PyeongChang teams up with int'l experts in prepping for 2018 Winter Olympics ceremonies

The organizers of the 2018PyeongChang Winter Olympics announced on Friday that they have teamed up with international experts in preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies of the multisport competition.The organizing committee said it has formed an International Consulting Committee, made up of experts with experience in directing past Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies. These experts will work closely with South Korean artists, the committee added.The consulting group features Russian d

Olympic GamesApril 10, 2015

Kim extends lead, Thai sisters lurking at ANA event

RANCHO MIRAGE (AFP) - South Korean rookie Kim Sei-Young birdied two of her final three holes to extend her lead at the LPGA Tour's ANA Inspiration event to three shots on Saturday.Kim fired a three-under 69 to finish 54 holes with a 10-under 206 in the first major championship of the season. American Stacy Lewis (68) is second while Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn and former winners Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lincicome are tied for third at six-under par.Ariya's older sister Moriya shot her second

GolfApril 5, 2015

S. Korea defeats Russia 1-0 in women's football friendly

South Korea edged out Russia 1-0 in the two countries' women's football friendly match at home on Sunday.Striker Ji So-yun scored in the dying moments of the match at Incheon Football Stadium, located just west of Seoul, to lift the home side over the visitors in a prep match ahead of this year's FIFA Women's World Cup. South Korea and Russia will go head-to-head again on Wednesday in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul. Ji, who plays club football for Chelsea Ladies in England, only ar

SoccerApril 5, 2015

After 76 matches, football defender Cha Du-ri bids teary farewell to int'l football

South Korean footballer Cha Du-ri bid a teary farewell to international football on Tuesday, wrapping up a 14-year career that included appearances at two FIFA World Cups.Cha, 34, played in his 76th and final match for South Korea against New Zealand at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The right fullback served as the team captain and stayed on for 42 minutes before leaving the field to a rousing standing ovation from thousands of fans. New Zealand players also applauded Cha on his way to the bench.Cha'

SoccerMarch 31, 2015

S. Korea reaches Asian Olympic qualifying tourney in 2016

South Korea on Tuesday clinched a spot in the regional Olympic qualifying tournament scheduled for next year.South Korea, coached by Shin Tae-yong defeated Indonesia 4-0 in Jakarta in the preliminaries for next year's AFC U-23 Championship.South Korea had earlier defeated Brunei and Timor-Leste, and thanks to posting the best record among the four countries, South Korea qualified for the U-23 Championship, which will double as the Asian qualification tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Ri

Olympic GamesMarch 31, 2015

Gwangju Universiade marks D-100

The organizers of the Gwangju Summer Universiade will mark 100 days until the games on Wednesday with various promotional events in Seoul and Gwangju.The event will be held from July 3 to 14, during which some 20,000 staff and student athletes from 170 nations will compete in 21 sports.As part of the efforts to raise awareness for the upcoming games, a nationwide promotion tour will be launched at Gwangju City Hall. The promotion team will tour nine major cities around the country including Seou

More SportsMarch 24, 2015

Talented midfielder injured ahead of S. Korea's Olympic football qualification

South Korea lost one of its most gifted young players ahead of its early Olympic football qualification matches scheduled in Indonesia, officials announced Monday.The Korea Football Association said Ryu Seung-woo, a midfielder for the second-division German club Eintracht Braunschweig, has suffered a partially torn knee ligament in a league match and will not suit up for the South Korean under-22 team.The U-22 squad, coached by Shin Tae-yong, traveled to Indonesia last Friday for the qualificati

SoccerMarch 23, 2015

S. Korea loses to France in race to host 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

South Korea on Thursday came up short in a race to host the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.  At FIFA's Executive Board meeting in Zurich Thursday, South Korea lost out to France for the right to host the women's premier football event.  South Korea was aiming to become the first country to have held every major FIFA tournament. It previously hosted the 2001 Confederations Cup, the 2002 World Cup -- with Japan as a co-host -- and the 2007 U-17 World Cup. And it will stage the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cu

SoccerMarch 20, 2015

PyeongChang Winter Games organizers launch separate entity for test events

The organizers of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang said Monday they have launched a separate entity to operate test events.  Tentatively named "PyeongChang Winter Series Foundation," the new entity will work closely with representatives of PyeongChang and national federations for winter sports, the organizing committee said in a statement.  In its inaugural meeting earlier Monday, the foundation elected Cho Yang-ho, head of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics organizing committee, as its ex o

Olympic GamesMarch 16, 2015

Prime minister calls for thorough prep for 2018 Winter Games

Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo on Friday called for thorough preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in South Korea, saying those involved must resolve outstanding issues and focus on the task at hand.Lee presided over a meeting on providing governmental support for the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, an alpine town some 180 kilometers east of Seoul in Gangwon Province. During the meeting, Bokwang Snow Park was selected as the venue for snowboard and freestyle skiing event.Operators o

Olympic GamesMarch 13, 2015

Park In-bee picks up 13th LPGA win in Singapore

World No. 2 Park In-bee picked up her 13th career LPGA Tour victory in Singapore on Sunday, prevailing in a battle of the world's three highest-ranked female golfers.Park enjoyed a wire-to-wire victory at the HSBC Women's Champions with a four-round total of 15-under 273 on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. World No. 1 Lydia Ko finished two shots back in second place, while No. 3-ranked Stacy Lewis finished third at 11-under.Park, who didn't make a bogey all week for her fir

GolfMarch 8, 2015

Pitcher Yoon Suk-min blames himself for unsuccessful U.S. career

After rejoining his former South Korean team following an unsuccessful U.S. minor league season in the Baltimore Orioles system, right-hander Yoon Suk-min put the blame squarely on himself for his failure to reach the majors.Yoon arrived at Incheon International Airport Friday, hours after the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization announced their signing of the pitcher to a four-year, 9 billion won ($8.2 million) contract. It's the largest contract ever handed out to a free agent in the

BaseballMarch 6, 2015

Amy Yang captures 2nd career LPGA title in Thailand

Amy Yang of South Korea captured her second career LPGA Tour win here in Thailand on Sunday.Yang won the Honda LPGA Thailand by two strokes over three golfers on Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club in Chonburi, after shooting a three-under 69 on Sunday for a four-round total of 15-under 273.Yang, who joined the LPGA in 2008, had last won on the tour in 2013. She is the third South Korean winner in four events so far in 2015. Yang, the runner-up at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open last

SportsMarch 1, 2015