Godfather of Korean pro wrestling loses battle with cancer

Lee Wang-pyo, who was viewed as the godfather of South Korea's pro wrestling, died Tuesday after a battle against gallbladder cancer. He was 64. Lee, who headed the Korean Pro Wrestling Association, died at 9:48 a.m., its officials said. (Yonhap)Lee, who was the top pupil of "head-butt master" late Kim Il, made his pro wrestling debut in 1975 and rose in the scene after winning the heavyweight championship belt at the World Wrestling Association. When the popularity of pro wrestling started goin

Sept. 4, 2018

Players on unified Korean basketball team go separate ways after Asiad silver

JAKARTA -- Members of the unified Korean women's basketball team went their separate ways on Monday after combining for silver at the Asian Games in a farewell that mixed laughter and tears.The three North Korean players on the team, Ro Suk-yong, Jang Mi-gyong and Kim Hye-yon, bid adieu to their nine South Korean teammates at the athletes' village in Jakarta, one of the co-host cities of the Asian Games that concluded on Sunday. (Yonhap)The joint Korean team won silver medal, following a 71-65 l

Sept. 3, 2018

AIBA to allow judging protests after Asian Games boxing turmoil

The International Boxing Association will introduce a right of protest against controversial judging "to ensure fair play" and prevent a repeat of ugly scenes that marred the Asian Games.Two North Korean boxing coaches were thrown out of the Asian Games Saturday after refusing to leave the ring and inciting the crowd after their fighter lost gold on a split decision to a Chinese boxer. (AFP)Police had to move in to escort the duo, who had their Asian Games credentials immediately removed, from t

Sept. 3, 2018

IOC chief hopes Koreas will march, compete together at Tokyo 2020: reports

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is hoping South and North Korea will march and compete together at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, reports claimed on Sunday.According to AFP and Kyodo News, Bach made the remarks in Jakarta on the final day of the 18th Asian Games. The Koreas marched together at the opening ceremony here on Aug. 18 and fielded unified teams in canoeing, rowing and women's basketball. They won four medals together, including a gold in women's d

Sept. 3, 2018

Asian Games end and Japan, China turn eyes to Tokyo Olympics

Now comes the hard part for Japan, which is pledging to win 30 gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Japan is sure to get a "medal bounce" as the Olympic host country. But how big? China got a giant one at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Britain capitalized in 2012 in London. Even Brazil got a slight boost two years ago in Rio de Janeiro, despite the country being dragged down by a deep recession and a massive corruption scandal.Japan won 75 gold medals as the Asian Games closed on Sunday, secon

Sept. 2, 2018

Unified Korean team delivers historic medals, hopes

JAKARTA -- Together, they were strong. The unified Korean team at the 18th Asian Games showed that it can do more than just serve as a symbol of peace and friendship.This time, one Korea proved that it can also compete to win medals. For Jakarta-Palembang 2018, South and North Korea agreed to send teams in women's five-on-five basketball, men's and women's dragon boat racing in canoeing, and rowing. And Korean athletes in those sports combined for one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. The

Sept. 2, 2018

Korea falls short of gold medal target in Jakarta

JAKARTA-- South Korea arrived in Indonesia with a goal of winning at least 65 gold medals at the 18th Asian Games. But when the quadrennial competition, co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, wraps up Sunday, Team Korea will leave having bagged 49 gold medals.South Korea didn't just fall short of its gold medal target.The country was hoping to fend off Japan for second place in the medal table for the sixth consecutive event -- with China once again far ahead of everyone else -- and South Korea end

Sept. 2, 2018

S. Korea beats Chinese Taipei for men's basketball bronze

South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 89-81 for bronze medal in men's basketball at the 18th Asian Games on Saturday.Ricardo Ratliffe, the US-born player with South Korean citizenship, led everyone with 37 points and 17 rebounds at GBK Istora. He shot 15-of-24 from the field while playing the entire 40 minutes.South Korea, the 2014 Asiad champion, lost to Iran 80-68 in the semifinals on Thursday to fall to the bronze medal contest. (Yonhap)With Ratliffe dominating the paint, South Korea also drain

Sept. 1, 2018

Cho Gwang-hee wins 2nd straight kayak gold

South Korea's Cho Gwang-hee defended his Asian Games gold medal in the men's kayak single (K1) 200-meter race Saturday.Cho finished the race in 35.373 seconds at Jakabaring Rowing & Canoeing Regatta Course in Palembang, the co-host city of the Asian Games with Jakarta. (Yonhap)Cho edged out Sergii Tokarnytskyi of Kazakhstan by 0.372 second. Yingjie Mervyn Toh of Singapore took the bronze medal at 36.314 seconds.Cho earlier won silver in the men's K4 500m in Palembang.Kayak races are canoeing dis

Sept. 1, 2018

Cyclist picks up 4th gold

JAKARTA -- Cyclist Na Ah-reum became South Korea's first quadruple gold medalist of the 18th Asian Games on Friday.Na and Kim You-ri teamed up for 76 race points in the women's madison, beating Pang Yao and Yang Qianryu of Hong Kong by 15 points at the Jakarta International Velodrome. China finished third with 31 points.Na earlier won the individual road race and time trial on the road and picked up the women's team pursuit title on the track. Na is the first South Korean cyclist to win four gol

Aug. 31, 2018

S. Korea wins women’s handball gold for 7th time

　South Korea captured its seventh Asian Games gold medal in women’s handball on Thursday.　South Korea defeated China 29-23 in the gold medal game at the 18th Asiad at GOR Popki Cibubur in Jakarta. (Yonhap)　The women‘s handball has been contested at Asian Games since 1990 and South Korea has missed the top of the podium just once -- in 2010.　South Korea defeated China 33-24 on Aug. 21 in a preliminary match. South Korea opened up an 8-1 lead early and cruised to the gold. (Yonhap)

Aug. 30, 2018

‘Approved by mum’ - Unified Korea trounce Taiwan to reach Asian hoops final

JAKARTA (AFP) -- A joint Korean women’s basketball team slammed Taiwan 89-66 to reach the Asian Games final on Thursday, helped by Las Vegas razzmatazz and some good, old, northern grit.　Roared on by around 100 fans waving Korean unification flags, North Korean Ro Suk Yong joint top-scored with 17 points in a blow-out victory for the defending champions in Jakarta. 　The Koreans advance to face China in this weekend’s gold medal game after they outgunned Japan 86-74 in the second semi-final. (Yon

Aug. 30, 2018

S. Korea falls to Iran 80-68 in men’s basketball semis

South Korea failed to reach the men’s basketball final of the 18th Asian Games after suffering an 80-68 loss to Iran on Thursday.　Naturalized player Ricardo Ratliffe, whose Korean name is Ra Gun-ah, had his fifth double-double with a game-high 37 points and 12 rebounds in the men‘s basketball semifinal at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Istora arena in Jakarta, but it wasn’t enough for South Korea to overcome the tall Iranians. 　Iran out-rebounded South Korea 47-27 and outscored them 48-20 in the paint.

Aug. 30, 2018

An Chang-rim settles for silver in men’s judo

An Chang-rim gave South Korea its fifth judo medal of the 18th Asian Games on Thursday, taking home silver in the men‘s under-73 kilogram event.　An, world No. 7, lost to his nemesis from Japan, Shohei Ono, by a waza-ari (half point) in extra time in the final at Jakarta Convention Center Plenary Hall. (Yonhap)　South Korea won four medals, including two gold, on Wednesday, the first day of the judo competition here.　An has now lost all of his five matches against Ono.　An is the first of two South

Aug. 30, 2018

South Korea's Lee Ju-mi wins gold in track cycling

South Korean cyclist Lee Ju-mi won gold in the women‘s individual pursuit event at the 18th Asian Games on Thursday, giving the country its third gold from the track.　Lee defeated Wang Hong of China in the two-rider final at Jakarta International Velodrome.(Yonhap)　In the individual pursuit, riders start on the opposite ends of the track. The race is 3,000 meters long for women, and the race ends when one rider catches the other.　Lee set an Asian record of 3:33.048 in the qualifying race earlier

Aug. 30, 2018

S. Korea beats Japan to keep baseball ‘three-peat’ hope alive

South Korea defeated Japan 5-1 in a key baseball game on Thursday that kept alive the hope of a third straight Asian Games gold.　South Korea launched three solo home runs and pounded out 14 hits in the super round game at GBK Baseball Field in Jakarta. 　South Korea will face China on Friday at the same venue in the final super round game and must beat the heavy underdog to have a chance to reach the gold medal match. (Yonhap)　South Korea is in the super round as the No. 2 seed from Group B, behi

Aug. 30, 2018

Korea wins 4 medals on Day 1 of judo

JAKARTA -- South Korea collected four medals out of four weight divisions on the first day of judo events at the 18th Asian Games on Wednesday, led by gold medals from a pair of Olympic runners-up.Jeong Bo-kyeong got the ball rolling by winning the very first judo final in Jakarta, capturing the women's under-48kg title over Ami Kondo of Japan.She won her golden point with a shoulder throw in extra time.Jeong Bo-kyeong celebrates her gold medal on Wednesday. YonhapKondo had Jeong locked in an ar

Aug. 29, 2018

Korea beat Vietnam 3-1 to reach men's football final

CIBINONG, Indonesia -- South Korea defeated Vietnam 3-1 to reach the men's football final at the 18th Asian Games on Wednesday. Lee Seung-woo grabbed a brace at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, south of Jakarta, on Wednesday to put South Korea's under-23 side one step closer to their Asiad title defense. The defending champions will next face the winners of the match between Japan and the United Arab Emirates at the same venue on Saturday.South Korea used a 4-2-3-1 formation to face Vietnam, the t

Aug. 29, 2018

Korea wins paragliding gold in women's team cross country

PUNCAK, Indonesia -- South Korean paragliders topped the women's team cross country event at the 18th Asian Games on Wednesday to claim their first gold medal.The team of Baek Jin-hee, Jang Woo-young and Lee Da-gyeom scored a total 4,924 points after five rounds to edge Japan, which had 4,851 points, out for gold medal.Lee Da-gyeom (left) Jang Woo-young (center) and Baek Jin-hee pose with their gold medals. YonhapParagliding became an official medal sport for the first time at this year's Asian

Aug. 29, 2018

Korea's Kim Jin-woong wins gold in men's soft tennis singles

JAKARTA -- South Korea's Kim Jin-woong won a gold medal in the men's soft tennis singles at the 18th Asian Games on Wednesday. Kim beat Alexander Elbert Sie of Indonesia 4-2 (5-3, 8-6, 6-8, 4-1, 3-6, 4-2) in the final at the Jakabaring Sport City Tennis Court in Palembang, the co-host city of the Asian Games with Jakarta, to grab his first Asiad gold. (Yonhap)Kim, who topped the 2015 World Championships, stormed into the final by beating his South Korean compatriot Kim Dong-hoon, a bronze medali

Aug. 29, 2018