[Weekender] Outdoor sports head indoors with technology

Although it can be difficult to find a way to be active during the scorching summer, it has become easier to find indoor alternatives. In this densely populated and busy country, the sports industry is catering to those who want to stay fit and blow off steam with activities that are free from weather or space constraints. Although the spaces may not be as roomy as outdoor sports facilities, indoor sports such as screen golf, indoor fishing and snowboarding have been gaining ground here through

More SportsJune 2, 2017

[Weekender] Scaling world’s tallest indoor ice wall

Five meters above ground and clinging on to a wall of ice by the tips of my toes, instinct was signaling loud and clear that I should stick to the ice to stay alive. “Lean backward, (because) you can’t swing your ice tool if you have no space between you and the wall,” Yang You-suk, an instructor of Kolon Sport, called out from below. With seasoned climber Yang belaying me from the ground, I should not have been worried about my safety. But I had only met him for the first time less th

More SportsJune 2, 2017

Korea football coach says quick passing key in World Cup qualifier vs. Qatar

PAJU -- South Korea football coach Uli Stielike said Friday executing a quick passing game will be a key to beat Qatar in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier. South Korea will take on Qatar in Doha on June 13 in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. With only three matches remaining, South Korea are second in Group A with 13 points from four wins, one draw and two losses. They trail Iran by four points and sit just one point above Uzbekistan.  South Korea`s men`s nation

SoccerJune 2, 2017

Nat'l football team captain says World Cup qualifier vs. Qatar turning point

PAJU -- South Korean football captain Ki Sung-yueng said Friday that the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against Qatar will serve as a turning point for the national team.Ki is one of the 24 members called up by head coach Uli Stielike for South Korea's crucial World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha on June 13. With only three matches remaining, South Korea are second in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round for the FIFA World Cup in Russia. With 13 points from four wins, one draw and

SoccerJune 2, 2017

FC Augsburg forward Ji Dong-won to get married this month

FC Augsburg's South Korean forward Ji Dong-won will tie the knot with his longtime girlfriend later this month, a local wedding planning service said Friday.Ji will marry an older sister of Kang Ji-young, a former member of K-pop girl group Kara, after dating her for about two years, iwedding said. The wedding will take place at Hotel Shilla in Seoul on June 16, but only family members and close friends will be invited to attend.  In this photo provided by iwedding on June 2, 2017, South Korean

SoccerJune 2, 2017

Cardinals' Oh Seung-hwan earns 13th save of season

Oh Seung-hwan of the St. Louis Cardinals has saved his 13th game of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Oh threw a scoreless ninth inning against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday (local time), preserving the Cards' 2-0 victory. The right-hander gave up a hit but collected two strikeouts to pick up a save for the second straight day.  St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Oh Seung-hwan and catcher Yadier Molina celebrate a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in

BaseballJune 2, 2017

FC Augsburg's Korean forward energized by healthy season

FC Augsburg's South Korean forward Ji Dong-won said Thursday he will try to score more goals and get more assists in the Bundesliga after completing a healthy season.Ji played in all 34 league matches for Augsburg -- starting in 24 -- in the 2016-17 season. This is the first time that the 26-year-old appeared in all league matches since he moved to Europe in 2011. He also featured in two German Cup matches this past season. In this file photo taken on March 20, 2017, South Korean forward Ji Dong

SoccerJune 1, 2017

Korean defender eager to leave Chinese football club

South Korean defender Jang Hyun-soo said Thursday he is eager to leave his Chinese club to get more playing time elsewhere.Jang, who plays with Guangzhou R&F in the Chinese Super League, is one of the 24 players called up by national football head coach Uli Stielike for South Korea's friendly match against Iraq on June 7 and their FIFA World Cup qualifier against Qatar on June 13. South Korean defender Jang Hyun-soo (left) tries to defend Son Heung-min during the national football team's trainin

SoccerJune 1, 2017

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin solid in return to rotation

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers has thrown a solid outing in his return to the starting rotation, while fellow Korean pitcher Oh Seung-hwan earned a save for the St. Louis Cardinals in the same game.Ryu tossed six effective innings in a no-decision against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Wednesday (local time). Ryu held the Cards to a run on three hits over those half-dozen frames, while striking out four and walking one, but the Cardinals went on to win the game 2-1.The l

BaseballJune 1, 2017

Football club files suit against league to amend promotion playoff result

South Korean football club Seongnam FC said on Thursday they've recently filed a suit against the K League, the operator of the country's professional football leagues, to amend the promotion playoff result in 2016.Seongnam said they previously requested that the K League fofeit the second leg of the promotion playoffs on Nov. 20, 2016, due to Gangwon FC's use of an ineligible player. But since the league didn't take any action, they decided to take the case to court on May 23. In this file phot

SoccerJune 1, 2017

Ex-MLB players become first Dominican batterymates to win in Korea

DAEJEON -- Former major league players Alexi Ogando and Wilin Rosario on Wednesday became the first batterymates from the Dominican Republic to win a game in the Korea Baseball Organization.Ogando tossed six strong innings for the Hanwha Eagles with countryman Rosario behind the plate, as they beat the Doosan Bears 3-1 at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, some 160 kilometers south of Seoul. The Eagles are now enjoying a season-high four-game winning streak.Ogando gave up just one earned run on

BaseballJune 1, 2017

Nat'l team footballer trains on wedding day, puts off honeymoon for World Cup qualification

South Korean football defender Kim Jin-su is scheduled to marry his girlfriend of 18 months on Wednesday.So what did the 24-year-old do for preparation? He trained for two hours with the rest of the national team in the morning. South Korean fullback Kim Jin-su (L) jogs with teammate Son Heung-min at the National Football Training Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 29, 2017. (Yonhap)"After the wedding ceremony today, I'll be back here for training tomorrow," Kim told reporters at the Nati

SoccerMay 31, 2017

Stephen Curry to visit Korea for 1st time

Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry will visit Korea for the first time in July, officials from Under Armour Korea said Wednesday, as part of his Asia promotional tour. According to the US sportswear company, Curry will visit the country on a three-day visit starting July 26. The “2017 Stephen Curry Asia Tour Powered by Under Armour” will commence on July 22, during which he will make stops in Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Seoul.  Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates a basket against

More SportsMay 31, 2017

Rangers' Choo Shin-soo homers for 2nd straight game

Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers has homered in back-to-back games for the first time this season.Leading off and playing right field, Choo jumped on the first pitch he saw from the Tampa Bay Rays' starter Matt Andriese in the bottom of the first at Globe Life Park in Arlington in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday (local time). In this Associated Press photo, Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in their Major League Baseball r

BaseballMay 31, 2017

Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry to visit Korea on corporate tour

Two-time National Basketball Association MVP Stephen Curry will visit South Korea this summer as part of his Asian corporate tour, officials said Wednesday.Athletics apparels brand Under Armour will bring Curry, All-Star guard for the Golden State Warriors, to South Korea from July 26 to 28. The summer's Asian tour will see Curry travel to three Chinese cities, Beijing, Chengdu and Hangzhou, before arriving in Seoul. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after scoring against the San

More SportsMay 31, 2017

Korea's elimination big blow to ticket sales

Hosts South Korea's exit will serve as a big blow to ticket sales for the FIFA U-20 World Cup as the organizers now hope South Koreans still fill the seats for other nations' matches.South Korea ended their U-20 World Cup journey in the round of 16 on Tuesday after losing to Portugal 3-1 at Cheonan Sports Complex in Cheonan, some 90 kilometers south of Seoul. South Korea's under-20 national football team players give their respect to supporters in the stands after losing to Portugal 3-1 in the F

SoccerMay 31, 2017

1st PGA Tour event in Korea likely to have record number of local players

The first PGA Tour event to be held here could have a record number of South Korean players in its field, organizers said Wednesday.CJ Group announced qualification criteria for the CJ Cup@Nine Bridges, which will be played from Oct. 19-22 at the Club at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island.And it said up to 20 South Koreans could compete at the tournament, which would be a record at a PGA tournament. Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of CJ Group (left), and Jay Monahan, then deputy commissioner of the PGA Tour,

More SportsMay 31, 2017

Volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung hoping to duplicate Europe success in China

INCHEON -- South Korean volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung said Wednesday she hopes to duplicate her success in Europe with her new club in China.Kim, one of the world's top attackers, recently signed a one-year deal with Shanghai Guohua Life in the Chinese Volleyball League. It spelled an end of a six-season stint with Fenerbahce, with which Kim won two league championships and one continental title. She was the European Champions League MVP in 2012, the Turkish league MVP in 2015 and the Turkish C

More SportsMay 31, 2017

Head coach laments Korea's exit

CHEONAN -- South Korean football coach Shin Tae-young lamented his side's exit from the FIFA U-20 World Cup after losing 3-1 to Portugal on Tuesday.The tournament hosts failed to reach the quarterfinals after conceding three goals in front of 21,361 fans at Cheonan Sports Complex in Cheonan, some 90 kilometers south of Seoul. Second-half substitute Lee Sang-heon cut the deficit to two in the 81st, but South Korea didn't have enough time to create the miracle."It's really sad," Shin said. "Althou

SoccerMay 31, 2017

Korean dreams come crushing down in 1st knockout match

CHEONAN -- As the host nation of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, South Korea harbored dreams of going deep into the 24-nation tournament. They hoped, however cautiously, to match the country's best performance at this competition -- the semifinals appearance in Mexico in 1983.But those dreams came crashing down on Tuesday in a 3-1 loss to Portugal in the round of 16.Before more than 21,000 fans at Cheonan Sports Complex in Cheonan, 90 kilometers south of Seoul, South Korea picked the worst moment

SoccerMay 31, 2017