Japan-based slugger Lee Dae-ho approached by Scott Boras' agency: officials

Japan-based South Korean baseball player Lee Dae-ho has been approached by the management company of uber-agent Scott Boras, officials said Thursday, hinting that the slugger could soon sign with a big league club.Lee Cha-ho, a sports agent and an older brother of the Orix Buffaloes player in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), told Yonhap News Agency that Al Chun, the director of Asian operations at the Boras Corporation, has met the player "a few times in Japan."An earlier South Korean news re

BaseballOct. 4, 2013

Lewis Hamilton sets pace in first practice at F1 Korean Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes posted the fastest times in both practice sessions at the Formula One Korean Grand Prix here on Friday, setting the pace early as the only F1 stop in the country got underway.The British driver clocked a lap time of 1 minute and 38.673 seconds in the afternoon practice at the Korea International Circuit here, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul. In the morning session, Hamilton topped the field with 1:39.630."It's been a good day," Hamilton said. "I feel like I have a

More SportsOct. 4, 2013

Serena stumbles through to last eight in China

BEIJING (AFP) ― Serena Williams edged her way into the quarter-finals of the China Open Thursday, claiming victory over Maria Kirilenko in two unconvincing sets, with the scores finishing 7-5, 7-5.The American world number one was forced to summon extra strength at the end of each set as her Russian opponent became increasingly aggressive.Kirilenko was poised to claim the first set, being 40-0 ahead with the score at 5-4 in her favor, but after missing three set points, Williams stepped up a gea

More SportsOct. 3, 2013

Bayern Munich crush City as United draw

PARIS (AFP) ― Titleholders Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain emerged from the second batch of Champions League action with comfortable wins on Wednesday while the two clubs from Manchester endured differing fates.David Moyes’ United, after their worst start to a domestic campaign in 24 years, were held to a dour 1-1 draw by Shakhtar Donetsk in a game that went ahead without injured Wayne Rooney.The stalemate, after Danny Welbeck’s early opener was cancelled out by Taison 14 minu

SoccerOct. 3, 2013

S. Korea's pension fund ups stake in key Samsung unit

The Samsung Lions have become the first club to win the South Korean baseball pennant in three consecutive seasons.The Lions clinched first place in the 2013 regular season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with a 9-2 win on the road over the Lotte Giants in Busan Wednesday night.The win improved the Lions' record to 75 wins, 50 losses and two ties, with one game remaining in 2013. They hold a three-game lead over the Nexen Heroes.The Lions are the first club in the KBO's 31-year history

BaseballOct. 3, 2013

FC Seoul makes AFC Champions League finals

FC Seoul has reached the finals of the AFC Champions League.FC Seoul played to a 2-2 draw against Esteghlal in Tehran early Thursday, Korean time, to finish off a 4-2 aggregate victory over the Iranian club in their two-leg semifinals.FC Seoul is the fifth straight club from South Korea's K League Classic to make the finals at the top Asian club football competition.In the finals, FC Seoul will meet Guangzhou Evergrande of China. The Chinese club defeated Kashiwa Reysol of Japan 4-0 in the secon

SoccerOct. 3, 2013

Incheon hopes to use sporting event as prep for Games

The metropolitan city of Incheon hopes to use an upcoming national multisport competition to prepare for a larger international event it will host next year, the city’s deputy mayor said Wednesday.Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, will stage the 94th National Sports Festival from Oct. 18 to 24, bringing together 22,000 athletes and 8,000 officials in 44 medal sports and two demonstration events.The city will also hold the 2014 Asian Games next September, as the third South Korean host of the

More SportsOct. 2, 2013

Short trackers ...not worried about Korean-born Russian star

South Korean short track speed skaters preparing for an upcoming World Cup race said Wednesday they will not be too concerned about going up against a former national team star now competing for Russia.Seoul’s Mokdong Ice Rink will hold the second leg of the World Cup, organized by the International Skating Union, from Thursday to Sunday.In the competition, South Korean male skaters will race against Viktor Ahn, a South Korean-born Russian short tracker. Born Ahn Hyun-soo in Seoul, the three-tim

More SportsOct. 2, 2013

Reds' Choo Shin-soo homers in team's loss to Pittsburgh in Wild Card Game

PITTSBURGH -- Choo Shin-soo of the Cincinnati Reds went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in the team's 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League (NL) Wild Card Game here on Tuesday.Choo belted a solo shot off Pirates reliever Tony Watson in the top of the eighth in his first career Major League Baseball playoff game, but it wasn't nearly enough for the Reds, who bowed out in the one-and-done affair on the road at PNC Park. Choo finished the game 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs score

BaseballOct. 2, 2013

F1 Korean Grand Prix to kick off for fourth year this weekend

The fourth edition of the Formula One (F1) Korean Grand Prix will kick off this weekend in the southern part of the country, as the runaway leader in the drivers' standings looks to pad his already sizable lead.The Korean Grand Prix, the only annual F1 race in the country, will open with two practice runs Friday on the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul.The third practice session will be held on Saturday, followed by the qualifying

More SportsOct. 2, 2013

FC Seoul looks to finish off Iranian opponent in AFC Champions League

   (Yonhap) -- South Korean football club FC Seoul will look to finish off its Iranian opponent and make the finals at this year's AFC Champions League this week.   FC Seoul will travel to Azadi Stadium in Tehran to face Esteghlal in the second leg of the semifinals at the top Asian club football competition. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday local time, or 12:30 a.m. Thursday in Korean time.   Last Wednesday, FC Seoul blanked Esteghlal 2-0 at Seoul World Cup Stadium, on goals by Dej

SoccerOct. 1, 2013

Ex-short track world champ Noh to miss World Cup with shoulder injury

   (Yonhap) -- Former short track world champion Noh Jin-kyu will miss the upcoming World Cup event here with a shoulder injury, skating officials said on Tuesday.   The Korea Skating Union (KSU) said Noh, the 2011 men's overall world champion, will sit out the second leg of the World Cup, organized by the International Skating Union (ISU), from Thursday to Sunday at Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul.   The 21-year-old captured the men's 1,500-meter title at the first World Cup event in Shanghai last mo

More SportsOct. 1, 2013

Munich to bid for 2022 Olympics

MUNICH (AP) ― Germany is moving forward with a possible Munich bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics.The German Olympic Sports Confederation approved a concept based mostly on Munich’s unsuccessful bid for the 2018 Games, which were awarded to PyeongChang, South Korea.Munich would host indoor ice sports, such as figure skating, while Garmisch-Partenkirchen would stage the Alpine events. Biathlon and cross-county would be held in Ruhpolding and sliding events in Koenigssee. All of the venues are withi

Olympic GamesOct. 1, 2013

Saints muzzle Dolphins

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ― Drew Brees reminded a national audience why he’s becoming Mr. Monday Night, and gave the Miami Dolphins another reason to regret not making a harder push to sign him when they had the chance seven years ago.Brees passed for 413 yards and four touchdowns, and the Saints turned a clash of unbeaten teams into a lopsided affair, beating the Miami Dolphins 38-17 on Monday night.“I felt like we found our rhythm,” Brees said. “Everytime we touched the ball it felt like we were going

More SportsOct. 1, 2013