Unified ping-pong team heads into mixed doubles final

DAEJEON -- A unified Korean mixed doubles ping-pong team advanced to the finals Friday, propelled by thunderous cheers and applause from South Korean spectators. At the semifinals that kicked off around noon, the impeccable teamwork of Jang Woo-jin of South Korea and Cha Hyo-sim of North Korea caught Taiwan’s Chen Chien-An and Cheng I-Ching off guard with a score of 3-2 (6-11, 11-5, 16-14, 11-6, 11-4) at the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour Platinum Korea Open in Daejeon, 160 kil

North KoreaJuly 20, 2018

[Newsmaker] Korean figure skaters mourn death of Kazakh star Denis Ten

South Korean figure skaters on Friday mourned the death of Denis Ten, a Kazakh star of Korean descent, taking to social media to express their condolences.Ten, the 2014 Olympic men's singles bronze medalist and a great-great-grandson of a Korean-born independence fighter Min Keung-ho, was stabbed to death in Almaty on Thursday at age 25.South Korean icon Kim Yu-na wrote on her Instagram page that she was "traumatized" by the news of Ten's death, while also posting a photo of herself and Ten toge

More SportsJuly 20, 2018

[Newsmaker] Kazakh-Korean figure skater Denis Ten stabbed to death: report

Denis Ten, a Kazakh figure skater of Korean descent, has been stabbed to death at 25, a Kazakhstan news agency reported Thursday.　Kazinform reported that Ten was stabbed by two unidentified men in Almaty at 3 p.m. Friday (local time) and was pronounced dead at a hospital.　The news agency added that Ten lost 3 liters of blood and was fighting for his life for nearly three hours before his passing. Denis Ten (Yonhap)　Kazinform also quoted the healthcare ministry spokesman Yernar Akimkulov as sayin

SportsJuly 19, 2018

South Korean football legend looking to expand his youth project

SHENZHEN, China -- South Korean football legend Cha Bum-kun said Thursday that Asian nations need to compete with each other to develop the sport as he eyes an expansion of his youth football project across the continent.　Cha will launch “Team Chaboom Plus Project” in Shenzhen, 2,000 kilometers south of Beijing, with the help of a sports organization under China‘s CITIC Group. The 65-year-old is familiar with the Chinese city as he managed Shenzhen Ping An in 1998 after he was sacked from the So

SoccerJuly 19, 2018

Korea negotiating with Tottenham over release period of Son Heung-min

Korea is negotiating with Tottenham Hotspur over the release date of Son Heung-min for the upcoming Asian Games, a football official in Seoul said Thursday, hoping the star forward can join the national team as soon as possible.Son, 26, was named to Korea's 20-man football squad for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia as one of the three overage players. The Asiad is open to men's footballers aged 23 or under, but teams can field up to three players who are over the age limit.(Yonhap)Korea's under

SoccerJuly 19, 2018

S. Korea begins search for new men's football coach

South Korea has begun its quest to find a new head coach for the men's national football team after suffering an early exit at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.  The Korea Football Association on Wednesday confirmed that Kim Pan-gon, who leads the national team coach appointment committee, has returned from a trip to negotiate with foreign tacticians for the South Korean men's national football team coaching job.The KFA has been keeping mum on Kim's destinations and the coaches he has contacted. What's c

SoccerJuly 18, 2018

Son Heung-min gets opportunity to earn military service exemption with Asiad selection

Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min has received his last opportunity to earn a military service exemption to extend his career in Europe after he was named to South Korea's football squad for the 2018 Asian Games. Son made the 20-man roster Monday for the men's football tournament at the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games as one of the three "wild-card" members. The men's football competition at the Asian Games is open to the players who are aged 23 or under, but teams can field three players wh

SoccerJuly 16, 2018

[World Cup] With flags, song, pride, French celebrate unifying victory

PARIS -- It was a victory for all of France and the home crowd did it justice, pouring into Paris’ Champs-Elysees Avenue by the tens of thousands to celebrate in an explosion of joy.France’s 4-2 win over Croatia in the World Cup final in Moscow on Sunday marked the second time in 20 years that France has won the World Cup, and came at a time when the people feel needy.“It represents enormous things,” said Goffrey Hamsik, dressed in a hat resembling a rooster — the French national symbol — and a

SoccerJuly 16, 2018

Son Heung-min headlines Korea's football roster for 2018 Asian Games

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min is the headline star of South Korea's squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia. The Korea Football Association on Monday unveiled the men's national football team roster for the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games that includes Son as one of its "wild card" members. Son, who turned 26 on July 8, will make his first Asiad appearance. The men's football competition at the Asian Games, which will be held from Aug. 14 to Sept. 1, is open to players born in o

SoccerJuly 16, 2018

Four World Cup team members reunited in pursuit of Asian Games gold

Four members of the South Korean 2018 World Cup squad have been reunited in the country's pursuit of a second straight Asian Games gold medal.Head coach Kim Hak-bum announced his 20-man roster for the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, where South Korea will be the defending champions. The opening ceremony is Aug. 18, but the men's football tournament kicks off on Aug. 14.Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min was a no-brainer selection as one of five forwards. He led South Korea with two goals at the FI

SoccerJuly 16, 2018

[World Cup] France wins 2nd World Cup title, beats Croatia 4-2

MOSCOW - With Vladimir Putin watching from the stands, France won its second World Cup title in a match that was interrupted by an on-field protest during the second half that Russian punk band Pussy Riot later took credit for. French players celebrate at the end of the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. (AP)Nineteen-year-old Kylian Mbappe became only the second teenager to score in a World Cup fin

SoccerJuly 16, 2018

[World Cup] As World Cup ends, Russia's stadiums face uncertain future

Russian President Vladimir Putin knows the legacy of his World Cup will be judged partly by the fate of the stadiums after the tournament and he is determined they are put to good use.Russia has spent at least $4 billion on arena construction and refurbishments for the month-long showpiece.Stunning venues rose from the ground in developed cities far from Moscow such as Nizhny Novogrod on the Volga River and in small and isolated places like Saransk.Putin's last TV phone-in show held a week befor

SoccerJuly 15, 2018

[Newsmaker] Belgium finishes 3rd at World Cup, beats England 2-0

For Belgium and England, the third-place match at the World Cup was more like a dress rehearsal for future finals.At least they hope.The Belgians earned their best World Cup finish by beating England 2-0 on Saturday in a match both saw as the start of a push for the European Championship title in 2020 or the World Cup in 2022."With this winning mentality you can win trophies," said Eden Hazard, who scored Belgium's second goal. "In two years, in four years, we will be better. We have young playe

SportsJuly 15, 2018

Super-Mom Serena into 10th Wimbledon final

LONDON -- Serena Williams demonstrated that having a baby had not robbed her of any of her phenomenal tennis skills when she became the first mother in 38 years to reach the Wimbledon final, with a 6-2 6-4 demolition of Germany’s Julia Goerges on Thursday. Goerges had come into her first Grand Slam semi-final having belted more winners (199), more aces (44) and more unreturned serves (113) than anyone else in the women’s draw but those statistics counted for little when she came up against an op

More SportsJuly 13, 2018

[World Cup] England’s Kane misses out on golden shot at World Cup title

MOSCOW -- Harry Kane will likely come home from the World Cup with the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer and a burnished reputation as a feared forward.Had Kane added to his six goals in Russia with either of his back-to-back chances in the first half against Croatia on Wednesday, when England was dominating and led 1-0, he could yet be lifting the trophy on Sunday.Or the header in stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes when the score was 1-1 and a goal would likely have brought England

SoccerJuly 13, 2018

[Graphic News] Ronaldo joins Juventus for 100m euros

　Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Italian champions Juventus from Real Madrid for 100 million euros ($117.34 million).  　The 33-year-old striker secured a second entry in the world’s top 10 largest transfers in history.　Brazil star Neymar became the most expensive player when he moved to PSG from Barcelona last summer for 222 million euros.　Philippe Coutinho and Paul Pogba ranked second and third respectively.

SoccerJuly 12, 2018

Croatia tops England in extra time, will meet France in Final

MOSCOW -- Croatia’s legs seemed heavy, burdened by the accumulated toll of consecutive penalty-kicks wins needed to get this far. England had gone ahead with a free kick just five minutes in, dominated play and appeared headed to its first World Cup final since 1966.Then the second half started and it was as if a different Croatian team had replaced the lethargic one.Ivan Perisic tied the score in the 68th minute , Mario Mandzukic got the go-ahead goal in the 109th and Croatia shocked England wi

SoccerJuly 12, 2018

Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo to visit S. Korea

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo will visit Korea for the first time 11 years, officials here said Tuesday. Korea Tech, a local beauty and home appliance seller, said Ronaldo will visit Korea on July 25 to promote a Japanese brand fitness product and will have meet and greet events for fans.He is expected to land in Korea after visiting Japan.  (Yonhap)This will be Ronaldo's first trip to Korea since July 2007, when he came to Seoul for Manchester United's friendly match with FC Seoul. Ronaldo, w

SoccerJuly 10, 2018

Koreas want to use flag showing Dokdo during 2018 Asian Games

JINCHEON, North Chungcheong Province -- South and North Korea have requested the top Asian sports governing body to allow use of a unification flag showing the South's eastern islets of Dokdo during the upcoming Asian Games, Seoul's Olympic chief said Tuesday.Lee Kee-heung, who leads the South's Korean Olympic & Sport Committee, said that the two Koreas recently sent a request to the Olympic Council of Asia for the use of a flag showing Dokdo when their joint team appears at the 18th Asian Games

More SportsJuly 10, 2018

S. Korea aims for 2nd place at Asian Games

JINCHEON, North Chungcheong Province -- South Korea on Tuesday vowed to fend off its longtime sporting rival Japan to secure second place at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Lee Kee-heung said that South Korea aims to finish second in the medal standings with at least 65 gold, 71 silver and 72 bronze. "Our goal is clear, which is to secure second place for six consecutive events," Lee said in a media event held at National Training Center in Jincheon,

More SportsJuly 10, 2018