The Korea Herald

Work halted at WC stadium marked by death

SAO PAULO (AP) ― Labor officials are halting construction in part of the World Cup stadium where a worker died this weekend, creating a problem for Brazilian organizers trying to get the venue ready for the tournament’s opening match in less than three months.Fast Engenharia, the construction company in charge of the temporary seats, said in a statement that it received the notification from Sao Paulo’s labor secretariat late Monday.The officials said the installation of the temporary seats must

SoccerApril 1, 2014

Better days ahead

ARLINGTON, Texas (Yonhap) ― South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo went hitless in his debut with the Texas Rangers on Monday at home in Arlington, Texas.The 31-year-old went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout as the leadoff man, and the Rangers lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 14-10 in their season opener.The Rangers were outhit 17-14 in the slugfest.Facing left-handed starter Cliff Lee, Choo flied out to center in his first time up in the first. In the second, with Josh Wilson at second with

BaseballApril 1, 2014

Choo Shin-soo goes hitless in Texas Rangers debut

South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo went hitless in his debut with the Texas Rangers on Monday at home in Arlington.The 31-year-old went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout as the leadoff man, and the Rangers lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 14-10 in their season opener.The Rangers were outhit 17-14 in the slugfest.Facing left-handed starter Cliff Lee, Choo flied out to center in his first time up in the bottom first. In the bottom second, with Josh Wilson at second with one out, Choo grounde

BaseballApril 1, 2014

Ryu gets no-decision despite solid outing

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers got a no-decision despite tossing seven shutout innings against the San Diego Padres on the road on Sunday.At Petco Park in San Diego, the South Korean left-hander overcame a shaky start and struck out seven batters while giving up just three hits and left the game with a 1-0 lead. He retired 16 batters in a row in one stretch, but the Dodgers’ bullpen imploded in the eighth, as reliever Brian Wilson gave up a game-tying solo homer to pinch hitter Seth Smi

BaseballMarch 31, 2014

Ryu gets no-decision despite solid outing

New foreign hitters make quick impact in KBO

New bats in the top South Korean baseball league made a quick impact over the opening weekend of the season, providing a glimpse into what could be an exciting offensive season.The Korea Baseball Organization clubs are now allowed to sign an extra foreign player starting this season. Eight of the nine teams can now have up to three foreigner players, while the expansion NC Dinos, which came into the league last year, can have up to four on their roster for their first two seasons.At least one of

BaseballMarch 31, 2014

Bowditch holds on at Texas Open

SAN ANTONIO (AP) ― Steven Bowditch held on to win the Texas Open in windy conditions Sunday for his first PGA Tour victory and a spot in the Masters.The 30-year-old Australian bogeyed the par-5 18th for a 4-over 76 for a one-stroke victory.“I’m over the moon. I really can’t believe it,” said Bowditch, who attempted suicide in 2006 and has fought depression throughout his career.It was the highest closing score by a winner since Vijay Singh finished with a 4-over 76 in the 2004 PGA Championship,

GolfMarch 31, 2014

Park In-bee to lead Korean contingent at LPGA event

The world’s No. 1-ranked female golfer Park In-bee will lead the South Korean team at an international competition to be inaugurated by the LPGA Tour this summer.The top women’s golf tour will stage the International Crown in Maryland in July. The four highest-ranked players each from eight countries will compete at Caves Valley Golf Club, outside Baltimore, and the representatives were based on the world rankings announced on Monday.Park stayed at No. 1 for the 51st week in the latest rankings.

GolfMarch 31, 2014

Serena Williams beats Li Na for Sony Open title

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida (AP) ― Serena Williams won a record seventh Key Biscayne title Saturday when she overcame a slow start and a set point to beat Li Na 7-5, 6-1 at the Sony Open.Williams surpassed the tournament record of six titles she shared with Andre Agassi. But on a muggy spring afternoon, the No. 1-ranked Williams looked sluggish at the outset and served poorly, and she was broken twice to fall behind 5-2.“At that moment I felt like I had nothing to lose,” Williams said. “I just was abl

More SportsMarch 30, 2014

Serena Williams beats Li Na for Sony Open title

Asada Mao wins world champ title

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) ― Asada Mao of Japan topped the free skate on Saturday to capture her third world figure skating title.Asada, who held a slim 1.42-point lead after the short program, under-rotated three jumps but finished with 216.69 points, 9.19 ahead 15-year-old Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia. Italy’s Carolina Kostner, the 2012 world champion, took the bronze with 203.83 points despite only placing sixth in the free program.Asada, who finished sixth at the Sochi Olympics, also won the world c

More SportsMarch 30, 2014

Chelsea loses but stays top; Spain’s leading 3 win

LONDON (AP) ― While Spain’s top three all won, none of the England’s leading sides could produce a victory on Saturday.Chelsea remains top of the Premier League despite losing 1-0 at lowly Crystal Palace after title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City drew 1-1, presenting Liverpool with the chance to go top on Sunday with a win at Tottenham.La Liga’s star forward all found the net as Diego Costa’s Atletico Madrid remained top, followed by Lionel Messi’s Barcelona, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Mad

SoccerMarch 30, 2014

Chelsea loses but stays top; Spain’s leading 3 win

Kerr, Salas tied for lead at LPGA’s Kia Classic

CARLSBAD, California (AP) ― Cristie Kerr made a 55-foot par-saving putt after hitting her final approach into the water Saturday at Aviara to take a share of the lead with Lizette Salas after the third round of the Kia Classic.Kerr finished with a 2-under 70 to match Salas at 10-under 206. After dropping a stroke on the par-5 17th, Kerr holed out from the edge of the green on the par-4 18th after taking a penalty drop.Salas had a 69. She birdied the par-5 17th for a share of the lead and matched

GolfMarch 30, 2014

Kerr, Salas tied for lead at LPGA’s Kia Classic

Bowditch leads Texas Open

SAN ANTONIO (AP) ― Steven Bowditch of Australia opened a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Texas Open, while Phil Mickelson withdrew after 10 holes because of a pulled muscle in his right side.Bowditch, the 30-year-old seeking his first PGA Tour title, shot a 4-under 68 to reach 12 under at TPC San Antonio. Matt Kuchar and Andrew Loupe were tied for second. Kuchar shot 65, and Loupe had a 70.“I’ve won four or five times on between Australia and Web.com,” said Bowditch, who would get into the Mas

GolfMarch 30, 2014

Pistorius trial delayed over legal aide illness

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) ― The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has been delayed until April 7 because one of the legal experts who will assist the judge in reaching a verdict is sick, the judge said Friday.Judge Thokozile Masipa announced the delay in court, abruptly ending expectations that the double-amputee runner was about to testify about his fatal shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year.“One of my assessors is not well, so this court is not properly constituted,” Masipa said. “

More SportsMarch 28, 2014

KBO season leaves no clear-cut title favorite

As the baseball cliche goes, hope springs eternal before the start of a new season. Everyone is on the starting blocks with the same blank slate, and there are all kinds of interesting possibilities over six-plus months of the regular season.More often than not, though, reality kicks in soon enough, as contenders begin to put some distance between themselves and pretenders.The 2014 Korea Baseball Organization season, which gets underway on Saturday, may well be a rare exception. The competition

BaseballMarch 28, 2014

KBO season leaves no clear-cut title favorite

Curling coach verbally abused athletes: officials

SEOUL/SUWON (Yonhap) ― An assistant coach of the national women’s curling team has verbally abused his athletes and offered to resign from his post, officials said Friday.A local media report said late Thursday that five curlers ― Kim Ji-sun, Gim Un-chi, Shin Mi-sung, Um Min-ji and Lee Seul-bee ― had threatened to leave their semi-pro club at Gyeonggi Provincial Government in protest of abusive practices by head coach Chung Young-sup and assistant coach Choi Min-suk.Gyeonggi officials announced

More SportsMarch 28, 2014

Pistorius trial delayed over legal aide illness

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) ― The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has been delayed until April 7 because one of the legal experts who will assist the judge in reaching a verdict is sick, the judge said Friday.Judge Thokozile Masipa announced the delay in court, abruptly ending expectations that the double-amputee runner was about to testify about his fatal shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year.“One of my assessors is not well, so this court is not properly constituted,” Masipa said. “

More SportsMarch 28, 2014

Hiddink appointed new Netherlands coach

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – Guus Hiddink will take over as Netherlands coach after the World Cup, when Louis van Gaal is stepping down, the country's football association announced on Friday.Hiddink will lead the Netherlands until the end of the 2016 European Championship in France and then be replaced by Danny Blind.Blind and former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy were appointed as 67-year-old Hiddink's assistants.Hiddink said he was honored to return for a secon

SoccerMarch 28, 2014

Madrid slips in race as Barca rolls

BARCELONA (AP) ― Real Madrid lost 2-1 at Sevilla on Wednesday to slip behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in the race for the Spanish league title Wednesday.Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid in charge with his league-leading 27th goal of the season in the 14th minute, but Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca scored twice, in the 19th and 73rd, to complete the comeback.Diego Costa’s second-half header gave Atletico a 1-0 victory at home over Granada as it moved three points clear of Madrid with eight rounds

SoccerMarch 27, 2014

Lim to open KBO season in minors

GYEONGSAN (Yonhap) ― Lim Chang-yong, a former big league reliever who recently joined the Samsung Lions, will begin the 2014 Korea Baseball Organization season in the minor leagues, the club’s manager said Thursday.Lim signed a one-year deal with his former KBO club on Wednesday, only days after getting released by the Chicago Cubs.Though he claimed he was ready to pitch immediately, Lions manager Ryu Joong-il said he wanted to ease the veteran back into action.“I’d like to give him seven to 10

BaseballMarch 27, 2014

ISU says no complaint from S. Korea yet

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) ― International Skating Union president Ottavio Cinquanta said he has yet to receive a formal complaint from South Korean sports officials over the judging of the women’s figure skating competitions at the Sochi Olympics.Officials at the Korean Olympic Committee and the Korea Skating Union this week said they are preparing a formal complaint, but Cinquanta said he can’t comment because he hasn’t received anything yet. Korean fans were outraged when Kim Yu-na was denied a seco

More SportsMarch 27, 2014