Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Wednesday, Oct 5
Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Wednesday (times GMT): SOCCER 2018 World Cup qualifiers We continue our build-up to this week's World Cup qualifiers with player and manager news conferences plus all the latest team news. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP/) A-League hopes home-coming heroes can boost broadcast deal MELBOURNE - Australia's soccer bosses have ambitions of expanding the game's footprint in one of the world's most crowded sporting markets and will hope a raft of high-profile home-comings can boost the A-League's appeal ahead of a new broadcast deal. (SOCCER-AUSTRALIA/LEAGUE, expect by 0700 GMT/3 AM ET, by Ian Ransom, 500 words) MOTOR RACING Japanese Formula One Grand Prix Hamilton aims for Suzuka hat-trick after Malaysia blow SUZUKA, Japan - Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton needs a third straight win in Japan on Sunday to revive title prospects dealt a cruel blow by his Mercedes engine failure in Malaysia last weekend. (MOTOR-F1-JAPAN/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Abhishek Takle, 400 words) We also moved statistics for Sunday's race and a drivers' form sheet. SPORT BUSINESS Leaders in sport business conference LONDON - Leading figures from across the world of sport gather at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium to talk business and the latest developments. (SPORT-LEADERS/ (TV), expect throughout, by Alan Baldwin and Mitch Phillips, 400 words) TENNIS Sponsors hail Sharapova's reduced ban Maria Sharapova's reduced suspension for a doping violation is set to provide a healthy boost to her bank balance with corporate sponsors reaffirming their commitment to the Russian player. (SPORT-DOPING/SHARAPOVA-SPONSORS, moved, by Ian Ransom, 400 words) ATP Tour China Open, Beijing Murray meets Kuznetsov in China Britain's top seed and world number two Andy Murray faces Russian Andrey Kuznetsov in the second round of the China Open. (TENNIS-OPEN/CHINA-MEN, expect by 1600 GMT/12 PM ET, 300 words) Kerber faces Strycova, Muguruza takes on Kvitova Germany's world number one Angelique Kerber takes on Barbora Strycova in the second round while Spanish holder and second seed Garbine Muguruza meets another Czech in 14th-seeded Petra Kvitova in the third round at the China Open. (TENNIS-OPEN/CHINA-WOMEN, expect by 1600 GMT/12 PM ET, 300 words) Japan Open, Tokyo Copy on merit CRICKET South Africa v Australia, third ODI S Africa aim to clinch ODI series against Australia DURBAN - South Africa have been dominant with both bat and ball in their five-match One-Day International series against Australia and can take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the third clash at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday. (CRICKET-SAFRICA/(PIX), by 2030 GMT/4:30PM ET, 300 words) NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 500 words) (Asia duty editor: Peter Rutherford)
