Golf's new giant slayer hoping for shot at Olympics

After stunning world No. 1 Jordan Spieth with his first professional victory earlier this month, South Korean Song Young-han said Thursday he's hoping for a chance to compete at this year's Summer Olympics.Golf's latest giant slayer made a triumphant return home Thursday after beating Spieth by one shot to win the SMBC Singapore Open on the Asian Tour on Feb. 1."It was an honor to win the tournament by beating the No.1-ranked player. I was fortunate," he told reporters at Incheon International A

GolfFeb. 11, 2016

World's No. 1 men's badminton duo perfect foils for each other

As the world's No. 1-ranked men's badminton doubles tandem, Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong of South Korea will be carrying the weight of the nation when this year's Summer Olympics kicks off in Rio de Janeiro -- though that's not exactly why Yoo has been doing extensive weight training.The 29-year-old only hopes to add to his power game -- defined by his formidable smashes -- that perfectly complements Lee's flair around the net and his defensive wizardry."I fully expect our opponents to come a

More SportsFeb. 11, 2016

Mariners' Lee Dae-ho remains 'confident' ahead of preseason competition

He might not have signed the major league deal that he'd earlier envisioned, but South Korean slugger Lee Dae-ho, who recently joined the Seattle Mariners on a minor league contract, said Friday he's seeing the glass half full.The first baseman/designated hitter will have to battle for a big league job when the Mariners' position players report to spring training in three weeks. It may not be what the 2015 Japan Series MVP, who'd earlier won a regular season MVP in South Korea, had in mind when

BaseballFeb. 5, 2016

'Improving' badminton player eyeing first Olympic medal in Rio

At No. 7 in the women's singles badminton rankings with a slew of international victories, Sung Ji-hyun admits she remains a work in progress.   Sung, however, has been improving at a rate that has the South Korean national team camp buzzing with talks of an Olympic medal for the 24-year-old in Rio de Janeiro in August.   She's fresh off a Badminton World Federation (BWF) Grand Prix victory in India last week. During an open training session in Seoul Thursday, Sung said she was pleased to get th

Olympic GamesFeb. 4, 2016

Long, winding trip ahead for Vietnamese football club competing in Korea

Vietnamese football side Hanoi T&T must complete a long and winding trip this weekend to South Korea before they will face a local team for a spot at Asia's top club competition, officials here said Thursday.Hanoi T&T will meet Pohang Steelers of the K League Classic in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, next Tuesday in the final playoff for the Asian Football Confederation Champions League. The winner will make it to the group stage of the annual tournament.According to K League officials, Hano

SoccerFeb. 4, 2016

Lee Dae-ho faces uphill battle for regular gig

With a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners in the bag, here comes the hard part for the South Korean star Lee Dae-ho: landing a regular gig in the big league lineup.Lee has joined the Mariners on a one-year minor league contract, reportedly worth up to $4 million with incentives. The Mariners have invited him to their camp but haven't yet placed him on their 40-man roster.Lee, 33, has played first base and served as designated hitter in recent seasons after getting some reps at third bas

BaseballFeb. 4, 2016

Korean slugger Lee Dae-ho signs minor league deal with Seattle Mariners

After mashing dingers into the seats across South Korea and Japan for over a decade, slugger Lee Dae-ho will now try to win a major league job in the United States.The Seattle Mariners announced Wednesday (local time) they've signed the 33-year-old first baseman/designated hitter to a one-year minor league contract, which includes an invitation to the big league camp later this month.Financial terms were not disclosed, either by the Mariners or by Lee's Seoul-based agency, Montis Sports Manageme

BaseballFeb. 4, 2016

PyeongChang now into 'operational phase' two years ahead of Winter Olympics

With about two years to go until the first Winter Olympics in South Korea, the top local organizer said Wednesday the preparation has moved into a new phase.Cho Yang-ho, president of the organizing committee for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, said the eastern resort town and its sub-hosts are well on their way to a successful Olympics."Construction for all new competition and non-competition venues is on track and will be completed in time," Cho said at a press conference in Seoul. The Pyeon

Olympic GamesFeb. 3, 2016

Korea to host world‘s top alpine skiers in Olympic test event

South Korea will host some of the world's top alpine skiers at a Winter Olympic test event during the long Lunar New Year weekend, officials said Wednesday.The local organizers of the 2016 International Ski Federation Alpine Skiing World Cup, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Jeongseon Alpine Centre in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, will host 58 athletes and 137 officials from 16 nations.The Jeongseon World Cup will hold the men's downhill and Super-G races. It will be the first international c

Olympic GamesFeb. 3, 2016

Korean club Pohang to face Vietnamese side in AFC Champions League playoff

South Korean side Pohang Steelers will battle a Vietnamese team for a spot at Asia's top club football competition.Pohang, representing the first-division K League Classic, will take on Hanoi T&T in the final playoff for the Asian Football Confederation Champions League. Hanoi T&T defeated Kitchee of Hong Kong 1-0 in the earlier playoff match Tuesday.The kickoff for the one-and-done match between Pohang and Hanoi will be 2 p.m. next Tuesday at Pohang Steel Yard in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Provin

SoccerFeb. 3, 2016

K.J. Choi falls short of ending PGA Tour drought

South Korean veteran Choi Kyoung-ju fell short of ending his PGA Tour title drought on Monday in California.Choi, better known by his initials K.J., finished alone in second at the weather-interrupted Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California, on Monday. The South Korean stumbled to a four-over 76 in the final round played over two days, with five bogeys and one birdie, to end at five-under 283 for the tournament, one stroke behind the champion Brandt Snedeker.Ch

GolfFeb. 2, 2016

Korean Song Young-han edges out world No. 1 Spieth for Asian Tour title

South Korea's Song Young-han edged out world No. 1 Jordan Spieth to capture his first career Asian Tour title in Singapore on Monday.Song shot a 12-under 272 to claim the weather-delayed SMBC Singapore Open at the par-71 Serapong Course of the Sentosa Golf Club, beating Spieth by one stroke and taking home the $180,000 first-place purse. It was the first professional victory for Song, who turned pro in 2013 and came into the tournament ranked 204th in the world.The final round of play was suspen

GolfFeb. 1, 2016

Korean Kim Hyo-joo wins LPGA Tour season opener

South Korean youngster Kim Hyo-joo captured the 2016 LPGA Tour season opener in the Bahamas on Sunday after a nearly flawless final round.Kim won the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic at 18-under 274, thanks to a final round of seven-under 66 on Sunday at the par-73, 6,625-yard Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island. She finished two strokes ahead of three golfers, including defending champion Kim Sei-young of South Korea.It was the third LPGA victory for Kim Hyo-joo and first in 21 starts, dati

SportsFeb. 1, 2016

Djokovic thrashes Murray for sixth Aussie Open title

MELBOURNE (AFP) -- World number one Novak Djokovic hammered a misfiring Andy Murray in straight sets to win a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title and strengthen his grip on men's tennis on Sunday.The Serbian world number one swept to a 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) victory in two hours, 53 minutes to hand Murray his fifth defeat in the Australian Open final.Djokovic equalled the tally of Australia's Roy Emerson, who won the tournament six times between 1961 and 1967, an achievement that has gone

More SportsJan. 31, 2016

Korea lose to Japan to fall shy of Asian men's U-23

South Korea dropped to Japan 3-2 Saturday to come up short of the Asian men's under-23 football title in Doha.South Korea blew a 2-0 second-half lead in the final of the the 2016 Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship, as Japan scored three unanswered goals in a 14-minute span at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in the Qatari capital. The tournament also served as the Asian qualification event for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Both countries had already secured their Olympic berth

SoccerJan. 31, 2016

Host Korea to have one skier at Olympic test event

Host South Korea will have one of its own after all at an upcoming Olympic skiing test event.The Korea Ski Association said Friday that Kim Hyeon-tae will be the lone South Korean at the Feb. 6-7 International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Skiing World Cup at Jeongseon Alpine Centre in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province. The venue will host alpine skiing during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and the FIS World Cup is its first official competition since its opening last week.Only the downhill and S

Olympic GamesJan. 29, 2016

Park In-bee withdraws from LPGA season opener with back injury

World No. 2 Park In-bee withdrew from the LPGA Tour's season opener on Thursday in the Bahamas with a back injury after shooting her worst round in seven years.Park shot a seven-over 80 at the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, the worst score in the field of 108 after one round. Park picked up four birdies, but also committed seven bogeys and two double bogeys at the par-73, 6,625-yard Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island.Her Seoul-based agency, Galaxia SM, said Park came down with back pain

GolfJan. 29, 2016

Ex-big league pitcher Seo Jae-weong retires with Korean club

Former major league pitcher Seo Jae-weong announced his retirement Thursday with his South Korean hometown club.The Kia Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Seo, 38, informed the club Thursday that he has thrown his last pitch. Through the club, the right-hander said he wanted to open up more opportunities for younger players.The Tigers said they would be willing to bring Seo back to their coaching staff if he desired to stay in the game. They added they will schedule a retiremen

BaseballJan. 28, 2016

Free agent Lee Dae-ho pushes back scheduled trip home to continue

South Korean free agent slugger has postponed his scheduled trip home from his Arizona training base to continue contract talks with a major league club, his agency said Thursday.Lee had been set to return to South Korea on Friday, but an official with Montis Sports Management Group said Lee has pushed the trip back "by three to four days.""He's going over some contract details with a big league club," the official added, without identifying the team.The 33-year-old first baseman/designated hitt

BaseballJan. 28, 2016