scored two minutes and 31 seconds into the third period to give the Devils a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers to level their National Hockey League playoff series.

Japanese newcomer Yu Darvish pitched another stellar Major League Baseball start for the Texas Rangers, striking out seven while allowing only one run in a 4-1 victory over Oakland.

Slovakian Peter Sagan won his fourth consecutive stage of the Tour of California in fourth stage, leaving Australian Heinrich Haussler runner-up for the fourth day in a row.

US rookie Josef Newgarden spun his car and tapped the pit lane wall after clocking the fastest Indianapolis 500 practice speed for the third time in five days.

Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another will leave from the ninth gate in Saturday's 137th Preakness, two spots outside where Derby runner-up Bodemeister was drawn on Wednesday.

Veteran defender Rio Ferdinand was the highest-profile casualty as England manager Roy Hodgson unveiled his squad for the European Championships.

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm says his side must beat Chelsea in Saturday's Champions League final if they want to be considered part of the club's "golden generation."

Rick Carlisle, coach of the reigning champion Dallas Mavericks, and Dan Gilbert, the club owner spurned by LeBron James, are among 10 people named on Wednesday to the NBA's new competition committee.

Major League Baseball's 84th All-Star Game will be hosted in 2013 by the New York Mets at their three-year-old ballpark, $600 million Citi Field, commissioner Bud Selig announced on Wednesday.

The Phoenix Coyotes, already trailing two games to none in their National Hockey League semi-final series, were handed another blow on Wednesday when the NHL imposed a one-game ban on Martin Hanzal.

The original US Amateur trophy and a replica of an award given to Ben Hogan were among artefacts stolen from the US Golf Association Museum in an overnight burglary, the organization said Wednesday.

Crisis-hit Scottish giants Rangers' appeal against a £160,000 fine and 12-month transfer embargo imposed by the Scottish Football Association has been rejected by an Appellate Tribunal, the SFA confirmed on Wednesday.

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie was suspended for four games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday for a tirade against umpire Bill Miller in a home loss to Tampa Bay one night earlier.

Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington, who battled through the first round of the NBA playoffs despite an injury, underwent successful right knee surgery on Wednesday, the team announced.

Retired NBA superstar Larry Bird was named the NBA Executive of the Year on Wednesday, becoming the first to complete a treble sweep of top awards for players, coaches and front office leaders.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal stepped up their preparations for the French Open a gear as both advanced without any problems in their opening matches at the Rome Masters here on Wednesday.

Adelaide United and Ulsan Hyundai secured crucial home advantage for the AFC Champions League last 16 as they registered important wins on Wednesday to finish top of their groups.

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore on Wednesday warned his players they faced a battle on next month's tour of Sri Lanka, saying the hosts were tough opponents in home conditions.

Last season's Top 14 finalists Montpellier suffered a blow on Wednesday ahead of their title play-off with Castres as centre Geoffrey Doumayrou was suspended for 20 days meaning he will miss the match.

Striker Carlos Tevez insisted Wednesday he would not apologise to Sir Alex Ferguson after waving a mocked-up tombstone of the Manchester United boss during Manchester City's Premier League title celebrations.

Controversial QPR midfielder Joey Barton accepted a charge of violent conduct on Wednesday but denied another one arising out of last Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Veteran defender Rio Ferdinand was the highest-profile casualty on Wednesday as England manager Roy Hodgson unveiled his squad for the European Championships.

Holland retained their Under-17 European football title here on Wednesday as they beat old foes Germany 5-4 on penalties after the game ended 1-1.

Goalkeeper Tom Starke has signed a three-year deal to switch from Hoffenheim to Champions League finalists Bayern Munich, his new club confirmed Wednesday.

Italy's Roberto Ferrari of the Androni team surprised the other sprinters as he powered his way to first place in the 11th stage of the Tour of Italy here on Wednesday.

Hertha Berlin on Wednesday appealed against their relegation play-off defeat at Fortuna Duesseldorf which was marred by a double pitch invasion and left their players fearing for their lives.

Kings XI Punjab acting captain David Hussey on Wednesday defended his team's integrity after two players from his side were suspended amid allegations of corruption in the Indian Premier League.

Roger Federer's last minute decision to compete at the Rome Masters was rewarded immediately as he coasted to a 6-3, 6-4 second-round win over Argentinian journeyman Carlos Berlocq here on Wednesday.

Italy's Roberto Ferrari of the Androni team won a sprint finish for the 11th stage of the Tour of Italy here in Tuscany on Wednesday.

Darren Sammy will look to put the knowledge of Lord's gained from his time as an MCC Young Cricketer to good use when he captains the West Indies in the first Test against England at the "spiritual place of cricket" starting Thursday.

Kenny Dalglish left his post as Liverpool manager on Wednesday, according to media reports.

England captain Andrew Strauss has insisted he has no desire to rid himself of the pressure of leadership despite a poor run of form with the bat.

The German Football Federation (DFB) on Wednesday launched an investigation into Hertha Berlin's relegation play-off defeat at Duesseldorf as crowd trouble left players fearing for their lives.

Adelaide United and Ulsan Hyundai secured crucial home advantage for the AFC Champions League last 16 as they registered important wins on Wednesday to finish top of their groups.

West Indian cricket icon Brian Lara has called upon Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the world's number one batsman, to move up the order for his team's three-Test series with England which begins on Thursday.

Former Olympic gold-medallist Justin Gatlin and world champion Carmelita Jeter ramped up their preparations for London 2012 when they led a US sprint clean sweep in South Korea Wednesday.

Roger Federer braved dust storm conditions to blow past Argentine Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-4 and open his week with a second-round victory at the Rome Masters on Wednesday.

Tim Duncan finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds as San Antonio cruised past the Los Angeles Clippers 108-92 in game one of the Western Conference semi-finals on Tuesday, extending the Spurs' win streak to 15 games.

Veteran defender Rio Ferdinand was the highest-profile casualty on Wednesday as England manager Roy Hodgson unveiled his squad for the European Championships.