LONDON (AP) ― An international human rights group has cataloged alleged human rights abuses in Qatar in connection to construction projects for the 2022 World Cup, and called on FIFA to ensure the exploitation of migrant workers ends.In a report published Sunday, Amnesty International warned that migrant workers in the tiny Gulf nation are exposed to dangerous working conditions, poor standards of accommodation and the non-payment of wages.“It is simply inexcusable in one of the richest countrie

SoccerNov. 18, 2013

DUBAI (Yonhap News) ― A confident South Korea will chase its third straight international football victory when it faces Russia here in Dubai on Tuesday.The match will start at Zabeel Stadium at 6 p.m. local time, or 11 p.m. in South Korea.Coached by Hong Myung-bo, the 56th-ranked South Korea came from behind to stun the world No. 7 Switzerland 2-1 at home last Friday.The win came on the heels of a 3-1 home victory over Mali in October.This will be the last friendly match for South Korea in 2013

SoccerNov. 18, 2013

BELGRADE (AFP) ― The Czech Republic retained the Davis Cup after Radek Stepanek beat outclassed Serbian youngster Dusan Lajovic in the decisive fifth final rubber in straight sets on Sunday.The 44th-ranked, 34-year-old Stepanek beat the 23-year-old Lajovic, world No. 117, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 in under two hours, handing the Czechs an overall 3-2 win.On the hardcourt of the Belgrade Arena, the Czech Republic, playing the third Davis Cup final in five years, scored a ninth straight victory in Davis Cup t

More SportsNov. 18, 2013

South Koreans grabbed two silver medals and one bronze to close out the fourth and the final World Cup Short Track competition of the season on Sunday in Russia, ending their prep event for the upcoming Winter Olympics on a mixed note.In Kolomna, Russia, the women's quartet of Shim Suk-hee, Park Seung-hi, Kim A-lang and Cho Ha-ri claimed the silver in the 3,000-meter relay in 4:09.794, finishing just behind China (4:09.410).In the semifinals on Sunday, South Koreans set a world record with a tim

More SportsNov. 18, 2013

“Queen of speed skating” Lee Sang-hwa on Saturday proved she has what it takes to be on top of the world as she broke her own world record for the second time in two days at the International Skating Union Speed Skating World Cup in Salt Lake City, Utah.Her victory paints a rosy picture for the Winter Olympics next year, where she will vie for a second consecutive gold medal in a row following her first at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. In Saturday’s second leg of the competition, Lee won the wome

More SportsNov. 17, 2013

LONDON (AP) ― The race for the 2022 Winter Olympics is on a six-city contest featuring two former Summer Games hosts, a cross-border bid and a pair of candidates from the former Soviet Union.Notably missing are any contenders from the traditional Alpine countries of Europe, where voters in Switzerland and Germany rejected proposed bids because of concerns over high costs and the environment.The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities, hours after the midnight dea

Olympic GamesNov. 17, 2013

Nigeria and Ivory Coast have qualified for the World Cup.The Nigerians became the first African team to qualify for next year’s showcase, beating Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff Saturday. Nigeria, playing at home Calabar, won 4-1 on total goals.Ivory Coast played to a tense 1-1 draw with Senegal for a 4-2 total-goals victory in neutral Casablanca, Morocco. Ivory Coast won the first leg 3-1. It made its World Cup debut in 2006 and will be going to the tournament for the third stra

SoccerNov. 17, 2013

Four All-Star-caliber players fattened their bank accounts over the past week as the opening free agent negotiating period ended and the second negotiating window opened during the weekend in the top domestic baseball league.Earlier this month, 16 players in the Korea Baseball Organization declared free agency, and they had between Nov. 10 and 16 to negotiate with their current clubs.During that period, nine players re-signed with their original teams, and none enjoyed a bigger payday than Lotte

BaseballNov. 17, 2013

South Korean speed skater Lee Sang-hwa broke her own world record in the women's 500 meters for the second time in under a week on Friday in the United States.Lee won the women's 500ｍ in 36.57 seconds at the second leg of the International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating World Cup being held in Salt Lake City, Utah, improving her own record by 0.17 of a second.At the first World Cup event in Calgary, Canada, last Saturday, Lee won the 500ｍ in 36.74 seconds, 0.06 seconds faster than her previou

More SportsNov. 16, 2013

South Korea stunned Switzerland with a 2-1 victory in their football friendly match here on Friday, erasing an earlier deficit in the spirited second half.At Seoul World Cup Stadium, Bolton Wanderers winger Lee Chung-yong headed in the go-ahead goal in the 86th minute, as the 56th-ranked hosts upset the world No. 7.   South Korea's record under head coach Hong Myung-bo improved to three wins, three losses and three draws.It was the first clash between the two countries since Switzerland defeated

SoccerNov. 15, 2013

TAICHUNG, Taiwan (Yonhap News) ― South Korean baseball champions Samsung Lions defeated Fortitudo Bologna of Italy 5-2 to open the Asia Series tournament in Taiwan on Friday.At Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Lee Seung-yeop belted a tie-breaking three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, powering the three-time reigning KBO champs past the Italian club.The Lions will next face the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions, the reigning Taiwanese champions, on Sunday at Taoyuan International Baseball Sta

BaseballNov. 15, 2013

South Korean men and women have secured multiple spots in individual short track races at next year’s Winter Olympics.At the fourth leg of the International Skating Union World Cup Short Track held in Kolomna, Russia on Thursday, Noh Jin-kyu, Sin Da-woon and Lee Han-bin all reached the quarterfinals of the men’s 1,500-meter race, each earning a spot at the Winter Games scheduled to open in Sochi, Russia, next February.In the women’s 1,500 m event, Shim Suk-hee, Kim A-lang and Park Seung-hi also

Olympic GamesNov. 15, 2013

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) ― Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum took the first-round lead Thursday in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, birdieing seven of the first 13 holes at Guadalajara Country Club.The 23-year-old Phatlum, winless in five seasons on the LPGA Tour, dropped a stroke on the par-4 14th hole and finished with a 6-under 66.Amy Yang was a stroke back, and fellow South Korean players Park In-bee and Ryu So-yeon were two shots back at 68 along with Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist.The top-ranked Park sw

GolfNov. 15, 2013