The Korea Herald

Koreans dominate at speedskating worlds

SOCHI, Russia (AP) ― Olympic champions Mo Tae-bum and Lee Sang-hwa of South Korea retained their 500-meter titles at the speedskating world championships Sunday.Mo took the men’s crown at the season-ending event, finishing with a combined time of 69.76 seconds over the two heats to edge Japan’s Joji Kato by .06 seconds. World sprint champion Jan Smeekens of the Netherlands, who had the fastest time of 34.80 seconds in the first heat, was fifth in the second heat to place third.In the women’s ev

More SportsMarch 25, 2013

Managers, players talk big

Managers and key players of the nine pro baseball clubs gathered on Monday to talk a big game ahead of the new season, with the league’s defending champions touted as the title favorite again.The Korea Baseball Organization hosted the annual preseason media day at the New Millennium Hall at Konkuk University in eastern Seoul. Most managers said they felt the Samsung Lions should once again contend for the title.Ryu Joong-il, manager of the Daegu-based Lions, said he is willing to take on challen

BaseballMarch 25, 2013

The roar still lingers

The Samsung Lions should find themselves in the familiar role of being chased in the Korea Baseball Organization this year, and the two-time defending champions will likely have to fend off two teams that are looking to improve upon their performances from 2012.The Lions overcame a slow start to their 2012 campaign and swept up both the pennant and the Korean Series title for the second straight season. This year, they will count on their reliable bullpen and potent offense to carry the day. Clo

BaseballMarch 25, 2013

Question marks for Korea in WC qualifier

South Korea will host Qatar in a World Cup qualification match this week with some question marks hanging above the team.Korea will take on the Middle East visitors at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Choi Kang-hee, the much-maligned head coach, hasn’t been able to find his ideal combination on offense. Against Qatar, Choi left off Park Chu-young, a forward with Celta Vigo in the top Spanish league, an admission that his experiment of pairing Park with Lee Dong-gook has failed. Choi wi

SoccerMarch 25, 2013

Question marks for Korea in WC qualifier

Recari edges Kim for Kia Classic win

CARLSBAD, California (AP) ― Beatriz Recari had three-putted No. 18 in regulation and again on the first hole of a playoff with Kim In-kyung as dusk approached Sunday.Here she was again, with a chance to win the Kia Classic.This one was true enough that Recari began her victory celebration even before her 18-foot birdie putt from the fringe rolled into the cup.The 25-year-old from Pamplona, Spain, raised her right fist and, after the ball rolled in, raised both arms in the air and smiled.She late

GolfMarch 25, 2013

Swimming hero’s unpaid reward to be discussed

The Korea Swimming Federation is planning to discuss the longstanding issue of unpaid rewards for gold medalist swimmer Park Tae-hwan. “The federation will deliberately discuss the unpaid reward for Park Tae-hwan during the next meeting,” said a high-ranking official at KSF.The federation has not paid the 22-year-old swimmer $45,000 (50 million won) as a cash award for winning two silver medals in the 200-meter and 400-meter races at the 2012 London Olympics. This comes shortly after Park made a

More SportsMarch 25, 2013

Swimming hero’s unpaid reward to be discussed

Lee Sang-hwa, Mo Tae-bum defend world speed skating titles

South Korean speed skaters Lee Sang-hwa and Mo Tae-bum both defended their world single distance titles in Russia on Sunday, becoming the first skaters from the country to win back-to-back world crowns.In the women's 500 meters at the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Sochi, Lee took the two-leg final with a combined time of 75.34 seconds. She finished both of her two races in first place.Wang Beixing of China was a distant second at a combined 76.03 seconds, followed by Olga

More SportsMarch 25, 2013

Schneider blanks Kings for second shutout of season

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Cory Schneider and the Vancouver Canucks handed the defending Stanley Cup champions their second straight shutout loss.Schneider made 20 saves en route to his sixth NHL shutout, Mason Raymond scored in the first period, and the Canucks beat the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 on Saturday for their third straight victory.“It was a close game, and not a lot of offense exchanged both ways, but we’ll take it any way we can get it,” Raymond said. “We didn’t have a lot of shots, but I thought

More SportsMarch 24, 2013

Back injury sidelines Venus Williams

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida (AP) ― A big match beckoned for Venus Williams on a court where she first hoisted the championship trophy 15 years ago.Alas, on Saturday she wasn’t up to any heavy lifting.The three-time Key Biscayne champion withdrew from the Sony Open because of a lower back injury shortly before her third-round match against fellow American Sloane Stephens.Williams, seeded 19th, was extended to three sets in the second round Thursday against Kimiko Date-Krumm. She said her back began to

More SportsMarch 24, 2013

Nuggets extend streak to 15

DENVER (AP) ― Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points to lead a balanced attack and the Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to 15 games with a 101-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.Kenneth Faried had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets, who have won a franchise-best 17 straight at home.And they did it while Ty Lawson (right heel) and Wilson Chandler (shoulder), two of their top players, were out with injuries.Lawson and Chandler have been catalysts in Denver’s win

More SportsMarch 24, 2013

On shaky ground

Spain and Portugal were held to draws that hurt their chances of qualifying automatically for next year’s World Cup, while England routed San Marino 8-0 for its biggest victory margin in 26 years and New Zealand clinched a playoff berth against the fourth-place nation from North and Central America and the Caribbean.Fans greeted the visitors with chants that included “Kill, Kill the Serbs!” as Croatia beat Serbia 2-0 at Zagreb in the first soccer meeting between the Balkan rivals since their war

SoccerMarch 24, 2013

Tiger in line for win, world No. 1 ranking

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) ― Tiger Woods is one round away from returning to No. 1 in the world.With key par saves early in his round and an eagle for the third straight day at Bay Hill, Woods seized control Saturday with a 6-under 66 to race by Justin Rose and build a two-shot lead going into the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.Woods was at 11-under 205, two shots ahead of Rickie Fowler (67), John Huh (71) and Rose, who at one point was six shots ahead of Woods. Rose had a 39 on the ba

GolfMarch 24, 2013

Spain’s Recari stretches LPGA lead

CARLSBAD, California (AP) ― Karrie Webb was cruising ahead of the pack at the Kia Classic. Then her game veered off course.Bogeys on the 13th, 17th and 18th holes dropped the Australian two strokes behind leader Beatriz Recari on Saturday with one round left at Aviara Golf Club.Despite her troubles, Webb, who shot at 2-under 70, remained confident about her chances at capturing her first LPGA Tour title since the 2011 Founders Cup in Phoenix.“I played really well, just a couple of bad swings on

GolfMarch 24, 2013

Ryu makes case for spot in rotation

GLENDALE, Arizona (AP) ― Ryu Hyun-jin’s claim on a spot in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting rotation went from good to likely Saturday night after the South Korean left-hander tossed seven innings of one-hit ball in a 10-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.“It would be very hard to say that he wouldn’t be in the rotation with the way he has pitched,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.After a rocky start, Ryu retired 17 of 18 batters, including the last 11 he faced. “I was not able to command

BaseballMarch 24, 2013

Mo Tae-bum grabs silver at world speed skating championships

South Korean speed skater Mo Tae-bum captured a surprising silver medal in men's 1,000 meters Friday at the world championships in Russia. Mo finished second in the race at 1:09.24, 0.10 second behind the gold medalist, Denis Kuzin of Kazakhstan, at the World Single Distances Championships in Sochi. Shani Davis of the U.S. was third at 1:09.30. Mo's silver is the best showing by a South Korean skater in 1,000ｍ at the single distances championships. Jegal Sung-yeol in 1996 and Lee Kyou-hyuk in 20

More SportsMarch 22, 2013

U.N. joins soccer leaders to rid sport of racism

GENEVA (AP) ― The ugly side of the beautiful game emerged Thursday as the U.N.’s top human rights official joined soccer officials and players in calling for an end to the “crime” of racism in sport.U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said racist insults and chants, Nazi salutes, petitions against players and denial of hiring based on color or ethnicity have no place in sports.“Sport, at its best, is inclusive, generous-hearted, and fundamentally multicultural, based on values su

SoccerMarch 22, 2013

Brewer’s late free throws give Nuggets 14th-straight win

DENVER (AP) ― Corey Brewer sank three free throws with 2.1 seconds left and the Denver Nuggets stretched their franchise-best winning streak to 14 games with a 101-100 thriller over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.Anthony Randolph blocked Damien Wilkins’ desperation jumper at the buzzer to secure Denver’s 16th straight win at the Pepsi Center ― and its most unlikely.Brewer finished with 29 points. Wilkins had 24 points and Jrue Holiday had 18 points and 15 assists for the Sixers.Brewer

More SportsMarch 22, 2013

Serena advances at Key Biscayne

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida (AP) ― Playing again at No. 1, Serena Williams routed Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-1, 6-1 on Thursday in the second round of the Sony Open.Williams is playing her first tournament since she regained the No. 1 ranking at the Qatar Open. She lost the Doha final to Victoria Azarenka, but overtook her for the top ranking the week of Feb. 11.Williams trailed 40-0 in the first and fifth games in the first set, but went on to hold serve both times. In the first game, she uncharacter

More SportsMarch 22, 2013

Jane Park grabs Kia Classic lead

CARLSBAD, California (AP) ― Stacy Lewis got to enjoy the perks of being atop the world rankings, including being announced as No. 1 on the first tee and seeing her caddie wearing the special bib.She birdied her first three holes in the Kia Classic and then, well, didn’t quite play up to her top billing.Lewis, who took over the No. 1 ranking from Yani Tseng after winning the LPGA Founders Cup in Phoenix on Sunday, shot a 2-under 70 and was four shots behind leader Jane Park at Aviara.Park, who li

GolfMarch 22, 2013

Rose takes early lead at Bay Hill

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) ― Justin Rose started out as another guy in Tiger Woods’ group Thursday at Bay Hill. He wound up in the lead.Rose put on a clinic with the putter and ran off four straight birdies late in his round for a 7-under 65, giving him a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.Woods had two sloppy bogeys from greenside bunkers and didn’t hit it as well as he did when he won Doral two weeks ago. But he made enough key par saves and manhandled the par 5

GolfMarch 22, 2013