Korean Sports Thread

[hakz2007]

Kim Yu-na to skip Grand Prix, focus on world championships

SEOUL, July 19 (Yonhap) -- Figure skating Olympic gold medalist Kim Yu-na said Monday that she will not compete in the upcoming Grand Prix Series and focus instead on next year's world championships.

The 2010-2011 season's first Grand Prix competition is slated in Japan on Oct. 22, and the season-ending world championships will take place on March 19, also in Japan.



"I didn't start training yet, but I'll focus on the world championships. After the ice show, I'll make up a schedule with the coaching staff and select the programs," Kim said upon arrival at Incheon International Airport.

The 19-year-old, who has been training in Toronto with her Canadian coach Brian Orser, came back home to participate in an ice show on Friday.

The 2009 world champion failed to defend her title at this year's championships held a few weeks after the Winter Olympic Games.

Kim said she will also miss the Winter Asian Games scheduled to begin Jan. 30 in Kazakhstan.

Since clinching the gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics with a record high 228.56 points, she has been evading questions about whether she would retire.

Before heading to Toronto in May, she remained ambiguous, saying she would not retire but was not sure if she was ready to take part in competitions.

Kim has won seven Grand Prix titles, three Grand Prix Final trophies, one world championship title and the Olympic gold medal since her senior international debut in 2006.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...00700315F.HTML

[Mussoda]

FIFA U-20 Women's Worldcup finalized.

Korean team got the 3rd place with bronze medal.. nice

Ji finishes with a flourish (FIFA.com)
Sunday 1 August 2010

Korea Republic claimed the bronze medal at Germany 2010 as Ji So-Yun once again underlined the goalscoring instincts that have been a highlight throughout the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Fittingly, her eighth and final goal in the tournament won the game and ensured the Asian team of a place on the podium, a terrific finale to their first tournament at this level since 2004.

After their 5-1 defeat in the semi-finals by Germany, Choi In Cheul's team were eager to show a return to form. Thery dominated from the start with Ji playing a more advanced role as Jung Hae-In dropped to the bench. Behind them Kim Narae pulled the midfield strings and it was she who led a one-woman assault on the Colombia goal in the first half. Her cracking strike, direct from a free-kick, against Ghana was illustrative of the power she packs into her boots and she was eager to treat the Bielefeld audience to another one from the same drawer.

more : http://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcu...+with+flourish

I just watched the goal-scoring scenes at several games,.. Women's team was so impressive. especially Ji.


highlights of the final game : South Korea 1 : 0 Columbia

[Mussoda]

documentary about korean sports history will be broadcasted in all around USA.

`한국 스포츠 탁월함' 美전역에 방송
연합뉴스 | 2010.08.03

`손기정서 김연아까지' 1시간 다큐물 1억 시청자에
제작자 "위대한 스포츠 혁명 이끈 선구자들 다뤄"

(뉴욕=연합뉴스) 김현재 특파원 = 한국 스포츠의 우수성에 초점을 맞춘 1시간짜리 다큐멘터리 프로그램 `한국 스포츠의 탁월함'(South Korea: Focused on Excellence)이 미국 전역의 공중파 방송을 통해 8-9월에 미국인들과 만난다.

1936년 일장기를 가슴에 달고 올림픽 금메달을 딴 뒤 시상식장에서 끝내 얼굴을 들지 않았던 마라토너 손기정부터 시작해 2010년 밴쿠버 동계 올림픽의 피겨 여왕 김연아로 마무리되는 이 감동 스토리에는 월드 축구스타 박지성과 이청용, 골프의 박세리, 양용은, 신지애, 빙상의 이승훈, 야구의 박찬호, 추신수, 김현수 등 10여명의 정상급 선수들이 등장한다.

한국 스포츠를 주제로 한 다큐멘터리 프로그램이 미 전역에 방송되는 것은 이번이 처음이다.

제작사인 JPI 측은 이 다큐 제작을 위해 지난 5월부터 두 달여간 한국과 미국, 캐나다 등지를 방문해 선수들과 직접 만나 과거 애환과 미래의 꿈을 인터뷰했고, 서울 시청 앞은 물론, 쇼트트랙 경기장, 잠실 야구장, 심지어 인도어 골프 연습장 등지에서 한국의 미래 꿈나무들을 취재했다.

한국인들의 끝없는 스포츠 열정과 성취를 위한 노력이 10년, 20년 후 수십명의 김연아, 박지성, 박세리를 만들어 낼 것이라는 얘기다.

JPI 부사장 겸 이 프로그램 감독을 맡은 제이 잘버트는 3일(현지시간) 기자와 만나 "미국 뉴저지주 크기만한 한국에서 축구.야구.골프.스케이팅 등 각 분야의 스포츠 천재들이 나오는 이유가 궁금했다"며 "우리는 몇십 년에 걸친 위대한 스포츠 혁명을 보았고, 그 혁명을 이끈 선구자들과 또 이것이 한국에 어떤 영향을 줬는지에 대한 이야기를 다뤘다"고 말했다.

특히 쇼트트랙 경기장에서 금메달리스트들과 어린 선수들이 함께 연습하는 것을 본 잘버트 감독은 "최고 수준의 선수와 풀뿌리의 공존. 거기서 엄청난 시너지가 나온다고 생각한다"고 소감을 피력했다.

이 다큐멘터리의 하이라이트는 역시 김연아였다.

제작팀은 김 선수, 브라이언 오서 코치 등과의 인터뷰를 통해 그녀가 얼마나 힘든 역경을 딛고 정상에 올라섰는지를 생생하게 전하면서 "가수도 배우도 아닌 체육인 김연아는 지금 한국에서 가장 인기 있는 여성"이라고 소개했다.

잘버트 감독은 "김연아와 인터뷰를 하는 것은 오바마 대통령보다 더 어려웠다"며 "하지만 인터뷰 과정에서 매우 우아했고, 즐거워했다. 정말 특별한 사람"이라고 평가했다.

이 다큐멘터리가 세상에 나오기까지는 기획부터 제작까지 사실상 모든 것을 책임진 숨은 주역이 있다.

뉴욕에서 스포츠마케팅 회사 ISEA를 운영하고 있는 교포 앤드루 조(한국명 조현준) 씨다.

그는 "정말 열악한 환경에서도 세계가 놀랄 정도의 성과를 거둔 선수들에게 고마움과 함께 미안한 마음이 너무 컸다"면서 "선수들이 이렇게 판을 깔아 놓았는데 이것을 한국 홍보, 한국의 위상을 알리는 데 쓰지 않는다면 한국으로서도 너무 손해라는 생각에 기획을 하게 됐다"고 말했다.

조 대표는 지난해부터 문화체육관광부.서울시 등과의 협의를 거쳐 올해 4월 최종적으로 서울시와 후원 계약을 맺고 본격적인 준비에 착수해, 스포츠 다큐 부문 에미상 수상자들인 작가 마이클 쉔저, 촬영감독 빌 에번스 등 최고의 라인업으로 짜인 잘버트 감독 팀과 프로그램 제작을 하게 됐다.

이 다큐멘터리는 8-9월 두 달 동안 뉴욕.LA 등 미 전역의 120개 이상 도시에서 ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox 등 지상파 방송을 통해 방영된다. 제작사 측은 총 1억1천만 TV시청가구의 90%가 가시청권에 들어 있다고 밝혔다.

한인 밀집지역인 LA에는 8월 15일 오후 12시30분(현지시간) ABC 방송을 통해, 샌프란시스코에서는 같은 날 3시 NBC 방송을 통해 방영되고, 뉴욕 지역도 8월 중하순께로 방송이 예정돼 있다.

또 1차 지역별 공중파 방송이 완료되면 오는 11월부터는 6천만 시청가구를 확보하고 있는 폭스 스포츠 네트워크(FSN)를 통해 재방송된다.

잘버트 감독은 "스포츠팬은 한국인이건, 미국인이건, 이집트인이건, 감동적인 휴먼스토리에 관심이 있다"며 "한국과 한국 스포츠에 대한 사전 지식이 있든 없든, 어려움을 딛고 일궈낸 성공 이야기는 미국 시청자들에게도 어필할 것"이라고 말했다.

[jlee]

Korea v. Nigeria.

[hakz2007]

INTERNATIONAL BOXING BODY STRIPS SOUTH KOREA OF MEMBERSHIP

SEOUL, Sept 14 (NNN-BERNAMA) -- The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) says it has provisionally stripped the Korean Amateur Boxing Federation (KABF) of its membership on account of the unbearable conduct of the country's boxing chief, reports South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

Unless reinstated within this month, South Korean boxers will not be able to take part in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in November because the roster for the Asian Games has to be submitted to its organizing committee by the end of September. South Korea was planning to send 13 boxers to the quadrennial event.

The KABF's deprivation of membership in the AIBA also means South Koreans boxers would be suspended from competing at other international events, including the London 2012 Olympics.

The AIBA said the KABF has refused to name a successor to Yoo Jae-yoon, former chairman of the KABF, whom it accused of tarnishing the reputation and image of the AIBA.

The AIBA had given the KABF until Sept 10 to establish a new leadership in order to avoid losing its membership. The chairman's seat has been vacant since Yoo was dismissed last December.

The exclusion will be finalized at the AIBA general congress in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Nov 1-2, according to an official from the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) quoted by Yonhap news agency.

Yonhap said tensions between the KABF and AIBA dates back to November 2006 when, during the election for a chairman, Yoo supported Anwar Chowdhry -- an opponent to the eventual winner, Wu Ching-Kuo.

Shortly after Yoo was elected as KABF chief in January last year, the AIBA suspended him for 18 months for sending an unauthorized team doctor to an international event.

"The process of appointing the new head of the KABF is under way. The AIBA's decision is a tentative measure, which we view as a warning. We expect the AIBA to lift its decision when the schedule for a new election is settled," an official from the KOC was quoted by Yonhap as saying.

http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=133045

[hakz2007]

S. Korea downs Japan to win U-17 Women's World Cup

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (PNA/Yonhap) -- South Korea won the U-17 Women's World Cup for the first time after edging out Japan 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shootout in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday (Korean time).

The win also marks South Korea's first championship title ever in a FIFA-sponsored tournament in both men's and women's football.

In the final held at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, South Korea and Japan finished regular and extra time tied 3-3 before entering the penalty shootout.

South Korean forward Yeo Min-ji, who scored eight goals in the competition, won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards, given to the tournament's best player and top scorer, becoming the first South Korean footballer to receive either prize in an international football tournament.

Kim Kum-jong of North Korea, which finished fourth after being defeated by Spain 1-0 in the tournament's third-place match held earlier in the same stadium, was awarded the Bronze Ball trophy.

South Korea took the lead in the 6th minute on Lee Jung-eun's opener. She hammered a right-foot shoot some 20 meters out past Japanese goalkeeper and captain Eri Hirao.

Five minutes later, Japanese Hikaru Naomoto leveled the game by arrowing the ball into the top left corner despite South Korean goalie Kim Min-ah getting a hand on it.

Another long-range shot gave Japan a 2-1 lead six minutes later, but South Korea equalized in the final seconds of the first half on a free kick by captain Kim Areum that flew into the top left corner.

In the 57th minute, Japan's Chika Kato found herself alone in front of goal and tapped in a cross from Kumi Yokoyama who had weaved around the South Korean defense.

But Japan's lead didn't last long.

South Korean substitute Lee Sodam, who came on in the 78th minute, wasted little time in making her mark, volleying in a long-range shot in the 79th minute to force extra time.

After 30 additional minutes, the score remained deadlocked.

In the penalty shootout, Japan's sixth kicker hit the crossbar, giving South Korea the opportunity to claim victory. Defender Jang Selgi converted, giving South Korea its first world title in football.

As soon as her shot touched the back of the net, the South Korean players celebrated by throwing themselves into each other's arms and weeping in joy.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=4&rid=302889

[hakz2007]

Korean eyes Fifa top job

FIFA vice-president Chung Mong Joon is considering challenging Sepp Blatter for Fifa's top job.

While Blatter has confirmed he will stand for a fourth term as president in next May's vote, no opponent has yet emerged.

While Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam has ruled himself out of the race, Chung says that 'in order to keep a large organisation like Fifa healthy, you need healthy competition'.

Chung, 58, is also the president of the Korean Football Association and chairman of Hyundai Heavy Industries.

On his potential candidacy, Chung said that he has 'not thought of doing so before seriously'.

He said: 'But now I will think about it. It's still too early to say there will be no contender next May.' The 74-year-old Blatter has been Fifa's president since 1998 and won a fierce re-election fight in 2002 before being returned unopposed in 2007.

http://tnp.sg/sports/story/0,4136,257827,00.html

[hakz2007]

Korean coasts to 3-shot romp; Guioguio triumphs

MANILA, Oct. 15 (PNA) -- Korean Wang Jeung Hyun outgunned Jobim Carlos in an early shootout then cruised to a three-shot victory with a closing one-under 71 in the Canlubang Amateur Open Golf Championship at Cangolf's north course in Laguna Friday.

The 15-year-old Wang, just one shot ahead of Carlos at the start of the final round, jumped the gun on the ICTSI-Cangolf bet with back-to-back birdie opening and survived a roller-caster backside stint to clinch the victory.

He wound up with a 207, beating Carlos, who hobbled with a 73 for a 210 and holding off a rallying Dante Becierra of ICTSI-The Country Club, who turned in the day’s best score of seven-under 65 for a 211.

The victory over the cream of the country’s amateur crop was also a vindication of sort for the Riviera bet, who was disqualified in the final round of the WWWExpress-DHL National Golf Championships, which he led, also at Cangolf last February.

This time he won it convincingly, anchoring his triumph with a stirring 65 in the second round of the 54-hole tournament hosted by Cangolf and sponsored by The Turf Company and Pacsports Phils.

Lovelynn Guioguio, meanwhile, ran away with the ladies' crown with a two-under 70 for a 134 and a five-stroke victory over ICTSI teammates Jayvie Agojo, who also had a 70, and Andrea Unson, who fired a 69, who both had 139s.

Daniella Uy shot the day’s best of 68 and placed fourth with a 140, followed by Sarah Ababa (72-141), Regina de Guzman (72-145), Geleen Handog (75-146), Lucy Landicho (76-147) and Lee Bo Ram (82-156) in that order.

Nam Seung Hee of Eagle Ridge fired a 71 and finished fourth with a 217 while ICTSI0-TCC’s Peter Villaber (70) Alexis Nallos (73) and Sung Hwan Yoon (71), also of Riviera, ended up tied at 218.

Art Arbole skied to a 76 and shared eighth place with Jessie Balasabas, who also made a 76 at 219, followed by Zanieboy Gialon (79), Carl Santos Ocampo (72) and Hwang Kang Youl (71), who all had 222s.

Mhark Fernando, the former national champion, closed out his forgettable stint with a 76 and tied dethroned champion and pro-bound Jhonnel Ababa, who matched par 72, at 223 along with Chuckie Hong of ICTSI-TCC, who had a 71.

Carlos failed to match Wang’s fiery opening with a par-bogey start and fell by as many as four strokes. He birdied No. 3 but still stood three shots behind at turn.

After three straight pars at the back, Wang went on a bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey ride but Carlos failed to gain ground as the duo closed out with similar 37s, enabling the Korean teener to cruise to victory.

Ten shots behind, Becierra launched his bid with four birdies at the front then added four more at the back against a lone bogey, finishing with a 32-33 for that 65.

The 11th staging of the Cangolf Am was backed by ICTSI, Dynamic Sports Inc., Coca-Cola Bottlers Inc., GolfWorx, Jose Ma. Hechanova, Rudy Project, Greenlink Trading, Otsuka (Phils.) Pharmaceutical Inc., MayCar Foods Inc., Merlo Agricultural Corp., Mesaland Dev't. Corp., Nature's Spring, Pilipinas Golfbag Mfg., San Miguel Brewery Inc., Seamecor Inc., and Whealth Inc.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=...d=5&rid=307022

[hakz2007]

Son extends Hamburg stay
South Korean teenager pens fresh terms with German giants

South Korean Son Heung-min has signed a new deal with Hamburg which will keep him at the club until 2014.

The 18 year-old, along with fellow youngsters Muhammed Besic and Miroslav Stepanek, were offered improved deals as the German outfit looked to tie down their most precocious talents.

Sporting director Bastian Reinhardt is delighted to have agreed fresh terms with all three and is convinced they will go on to have bright futures at Hamburg.

"Our sporting philosophy at Hamburg is to have young, hungry and talented players at the club in the future. We have begun that today by handing this contract-extension to these three players," he was quoted as saying on Goal.com.

"All three, but especially Son and Besic, have shown their potential from the beginning of this season."

Son scored his first Bundesliga goal last weekend against Cologne and is expected to feature regularly over the coming weeks due to an injury crisis at the club.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...491780,00.html

[Carrerra]

K-league won Asian Champions League in two consecutive years!!!!!!!!!! Anyone can't deny the truth K-league is the best football league in Asia. May God bless K-league


성남, 조바한 꺾고 14년 만에 아시아 제패
기사입력 2010-11-13 20:52



성남이 14년 만에 마침내 아시아 무대 정상에 섰다.

신태용 감독이 이끄는 성남은 13일 일본 도쿄 국립경기장에서 열린 2010년 아시아챔피언스리그 결승전에서 사샤 조병국 김철호의 연속골에 힘입어 칼라트바리가 한 골을 만회한 조바한(이란)을 3대1로 꺾고 감격의 우승을 차지했다.

성남이 이 대회에서 우승하기는 1996년 전신인 아시아클럽챔피언십 이후 14년 만이다.

2004년 아쉽게 준우승에 그치고 2007년 4강에서 좌절하는 등 몇 차례 고배를 든 끝에 따낸 우승컵이다.

스코어가 보여주듯 경기는 시종 치열했다. 경기 초반 미드필드를 장악하기 위해 중원에서 격렬한 전투가 벌어진 가운데, 조바한이 슈팅을 때리면 성남도 곧바로 응수하며 팽팽한 기싸움이 벌어졌다.

조동건을 원톱에 포진시키고 기술과 킥이 좋은 몰리나와 스피드가 뛰어난 송호영을 좌우 날개로 배치한 성남은 전반 28분 0의 균형을 깨며 앞서갔다.

주인공은 AFC(아시아축구연맹) 올해의 선수 후보에 오른 호주 출신의 수비수 사샤. 김성환이 오른쪽 측면에서 페널티지역 안으로 깊숙히 던진 스로인을 조병국이 떨궈주자 사샤는 조바한 골키퍼 고단과 경합에서 이기고 골지역 정면에서 밀어넣기에 성공했다.

이후부터는 성남의 페이스. 후반 7분엔 수비수 조병국이 헤딩 쐐기골을 터뜨려 성남은 2-0으로 앞서가 승기를 굳혔다.

위기가 없던 것은 아니었다. 조동건이 후반 18분과 19분 연달아 득점 찬스를 무산시킨 가운데 성남은 후반 21분 칼리트바리에 실점했다. 카스트로가 때린 슛을 골키퍼 정성룡이 쳐냈으나 칼라트바리가 튕겨져 나온 볼을 그대로 슛으로 연결해 득점했다. 조바한은 후반 34분 하다디파르가 페널티지역 정면에서 날카로운 슛을 쏘기도 했다.

성남은 자칫 동점골을 내줄 수도 있는 상황에서도 수비에 무게를 두지 않고 공세를 퍼부으며 맞섰고 마침내 승부에 마침표를 찍는 골을 성공시켰다.

김철호는 후반 37분 골지역 왼쪽에서 오른발 슛으로 조바한을 침몰시켰다. 맹렬히 추격하던 조바한은 힘을 잃었고 성남은 우승을 확인했다. 경기장을 가득 메운 성남 팬들은 "챔피언"을 연호했다.

[jlee]

Korea v. China. Asian Games 2010. Round of 16.


Dude...really?

[hakz2007]

Adieu 2010!: 10 best moments in Korean sports

No word besides “unprecedented” can best describes Korean sports this year with remarkable achievements by the nation’s athletes.

The 10 stunning moments selected by the Korea Times vary from the boldness of young athletes to top international stages to veteran pitcher Park Chan-ho’s milestone in the MLB, and the inaugural Korean Grand Prix.

1. “Queen” Yu-na triumphs in Vancouver



It was an apt choice for fans to refer to women’s figure skater Kim Yu-na as “Queen,” as it perfectly suits her given the Olympic title achieved with a world record score.

The 20-year-old Korean triumphed in the Vancouver Winter Games on Feb. 25 taking the nation’s first-ever gold medal in a sport that had been regarded as impossible to win in until Kim’s advent.

Although she was regarded as the favorite before the Games, Korean people seemed emotionally overwhelmed seeing the young Olympian on the top of the podium.

Kim impressed as she took the title in a new world record of 228.56 points, setting the highest-ever mark in each of the short program (78.50) and the free skate (150.06).

Kim has not appeared at any major competitions this season, and her absence is too protracted for fans eager to see her gold-medal winning performance.

2. Women footballers win FIFA title



The young, lively yet undaunted Korean women’s football squads were simply dazzling in the summer and fall. The Under-20 team came in third while the Under-17s won the tournament at their respective FIFA World Cups.

They rewrote South Korean football history with rise of star players Ji So-yun and Yeo Min-ji.

The Under-20s travelled to Germany, and beat Colombia 1-0 in the third place match on Aug. 1, the highest finish in Korean football history on the world stage until it was trumped by the younger squad just weeks later.

Prompted by these achievements, people began to be aware of the potential of women’s footballers here.

Interest rose with forward Ji being awarded with the Silver Ball and Silver Boot at the Under-20 World Cup.

The 19-year-old scored eight goals in six matches.

On Sept. 26 the Under-17 squad went further in Trinidad and Tobago to show Korea could rule in the world with an unprecedented championship title at a FIFA-organized tournament.

The youngsters beat Japan 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the final finished in a 3-3 draw.

The team’s leading striker Yeo also impressed fans and critics alike, taking home the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot, after being selected as the tournament’s best player and finishing as the highest scorer with eight goals.

3. South Korea reaches World Cup knockout stage



South Korean men’s football fulfilled the nation’s long-awaited dream to advance to the knockout stage at an overseas World Cup in South Africa this year.

The squad clinched a place in the last 16 in second place in the preliminaries with an enthralling 2-2 draw with Nigeria in their final group stage match on June 23.

The 23-man squad had been regarded as being composed of the best members ever with a high possibility of advancing.

A 2-0 victory over Greece in their opening game on June 12, thanks to goals by captain Park Ji-sung and defender Lee Jung-soo set the team on its way.

But the Nigeria match became crucial after a crushing 4-1 loss against Argentina on June 17.

The squad conceded an early lead against the African team in just the 12th minute. The South Korean team, has grown in terms of confidence as well as skill since the 2002 tournament, was not intimidated and leveled the game in the 38th.

The Taeguk Warriors took a 2-1 lead through striker Park Chu-young in the 49th, and despite the final result being a draw, it was good enough for the team to celebrate the highest place the national football team has ever reached on foreign soil.

4. Park Chan-ho sets milestone in Asian baseball



Veteran pitcher Park Chan-ho celebrated an MLB career moment following his 1994 debut with his 124th win, the highest number of victories among Asian pitchers in the league.

The 37-year-old equaled the record of 123 set by now-retired Nomo Hideo of Japan by shutting out the Florida Marlins for three innings in a 5-1 victory.

Park’s achievement was touching for fans as he has endured ups and downs in the world’s best league over the past 16 years.

The Korean has played with seven clubs in the MLB, in which he had his career high with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2002 with an 18-10 record and a 3.27 ERA in 226 innings.

However, he was also accused of deserving less than his contract amount of $650,000 for five years when he began to play for his second team, the Texas Rangers.

Park ended his Major League career by signing for the Orix Buffaloes, where he will make his Japanese league debut next season.

5. Park Tae-hwan wins triple gold in Asiad



South Korea’s Park Tae-hwan claimed three golds at this year’s Asian Games, held in Guangzhou, China.

The 21-year-old swept the men’s 400-, 200-, and 100-meter freestyle, following three titles in the 200-, 400-, and 1,500-meters freestyle at the 2006 Asiad.

Park became the nation’s first Korean male swimmer to achieve such a feat, and also won the highest number of wins overall, with six. He broke the previous record, held by Choi Yoon-hee in the women’s competition, five in 1986 in Seoul.

Park looked prominent as he bounced back from a disappointing world championships in Rome last year. He had been criticized for a lack of effort following his gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle in the 2008 Olympics.

6. Korea wins first golds in Olympic speed skating



The young speed skating trio of Mo Tae-bum, Lee Sang-Hwa, and Lee Seung-hoon showed Korea’s potential in the sport at the Vancouver Winter Games, each winning gold medals.

The Olympians surprised the nation as local athletes had previously dominated in short track speed skating, regarded as more suitable for Koreans.

Mo brought home the first gold in the men’s 500-meters, but it was only a prelude for a further two Olympic titles by his compatriots.

Lee Sang-hwa stepped up in the women’s 500-meters, winning Korea’s first gold in the women’s sprint event.

Lee Seung-hoon won the men’s 10,000-meters, the longest race in speed skating and in which it had been considered virtually impossible for Asians to triumph, as the event requires both speed and endurance.

7. Korean baseballers set world records



Korean baseball dared to challenge on the world stage this year, with Lotte Giants slugger Lee Dae-ho and Hanwha Eagles pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the local league setting world records.

Lee set the longest home run streak of nine consecutive games, while Ryu marked the longest string of quality starts, with 23 games.

The Giants batter stood out among big hitters across the globe with his homer in a ninth straight game on Aug. 14 in Gwangju and excelled the previous record set in the Major League.

The 28-year-old passed Big Leaguers Ken Griffey Jr., Don Matthingly, and Dale Long who had set the mark at eight.

Such play brought attention from the two baseball powerhouses _ the United States and Japan_ as the media in both countries was prompt to deliver the news of Lee’s dingers.

Ryu responded four days later on Aug. 18, throwing more than six innings in a 2-2 draw against the LG Twins to set a new world record for consecutive quality starts, passing the 22 game streaks of Bob Gibson and Chris Carpenter in the MLB.

8. Korea finds hope in athletics



Athletics captured the attention of Korean fans at the Guangzhou Asian Games as the nation won four gold medals in the sport, including three in unprecedented events.

The athletes triumphed in both the women’s and men’s long jump, women’s hurdles, and the men’s marathon.

Jung Soon-ok stunned the nation by topping the podium in the women’s long jump on Nov. 23 followed by an equally-surprising win for Kim Deok-hyun in the men’s event a day later.

Lee Yeon-kyung shone with the nation’s first-ever sprinting gold medal by finishing first in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Ji Young-jun won the men’s marathon on the closing day of the Games.

9. Choo Shin-soo joines 20-20 club for 2nd straight season



Cleveland Indians outfielder Choo Shin-soo recorded a 3.00 batting average and joined the 20-20 club for steals and home runs for the second straight season this year.

Choo had 22 home runs, 22 steals and 90 RBIs as a leading player for the Indians.

The 28-year-old made consistent plays for the team, and helped make his future look rosy, especially in terms of salary negotiation, as he was exempted from his military service after winning the gold medal in the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

10. 1st F1 Grand Prix



The nation drew attention from the world’s motor sports fans as it hosted the Korean Grand Prix for the first time on Oct 24.

Despite the event being accused of lacking in preparation and struggling against the elements, the inaugural race took place in Yeongnam, South Jeolla Province.

Among the 24 drivers from the 12 teams, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso took the checkered flag at the rain-soaked circuit.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news...136_78432.html

[hakz2007]

South Korea pay the penalty

While it would be a chore to choose the cruellest nugget from the cruelty smorgasbord of South Korea's cruel Asian Cup semi-final loss to Japan on Tuesday night, here goes one attempt:

How in the world did humanity, presumably striving for fairness and kindness in its global game, ever come up with a rule such as the one that allows football teams to score on the rebound after the goalkeeper stops - but does not hold on to - a penalty kick during a match?

How?

Did the men sitting around the table making the rule have an especially bad day or week? Had they experienced some sort of unkindness such as a stomach flu or a tax audit? Had they spent too many days growing gloomy and grouchy in persistent drizzle?

Had a goalkeeper done them wrong in some way? Did some suave goalkeeper woo away any of their girlfriends during schoolboy years? Did they deem goalkeepers lazy and unworthy next to outfield players, so aim to enshrine a sinister plot against all future goalkeepers?

Did any have a dartboard at home bearing the face of a goalkeeper?

Whatever, if this rule is not the most barbaric in sports, it rates a spot on the medal stand.

It manages to take its general meanness and inject it with a keen unfairness, an outright warping of the game. In so many ways, football does a peerless job of imitating life, but in this instance it fails on a rare technicality: it's even rougher than life.

Everybody realises the goalkeeper's gaping disadvantage at the spectre of a penalty kick; it ranks among the reasons everybody goes into a snit when a referee awards one to the enemy.

Everybody knows that when a goalkeeper stops a penalty, he or she has done yeoman work and achieved the improbable, so supporters exult. Everybody has seen how the man taking the penalty can become demoralised at not converting one, as if he has just committed an unspeakable sin which in some circles, of course, he has.

So when you take the goalkeeper's unlikely accomplishment and then tell him, Oh, no, wait, you are not finished because you did not also cover the ball, you are being a pernickety churl.

This savagery would seem abnormal if it had not grown so normal through the years, such that sometimes only new eyes can notice. I never gave it thought - it did nag me somewhere at the back of my brain - until a New York writer friend who started watching the English Premier League a few years back suddenly asked me, essentially, What's up with that?

On Tuesday night, what was up would be a South Korean loss that came cruelty wrapped around the institutional cruelty of the rebound rule.

For the overarching cruelty, the Koreans had only minutes to savour their remarkably goal in the 120th minute that levelled the match at 2-2 before they succumbed to their own fatigue in the game-deciding penalties. They lost agonisingly to their foremost rival.

Inside that cruelty, they had fallen behind in extra time only because with the match taut-as-could-be and level at 1-1 on 95 minutes, Khalil al Ghamdi, the referee, had granted a questionable penalty when Hwang Jae-won crashed into Shinji Okazaki while the latter hopelessly pursued a slick through ball from the captivating Keisuke Honda.

While Cho Kwang-rae, the South Korea manager, found it strange that al Ghamdi demurred to the linesman before determining whether that foul occurred inside the box, the call still might have wrought an overall fairness.

After all, it resembled the Japanese penalty on 23 minutes when Yasuyuki Konno crashed into Park Ji-sung in that both cases involved the chasing of a ball too far from reach so that a referee might have let it go with a warning.

For his (just) part, Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni gently found both penalty calls unnecessary.

Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, in the eternally sympathetic role in the equation, actually guessed correctly. He made a play that actually contained athleticism! He lunged to his right, and with his trailing hand managed to deflect the ball away from the precious goalmouth.

Even in an unfair world and the sport that best emulates it, that should be the finish. Goalkeeper wins. Offence retreats. Goalkeeper stands. Goalkeeper sets up spot kick. Play on.

But as Japan's Hajime Hosogai moved in - maybe even a tad too briskly - and blasted the rebound into the net, there came a reminder that football does not always emulate life because sometimes, somehow, it is even more inequitable.

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationa...ay-the-penalty

[jlee]

ah...the start of baseball.

you can watch kbo highlights and complete games here
http://news.naver.com/sports/index.n...egory=baseball

[jlee]

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...rk-secret.aspx

17/05/2011 08:57, Report by Adam Marshall
Evra reveals Park secret

Patrice Evra thinks he has discovered the secret behind Ji-sung Park's remarkable stamina levels - Korean food.

The Frenchman is close pals with the midfielder, who produced another lung-busting display in the crucial victory against Chelsea last weekend, and is hoping some of his energy rubs off on his team-mates.

In an exclusive interview with MUTV, the United left-back admitted his friend could be a key figure in the Champions League final against Barcelona.

"Ji's unbelievable," said Evra. "I was just laughing when I was watching the game when he was running, because it was unbelievable.

"It must be the Korean food. I try to do the same, sometimes I go to his house and eat the same food. But [seriously] I think Ji is an example to every player. He runs for everyone. Sometimes if I'm tired I know I'll be okay because Ji will run for me.

"I think he's one of the most important players in the team because he doesn't stop running, he can run all day. It's funny because when we reached the final, some fan said, 'Yeah, we're going to win against Barcelona because Ji is going to run all day with Messi.'

"I made some joke with Ji in the dressing room afterwards, saying 'People now think you're a defender'."

[hakz2007]

Stricter penalties for match fixing announced

Sports suspected of having match fixing will no longer receive proceeds from Sports Toto, Korea`s lone legal association for sports betting, and bookies will face tougher punishment for illegal activities.

The Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ministry announced stricter measures against match fixing Tuesday. The National Sports Promotion Act says 10 percent of Sports Toto proceeds shall be allocated to a relevant sport but a new revision suspends the issuance of lottery tickets and a ban on the lottery from paying the proceeds to a sport implicated in match rigging.

More: http://english.donga.com/srv/service...=2011060889218

[jlee]

Korea Ghana friendly highlights 6/7/11


Korea Serbia friendly highlights 6/3/11

[jlee]

Korea wins the East Asia Championship in basketball.

FINAL
South Korea - Japan 89:73
South Korea claimed East Asia Championship title. They prevailed against Japan in the championship game tonight. Yang Dong-Geun (182-G-81) provided 26 points to lead the winners.
South Korea bravely entered the game. They quickly surged ahead and enjoyed a 25:13 lead after ten minutes. But Japan reacted in the second term. Japan outscored their opponents 24:15 in the second term to narrow the deficit at three points 37:40. But South Korea continued to mount the pressure in the third frame. The Korean side unloaded 23 points and boosted the margin to 9 points at the final intermission. South Korea stayed aggressively offensively as they poured in 26 points in the fourth quarter and sealed the win at the end. Kang Byung-Hyun (193-G-85) delivered 20 points and 6 rebounds for South Korea. Cho Sung-Min (197-F-83) added 19 points in the victory. Kosuke Takeuchi (206-C/F-85) answered with 15 points and 9 rebounds for Japan. Takuya Kawamura (193-G-86) provided 12 points in defeat.

South Korea: Yang Dong-Geun 26, Kang Byung-Hyun 20, Cho Sung-Min 19
Japan: Kosuke Takeuchi 15, Takuya Kawamura 12

http://www.asia-basket.com/East-Asia...?NewsID=229079

[jlee]

looks like pyeongchang is hosting the olympics.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/wint...s/14054018.stm
- ze germans don't look too happy.

kim yuna doing her thing.

[Yellow Fever]

Congrats to S.Korea! I'm sure it will be an excellent game in 2018.