The Korea Times

Korea, Mexico in goalless draw

By Jung Min-ho The game was lop-sided but in the end, Korea failed to take advantage of its superiority in a scoreless draw against Mexico in Thursday’s opening Group B Olympic football match. During the encounter at Newcastle’s St. James’ Park, both teams struggled to find their rhythm on the slippery turf following a shower just before kickoff. After nearly an hour of busy but fruitless play, often dominating the opposition, Korea seemed to pick up the tempo and started creating more scoring opportunities as the second half progressed. Nam Tae-hee and Park Jong-woo could have put Korea ahead in the first half. Wolfsburg midfielder Koo Ja-cheol then came close to opening the scoring in the 53rd minute with a volleyed effort from close range that clipped the crossbar. He then almost set up Ki Sung-yueng and with 10 minutes to go headed Kim Chang-soo's cross wide. Korea’s penalty area was rarely threatened but winger Javier Aquino looked dangerous throughout the match and had a good shot saved. Marco Fabian missed a great second-half chance and Mexico almost stole a winne

Jul 27, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Korea's hunt for gold begins

Events you don't want to miss By Jung Min-ho Today, after four years of waiting, Team Korea’s 245 athletes will begin the first stage of their trials at the world’s biggest sports event. More than 10,000 athletes from 204 nations are in London, a historic city where the first South Korean Olympic team represented their newly established nation at the 1948 Summer Games. Due to the eight hour time difference between here and the United Kingdom, Korean fans should be prepared to forsake some of their beauty sleep to hear news of any gold medals on the second day of the international event. On July 29, two of the nation’s strongest medal hopes, the men’s archery team and the reigning 400-meter freestyle champion Park Tae-hwan, will defend their titles. During Park’s race, most attention will focus on the encounter with China’s Sun Yang, who currently has a better personal best of 3 minutes 40.29 seconds, a hair’s breadth ahead of Park’s 3:41.53. The race is likely to keep many swimming fans up because it is scheduled to start at 3:50 a.m. (KST). Beijing Olympics silver m

Jul 26, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Korea faces Mexico in first group game

By Jung Min-ho Korea will open its Olympic football campaign against Mexico at St. James' Park in Newcastle, Thursday. With a clear aim of a first Summer Games medal in the sport, it is important for Team Korea to do well in its first match before taking on Switzerland and Gabon, the other nations in Group B. This is Korea's seventh straight Olympic appearance and ninth in total at the football tournament, but it has only made it beyond the first stage twice. The Olympics has always been tough challenge for the nation. With key defenders Hong Jeong-ho and Han Kook-young missing from the squad through injury, a podium place may be a long way off. Nonetheless, manager Hong Myung-ho is confident on the upcoming encounter with the team won the men's CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament earlier this year. “There are no selection problems for the game against Mexico,” Hong said after a training session on Tuesday. "Mexico is strong when it comes to offense, and it's a well-prepared team with outstanding individual skills, but we've found that they have big holes on defense.

Jul 25, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Park Tae-hwan set to defend Olympic title

By Jung Min-ho “It feels like Beijing,” said Park Tae-hwan, the 400-meter men’s freestyle gold medallist at the Beijing Games, after his first training session at the Olympic Park Aquatics Center, Sunday. He is preparing to face his chief rival Sun Yang of China on July 29. The wait has been long and tough. After rigorous training for the past four years, Park is now set to defend his title and challenge for others in London. For the 23-year-old swimmer, Sun, the 1500-meter freestyle world record holder seems to be his toughest competition. The encounter between Asia’s two fastest swimmers in the 400 meters is one of the most anticipated events for swimming fans around the globe. Some predict victory for Sun based on his personal best of 3 minutes 40.29 seconds set in September 2011. It is 1.24 seconds faster than Park’s personal best, although others believe that the first Asian 400-meter Olympic champion has a better chance to repeat the glory of four years ago since the Korean has never been beaten by Sun at an international competition. Park seems unconcerned about the

Jul 23, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Football buff joins Olympic medical team

By Jung Min-ho Orthopedic surgeon Suh Dong-won at Barunsesang hospital in Bundang was recently selected by the Korean Olympic Committee to provide his medical expertise for Team Korea at the London Games. “It is such an honor to be a part of one of the biggest sports festivals in the world,” Suh, 49, said in an interview with The Korea Times. “I feel a heavy responsibility to ensure that athletes can make the most of their abilities at the games without worrying about injury. It feels like I have joined a national team of physicians to compete with the other ones at the event. Again, it’s a great honor.” Having medical degrees both in orthopedics and rehabilitative medicine, Suh has an excellent reputation as a sports medicine specialist. Starting off his career as the only specialist with the two degrees, his reputation soon spread and famous athletes started knocking on the door of his hospital. Nonetheless, this isn’t the sole reason he has become an Olympic doctor. Suh calls himself a sports fanatic. Despite a hectic schedule at the hospital, he plays football twice a

Jul 20, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Kim Yu-na to dance 'El Tango de Roxanne'

By Jung Min-ho The Olympic reigning champion Kim Yu-na Wednesday said that her main music for the upcoming ice show will be “El Tango de Roxanne.” At the All That Skate Summer 2012 ice show, scheduled from Aug. 24 to 26 at the Olympic Gymnastic Arena, the 21-year-old is expected to display a performance with a song that earned her the world record, 71.95, to wow figure skating fans around the world at 2007 World Championships in Tokyo when she was 16. “I know for a fact that there are many fans that love “El Tango de Roxanne,” Kim said. “After the decision to compete for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, I chose this song to go back to the basics and start the challenge with a renewed mind. I hope many fans come to enjoy the show.” The song, “El Tango de Roxanne,” will reenact the old choreography but only the dress she will wear will be different, All That Sports official said. In addition to “El Tango de Roxanne,” Kim is going to feature the song, “All of me,” at the show. The former Russian figure skating star Alexei Yagudin and the three-time European figure skati

Jul 19, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

PyeongChang residents up in arms

Olympic organizers 'arbitrarily' change game plan By Jung Min-ho Residents in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, the venue for the 2018 Winter Games, are up in arms over the organizing committee, known by the acronym POCOG, for ignoring them in some key decisions. These controversial moves included switching the opening and closing ceremonies from the originally planned sites, as well as changing where events will be held. “The most frustrating problem is that POCOG has been failing to communicate with us,” said Hong Young-ki, a resident of Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province, in an interview with The Korea Times. Hong and other locals believe that their show of support impressed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and helped their town win the games, noting the IOC takes into consideration residents’ reactions when selecting a host city. POCOG announced several key decisions on July 4. IOC spokesman Andrew Mitchell said, “Following POCOG’s election, the local organizers reviewed their venue master plan and included input from different stakeholders such as the IOC,

Jul 18, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Just one shy of 500th home run

By Jung Min-ho Samsung Lions slugger Lee Seung-yeop only needs one more big hit for his 500th career home run. No one in the KBO’s 30-year-history has ever accomplished that milestone. Even in Major League Baseball in the United States, only 25 players have reached the landmark figure in its 136-year-history, including the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez. The 35-year-old recorded his 499th homer along with one hit in five at bats, scoring two runs in his team’s 11-8 victory against the Kia Tigers on Sunday. Lee has 340 home runs in the KBO as well as 159 in his eight years in the Japanese league. He is now tied with former Hanwha Eagles infielder Jang Jong-hun’s for the second most home runs in the local league, 11 behind legendary Korean hitter Yang Joon-hyuk’s 351. Nonetheless, Lee doesn’t seem to be satisfied with his recent performances. “Despite today’s home run, I’m pretty upset with the poor swings that I’ve made,” he said after the game. “I’m not thinking about the home run record. I’m trying to pace myself. Then, maybe good news is ahead.” Even at

Jul 16, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Gymnast Son placed 9th at Minsk World Cup

By Jung Min-ho Korean rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae was placed ninth overall in the individual World Rhythmic Gymnastics Cup at the Minsk Sports Palace, Belarus, Saturday. Son earned a total of 109.725 points, scoring 28.050 using the hoop, 26.300 for the ball, 27.250 with the club and 28.125 in the ribbon. Although she failed to reach the final for the all-around competition, contested by just the top eight, the 18-year-old made it to the final for the individual hoop and ribbon events finishing sixth and seventh in those categories respectively. Russia’s Yevgeniya Kanayeva was the overall leader with 118.650 points and the 2008 Beijing Olympics individual gold medallist is the favorite for the London Olympics. Despite impressive performances in the hoop and ribbon, Son dropped the ball when trying to catch it behind her back and ended awkwardly, out of sync with the music after picking it up off the mat. Her club display wasn’t good enough to offset the mistake. “Although Son didn’t reach the final due to the Russians’ dominance, her rank is practically eigh

Jul 15, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Korea heads to London on winning note

By Jung Min-ho The Korea Under-23 team left for London Sunday, after beating New Zealand 2-1 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium the day before, raising hopes for a first Olympic football medal at the Summer Games. “The team is quickly reaching their full potential. I think, stamina-wise, the players are at 90 percent, and strategy-wise, 80 percent. I will try my best to make up the missing 10 and 20 percent for the rest of the period,” team manager Hong Myung-bo said at Incheon International Airport. “I have been with the team for a long time. I want to bring this run to a successful conclusion. We will come back after doing our best right up to the end.” Of Arsenal’s Park Chu-young who was on the scoresheet Saturday, Hong said, “He still has room for improvement.” Arsenal forward Park Chu-young celebrates with teammates after a skillful back heel finish for the first goal against New Zealand at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Saturday. / AP-Yonhap Saturday’s game against New Zealand kicked into gear when Celitic midfielder Ki Sung-yueng fired in a shot on eight minute

Jul 15, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

Read more

Korea, Mexico in goalless draw

Korea's hunt for gold begins

Korea faces Mexico in first group game

Park Tae-hwan set to defend Olympic title

Football buff joins Olympic medical team

Kim Yu-na to dance 'El Tango de Roxanne'

PyeongChang residents up in arms

Just one shy of 500th home run

Gymnast Son placed 9th at Minsk World Cup

Korea heads to London on winning note

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