Injured gymnast Yang Hak-seon given 2nd chance to qualify for Rio

Injured Korean gymnast Yang Hak-seon has been given a second chance to qualify for this year's Summer Olympics, though it remains doubtful he'll be able to capitalize on it.The Korea Gymnastics Association said it will hold three additional rounds of national team trials this month. The first one is scheduled for Saturday, followed by two more on July 13 and 16. (Yonhap)Yang, the 2012 Olympic vault champion, missed the first two rounds of Olympic trials in April and May after rupturing his right

SportsJuly 4, 2016

Korean Olympic Committee to 'take swift action' following sports tribunal ruling on swimmer

The national Olympic body will "take swift action" once the world's top sports tribunal rules on the status of the banned swimmer Park Tae-hwan, its official said Monday.Cho Young-ho, secretary general of the Korean Olympic Committee, said the KOC "doesn't intend to resort to time-delaying tactics" once the Court of Arbitration for Sport announces its decision. (Yonhap)Park, the 2008 Olympic 400m freestyle champion, has filed an appeal at the CAS over a KOC rule that bars athletes from represent

SportsJuly 4, 2016

Jeonnam Dragons acquire Brazilian forward

Korean football club the Jeonnam Dragons said Thursday they have signed Brazilian forward Jair Eduardo Britto da Silva. Jeonnam -- currently 10th in the top-flight K League Classic with three wins, six draws and eight losses -- said the 28-year-old attacker will fill the void left by Macedonian striker Stevica Ristic, who was recently released from his contract by mutual agreement.  (Yonhap)Jeonnam, the three-time champions of the Korean Football Association  Cup, have yet to disclose the detail

SoccerJune 30, 2016

Cardinals' Oh Seung-hwan shaky for 2nd straight outing

Oh Seung-hwan of the St. Louis Cardinals gave up an unearned run while committing an error in his latest relief appearance.The Korean right-hander barely avoided picking up his first major league loss in St. Louis on Wednesday (local time), after giving up a run and two walks in the top of the 10th inning against the Kansas City Royals.Oh took the mound in the 10th with the score tied at 1-1. He walked the first batter, Cheslor Cuthbert, and settled down to strike out Brett Eibner.With Jarrod Dy

BaseballJune 30, 2016

PyeongChang Olympic organizers launch volunteer recruitment program

Organizers of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games on Thursday announced the start of their volunteer recruit campaign, hoping to bring on more than 22,000 people from around the world to serve as "the face of the Olympics."The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games said it will receive applications online through the end of September. Candidates must be at least 18 years old at the opening of the PyeongChang Olympics on Feb. 9, 2018, and organizations wit

SportsJune 30, 2016

PyeongChang signs agreement to utilize ICT

The PyeongChang Winter Olympics organizers on Wednesday signed an agreement with the state-run telecommunications research institute to make the best use of their information and communications technology at Korea's first Winter Games. The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games said it has reached a memorandum of understanding with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute. Under the deal, the POCOG and the ETRI will cooperate in five ar

SportsJune 29, 2016

Orioles' Kim Hyun-soo hits 2nd home run of season

Kim Hyun-soo of the Baltimore Orioles hit his second home run of the season, the first time he's gone deep in a month.The Korean outfielder launched a two-run shot to right field off Erik Johnson of the San Diego Padres in the top of the fifth at Petco Park in San Diego, Tuesday (local time). The home run staked the Orioles to a 4-1 lead, and they went on to win 11-7.Kim's last home run had come on May 29 against the Cleveland Indians.The left fielder batted eighth in the interleague affair, dow

BaseballJune 29, 2016

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin has rehab start interrupted by rain

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers had his minor league rehab start in Oklahoma on Tuesday (local time) interrupted by rain. Pitching for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers against the Iowa Cubs, the left-hander pitched only 1 2/3 innings before the game was called due to rain. Ryu allowed two hits and one unearned run, while striking out two. He threw 26 pitches, 20 of which were strikes.  (Yonhap)In the top of the first at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Ryu struck out John Andreoli and reti

BaseballJune 29, 2016

PyeongChang holds talks with Tokyo, Beijing over Olympic cooperation

Organizers of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games said Tuesday they held a teleconference with their counterparts in Tokyo and Beijing over their Olympic cooperation.PyeongChang's organizing committee said the talks brought together representatives from the organizing bodies for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (Pyeongchang2018)Also taking part were the International Olympic Committee's Coordination Commission chiefs for the three Olympics.The PyeongChang commit

SportsJune 28, 2016

Jeonnam Dragons sign Aussie-born defender

Korean football club Jeonnam Dragons said Tuesday they are set to sign defender Tomislav Mrcela from Croatian club NK Lokomotiva Zagreb.Jeonnam, currently 10th in the top-flight K League Classic, said that the 25-year-old center back, who holds dual citizenship in Australia and Croatia, will join the club after a medical test. (Jeonnam Dragons)Jeonnam, three-time champions of the Korean Football Association Cup, have yet to disclose the details of his contract.Mrcela made his pro debut in 2011 w

SoccerJune 28, 2016

Ex-Olympic short track champ killed in motorcycle crash

Former Olympic short track speed skating champion Oh Se-jong has been killed in a motorcycle crash in Seoul, the sport's officials said.According to the Korea Skating Union, Oh died after slamming his motorcycle into a vehicle making a U-turn Monday night. He was 33 years old.Oh won the gold medal in the men's 5,000m relay at the 2006 Turin Winter Games, before retiring later that year. In 2003, Oh grabbed the 5,000m relay world title in Warsaw. (Yonhap) 

SportsJune 28, 2016

Messi's retirement from Argentina could hurt his legacy

Lionel Messi's surprising decision to stop playing for Argentina could damage his legacy with the national team and fans back home.If Messi sticks to his announcement, made in the heat of the moment shortly after Argentina's penalty shootout loss to Chile in Sunday's Copa America final, Argentina will be left dwelling on the fact that it was not able to win any significant title despite having one of the best players of all time.Many fans back home didn't like the fact that he thrived in his ado

SoccerJune 27, 2016

Versatility key to Olympic football squad: coach

When assembling the Korean team for the men's Olympic football tournament in Rio de Janeiro, versatility was the most important criterion for head coach Shin Tae-yong.On Monday, Korea unveiled their 18-man football squad for the Aug. 5-21 Rio Games, which included three players over the Olympic football age limit of 23. Each Olympic contestant can field up to three such players as wild cards. (Yonhap)Shin said taking 18 players to the tournament is different from taking 23 players to other major

SoccerJune 27, 2016