Encounters in sporting events (5)
I believe the answer is:
meets
This clue is a double definition.
'encounters' is the first definition.
('meet' can be a synonym of 'encounter')
'sporting events' is the second definition.
(a meet is an event of races, contests etc)
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for meets that I've seen before include "Hunt assemblies" , "Encounters or suffices" , "Comes into contact with" , "Encounters, perhaps by appointment" , "Gathers together" .)