Category: Sports

While preparing for her fourth consecutive world championships, starting this week, South Korean swimmer Kim Seo-yeong has taken some moments to reflect on her career to this point.

The 29-year-old has reached the final in the women’s 200-meter individual medley (IM) in three straight worlds, from 2017 to 2022. She is the first South Korean swimmer to qualify for the final in the same event at three world championships in a row.

And how would she feel if she extended that streak to four this time?

“I will be patting myself on the back, feeling pretty satisfied,” Kim told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Thursday, before boarding her flight to the host city of Fukuoka, Japan.

“Last year, when I reached my third straight final, I felt so grateful to be still competing at this level,” Kim recalled. “Back in 2017, I didn’t know any better. I just wanted to compete in the final. Now, I am older and a little more composed.”

Kim said her goal is to finish inside 2:10 but did not commit to a specific target in terms of a placement in the final.

“It’s difficult for me to say I am in the best form possible because I’ve been focusing more on the Asian Games,” Kim said of the September competition. “But the world championships are also important, and it will be good preparation for the Asian Games.”

She is the captain of the entire national swimming team and is also the most senior athlete among the 21 competing in Fukuoka.

“When I see these young athletes, it takes me back to my younger days,” Kim said. “And I want to help them as much as I can. I hope we can all have a good competition.”

The 200 IM heats and semifinals are Sunday, followed by the final Monday.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

A teenage midfielder who helped South Korea to the semifinals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup this year will be taking on Atletico Madrid in a summer exhibition match.

The Korea Professional Football League (K League) on Monday announced the 11 winners of fan voting for Team K League, which will host the Spanish club at Seoul World Cup Stadium on July 27.

Bae Jun-ho of Daejeon Hana Citizen FC was voted on as one of three midfielders. The 19-year-old flashed his offensive potential in South Korea’s surprise run to the U-20 World Cup semifinals in Argentina last month and has quickly become a fan favorite in Daejeon.

Bae Jun-ho of Daejeon Hana Citizen FC is in action against FC Seoul during a K League 1 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on July 1, 2023, in this file photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Fans voted three forwards, three midfielders, four defenders and one goalkeeper onto the starting XI. Bae is joined in midfield by Cesinha of Daegu FC and Paik Seung-ho of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Cesinha led all players with 56,133 votes.

Up front, Na Sang-ho of FC Seoul and Joo Min-kyu of Ulsan Hyundai FC, tied for the K League 1 lead in goals with 11, will represent the K League, alongside Suwon FC forward Lee Seung-woo.

The four defenders were Anton Kryvotsyuk of Daejeon, Jeong Tae-wook of Jeonbuk, and Ulsan teammates Seol Young-woo and Kim Young-gwon.

Daejeon goalkeeper Lee Chang-geun will be in net.

These 11 players will hold an autograph signing session and clinics at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the eve of the match.

Ulsan head coach Hong Myung-bo will be the bench boss for Team Korea, while Daegu FC head coach Choi Won-kwon will be Hong’s assistant. They will announce their picks for the 11 reserve spots Wednesday.

After playing the K League squad, Atletico Madrid will take on the European treble winners Manchester City on July 30, also at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

United States, July 17 – “Mae” Supanida Ketthong won the badminton world tour championship for the first time in her life. After winning the Chinese slapper 2-0, while “View” Kulwut Witidsant was the runner-up in the same program.

HSBC BWF World Tour Super 300 badminton tournament “YONEX US Open 2023” at Mid-America Center Stadium, Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA Win a total prize money of about 7,200,000 baht

final In the women’s singles category, Supanida Ketthong, ranked 6th in the world, 17th in the world from Thailand, beat China’s 36th-ranked Gao Fang Jia 2-0 21-15, 21-16 to win the title. which is regarded as the first badminton world tour champion in life With a prize money of about 540,000 baht, in the men’s singles category, “View” Kulwut Vitidsant, ranked number 1 on the list, number 4 in the world, lost to world number 7 Li Si Feng from China 0-2 15-21 and 18-21 runner-up

Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, together with Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand Participated in the opening of the SAT ISAN SPORTS FEST 2023 sports competition under the economic model for sustainable development. At the Robinson Lifestyle Buriram Shopping Center, in this first field, there are 2 international sports competitions: taekwondo and badminton, both sports with athletes of the Thai national team participating in the competition by SAT Isan SPORT FEST 2023, the second time will be in Surin province and the third time in Chaiyaphum province in September. In addition to sports competitions, there are SPORTS EXPO activities, stage activities, and booth sales of local entrepreneurs as well. .-Thai News Agency

Source: Thai News Agency

July 16 – Performance of Thai athletes exceeds expectations, Thailand ranks 6th, including medals at the 25th Asian Athletics Championships, Asian Athletics Championships 2023 at Supachalasai National Stadium this morning, entering the 5th day of the last competition. Phu” Tawan Kaewdam, a 23-year-old Thai national high jumper from Phatthalung Province, won an additional bronze medal after setting a record of 2.26 meters | Channel 9 press 30. Live broadcast starts at 5:30 p.m.

Source: Thai News Agency

Gianyar, Bali (ANTARA) – The Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) will be renovated to meet FIFA’s standards as a suitable stadium for the U-17 World Cup, according to Erick Thohir, the Chairperson of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).He made the statement while monitoring the selection process of the U-17 national football team in Bali on Sunday. “The stadium will be renovated to meet FIFA’s standards,” Thohir emphasized. He added that a FIFA team will visit Indonesia to review several proposed stadiums, including JIS, for hosting the U-17 World Cup. However, he did not disclose the review schedule. He also mentioned that he had received notes from FIFA regarding JIS but declined to reveal them to avoid controversy. The JIS renovation project includes improving the turf field and stadium access. Thohir previously estimated that the budget required to improve the JIS turf field would amount to approximately Rp6 billion (around US$399,920). In total, there are 22 stadiums in Indonesia that need renovation, with a total budget of up to Rp1.9 trillion (around US$126.64 million). Indonesia has proposed six to eight stadiums to host the U-17 World Cup scheduled from November 10 to December 2. However, Thohir has not yet announced the names of those stadiums. Previously, six stadiums were proposed to host U-20 World Cup matches and underwent FIFA’s verification process. However, FIFA removed Indonesia as the host for the U-20 World Cup. The six stadiums proposed for the U-20 World Cup were Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (Jakarta), Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium (Surabaya), Manahan Stadium (Solo), Jakabaring Stadium (Palembang), I Wayan Dipta Stadium (Bali), and Si Jalak Harupat Stadium (Bandung). During a FIFA Council meeting on June 23, 2023, in Zurich, Switzerland, it was determined that Indonesia would host the U-17 World Cup. The decision was made after Peru, which was previously named as the host in 2019, was stripped of hosting the U-17 World Cup in April 2023 due to uncertainty over the country’s infrastructure conditions.

Source: Antara News Agency

At the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, South Korean forward Son Hwa-yeon was rendered a spectator on the bench, unable to get any action as her team got knocked out of the group stage with three straight losses.

Son, 26, is back on the national team for this year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia, and she said Friday she wants to make the most of her second chance.

“I was really disappointed not to have played at the previous World Cup, but I am confident I will get a chance to play this time,” Son said, in a video clip released by the Korea Football Association. Son’s team has been training in Australia since Wednesday. Their first Group H match is against Colombia on July 25 in Sydney.

“I will be ready to leave everything on the pitch,” Son continued. “I think I am the best-conditioned athlete on the team. I can use my speed to exploit space behind the opposing defense and also to help out on defense in transition.”

Son has earned 49 caps so far and has been a mainstay since current head coach Colin Bell took the reins in the fall of 2019.

“He always tells me to ‘run, run, run,'” Son said of Bell. “My job is to keep putting pressure on the opponents with my speed.”

Another forward on the team, Kang Chae-rim, played in all three losses at the 2019 World Cup but was unable to find the back of the net. The 25-year-old said she is ready to change the narrative this year.

“I am less nervous and feel more confident going into this year’s World Cup,” Kang said. “I always try to picture myself scoring a goal at the World Cup and think about how I should celebrate if I do score. It’s pretty exciting just to imagine these things.”

While discussing the team’s preparation for the tournament, Kang stuck to the company line.

“Everyone here, from players down to coaches, is focusing on Colombia,” Kang said of South Korea’s first opponent. “That’s the only team we’re thinking about at the moment.”

Another forward on the team, Kang Chae-rim, played in all three losses at the 2019 World Cup but was unable to find the back of the net. The 25-year-old said she is ready to change the narrative this year.

“I am less nervous and feel more confident going into this year’s World Cup,” Kang said. “I always try to picture myself scoring a goal at the World Cup and think about how I should celebrate if I do score. It’s pretty exciting just to imagine these things.”

While discussing the team’s preparation for the tournament, Kang stuck to the company line.

“Everyone here, from players down to coaches, is focusing on Colombia,” Kang said of South Korea’s first opponent. “That’s the only team we’re thinking about at the moment.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency

NETHERLANDS, July 12 – Legendary Dutch and Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is out of danger after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Need to go to the hospital urgently

Edwin van der Sar, the legendary goalkeeper of the Dutch national team and “Red Devils” Manchester United, is out of danger. But still have to be treated in the ICU After falling ill with a cerebral hemorrhage until being rushed to the hospital urgently since last Friday

by Ajax Amsterdam, Van der Sar’s former agency, revealed through the latest statement from Van der Sar’s wife, Anne Marie, that the symptoms are still stable. And has begun communicating with visiting family members. Van der Sar retired in 2011 after 130 international caps and helping Ajax and Manchester United win UEFA Champions League titles. Champions League.-Thai News Agency

Source: Thai News Agency

Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung District, West Java on Wednesday, which has been renovated for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted in Indonesia.He stated that FIFA will re-examine the stadium for the U-17 World Cup, as the earlier renovation aimed to comply with the requirements for the U-20 World Cup, which failed to take place in Indonesia. “The stadium is already fit for the U-20 World Cup, but there will be another renovation since the U-17 World Cup has slightly different requirements. Perhaps, the grass stitching will continue,” Jokowi said after reviewing the stadium. Conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, the stadium’s renovation covered stadium seats, the grass field, lighting, toilets, and stadium entry access. The president clarified that FIFA, not he, has the final say in determining whether the stadium qualifies as the venue for the U-17 World Cup. “Our duty is to prepare, improve, and renovate. Once FIFA comes here and determines it is ready, that means this stadium qualifies,” he stated. Jokowi said that six to eight stadiums will be proposed as the venues for the FIFA U-17 World Cup matches. He emphasized that all decisions will be made by FIFA. During the same occasion, the president also observed the selection process for the U-17 national football team at the stadium, where 187 young footballers from West Java competed for a place in the national team. On June 23, 2023, FIFA determined that Indonesia will replace Peru as the host of the U-17 World Cup, which is expected to take place from November 10 to December 2 this year.

Source: Antara News Agency

The French football champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), with South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in in tow, are set to play a summer exhibition match in Lee’s native land next month, industry sources said Monday.

PSG will take on K League 1 club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Aug. 3 in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the sources.

South Korean streaming service Coupang Play will organize the match, which has been scheduled following PSG’s acquisition of Lee over the weekend.

Coupang Play has also invited the European treble winners Manchester City and the Spanish club Atletico Madrid to South Korea for the summer. Atletico Madrid will play a K League All-Star team on July 27 and then face Man City on July 30.

Lee, a highly skilled midfielder, signed a five-year deal with PSG, joining megastars such as Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in the French capital. PSG have won nine of the past 11 Ligue 1 titles.

Before arriving in South Korea, PSG are scheduled to play multiple exhibition matches in Japan starting July 26.

A South Korean promoter had tried to schedule a match involving Lee’s former Spanish club, RCD Mallorca, for June, but the trip never materialized due to financial issues and a scheduling conflict with the K League.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Shin Ji-yai, former world No. 1 in women’s golf hailing from South Korea, doesn’t play in the United States often. The 11-time LPGA winner now plies her trade in Japan, so she can be closer to her family back home, and only occasionally plays LPGA events.

And when she took the rare trip to play the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links this time, Shin made sure she would soak up her experience.

Finishing tied for second place didn’t hurt, either.

“I tried to remember everything. Even today, the weather was perfect to see the beautiful course. Even my playing, my feeling and all my fans, I will remember forever,” Shin said after shooting a four-under 68 in the final round on the famed course in Pebble Beach, California, on Sunday (local time).

She finished at six-under 282, three behind the champion, Allisen Corpuz of the United States. It was Shin’s first tournament in America since 2019.

“I was so excited about playing at Pebble Beach, and until the last hole, I had fans cheering me up, and I think I had a beautiful finish,” Shin added. “Although I did not win the championship, I’m as happy as being a champion. I think that this experience left me an indelible impression, and I’ll never forget this week.”

Pebble Beach hosted the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time, and Shin said it could be her last time playing the course, which will next bring the U.S. Women’s Open in 2035.

“Yesterday, I was a little sad that we were playing only one more round,” Shin said. “This morning, when I came to the golf course, I said, ‘Okay, this is maybe my last time playing Pebble Beach, so I have to play well.’ And it worked.’ This is the course that I’ve always wanted to play, and I hope to come back here someday to play again.”

She hadn’t finished higher than fifth at the U.S. Women’s Open. With her runner-up finish, Shin also earned a spot at next year’s championship.

Now 35 and no longer the consistently dominant force that she once was, Shin said she was “very much inspired” by watching younger players at Pebble Beach.

“Since I last played in the U.S. or LPGA, there was a generation change. We have a lot of new players,” she said. “I was very much inspired by watching them. I’m determined to play harder and work harder and be better.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency