Syria tactically prepared for World Cup qualifier vs. S. Korea: coach

Syria's national football team head coach Ayman Hakeem said Monday his team is tactically prepared against South Korea in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier in Seoul. South Korea and Syria will go head-to-head at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Tuesday in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Both teams are in Group A, along with Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar and China. "Everything has been going well since we arrived here," Hakeem said at a press conference in Seoul. "S

SportsMarch 27, 2017

Korea football coach says World Cup qualifier vs. Syria 'must-win match'

South Korea football coach Uli Stielike said Monday that the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Syria is a must-win match.South Korea, ranked 40th in the latest FIFA rankings, will face 95th-ranked Syria at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Tuesday in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. South Korean men's national football team head coach Uli Stielike (center) speaks during a press conference at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on March 27, 2

SoccerMarch 27, 2017

Ex-big league manager Hillman demands professionalism from Korean club

Former big league manager Trey Hillman, now at the helm of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club SK Wyverns, said Monday he will demand professionalism from his new team.Hillman, who signed with the Wyverns last October, attended his first KBO media day in Seoul. He's only the second foreign skipper in the KBO's 35-year history after fellow American Jerry Royster, who managed the Lotte Giants from 2008 to 2010. Hillman is also the first man to manage in Major League Baseball, Nippon Profess

BaseballMarch 27, 2017

Baseball managers set sights on taking down two-time reigning champions

The Doosan Bears, having captured the past two Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) titles, were the proverbial Public Enemy No. 1 in the annual preseason gathering of the league's managers on Monday.The KBO held the media day with the 10 managers and their captains on hand in Seoul. Asked about their goals for the 2017 season, which will get underway Friday, opposing managers said they want to keep the Bears from completing a three-peat. Kim Tae-hyung (center), manager of the Doosan Bears, is flan

BaseballMarch 27, 2017

Foreign pitchers to start first games of new baseball season

Foreign pitchers filled the list of the Opening Day starters in the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season announced Monday.The new season will begin Friday with all 10 clubs taking the field. And all 10 teams will have their foreign pitchers start their first games of the season, as announced by their managers during the annual KBO media day in Seoul. In this file photo taken on Oct. 29, 2016, Dustin Nippert of the Doosan Bears throws a pitch against the NC Dinos during the Korean Series at Ja

BaseballMarch 27, 2017

Former top rookie award winners hail new teammate as 'real deal'

Two former top rookie award winners in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) believe their new hotshot teammate is "the real deal."Lee Jeong-hoo, an 18-year-old rookie out of high school for the Nexen Heroes, was sensational in the preseason that wrapped up Sunday. He tied for the KBO lead with 15 hits in just 33 at-bats. Lee Jeong-hoo of the Nexen Heroes watches his hit against the NC Dinos in their Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Masan Stadium in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Provin

BaseballMarch 27, 2017

Stars of reigning baseball champions wary of hometown rival

The Doosan Bears, winners of the past two Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) titles, are heavily favored to repeat as the champions in 2017.That doesn't mean their players aren't wary of their opponents. Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears hits a two-run home run against the SK Wyverns in their Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Incheon SK Happy Dream Park on March 21, 2017. (Yonhap)Shortstop Kim Jae-ho, team captain, and catcher Yang Eui-ji, voted the 2016 Korean Series MVP, in particular

BaseballMarch 27, 2017

All-Star left-hander seeks consistency on new team

All-Star left-hander Cha Woo-chan made a splash in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) offseason in December, becoming the highest-paid pitcher in the country. And he wants to live up to his contract by doing what he's been doing all along -- giving his team a consistent presence on the mound.The LG Twins signed him to a four-year deal worth 9.5 billion won ($8.5 million), luring him from the Samsung Lions after 11 seasons there. South Korean pitcher Cha Woo-chan throws a pitch against Chinese

BaseballMarch 27, 2017

Baseball club releases American pitcher

In this undated photo provided by the Lotte Giants baseball club, Parker Markel prepares to make a pitch during the team's spring training. (Yonhap)South Korean baseball club Lotte Giants on Monday released an American pitcher Parker Markel before he even threw a regular season pitch.The Korea Baseball Organization team said Markel asked for the termination of his $525,000 contract, and the Giants agreed to place him on the voluntarily retired list.Players on that list are ineligible to perform

BaseballMarch 27, 2017

Korean Lee Mi-rim earns third career LPGA win

South Korean Lee Mi-rim has picked up her third career LPGA Tour title in California.Lee cruised to a six-shot victory at Kia Classic at par-72 Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, California, on Sunday (local time). In this Associated Press photo, South Korean Lee Mi-rim watches her tee shot on the second hole during the final round of Kia Classic on the LPGA Tour on March 26, 2017, in Carlsbad, California. (Yonhap)She began the final round nursing a one-stroke lead over fellow South Korean Hur Mi-jun

GolfMarch 27, 2017

Korea football coach calls for improvement in away matches

South Korea football coach Uli Stielike said Friday he will try to improve the team's performance away from home after suffering a painful defeat to China in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. South Korea, ranked 40th in the FIFA rankings, fell 1-0 to 86th-ranked China at Helong Stadium in Changsha, China's Hunan Province, on Thursday. In the final regional qualification, South Korea are in Group A, along with Iran, Uzbekistan, Syria, China and Qatar.  South Korea foot

SoccerMarch 24, 2017

Four football teams looking to enjoy U-20 World Cup test event

The four participants in a U-20 World Cup prep tournament in South Korea said Friday they'll try to enjoy football and gain experience ahead of the FIFA competition.With the FIFA U-20 World Cup less than two months away, South Korea have invited Honduras, Zambia and Ecuador for the tournament as a warm-up for players under 20. All four teams are participants of the U-20 World Cup that will be staged from May 20 to June 11 in six South Korean cities: Cheonan, Daejeon, Incheon, Jeju, Jeonju and Su

SoccerMarch 24, 2017

Nat'l football coach taking beating for lack of tactical acumen

On the heels of yet another uninspired performance against a lower-ranked opponent, South Korean men's football head coach Uli Stielike finds himself in hot water again.South Korea dropped to China 1-0 Thursday in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but as frustrating as it was, it wasn't so much the loss itself that has angered the football-crazed fan base here. Uli Stielike (left), head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, waits for a team bus at In

SoccerMarch 24, 2017

S. Korean football players' visit to NK not against sanctions

South Korea's plan to send female football players to Pyongyang for the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifying matches does not violate international sanctions against North Korea, a government official said Friday.The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Group B qualifying games will be held in North Korea from April 3-11. South Korean players will have a match with their North Korean counterparts on April 7. This file photo taken on Feb. 29, 2016, shows a female football match between South and North

SoccerMarch 24, 2017

Uli Stielike safe as Korea football coach

Uli Stielike's job as the South Korean men's national football head coach is safe, despite a stunning loss to China in a World Cup qualifier, the sport's top national official said Friday.Chung Mong-gyu, head of the Korea Football Association, returned home with the rest of the team from Changsha, Hunan Province, early Friday morning on a red-eye flight, after South Korea suffered a 1-0 defeat to China in the final round of the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Uli Stielike, head

SoccerMarch 24, 2017

S. Korea suffers stunning 1-0 loss to China in World Cup qualifier

South Korea suffered a stunning 1-0 loss to China in the World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday.South Korea surrendered the winner to Yu Dabao in the first half to pick up their second loss in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Both South Korea and China are in Group A, along with Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Syria. (Yonhap)The defeat at Helong Stadium in Changsha, China's Hunan Province, leaves South Korea in danger of losing No. 2 spot in the group. The Taeguk Warr

SoccerMarch 23, 2017

After strong spring start, lefty ace claims to be ready for season

After a strong preseason start Thursday, Doosan Bears' left-hander Chang Won-jun said he's fully ready for the regular season.The ace for the two-time reigning Korea Baseball Organization champion threw five shutout innings in a 9-2 victory over the Samsung Lions at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. He held the opponents to four hits and struck out four. In this file photo taken on March 6, 2017, Chang Won-jun of South Korea delivers a pitch against Israel in their World Baseball Classic game at Gocheok

BaseballMarch 23, 2017

Veteran pitcher wins rotation job with strong spring

Veteran left-hander Jang Won-sam has won a starting rotation job for the Samsung Lions on the strength of a strong preseason.Kim Han-soo, manager of the Korea Baseball Organization club, said Thursday Jang will take the fifth spot in the rotation when the regular season starts later this month. In this file photo taken on March 14, 2017, Jang Won-sam of the Samsung Lions (C) chats with teammates during a Korea Baseball Organization preseason game against the KT Wiz at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in

BaseballMarch 23, 2017

Olympic archery champion misses nat'l team cut

The double Olympic archery gold medalist Ku Bon-chan missed the national team cut for this season on Thursday.The Korea Archery Association said Ku finished 10th among 12 archers in the national team trials held in Gwangju, some 330 kilometers south of Seoul, with only the top eight athletes making the squad. In this file photo taken on Oct. 8, 2016, South Korean archer Ku Bon-chan competes in the National Sports Festival at Hongju Sports Complex in Hongseong, South Chungchong Province. (Yonhap)

More SportsMarch 23, 2017