Sports Briefs

Lee Chung-yong suffers shin fracture

Lee Chung-yong

South Korea’s key midfielder Lee Chung-yong suffered a hairline fracture to his right shin and is likely to be sidelined for the remaining AFC Asian Cup games, dealing a major blow to his team’s effort to seize a first Asian Cup trophy since 1960.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Monday that Lee was diagnosed with the fracture at a Canberra hospital after he was stretchered off the field during the second half of South Korea’s Group A opening match against Oman on Jan. 10.

The team’s vice captain was strongly tackled and had to leave the field a few minutes later.

“Lee will be able to engage in daily activities, but has been advised to take a break from training for up to three weeks,” the KFA said.

The Bolton midfielder suffered a fracture to his right shin in 2011 and missed almost the entire 2011-2012 season.

Meanwhile, Lee is likely to part with Bolton Wanderers as his contract with the English football club expires this summer.

“We’re still hoping we can convince him to stay, but that’s looking less and less likely,” Bolton’s manager Neil Lennon said this month. “He’s 26 and I think he wants to play at a higher level. I understand that . . . if he is going to go, then it’s important we get the right price for him.”

Son signs W500 mil. contract with Lotte

Son A-seop

Lotte Giants’ outfielder Son A-seop signed a 500 million won ($462,107) contract with the club on Monday.

Son, 27, is now his team’s highest-paid player after his 25 percent (100 million won) salary increase.

Son last year had a batting average of .362, with 18 home runs and 80 runs batted in. He also won the 2014 gold glove award, but his team finished seventh in the nine-team league.

Meanwhile, the Giants cut 20 million won from under-performing pitcher Song Seung-jun’s original annual salary.

The club renewed all 58 players’ contracts for 2015.

Yang to compete against McIloy at Abu Dhabi Championship

Yang Yong-eun

Yang Yong-eun, the first Asian winner of a major golf tournament, will play the world’s number one Rory McIloy as part of the European Tour in the United Arab Emirates this week.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship 2015 takes place at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club from Jan. 15 to 18.

Yang lost his ticket to the US PGA Tour after he struggled to win any championship last year, but he maintains his qualification for the European Tour until next year.

Yang plans to participate in the European Tour for four consecutive weeks until early February and then move on to the Japan Golf Tour.

Meanwhile, McIloy has not tasted victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship in the last seven years; he has finished in second place on three occasions, however.

The world’s second and fifth ranked players, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose, will also compete in the championship.

Women’s baduk league under way

Korea’s first women’s baduk championship, MDM Korea Women’s Baduk League, began on Tuesday.

Seven all-women’s teams are participating in the four-month competition, vying for a 40 million won top prize. The teams are Gyeongju Easageum, Seoul Bukwangtax, Buan Gomsosogeum, Busan Sammi Construction, Seogwipo Chilshimni, Inhae Hameulnaerin and Pohang Poscochemtech.

“Company-sponsored sports leagues have produced many great athletes, so we hope to see big progress in baduk with the start of this championship,” MDM CEO Moon Ju-hyun said at the opening ceremony.

Korea women’s baduk league could be compared to the female version of the all-men’s KB Baduk League that Kookmin Bank sponsors.