S. Korean Ji Yu-chan grabs stunning swimming gold

  HANGZHOU, China -- South Korean swimmer Ji Yu-chan soared to a shock gold medal in the men's 50-meter freestyle at the Asian Games here Monday. Ji won his first career Asiad gold with an Asian Games record time of 21.72 seconds at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Aquatic Sports Arena in Hangzhou. He beat out Ho Ian Yentou of Hong Kong by 0.15 second. The reigning 100m freestyle champion, Pan Zhanle of China, took the bronze in 21.92 seconds. Ji's was South Korea's first swimming gold medal

More SportsSept. 25, 2023

Jang Jun wins gold in men's -58kg taekwondo at Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, China -- South Korea's Jang Jun claimed the gold medal in his first Asiad taekwondo appearance, winning the men's -58kg title at the 19th Asian Games in China on Monday. He defeated Mahdi Hajimousaeinafouti of Iran 2-0 in the gold medal match for the men's -58kg competition at Lin'an Sports Culture & Exhibition Centre in the host city of Hangzhou. The victory brought Jang the first Asiad medal and South Korea the third gold from the Korean martial art followin

More SportsSept. 25, 2023

S. Korean Lee Joon-hwan wins silver in judo

HANGZHOU, China -- South Korea's Lee Joon-hwan grabbed silver in men's judo at the 19th Asian Games in China on Monday, one of three judo medals for the country on Day 2 of the medal race. Lee lost to Somon Makhmadbekov of Tajikistan by waza-ari, or a half point, in the final of the men's -81kg event at Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium in Hangzhou on Monday. Makhmadbekov scored his decisive point with Harai-goshi-gaeshi, or a hip sweep counter, at the 2:14 mark. Lee struggled to mount m

More SportsSept. 25, 2023

'Be like Leo': S. Korean taekwondo champion inspired by Lionel Messi's World Cup title

HANGZHOU, China (Yonhap) -- South Korean taekwondo practitioner Kang Wan-jin, who had the honor of winning the country's first gold of the 19th Asian Games in China on Sunday, drew his inspiration from an unlikely source. Kang, crowned the champion of the men's individual poomsae event in Hangzhou, watched in awe as Argentine football hero Lionel Messi carried his country to the FIFA World Cup title last December. It was the first career World Cup title for Messi in what could have bee

More SportsSept. 24, 2023

Esports legend Faker seeks to lead Korean surge at Asian Games

Among the biggest names in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou is South Korean Lee Sang-hyeok, better known by his gaming handle Faker and reputed to be one of the greatest esports players of all time. The 27-year-old is part of the country’s delegation of 1,140 athletes and officials participating in the Asian Games that kicked off Saturday. Led by Lee, South Korea has formed a national team of 15 players competing in four of seven categories of esports, which is making its debut as a medal

More SportsSept. 24, 2023

Modern pentathlete Kim Sun-woo wins silver for S. Korea's 1st medal in Hangzhou

South Korean modern pentathlete Kim Sun-woo won silver for the country's first medal at the 19th Asian Games on Sunday. Kim scored 1,386 points in total to take home the silver medal in the final of the women's individual modern pentathlon at Fuyang Yinhu Sports Centre in Hangzhou at the ongoing summer Asian Games. She finished 20 points behind Chinese Zhang Mingyu, while China's Bian Yufei took bronze with 1,374 points. Kim's silver was her third consecutive Asian Games medal, following her tea

More SportsSept. 24, 2023

Dodgers prospect trying to fit in with S. Korean nat'l baseball team

As the only high school pitcher on the South Korean Asian Games baseball team, teen prospect Jang Hyun-seok is trying to find his bearings among veterans, with the continental competition fast approaching. The 19-year-old from Masan Yongma High School is the only amateur for South Korea bound for Hangzhou, China. He may be short on experience, but he isn't short on talent, as attested by his recent signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. And nearly touching 160 kph (99.4 mph) with a fastball

BaseballSept. 24, 2023

Sabre fencer, swimming relay team eye historic medals

South Korean fencer Gu Bon-gil will take aim at history when he takes the piste for the men's individual sabre event at the Asian Games in China on Monday. Gu is already the only fencer to have won three consecutive Asiad gold medals in an individual discipline. He can push his record further out of reach for others by winning another title at Hangzhou Dianzi University Gymnasium in Hangzhou. For his past two gold medals, Gu took down his South Korean teammates: Kim Jung-hwan in 2014 and Oh

More SportsSept. 24, 2023

PSG's Lee Kang-in 'proud' of teammates for clinching knockout berth without him

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in said Friday he was "proud" of his South Korean teammates at the Asian Games in China, having belatedly joined the team after the young Taegeuk Warriors handily won their first two group stage matches. Lee arrived in the Asiad host city of Hangzhou on Thursday, hours before South Korea defeated Thailand 4-0 in their second Group E match. This came on the heels of a 9-0 rout of Kuwait to open the tournament Tuesday. Lee, who had missed the two e

SoccerSept. 22, 2023

Swimmer Lee Ho-joon enjoys flying under radar

South Korean swimmer Lee Ho-joon has spent the past few years in the shadow of his more famous relay teammate, Hwang Sun-woo. When the two aren't teaming up for the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay, Lee and Hwang engage in an internal competition in the men's 200m freestyle. Hwang is the more accomplished athlete of the two, having won silver and then bronze in the 200m freestyle at the past two World Aquatics Championships. Lee, though, took a big step forward at this year'

More SportsSept. 22, 2023

[Graphic News] Schedule of competitions for Korean athletes at Hangzhou Asian Games

　South Korea has opted to send 1,140 athletes to compete in 39 of 40 events in its largest delegation ever to the Asian Games, scheduled to begin on Sept. 23 and end on Oct. 8 in Hangzhou, China. 　The first medal events will take place Sunday. 　South Korea is setting its sights to grab around 40 to 50 gold medals and finish within third place of overall medal standings, with its main rivals to be China and Japan. 　At the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, South Korea ranked third with 49 gold me

More SportsSept. 22, 2023

S. Korea to open men's volleyball tournament Wednesday with eye on 15th consecutive medal

South Korea will open the Asian Games men's volleyball tournament in Hangzhou on Wednesday, launching a bid for the country's 15th consecutive medal at the continental event. South Korea will begin Pool C action against India at Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou at 7 p.m. Wednesday, or 8 p.m. the same evening in South Korea. South Korea will then play Cambodia on Thursday to wrap up the preliminary stage. There are six groups in action, with Pools A to E each featuring three

More SportsSept. 19, 2023

S. Korean high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok wins Diamond League Final

South Korean high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok has captured the Diamond League Final title, becoming the first athlete from the country to win the prestigious athletics event. Woo matched his own national record height of 2.35 meters to capture the men's high jump gold medal at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday. Woo also took home $30,000 in prize money. It is the same venue where Woo soared to the silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in 2022. For the field events, only the

More SportsSept. 17, 2023

Klinsmann to return to S. Korea after Europe trip following schedule change

Jurgen Klinsmann, beleaguered head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, is set to return to Seoul this week after a recent European trip following a last-minute schedule change, officials said Wednesday. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Klinsmann will return to South Korea with the rest of the home-based members of the national team Thursday afternoon. The Taegeuk Warriors played two friendly matches in Europe this month, with a goalless draw against Wales l

SoccerSept. 13, 2023

[Graphic News] English, Saudi clubs’ spending fuels record year for overseas transfers: FIFA

Spending by English and Saudi Arabian clubs fueled a record-setting year for soccer’s international transfer market, which reached highs in deals done, money spent and agent fees, FIFA said. FIFA's analysis of male players moving between member countries from June through Sept. 1 counted 10,125 transfers, $7.36 billion spent by clubs and almost $700 million paid to intermediaries representing players and clubs. English clubs spent almost $2 billion — while recouping $956 million

SoccerSept. 12, 2023

Wiz ace Cuevas voted KBO's top player for August

KT Wiz ace William Cuevas was announced as the top player in South Korean baseball for August on Monday. The Korea Baseball Organization said Cuevas was voted the Player of the Month for August, after going a perfect 5-0 in five starts that month while giving up just two earned runs in 36 innings, for a sparkling ERA of 0.50. The Venezuelan right-hander struck out 37 and walked only three. For August, Cuevas led all qualified KBO starts in wins and ERA, and ranked second in strikeouts. Cuevas to

BaseballSept. 11, 2023

Beleaguered S. Korea football coach Klinsmann looking to end drought vs. Saudi Arabia

Besieged by criticism over his questionable commitment to the job and lack of tactical expertise, Jurgen Klinsmann will try to grab his first win as head coach of the South Korean men's national football team this week in England. South Korea, ranked 28th, will take on world No. 54 Saudi Arabia at St. James' Park in Newcastle at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (local time), or 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. In five matches under Klinsmann, South Korea have had three draws and two losses. This is the longest w

SoccerSept. 11, 2023