Koreas to discuss joint gymnastics team for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

South and North Korea's artistic gymnastics officials plan to meet at the upcoming world championships to discuss fielding a joint team at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, Seoul's gymnastics body said Thursday. The Korea Gymnastics Association said its officials will meet North Koreans at the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships to talk about the unified Korean gymnastics team at the Tokyo Olympics. The 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships will be held in Doha from Oct. 25 to Nov.

More SportsSept. 27, 2018

Late-blooming slugger learns to keep emotions in check

Given the impressive frequency with which he's been hitting balls out of Korea Baseball Organization stadiums lately, it's difficult to believe Doosan Bears' slugger Kim Jae-hwan was only a fringe player just three years ago, not deemed good enough to compete in the top-tier league.Along the way, he hasn't just improved as a hitter. The 30-year-old has also learned how to control his emotions so that he is better equipped to survive the six-month grind that is a baseball season. In this file pho

BaseballSept. 27, 2018

Happy times for Tiger Woods heading to a Ryder Cup

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France -- Tiger Woods paused on his walk toward the 18th green at Le Golf National and threw his head back in laughter. These are happy times for Woods, regardless of whatever Bryson DeChambeau said to cause such a reaction Tuesday.　 Now if he can get that to translate in the Ryder Cup.　 For all his amazing feats in golf -- 80 victories on the PGA Tour, the most recent on Sunday at the Tour Championship after returning following a fourth back surgery that threatened to

GolfSept. 26, 2018

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin spins another gem vs. Padres

Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin has thrown his second straight gem to take his club closer to the postseason.Ryu blanked the San Diego Padres over six impressive innings, allowing four hits while striking out eight at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday (local time). The Dodgers went on to rout the Padres 14-0. (Yonhap)At 87-69, the Dodgers hold a 1.5-game lead over the Colorado Rockies atop the National League (NL) West. They have six games left after Sunday, while t

BaseballSept. 24, 2018

Koreas looking to form joint teams in table tennis, swimming at Asian Para Games

ICHEON -- South and North Korea are looking to form joint teams in table tennis and swimming at the Asian Para Games next month, Seoul's para sports chief said Wednesday. "We're planning to have a joint Korean teams in table tennis and swimming," said Korea Paralympic Commitee chief Lee Myung-ho. "We've discussed this issue with North Korea. It will be finalized once the Asian Paralympic Committee decides on entries."Lee added that the Koreas also agreed to have a joint parade at the opening cer

More SportsSept. 19, 2018

Taekwondo fighter to sit out int'l competition after drunk driving incident

South Korean taekwondo fighter Lee Ah-reum has decided not to take part in an upcoming international competition following an incident in which she was caught driving while intoxicated, the Korea Taekwondo Association said Monday.KTA said Lee will not participate in the 2018 World Taekwondo 3rd Grand Prix in Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei, which will be held from Wednesday to Friday.  (Yonhap)KTA previously included Lee on the 15-member roster and allowed her to compete in the 57-kilogram division. But

More SportsSept. 17, 2018

Ronaldo off the mark as Juventus maintain 100% record

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first competitive goals for Juventus on Sunday, with a second-half double that ensured a 2-1 win over Sassuolo to make it four victories from as many Serie A games.But there was controversy in Turin as Juventus winger Douglas Costa was sent off late on after being caught on camera spitting at Sassuolo's Federico Di Francesco.Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, who arrived amid great pomp and ceremony following a 100-million-euro ($117 million) deal from Real Madrid

SoccerSept. 17, 2018

Koreas to form unified team for mixed judo team event at world championships

South and North Korea will form a joint judo team for a mixed team event at the upcoming World Judo Championships, Seoul's judo governing body said Friday. (Yonhap)Three male and four female judokas from North Korea will join South Korean judokas for the mixed team event at the 2018 World Judo Championships, which will be held later this month in Azerbaijan, according to the Korea Judo Association (KJA). The mixed team event will be held on Sept. 27, the last day of the world championships, acco

SportsSept. 14, 2018

World Taekwondo Headquarters chief offers to resign over corruption scandals

The head of World Taekwondo Headquarters, also known as Kukkiwon, has offered to resign over a string of corruption scandals. Oh Hyun-deuk posted a statement on the Kukkiwon website on Thursday saying that he will step down from the post. Oh has been under police investigation since last year for breach of trust, embezzlement and irregularities in the employee recruitment process. In addition, a local investigative journalism television program recently raised allegations of sexual harassment an

More SportsSept. 14, 2018

Controversy looms over taekwondo fighter after drunk driving

South Korean taekwondo fighter Lee Ah-reum's participation in an upcoming international competition is drawing controversy here following an incident in which she was caught driving while intoxicated. Korea Taekwondo Association on Friday announced a 15-member roster for the 2018 World Taekwondo 3rd Grand Prix that will be held in Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei, from next Wednesday to Friday.According to the KTA, Lee will represent the country in the women's 57-kilogram division. The 26-year-old is one

More SportsSept. 14, 2018

Fujikawa becomes first openly gay male pro golfer

Tadd Fujikawa, the youngest American to make the cut in a US PGA Tour event, became the first openly gay male professional golfer, making the revelation in an Instagram post.The 27-year-old from Honolulu said he had been pondering about going public for some time before telling the world he is gay."I thought that I didn't need to come out because it doesn't matter if anyone knows," Fujikawa wrote. "But I remember how much other's stories have helped me in my darkest times to have hope. I spent w

GolfSept. 14, 2018

S. Korea to propose co-hosting 2032 Olympics with NK: sports minister

TOKYO -- South Korea is considering making a proposal to North Korea to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics Games, Seoul’s sports minister said Wednesday. Do Jong-hwan said South Korea is thinking of co-hosting the Olympics with North Korea for regional peace. Do made the remarks during a press meeting in Tokyo ahead of a sports ministers meeting with his Japanese and Chinese counterparts. “It’s a proposal of hosting the events in Seoul and Pyongyang,” Do said, adding that such matters could be dis

More SportsSept. 12, 2018

Son Heung-min wraps up tight monthlong schedule with Korea

SUWON, Gyeonggi Province -- Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min wrapped up his tight monthlong schedule with South Korea on Tuesday before returning to the English Premier League. Son played full time in South Korea's 0-0 draw against Chile at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, south of Seoul. It was his last match before returning to Tottenham for his club duty.The friendly against Chile was Son's eighth match in 26 days. After having a tight Asian Games with the under-23 side in Indonesia,

SoccerSept. 12, 2018

S. Korea's pro baseball league sets salary cap on new foreign players

South Korea's top pro baseball league on Tuesday set an annual salary cap of $1 million on new foreign players.The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said it established the hard cap to curb teams' spending on imports and to ensure fair competition. The figure includes wages, incentives, signing bonuses and transfer fees. (Yonhap)The KBO said the rule only applies to new foreign players and that there's no cap when a club wants to re-sign a player whose rights are already reserved by the club. Bu

BaseballSept. 11, 2018

Speedskater Viktor Ahn dismisses rumors about post-retirement plan

South Korea-born Russian short-track speedskater Victor Ahn uploaded on his Instagram account Monday a handwritten letter confirming his retirement. However, he dismissed rumors surrounding his return to Korea.(Yonhap)“I have decided on my retirement earlier than I intended,” Ahn wrote in his letter. “I turned down the offer to coach the Russian national team because I had longed to continue as an athlete, rather than a coach.”He revealed that he has no clear plans regarding his career for now.

More SportsSept. 11, 2018

Chile football coach expects tight game vs. S. Korea

Chile national football coach Reinaldo Rueda said Monday he expects a tight match with South Korea, considering the quality of the two teams.Chile will face South Korea at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, south of Seoul, on Tuesday. It will be their second contest in men's football.  "It's going to be an interesting match," he said. "Considering the quality of the South Korean national team, it's going to be a tight match. We're also a good team, so both (teams) can get benefits from tomorrow's

SoccerSept. 10, 2018

Former Chicago Cubs prospect selected in draft

Former Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Rhee Dae-eun was selected first overall in the annual South Korean pro baseball draft on Monday.　The KT Wiz picked the 29-year-old right-hander with their top pick in the Korea Baseball Organization draft in Seoul.　Those who finished high school in South Korea and played for foreign professional clubs without having competed in the KBO were eligible for the draft, as long as their first pro contract expired before Jan. 31, 2017.　Rhee signed with the Cubs in

BaseballSept. 10, 2018

Naomi Osaka wins US Open after Serena 'umpire thief' meltdown

Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese to win a Grand Slam singles title on Saturday as her idol Serena Williams angrily imploded, calling the chair umpire in the US Open final "a thief".Osaka, 20, triumphed 6-2, 6-4 in the match marred by Williams's second set outburst, the American enraged by umpire Carlos Ramos's warning for receiving coaching from her box. (AP)When a second code violation for racquet abuse was handed out to her -- along with a point penalty -- Williams exploded.She tearfully

More SportsSept. 9, 2018

S. Korea blank Costa Rica 2-0 in Bento's coaching debut

South Korea defeated Costa Rica 2-0 in a men's football friendly match on Friday, giving their new coach Paulo Bento a victory in his debut before a sellout home crowd.    Midfielder Lee Jae-sung knocked home a rebound after Son Heung-min's penalty attempt rang off the post in the 35th at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, north of Seoul, while fellow midfielder Nam Tae-hee scored his first international goal in nearly two years for second-half insurance.   Bento, the former Portugal boss named South Kor

SoccerSept. 8, 2018

N. Korea wins 1st medal at shooting world championship in S. Korea

North Korea captured its first medal at the ongoing shooting world championship in South Korea on Thursday.North Korea earned bronze in the men's 50-meter running target mixed event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship at Changwon International Shooting Centre in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (From left) Kwon Kwang-il, Jo Yong-chol and Pak Myong-won (Yonhap)The trio of Pak Myong-won, Jo Yong-chol and Kwon Kwang-il scored a combined 1,163 points,

More SportsSept. 6, 2018