Rising star eyes Olympic football glory

After enjoying a coming-out party at the Asian Olympic men's football qualification tournament, South Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan said he hopes to be part of the Summer Games, too.South Korea clinched their eighth consecutive Olympic berth by reaching the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship here in the Qatari capital. The championship also serves as the regional qualification event for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and South Korea have secured one of

SoccerJan. 28, 2016

Korea, Japan to renew football rivalry at continental championship

South Korea and Japan will renew their football rivalry at the continental under-23 championship on Saturday in Qatar.The two countries will meet in the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, or 11:45 p.m. Saturday in South Korea.The championship is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, and both countries have already secured their Olympic berths by reaching the f

SoccerJan. 28, 2016

[Newsmaker] Korea clinches Olympic soccer berth

DOHA (Yonhap) ― South Korea clinched a record eighth straight Olympic men’s football berth on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over Qatar at the Asian qualification tournament.Midfielder Kwon Chang-hoon broke the 1-1 tie in the 89th minute at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha to lift South Korea to the final of the Asian Football Confederation U23 Championship and give the country one of three Asian berths at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Moon Chang-jin put the icing on the cake to make i

More SportsJan. 27, 2016

With Olympic football berth secured, focus shifts to 'wild-card' selection

Now that South Korea have secured an Olympic men's football berth, the focus will soon shift to the selection of overage players for the quadrennial competition.South Korea on Tuesday defeated Qatar 3-1 in the semifinals at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in Doha.By reaching the final of the competition, which doubles as the regional Olympic qualifying tournament, South Korea clinched one of three Asian spots at this year's Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.The Olympic foot

SoccerJan. 27, 2016

Energetic offense carries Korea into 8th straight Olympics

An energetic offense, led by rising stars demonstrating ability to adapt on the fly, carried well-coached South Korea into their eighth consecutive Olympic men's football tournament.South Korea defeated host Qatar 3-1 in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in Doha on Tuesday, earning one of three Asian berths at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The championship also served as the regional Olympic qualification tournament, with only the top three

SoccerJan. 27, 2016

Key players on mend for Korea, Qatar in Olympic football

Key players for both South Korea and Qatar remain on the mend as they prepare for a crucial showdown at the regional Olympic qualifying tournament here later Tuesday.South Korea could be without forward Hwang Hee-chan and Qatar could be missing left back Abdelkarim Hassan, when the two countries clash in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in Doha.The competition is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Only the t

SoccerJan. 26, 2016

New LPGA season to kick off in Bahamas; S. Koreans eye another

The 2016 LPGA Tour season will kick off in the Bahamas this week, as the South Korean contingent eyes another dominant year.The $1.4 million Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic will start Thursday at the par-73 Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island, Bahamas. South Korean Kim Sei-young, the tour's reigning Rookie of the Year, is the defending champion.Kim won three times last year, and she was one of eight different South Korean champions who combined for a record 15 wins in 31 tournaments in 2015

GolfJan. 26, 2016

With no MLB deal yet, free agent Lee Dae-ho set to return home

South Korean free agent slugger Lee Dae-ho is scheduled to return home this week from his U.S. training camp, sources said Monday, with hopes of having a big league contract with him by then.The 33-year-old first baseman/designated hitter has been working out with his former Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club, the Lotte Giants, in Arizona this month. An official from his South Korean agency, Montis Sports Management Group, also flew to the United States with the player, working with Lee's U.

BaseballJan. 25, 2016

Hall of Famer, PGA Tour veteran to coach S. Korea at Olympics

Pak Se-ri, an LPGA great and the lone South Korean in the World Golf Hall of Fame, and Choi Kyoung-ju, veteran of eight PGA Tour wins, will be leading the national women's and men's teams at this year's Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.The Korea Golf Association (KGA) on Monday announced Pak and Choi as the coaches for South Korea when golf makes its return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence.Pak, 38, leads all South Koreans with 25 career LPGA Tour victories, a total that includes five ma

GolfJan. 25, 2016

Doosan Bears sign ex-big leaguer Nick Evans

The reigning South Korean baseball champion Doosan Bears said Monday they've signed a former major leaguer Nick Evans to a one-year deal worth $550,000.The 29-year-old will join the 2015 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) champion at their training camp in Australia on Thursday.With the acquisition, the Bears have filled their foreign player quota. They've retained right-hander Dustin Nippert for his sixth KBO season and added right-hander Michael Bowden to the staff last November.Evans played pa

BaseballJan. 25, 2016

Korea to clash with Qatar in search for Olympic football berth

South Korea will try to put their defensive headaches behind them as they take on Qatar on Tuesday in search for a berth in the Olympic men's football tournament.The semifinals showdown at the Asian Football Confederation(AFC) U-23 Championship will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. It will be 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in South Korea.This competition is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, and only the top three nations will punch th

SoccerJan. 25, 2016

Defensive inconsistency rears ugly head for Korea at Olympic football qualifying tournament

South Korea's 1-0 victory over Jordan in the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament Saturday in Doha exposed potentially disastrous defensive problems that could cost them a chance to compete in this year's Summer Games.Midfielder Moon Chang-jin scored the lone goal in the 23rd minute of the quarterfinals at the Asian Football ConfederationU-23 Championship, which doubles as the Olympic qualifying event. South Korea were mostly in control in the opening half, but in the second half, they turned int

SportsJan. 24, 2016

Korea beat Jordan to move within one win of Olympic

South Korea defeated Jordan 1-0 on Saturday to move within one win of a spot in the Olympic men's football tournament.Midfielder Moon Chang-jin's 23rd-minute score stood as the winner at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship. The victory sent South Korea to the semifinals of the competition, which is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Only the top three nations here will get to

Olympic GamesJan. 24, 2016

Hanwha Eagles sign ex-big league catcher-1B Rosario

The Hanwha Eagles on Friday announced their signing of former major league catcher Wilin Rosario.The Korea Baseball Organization club inked the 26-year-old from the Dominican Republic to a one-year deal worthUS$1.3 million, which included a signing bonus of $300,000.Rosario has also played first base during his five-year big league career, all with the Colorado Rockies.After making his debut and playing just 16 games in 2011, Rosario exploded for 28 home runs and 71 RBIs in 117 games the followi

BaseballJan. 22, 2016

Korea coach fires verbal salvo at opponent in Olympic football qualifying tourney

On the eve of his team's showdown against Jordan at the Olympic men's football qualifying tournament, South Korea head coach Shin Tae-yong fired verbal salvo at his opponent, calling on the Middle East team to play the game the right way.South Korea and Jordan on Saturday will clash in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship, which is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Only the top three nations will get to play in

SoccerJan. 22, 2016

Alpine skiing venue officially opens for competition

A South Korean alpine skiing venue for an upcoming Winter Games test event officially opened Friday, two days after receiving its approval from the sport's international governing body.The Jeongseon Alpine Centre, the venue for the International Ski Federation Alpine Skiing World Cup on Feb. 6-7, was declared ready for the competition in an opening ceremony.   Jeongseon, some 210 kilometers east of Seoul in Gangwon Province, will be among the sub-host cities of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympi

More SportsJan. 22, 2016

Gov't, ski federation to strengthen efforts for first Olympic medal on snow

The government and the national skiing federation said Friday they will strengthen their efforts to raise South Korea's competitiveness in Olympic snow events at home.Kim Jong-deok, minister of culture, sports and tourism, and Shin Dong-bin, president of the Korea Ski Association, discussed ways to improve the country's chances of winning its first Olympic medal on snow at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, officials said.Kim and Shin both attended the opening ceremony for the Jeongseon Alpine C

More SportsJan. 22, 2016

Slugger Eric Thames sets sight on 2nd straight MVP award in Korean baseball

After enjoying a historic 2015 season en route to capturing his first MVP in South Korean baseball, NC Dinos slugger Eric Thames has already set his sights on winning the highest individual honor for the second straight year."I want the MVP award (for 2016)," Thames said in a text message to Yonhap News Agency Thursday, when asked about his goal for the new season.Thames posted the first 40-40 season in Korea Baseball Organization history last year with 47 home runs and 40 steals. He also won th

More SportsJan. 21, 2016

Korean confident sitting 2 wins away from Olympic football berth

Two wins away from securing the country's eighth consecutive Olympic men's football berth, South Korea's under-23 squad remain a confident bunch in the Qatari capital.South Korea will take on Jordan in the quarterfinals at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship in Doha on Saturday. The championship is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, and only the top three nations will advance to the Olympics. South Korea have played in every Olympics

SoccerJan. 21, 2016