Costa Rica football coach expects tough friendly vs. S. Korea

Costa Rica's interim football coach Ronald Gonzalez said Thursday he expects a tough match with South Korea even though the opponents are playing their first match under a new head coach.Costa Rica will face South Korea at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, north of Seoul, on Friday. For South Korea, it will be their first match with new head coach Paulo Bento.Gonzalez said he analyzed Bento's football in the past and expects South Korea to play a 4-3-3 formation for an aggressive and quick style of play

SoccerSept. 6, 2018

Defender says S. Korean footballers eager to show their talent in front of new coach

South Korean defender Lee Yong said Thursday his national teammates are eager to display their talent to the new head coach and that will lead to good performances in the upcoming friendly match against Costa Rica.Lee is one of the 24 footballers who were selected by Paulo Bento for South Korea's friendly matches against Costa Rica and Chile. South Korea will first take on Costa Rica on Friday and then face Chile four days later.Lee said the players are set to deliver positive results in Bento's

SoccerSept. 6, 2018

Paulo Bento vows to show his football philosophy in S. Korea coaching debut

South Korea's new men's national football team head coach Paulo Bento said Thursday that he is ready to display his football philosophy in his debut match. Bento, who was appointed as the men's national football boss on Aug. 17, will make his South Korean coaching debut on Friday when the national team takes on Costa Rica in a friendly match at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, north of Seoul. The kickoff time is 8 p.m. "I'm happy and positive that I can now play with the South Korean national team," Be

SoccerSept. 6, 2018

Korea U-23 football coach says team didn't talk about military service during Asian Games

South Korea's under-23 football coach, Kim Hak-bum, said Thursday he didn't talk about military service exemption with his players during the 18th Asian Games. South Korea defended their Asiad men's football title, beating Japan 2-1 in the final at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, south of Jakarta, on Saturday. With their gold medals, 20 South Korean footballers, including Son Heung-min, earned exemption from mandatory national duty.  (Yonhap)All healthy South Korean men between 18 and 35 must ser

SoccerSept. 6, 2018

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin 1st career loss vs. Mets

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin suffered his first career loss against the New York Mets on Wednesday, as a promising start turned ugly quickly.Ryu gave up 11 hits and five runs -- two unearned -- in six innings in the Dodgers' 7-3 loss at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander dropped to 4-2 for the season and his ERA rose from 2.24 to 2.47.The three earned runs tied for season-worst for Ryu, who missed three months of action beginning in May with a groin injury.

BaseballSept. 6, 2018

Pro baseball league to halt practice of Asian Games break in 2022

The nation's top professional baseball league announced Wednesday it will halt the practice of a midseason break during the Asian Games starting with the next competition.The decision by the Korea Baseball Organization hints at the possibility of picking at least some amateur players for the quadrennial event.At the recently concluded Asian Games in Jakarta, South Korea won its third straight gold medal by defeating a Japanese team of amateurs 3-0 in the final. (Yonhap)Baseball joined the Asian

BaseballSept. 5, 2018

Injured goalkeeper taken off national team for friendlies

Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo was removed from the national soccer team for a pair of September friendlies on Wednesday with a knee injury sustained during the Asian Games.　The Korea Football Association said Jo will not dress for new head coach Paulo Bento when South Korea hosts Costa Rica on Friday and Chile next Tuesday. Jo was South Korea’s No. 1 goalkeeper at the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, which concluded Sunday, and helped the country to a second straight gold medal.　Jo suffered an injury to

SoccerSept. 5, 2018

No unified Korean team at dragon boat worlds due to visa issues: report

Dragon boat paddlers from the two Koreas will not be able to form a joint team at the upcoming world championships in the United States because North Korean athletes haven't been granted visas, a report said Wednesday.Citing officials at the International Canoe Federation, Radio Free Asia said the unified Korean team will not be a part of the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships in Gainesville, Georgia, starting on Sept. 13. (Yonhap)The Koreas assembled combined teams in men's and women's dragon

More SportsSept. 5, 2018

Korea confirm football friendlies with Uruguay, Panama, Uzbekistan

South Korea will play friendly football matches with Uruguay, Panama and Uzbekistan later this year, the national football governing body said Tuesday.The Korea Football Association said South Korea, now led by new head coach Paulo Bento, will face Uruguay on Oct. 12 and take on Panama four days later. Both matches will be held at home, but the exact venues will be decided later. The KFA added South Korea will meet Uzbekistan in Brisbane, Australia, on Nov. 20, three days after they play against

SoccerSept. 4, 2018

Godfather of Korean pro wrestling loses battle with cancer

Lee Wang-pyo, who was viewed as the godfather of South Korea's pro wrestling, died Tuesday after a battle against gallbladder cancer. He was 64. Lee, who headed the Korean Pro Wrestling Association, died at 9:48 a.m., its officials said. (Yonhap)Lee, who was the top pupil of "head-butt master" late Kim Il, made his pro wrestling debut in 1975 and rose in the scene after winning the heavyweight championship belt at the World Wrestling Association. When the popularity of pro wrestling started goin

More SportsSept. 4, 2018

Players on unified Korean basketball team go separate ways after Asiad silver

JAKARTA -- Members of the unified Korean women's basketball team went their separate ways on Monday after combining for silver at the Asian Games in a farewell that mixed laughter and tears.The three North Korean players on the team, Ro Suk-yong, Jang Mi-gyong and Kim Hye-yon, bid adieu to their nine South Korean teammates at the athletes' village in Jakarta, one of the co-host cities of the Asian Games that concluded on Sunday. (Yonhap)The joint Korean team won silver medal, following a 71-65 l

More SportsSept. 3, 2018

U-23 football team players return to heroes' welcome with Asiad gold

INCHEON -- South Korea's under-23 national football team players returned to a heroes' welcome Monday after winning the gold medal at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia. The 20-player team, led by head coach Kim Hak-bum, received a warm welcome from hundreds of fans at Incheon International Airport. The players and coaching staff took a group photo with their gold medals before they disbanded.  (Yonhap)South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in extra time to claim their Asiad men's football title. Lee Seu

SoccerSept. 3, 2018

AIBA to allow judging protests after Asian Games boxing turmoil

The International Boxing Association will introduce a right of protest against controversial judging "to ensure fair play" and prevent a repeat of ugly scenes that marred the Asian Games.Two North Korean boxing coaches were thrown out of the Asian Games Saturday after refusing to leave the ring and inciting the crowd after their fighter lost gold on a split decision to a Chinese boxer. (AFP)Police had to move in to escort the duo, who had their Asian Games credentials immediately removed, from t

More SportsSept. 3, 2018

IOC chief hopes Koreas will march, compete together at Tokyo 2020: reports

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is hoping South and North Korea will march and compete together at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, reports claimed on Sunday.According to AFP and Kyodo News, Bach made the remarks in Jakarta on the final day of the 18th Asian Games. The Koreas marched together at the opening ceremony here on Aug. 18 and fielded unified teams in canoeing, rowing and women's basketball. They won four medals together, including a gold in women's d

More SportsSept. 3, 2018

Asian Games end and Japan, China turn eyes to Tokyo Olympics

Now comes the hard part for Japan, which is pledging to win 30 gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Japan is sure to get a "medal bounce" as the Olympic host country. But how big? China got a giant one at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Britain capitalized in 2012 in London. Even Brazil got a slight boost two years ago in Rio de Janeiro, despite the country being dragged down by a deep recession and a massive corruption scandal.Japan won 75 gold medals as the Asian Games closed on Sunday, secon

More SportsSept. 2, 2018

Unified Korean team delivers historic medals, hopes

JAKARTA -- Together, they were strong. The unified Korean team at the 18th Asian Games showed that it can do more than just serve as a symbol of peace and friendship.This time, one Korea proved that it can also compete to win medals. For Jakarta-Palembang 2018, South and North Korea agreed to send teams in women's five-on-five basketball, men's and women's dragon boat racing in canoeing, and rowing. And Korean athletes in those sports combined for one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. The

More SportsSept. 2, 2018

Korea falls short of gold medal target in Jakarta

JAKARTA-- South Korea arrived in Indonesia with a goal of winning at least 65 gold medals at the 18th Asian Games. But when the quadrennial competition, co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, wraps up Sunday, Team Korea will leave having bagged 49 gold medals.South Korea didn't just fall short of its gold medal target.The country was hoping to fend off Japan for second place in the medal table for the sixth consecutive event -- with China once again far ahead of everyone else -- and South Korea end

More SportsSept. 2, 2018

Korean goalkeeper eyes European career after winning gold

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- After winning a gold medal at the Asian Games, South Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo has unveiled his next goal going forward: playing with European clubs. South Korea took the gold medal in men's football at the 18th Asian Games after edging Japan 2-1 in extra time at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, Indonesia, on Saturday. For Jo, the gold medal has opened the door for him to Europe. Jo, who is now with South Korean club Daegu FC, rose to international stardom through the 20

SoccerSept. 2, 2018

[Newsmaker] With gold, Son Heung-min on course for bright future

Mission accomplished. Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min has secured himself a bright future following South Korea's gold medal victory at the 18th Asian Games on Saturday. South Korea beat Japan 2-1 in extra time at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, south of Jakarta, and defended their Asiad title. This means Son has cleared what could be the biggest obstacle in his career: military service. All healthy South Korean men between 18 and 35 must serve about two years in the armed forces. But ath

SoccerSept. 2, 2018

S. Korean attacker says football gold 'meaningful' to all

South Korean football attacker Lee Seung-woo said his side's gold medal victory at the 18th Asian Games on Saturday will be meaningful to all the players for their future careers. South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in extra time to defend their Asiad men's football title at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, south of Jakarta. Lee broke the deadlock in the 93rd minute, in the first period of extra time, to give South Korea the lead. South Korea later doubled their advantage with a Hwang Hee-chan header.

SoccerSept. 2, 2018