Not long after the NHL Awards show in Las Vegas concluded on Wednesday night, the Panthers made their gamble with Keith Yandle pay off.

Philadelphia selected Ben Simmons with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, making the Australian forward the first 76ers top pick since Allen Iverson 20 years ago.

LeBron James reportedly joined an NBA All-Star lineup of talent on Thursday that will not play for the United States at the Rio Olympics, while Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant will try to bring the Americans a third consecutive gold medal.

A force to be reckoned with at home, India’s Test side have struggled away from the subcontinent in recent years and new coach Anil Kumble has put top priority on building a team that can travel with confidence.

Australia must give their world class wide ball runners one-on-one situations against English defenders if they are to give themselves the best chance of avoiding a series sweep, Wallabies forward Michael Hooper said yesterday.

Life has not changed much for Anthony Joshua since winning a version of the world heavyweight title and he sees today’s first defence as merely a stepping stone towards his ultimate goal.

Jon Rahm took some advice from legend Jack Nicklaus and it paid off Thursday with a seven-under par 64 in his first professional round to seize the US PGA National lead.

South Africa’s Branden Grace yesterday became the latest golfer to withdraw from the Rio Olympics because of fears over the Zika virus.

Sweden bid farewell to Zlatan Ibrahimovic with noisy tributes but no goals and exited the European Championship finals meekly after a 1-0 defeat by Belgium.

Former Test captain Anil Kumble was yesterday named the new head coach of India for a one-year period, taking over the reins of one of the most high-profile sides in world cricket.

After claiming “bragging rights” over England, Wales star Gareth Bale said yesterday he was savouring the prospect of a new Battle of Britain against Northern Ireland at the European Championship finals.

Italy coach Antonio Conte believes his team can thrive as the underdogs when they face Spain in the first knockout round at Euro 2016 next Monday.