Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday, Jan 15
Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday - - - - SOCCER Asian Cup, Australia (to 31) Group C Qatar v Iran, Sydney (0900) Iran look to expat support as they seek last eight berth SYDNEY - Iran will be hoping the backing of the Sydney expat community will be as vocal as that of Melbourne's when they take on Gulf Cup champions Qatar looking to book a place in the quarter-finals. (SOCCER-ASIA/M14 (PIX), expect by 1100 GMT/5 AM ET, by Nick Mulvenney, 400 words) - - Bahrain v United Arab Emirates, Canberra (0700) UAE eye quarter-final berth with victory over Bahrain CANBERRA - United Arab Emirates can book just a third appearance in the Asian Cup quarter-finals if they beat Bahrain and Iran avoid defeat against Qatar. (SOCCER-ASIA/M13 (PIX), expect by 0900 GMT/4 AM ET, by Tim Wimborne, 400 words) - - Meram embarks on "Mission: Impossible II" Iraq forward Justin Meram entered the Asian Cup with the distinction of representing a country he has never been to. (SOCCER-ASIA/IRAQ-MERAM moved, by Amlan Chakraborty, 400 words) - - Africa Nations Cup warm-up match Ivory Coast v Sweden, Abu Dhabi (1730) Copy on merit - - King's Cup (1900 unless stated) Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (1900) Elche v Barcelona (2100) Atletico poised to eliminate holders Real MADRID - Atletico Madrid will attempt to protect a 2-0 advantage over holders Real from last week's first leg, with record winners Barcelona, who have a 5-0 lead ahead of their second leg at Elche, the likely opponents in the quarter-finals. (SOCCER-SPAIN/CUP (PIX) expect by 2100 GMT/4 PM ET, 400 words) - - La Liga Top three face struggling opponents in La Liga round 19 MADRID - Real Madrid look to maintain their one-point lead over second-placed Barcelona when they play at crosstown rivals Getafe on Sunday, before Barca meet Deportivo La Coruna and champions Atletico Madrid, in third, host bottom side Granada. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ (PREVIEW) expect by 1100 GMT/6 AM ET, by Iain Rogers, 400 words) - - Italian Cup (last 16) Juventus start Coppa Italia campaign Juventus enter the fray in the Coppa Italia with a round-of-sixteen tie at home to Verona. (SOCCER-ITALY/COPPA, expect by 2200 GMT/5 PM ET, 200 words) - - French League Cup quarter-finals Copy on merit - - - - NBA Ginobili comes off bench to lead Spurs' charge Manu Ginobili came off the bench to score 27 points, as the San Antonio Spurs snapped the Charlotte Hornets' five-game winning streak with a 98-93 victory. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), moved, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) - - - - NHL Red-hot Capitals edge Flyers In a classic goaltending battle between unlikely rivals, the younger but more experienced Washington netminder Braden Holtby emerged victorious in the Capitals' 1-0 triumph. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), moved, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (moved, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - GOLF Walker in fine form heading into Sony defence Deflated though he was after his playoff loss at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Monday, Jimmy Walker knows his game is in good shape ahead of his title defence at this week's Sony Open on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. (GOLF-PGA/ (PREVIEW) moved, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 400 words) - - European Tour: Abu Dhabi Championship, UAE (to 18) ABU DHABI - Rickie Fowler talks to the media ahead of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/FOWLER expect by 1130 GMT/6:30 AM ET, by Matt Smith, 400 words) - - - - CRICKET New Zealand v Sri Lanka, second ODI, Hamilton McCullum blasts ton but run outs hamper NZ Captain Brendon McCullum blasted his fifth one-day international century as New Zealand scored 248 all out against Sri Lanka in the second game of their seven match series on a good batting pitch at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Thursday. (CRICKET-ZEALAND/, moved with update to follow, 400 words) - - - - TENNIS ATP: Auckland Open, New Zealand (to 17) ATP/WTA: Sydney International, Australia (to 17) WTA: Hobart International, Australia (to 18) Copy on merit on above tournaments - - - - MOTOR RACING Dakar Rally (to 17) Copy on merit (Asia desk editor: Peter Rutherford)
