Sep 18, 2017

Korean short trackers to focus on process in Olympic season

Entering the Olympic season in a few days, South Korean short track speed skaters said Monday they'll focus more on the process than the end results.The national team skaters will compete at the 2017-2018 International Skating Union World Cup Short Track Speed Skating season starting Sept. 28 in Budapest, Hungary. Three more World Cups will take place in Dordrecht in the Netherlands, Shanghai and Seoul through mid-November, collectively serving as a prelude to the PyeongChang Winter Games next F

Sep 18, 2017

Young short tracker 'nervous' before intl. debut

Days from his senior international debut, South Korean short track speed skater Lim Hyo-jun said Monday he's got butterflies in his stomach.In April, the 21-year-old stunned former Olympic gold medalists and world champions to earn a spot on the national team for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. In tune-ups for the Olympics on home ice, Lim will compete in the International Skating Union World Cup Short Track Speed Skating season.The first leg will open in Budapest, Hungary, on Sept. 28. So

Sep 18, 2017

French Open champ says world No. 1 open to any top-10 tennis player

The reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko said Monday she thinks the No. 1 ranking in women's tennis is open to any top-10 player in the world, saying youngsters, including herself, will emerge as powerhouses.Ostapenko, currently world No. 10, came to South Korea last Friday to compete at the KEB HanaBank Incheon Airport Korea Open, the country's only Women's Tennis Association Tour event, which starts at Olympic Park in Seoul on Monday. She is the top-seeded player of the tournament an

Sep 15, 2017

S. Korean archer Kim Woo-jin sets world record in 90m recurve

South Korea's Kim Woo-jin set a world record in the men's 90-meter recurve archery at a local competition on Friday.Kim, 25, scored 343 points out of a possible 360 in the preliminary round of the 49th National All-Star Archery Tournament at Jinho International Archery Center in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, beating the previous record set by his compatriot Oh Jin-hyek in 2009 by one point. The South Korean event is sanctioned by World Archery, the sport's international governing body, and

Sep 15, 2017

Ex-UN chief Ban Ki-moon officially elected to lead IOC's ethics body

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been elected to lead the ethics body at the International Olympic Committee.Ban, who served as the UN leader from January 2007 to December 2016, was the only candidate to succeed outgoing chairman Youssoupha Ndiaye. He received 74 of the 78 valid votes cast at the IOC Session in Lima, Peru, on Thursday (local time). The 73-year-old South Korean was recommended by the IOC Executive Board to be its new chair of the Ethics Commission in July. "I believe t

Sep 14, 2017

Korean bobsleigh chief quits ahead of PyeongChang Olympics

The chief of South Korea's bobsleigh and skeleton governing body has resigned from his post, officials here said Thursday, raising concerns for the country's 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games preparations. Officials at the Korea Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation said their president Oh Chang-hee has decided to step down. The 54-year-old reportedly said during a board meeting Wednesday that he feels responsible for the KBSF getting embroiled in various controversies. An official at the Korean

Sep 13, 2017

Korean basketball body seeking naturalization for American forward

South Korea's basketball governing body said Wednesday it will start the naturalization process for an American forward to boost the international competitiveness of its men's national team.The Korea Basketball Association said it has reached an agreement with the Korean Basketball League to seek special naturalization for Ricardo Ratliffe, who has been playing in South Korea since 2012. The 28-year-old American, who plays power forward or center for the Seoul Samsung Thunders, said in January h

Sep 13, 2017

Korean wheelchair rugby player named IPC Athlete of Month for Aug.

South Korean wheelchair rugby player Park U-cheol has been named the International Paralympic Committee's Athlete of the Month for August, officials here said Wednesday.The Korea Paralympic Committee said that Park won the IPC's monthly award after receiving 61 percent of the votes, edging out other athletes, such as British canoeist Emma Wiggs and South African sprinter Ntando Mahlangu.  This photo, provided by the Korea Paralympic Committee on Sept. 13, 2017, shows wheelchair rugby player Park

Sep 14, 2017

Spartan race to take place in Korea

Sports junkies are raving about the 13th Reebok Spartan Race in Korea slated to take place on Sept. 23 in Incheon.Those interested can still sign up for the event at its official website.The obstacle races to be held on the day are the Spartan Sprint, Spartan Super and Kids categories, which are part of the complete package of the Reebok Spartan Race series that includes the beast, stadium and endurance categories.  (Reebok Spartan Race)Spartan Sprint is the shortest course at some 5 kilometers

Sep 12, 2017

PyeongChang 2018 promo posters unveiled

South Korean organizers for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games on Tuesday unveiled the official promotional posters for the Olympics and Paralympics. The organizers introduced three posters each for the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games next year. They added that the posters for South Korea's first ever Winter Games will be distributed to 2,000 government organizations, schools, train stations and sports facilities nationwide. This image provided by the PyeongChang Winter Games organizing co

Sep 11, 2017

Korean sets new career high in tennis world rankings

South Korean tennis player Chung Hyeon has achieved a career high in the men's world rankings for the third time in a month.Chung moved up three spots to reach No. 44 in the Association of Tennis Professionals world rankings released Monday. Four weeks ago, Chung cracked the top 50 for the first time by sitting No. 49. Chung is the third-highest-ranked Asian player in men's singles. He is behind Japanese players Kei Nishikori (No. 14) and Yuichi Sugita (No. 42). In this photo taken by the Associ

Sep 6, 2017

Korean swimming stars named honorary ambassadors for 2019 world championships at home

South Korean swimming stars Park Tae-hwan and An Se-hyeon were named honorary ambassadors for the 2019 world championships Wednesday.The organizing committee for the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, which take place in Gwangju, 350 kilometers south of Seoul, unveiled Park and An as their goodwill ambassadors.Park is the only South Korean swimmer to win an Olympic medal.He captured the 400-meter freestyle gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver in the 200m freestyle. Four years later

Aug 31, 2017

Korean tennis player Chung Hyeon eliminated in 2nd round at US Open

South Korean tennis player Chung Hyeon has been eliminated in the second round at the US Open.　Chung, world No. 47, fell to the 15th-ranked American John Isner in straight sets at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Wednesday (local time). Isner dominated Chung in winning the match 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 45 minutes.　 In this EPA photo, Chung Hyeon of South Korea hits a return to John Isner of the United States during their second round men`s singles match at the US Open

Aug 29, 2017

Korean tennis player Chung Hyeon advances to 2nd round at US Open

South Korean tennis player Chung Hyeon has reached the second round at the US Open.Chung, ranked 47th, defeated 58th-ranked Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, 6-3 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Monday (local time).After dropping the opening set, Chung took the second set in a tiebreak and finished off Zeballos by winning the next two sets. In this EPA photo, Chung Hyeon of South Korea returns a shot against Horacio Zeballos during their first round