Sonny Side of Sports - VOA Africa

As tennis fans follow the action at this year’s Japan Open in Tokyo, the tennis-like sport of pickleball is gaining its own legion of fans in the United States as one of the most popular sports in the country.  VOA’s Gwen Outen will have a report.This and much more sporty news on today’s show.

VOA's Sonny Young brings you the latest sports news and trends as well as questions and comments from sports fans around Africa and the world.

In a dramatic day of racing at the London Marathon on Sunday, Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia won the women’s title to become the youngest winner in the event’s 42 year history. Africa also dominated the men’s race as Amos Kipruto of Kenya achieved the biggest marathon win of his career. Plus, Manchester City beat Man United in 6-3 in the highest-scoring derby ever.

Cameroon-born basketball star Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers says he's become an American citizen. 

The NBA scoring champion and all-star center says his family played a key role in his decision. The 28-year-old Embiid also has French citizenship.

Sonny will have more on Embiid on Friday's show. Also on the program, "The Energetic" Andy Edwards has a preview of Sunday's London Marathon, and VOA's Gwen Outen has a preview of Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix Formula One race.

Former South African football star Benni McCarthy says the highlight and lowlight of his career was scoring two goals for Porto that knocked his beloved Manchester United out of the UEFA Champions League in 2004. Porto went on to win the trophy.

McCarthy is shown scoring one of the goals. On Thursday's Sonny Side of Sports, Darren Taylor will have a feature on Benni McCarthy, who is now a first-team coach with Manchester United.

Man U will be back on the pitch Sunday when it plays local rival Manchester City. Sonny will also have a report on the resumption of the English Premier League after a nearly two-week break.

VOA's Sonny Young brings you the latest sports news and trends as well as questions and comments from sports fans around Africa and the world.

VOA's Sonny Young brings you the latest sports news and trends as well as questions and comments from sports fans around Africa and the world.

VOA's Sonny Young brings you the latest sports news and trends as well as questions and comments from sports fans around Africa and the world.

VOA's Sonny Young brings you the latest sports news and trends as well as questions and comments from sports fans around Africa and the world.

VOA's Sonny Young brings you the latest sports news and trends as well as questions and comments from sports fans around Africa and the world.