Two Korean clubs eliminated from AFC Champions League contention

Two South Korean football clubs were eliminated from knockout berth contention in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League after Wednesday's losses. Ulsan Hyundai were blanked 4-0 by Japanese side Kashima Antlers in their Group E contest at home, while FC Seoul fell 4-2 to Chinese outfit Shanghai SIPG in their Group F match. Both K League Classic clubs needed a victory to keep their hopes alive for the last 16, but failed to execute the mission.The players of Kashima Antlers (in pink) c

More SportsApril 27, 2017

Ex-Dutch Olympic champion to coach Korean speed skating team

Former Dutch Olympic speed skating champion Bob de Jong will coach the South Korean national team for next year's Winter Olympics, the sport's national federation said Wednesday.The Korea Skating Union said de Jong, 40, will serve as an assistant coach on the national speed skating team for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the first Winter Games to be held in South Korea.Bob de Jong of the Netherlands reacts after winning the men's 10,000m at the International Skating Union World Cup Speed

More SportsApril 27, 2017

Four cross-country skiers suspended from nat‘l team for drinking

Four male South Korean cross-country skiers have been suspended from the national team after they were caught drinking during the Asian Winter Games, the sport's national governing body said Thursday. The Korea Ski Association said the cross-country skiers who drank beer during the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan, received six-month suspensions and were immediately dropped from the national team. Among the cross-country skiers who represented South Korea at the Asian Games in February, only

More SportsApril 27, 2017

Korean U-20 team loses to defending Asian club football champs in friendly

The South Korean national under-20 football team lost to the defending Asian club football champions 3-0 on Wednesday in a friendly match ahead of an upcoming FIFA competition at home.South Korea, led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, were schooled by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in their tune-up match for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. The country will host the U-20 World Cup from May 20 to June 11 in six cities. South Korean under-20 national te

SoccerApril 26, 2017

Reigning Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champ to visit Korea

GOYANG -- Reigning Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champion Margarita Mamun will visit South Korea to promote tourism in a local city, officials here said Wednesday. Margarita Mamun (Yonhap)The Goyang City Government said Mamun, who won the rhythmic gymnastics all-around gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Games, will land in South Korea on Thursday to participate in various tourism promotional events for the city located just north of Seoul. She will also teach young rhythmic gymna

More SportsApril 26, 2017

Finally healthy, pitcher-turned-infielder off to strong start in KBO

With a recent history of injuries behind him, Nexen Heroes' first baseman Chae Tae-in is finally doing the things that many thought he was capable of all along.Through Tuesday's games, the 34-year-old veteran in the Korea Baseball Organization is leading the club with a .387/.433/.613 slash line, along with two homers and nine RBIs in 18 games. He's fifth in the KBO in batting average, and is also inside the top 10 in both on-base and slugging percentages.In this file photo taken on April 11, 20

BaseballApril 26, 2017

Korean scorer 'not surprised' with team's winning streak at hockey worlds

South Korea has taken the hockey world by storm this week, emerging as the only undefeated nation at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship Division I Group A in Ukraine.South Korea, ranked 23rd, came from behind to defeat 19th-ranked Hungary 3-1 Tuesday in Kiev. With three straight wins, South Korea is sitting pretty at the top of the six-nation competition with two games remaining.South Korean forward Shin Sang-hoon takes a shot against Hungary at the International Ice Hock

More SportsApril 26, 2017

Korea defeats Hungary to move closer to promotion in men's hockey

South Korea defeated Hungary 3-1 for its third straight victory at the men's hockey world championship in Ukraine, moving a step closer to a promotion to the sport's top-tier competition.The 23rd-ranked South Korean team erased a 1-0 deficit against No. 19 Hungary with three unanswered goals on Monday (local time) at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship Division I Group A at the Palace of Sports in Kiev.Brothers Shin Sang-hoon and Sin Sang-woo each netted a goal in the thir

SportsApril 26, 2017

Korean Air CEO to lead Korea's pro volleyball league

The chief of South Korea's largest flagship carrier has been appointed as the new leader of the nation's professional volleyball league, officials here said Tuesday.The Korea Volleyball Federation, the operator of the V-League, said that Cho Won-tae, the CEO of Korean Air Lines Co., will be its new commissioner. The KOVO added its board members unanimously approved Cho's appointment.This photo provided by the Korea Volleyball Federation on April 25, 2017, shows Cho Won-tae, who will lead South K

More SportsApril 25, 2017

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin suffers 4th straight loss despite strong outing

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers has suffered his fourth straight loss despite his strongest outing of the season.Ryu held the Giants to a run on five hits over six effective innings against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Monday (local time). It still wasn't enough for his first win of the year, as the Dodgers lost 2-1.Ryu fell to 0-4 after four starts, but lowered his ERA from 5.87 to 4.64.The South Korean left-hander missed all of 2015 following a shoulder sur

BaseballApril 25, 2017

Ex-All-Star catcher to have retirement ceremony on weekend

Former All-Star catcher Hong Sung-heon will have a retirement ceremony this weekend with his two former clubs on hand.The Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Tuesday they will hold a retirement ceremony for the 40-year-old before Sunday's home game against the Lotte Giants at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul.Hong already announced his retirement last November after 18 seasons in the KBO -- 14 in two different stints with the Bears and four with the Giants. He had been undergoing co

BaseballApril 25, 2017

Orioles' Kim Hyun-soo blasts his 1st homer of season

Reduced to a part-time role in 2017, Baltimore Orioles' Kim Hyun-soo has finally hit his first home run of the season in his 10th game.The South Korean outfielder blasted a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Monday (local time).Kim, who bats left-handed, has been playing almost exclusively against right-handers. With Tampa Bay starting right-hander Chris Archer, Kim got into the lineup batting seventh and playing

BaseballApril 25, 2017

Venues for Korean U-20 football team friendlies confirmed

The venues for South Korea's upcoming friendly matches against Uruguay and Senegal ahead of the U-20 World Cup next month have been confirmed, the national football governing body said Tuesday. The Korea Football Association said South Korea's U-20 team will face Uruguay at Cheongju Stadium in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on May 11. This will be the first time since 2007 that Cheongju, located some 140 kilometers south of Seoul, hosts a national team match.South Korea will then take on

SoccerApril 25, 2017

Park Ji-sung selected for Michael Carrick's testimonial match

South Korean football icon Park Ji-sung is set to return to Old Trafford after receiving a call-up to play in a testimonial match for a former Manchester United teammate.Michael Carrick on Tuesday (Korean time) posted on his Twitter and Facebook page that Park will take part in his testimonial match, which will feature former and current star players in European football. The testimonial on June 4 will see Manchester United 2008 XI taking on the Michael Carrick All-Stars.In this file photo taken

SoccerApril 25, 2017

Korean to run unopposed for 4th term as int'l taekwondo chief

South Korean Choue Chung-won will run unopposed for a fourth term as the international taekwondo chief, the martial art's governing body said Tuesday.The World Taekwondo Federation said Choue is the sole applicant for its presidency. The 69-year-old has been at the WTF's helm since June 2004.In this file photo taken on July 25, 2016, Choue Chung-won, president of the World Taekwondo Federation, speaks at a press conference in Seoul. (Yonhap)The WTF elections for president, 12 council members and

More SportsApril 25, 2017

Korean football coaches, players find themselves in hot seat in China

South Korean football coaches and players in China are in the hot seat as they've been struggling to make a positive impact with their respective clubs early into the season.After six matches, South Korean coaches Park Tae-ha and Choi Yong-soo are under fire as their clubs remain in the relegation zone of the Chinese Super League. Park's Yanbian Funde and Choi's Jiangsu Suning are the two worst teams in the 16-team league with winless records. Both teams have two draws and four losses.In this fi

SoccerApril 24, 2017

Suwon eye AFC Champions League knockout berth at home

South Korean outfit Suwon Samsung Bluewings will aim to clinch a knockout berth at the top Asian club football competition this week, while three other South Korean teams will try to remain in the hunt for the last 16 qualification.Suwon will host Kawasaki Frontale on Tuesday for their Group G contest at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League.(Yonhap)Suwon sit atop the group standings on eight points with two wins and two draws, and a draw against Kawasaki will be enough for them to s

SoccerApril 24, 2017

Orioles' Kim Hyun-soo gets 1st hit off left-hander this season

Kim Hyun-soo of the Baltimore Orioles finally has a hit off a left-hander in the majors.Kim had an infield single off southpaw reliever Fernando Abad of the Boston Red Sox in the bottom ninth of their game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday (local time). The O's ended up losing 6-2.This was Kim's first plate appearance against a left-hander. Kim Hyun-soo of the Baltimore Orioles looks toward the field after striking out against the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinn

BaseballApril 24, 2017

Cardinals' Oh Seung-hwan picks up save in 5th straight game

Oh Seung-hwan of the St. Louis Cardinals has saved his fifth consecutive game.Oh threw a scoreless ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park in Milwaukee on Sunday (local time), preserving the Cards' 6-3 victory. St. Louis Cardinals closer Oh Seung-hwan throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 23, 2017. (Yonhap)The memories of his shaky start to the season increasingly distant, Oh also lowered his ERA from 12.27 to 5.59 over hi

BaseballApril 24, 2017

Korea stuns Kazakhstan for 2nd straight win at men's hockey worlds

South Korea stunned Kazakhstan for its second straight victory at the men's hockey world championships in Ukraine.South Korea, ranked 23rd, rallied with four third-period goals to take down No. 16 Kazakhstan 5-2 on Sunday (local time) at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship Division I Group A at the Palace of Sports in Kiev. It was South Korea's first win over the Central Asian nation in 13 meetings.South Korean defenseman Alex Plante takes a shot against Kazakhstan at the

More SportsApril 24, 2017