'CELEBRATING CHAMPAGNE: A WINE FOR ALL SEASONS' POPULAR GIFT IN THE UK & EUROPE

Hong Kong has shaken off the Lionel Messi fiasco and a bungled 2025 World Snooker Grand Prix to establish an “international reputation” for delivering world-class sporting events. That is the view of one of the key figures responsible for the prestigious Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, which returns for its third edition at AsiaWorld-Expo in January. Messi infamously did not budge from the bench when his Inter Miami side played a Hong Kong Stadium exhibition game in February 2024....

Alexis Badel continued his sensational form at Happy Valley with a treble on Wednesday night, with his successful mid-race move aboard consistent galloper Pope Cody the highlight. The French jockey booted home Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s Lovely Miles and the Douglas Whyte-trained Cheerful Wongchoy before sealing his three-timer with a smart ride aboard Pope Cody in the Class Three Fung Mo Handicap (1,800m). “It’s good. I think I’ve had some good rides – some good draws, some bad draws – but we were...

England captain Harry Kane is set to cap his golden year by breaking the Three Lions’ appearance record in Thursday’s Nations League clash with Croatia. When Kane leads his national team out at Wembley to earn his 126th cap, he will surpass the previous record held by former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton since 1990. It will be the latest landmark moment in an incredible 12 months for the Bayern Munich striker, who became the first English player in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or in...

Jon Rahm has insisted that his three-year stay with LIV Golf was not the reason for ⁠a drop-off in his performance at ⁠golf’s major championships. Rahm, who is leaving ⁠behind LIV to play a full DP World Tour schedule in 2027, said he was tired of what some media members “insinuate” was a connection between playing a lighter, less competitive schedule and being less prepared for the majors. LIV is set to wind down operations after plans to ‌come out of bankruptcy with a so-called “LIV 2.0” model...

Hong Kong prospect Kai Thompson has been told to brace himself for a bruising introduction to professional tennis, but that the short-term pain could result in long-term gain. Judy Murray, whose sons, Andy and Jamie, both won multiple grand slams and ascended to world No 1 in singles and doubles respectively, also encouraged the 18-year-old Thompson’s parents to “learn as much as possible about what tennis will demand from him and his body over the next two years”. Speaking to the South China...

Chinese table tennis star Wang Chuqin has acknowledged he is in a “slump”, taking to social media after exiting the WTT Champions Frankfurt in the round of 16 following a 36-day rest and adjustment period. The tournament, which concluded on Sunday with Japan sweeping both singles titles for a second consecutive edition, marked China’s worst Champions-tier result this year, with none of the mainland’s nine entrants reaching the semi-finals. China claimed just one title across six WTT Champions...

Jay Rooney LEADING AGILITY - R7 (5) Very strong win last start at the Valley and can repeat the dose here   Owen Goulding MASTER PHOENIX - R3 (11) Hugely unlucky when hampered last start and draws much better tonight   Paul Lally GOLDEN ACE - R5 (4) Has shown plenty of ability and should appreciate the step up in distance   Phillip Woo COUNTRY PRIDE - R6 (7) Has run well in his first three starts this term and does finally draw a gate   Trackwork Spy CLOUD NINE - R6 (4) Near misses on both...

Hong Kong jockey Angus Chung Yik-lai faces up to six weeks on the sidelines following a nasty fall on Tuesday, that killed the Tony Cruz-trained United Hua Steed. The three-year-old horse stumbled during morning barrier trials at Sha Tin, sending Chung crashing to the dirt while suffering a fatal injury as a result. While Chung was rushed to hospital, and was later diagnosed with a concussion, fractured ribs and a broken nose, United Hua Steed could not be saved, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club...

Harry Bentley is upbeat about his prospects of another win at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, with the British jockey rating Packing Angel and Hymnbook strong chances in their respective races. Fresh from an upset win on $38.9 outsider Thriving Brothers at Sha Tin on Sunday, Bentley will bid to add to his seasonal haul of five victories with five rides at the city circuit. He reunites with Packing Angel in the Class Two Lung Cheung Handicap (1,650m) after guiding the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained...

Australian coach John Aloisi has been ⁠sacked as ⁠coach of Chengdu Rongcheng ⁠after his team squandered a huge lead at the top of the table to miss out on the Chinese Super League title at the weekend. Chengdu lost their last ‌four matches to give up a lead which once stood at 12 points, allowing Dalian Yingbo to overhaul them and claim a first CSL title after a 3-1 win over Tianjin Tiger on Sunday. “Mr John Aloisi will no longer ⁠serve as head coach of Chengdu Rongcheng Football Club, and his...

Making history is becoming something of a habit for Hong Kong’s Harris Ho Shing-him, who has claimed the city’s first fencing gold at a Youth Olympic Games. A member of the men’s foil team that claimed a rare silver medal at the Asian Games, the 17-year-old sealed his individual foil title in Dakar on Monday, despite losing his first bout of the day. Ho overcame a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Aris Kiayias in his opening match in Pool 1, eventually turning the tables on his Cypriot rival in the...

Gianni Infantino’s re-election as president of Fifa is “a foregone conclusion”, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) vice-president Hashem Haidar said on Monday. Haidar, who is also president of the Lebanese Football Federation, said at the unveiling of a new Fifa Arena pitch in the village of Shanay near the town of Aley, east of Beirut, that “we fully and publicly support” the divisive head of the game’s global governing body. Infantino, who was in Lebanon for Monday’s event, faced stinging...