Reuters Sports Schedule at 0615 GMT on Wednesday, March 29

Reuters sports schedule at 0615 GMT on Wednesday:

SOCCER

U.S. keep World Cup hopes alive, Mexico take control

The United States remain in contention for a spot at next year's World Cup after Bruce Arena's side battled to a scrappy 1-1 away draw against Panama in CONCACAF qualifying. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PAN-USA/, moved, 511 words)

Neymar keeps Brazil ticking towards World Cup

SAO PAULO - Neymar shrugged off some rough tackling and a missed penalty to score a brilliant solo goal as he led Brazil to a 3-0 win over Paraguay that moved them within sight of the 2018 World Cup finals. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-BRA-PRY/ (PIX), moved, 373 words)

Premier League

We will have all the latest news ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures which include Liverpool against Everton and Arsenal against Manchester City. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/, expect throughout)

CRICKET

Spirited Australia must continue to improve, says board

Australia have done themselves proud with their spirited fight in India but must continue to improve to become the number one side across formats, the country's cricket board said on Wednesday. (CRICKET-INDIA/AUSTRALIA, expect by 0700 GMT/3 AM ET, 300 words)

FIGURE SKATING

Medvedeva out to emulate Kwan at world championships

HELSINKI - Russian Evgenia Medvedeva will begin her bid to become the first woman since Michelle Kwan in 2001 to win back-to-back world championship titles as the competition begins with the short programmes. Twice champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford will be aiming to set the standard in the pairs short skate. (FIGURE SKATING-WORLD/(PIX), expect by 1400 GMT, by Pritha Sarkar, 500 words)

SPORT BUSINESS

SportsPro Sport Business conference

LONDON - World Anti-Doping Agency president Craig Reedie opens a two day SportsPro Sport Business conference at Wembley Stadium with a talk on how the battle against doping can be won. (SPORT-BUSINESS/, expect by 1145 GMT/7:45 AM ET, by Alan Baldwin)

Business of Football event with David Bernstein

LONDON - Panel discussion between David Bernstein, former Manchester City F.C., FA and Wembley Chairman, and Alex Horne, former FA CEO and MD of Wembley on the business of football. The discussion will focus on working in the corporate side of football. (SOCCER-BUSINESS/, expect by 1600 GMT/10 AM ET, by Alan Baldwin)

ICE HOCKEY

Olympics or not, NHL ready to make push into China

TORONTO - With or without the Olympics the National Hockey League will join the sporting stampede into the coveted China market with the league expected announce on Thursday preseason games in Beijing and Shanghai. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL/CHINA (PIX), expect by 0900 GMT/5 AM ET, by Steve Keating, 692 words)

TENNIS

ATP/WTA: Miami Open (to 2)

Kerber battles Venus in quarter-final clash

Top seeded German Angelique Kerber faces 11th seed Venus Williams in quarter-final action while third-seeded Simona Halep of Romania battles Britain's Johanna Konta in the other quarter-final at the Miami Open. (TENNIS-MIAMI/WOMEN (TV), expect by first lead by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 400 words)

Nishikori, Nadal eye semi-final berths

Japanese second seed Kei Nishikori faces unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini in quarter-final action at the Miami Open while fifth-seed Rafa Nadal battles Jack Sock in the other last-eight clash at the Miami Open. (TENNIS-MIAMI/MEN (TV), expect by first lead by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 400 words)

GOLF

ANA Inspiration (to April 2)

Heat on for world number one Ko at women's major

RANCHO MIRAGE, California - Defending champion Lydia Ko is feeling pressure at the top of the world golf rankings as she heads into the ANA Inspiration, the season's first women's golf major, at Mission Hills Country Club. (GOLF-WOMEN-INSPIRATION/ (PREVIEW), expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 400 words)

Commissioner says global appeal fuels LPGA

LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan says the tour's global appeal has fueled their success and helped make women's and girl's golf grow at an extraordinary rate. (GOLF-WOMEN/WHAN (INTERVIEW, TV), expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM, by Larry Fine, 500 words)

U.S. Women's Open about golf, not Trump, says Whan

The upcoming U.S. Women's Open this July at Trump Bedminster, owned by the U.S. president, has led some to push for the event to be moved but LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan and most players feel the championship is about golf and should not be impacted by politics. (GOLF-WOMEN-TRUMP/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 400 words)

NBA

Warriors visit Spurs in clash of West heavyweights

The Golden State Warriors visit the San Antonio Spurs in a possible preview of the Western Conference final while the Boston Celtics try to pad their slim lead atop the Eastern Conference when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in two of the 10 games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)

NHL

Penguins battle Blackhawks

Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins, in a tight battle for top spot in the Metropolitan division, host the Chicago Blackhawks while the Los Angeles Kings visit the Calgary Flames in two of the four games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS

Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words) (Asia desk editor: John O'Brien, +65 6870 3971)

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)