Hwang seeks redemption for loss at 2011 ChampionshipsThe following is the fifth of a series of articles on rival athletes in South Korea’s favorite events at the London 2012 Olympic Games. -Ed.Korea’s ace taekwondo fighter Hwang Kyung-seon has an opponent she wants to defeat by all means, not to mention a gold medal to win, in the London 2012 Olympic Games. “I want to defeat Sarah Stevenson of Britain and capture the gold,” she told reporters at a media day event July 10. The 26-year-old reveale

The following is the fourth of a series of articles on rival athletes in South Korea’s favorite events at the London 2012 Olympic Games ― Ed.Korea has sent numerous gymnasts to the Olympic Games so far, but has only ended up with silver medals in the last four Games since Atlanta in 1996.This time, however, its gold medal prospects look very bright. Nineteen-year-old Yang Hak-seon of Korea National Sport University is regarded as a sure bet among the Korean Olympian athletes.Yang made the nation

Rafael Nadal, shown in June with the trophy for winning a record seventh French Open men's singles title, in Thursday withdrew from the Summer Olympics tennis competition. Nadal won the men's singles gold medal in 2008(UPI)Spain's Rafael Nadal, who won the men's singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics, Thursday withdrew from the 2012 Games in London.Nadal, ranked No. 3 in the world, cited physical

LONDON (Yonhap News) ― South Korea is seeking its first Olympic gold in artistic gymnastics this year at the upcoming London Olympics. Athletes themselves said they are confident they can win multiple medals.Led by head coach Cho Sung-dong, the gymnasts put in their two hours of work at the training facility near North Greenwich Arena, which will host gymnastics during the July 27-Aug. 12 Olympics. The gymnastics delegation was the first batch of South Korean athletes to land here, and athletes

GEMONA, Italy (AP) ― Even when he’s looking at photos of his bleeding and blistered leg stumps, Oscar Pistorius smiles.And with his Olympic debut approaching, it’s easy to understand why.Pistorius, whose legs were amputated below the knee when he was a baby, is set to make history by running ― yes, running ― in the London Olympics. He will be the first double-amputee athlete to compete at the Olympics, and his journey has been long and rife with hurdles.When he finally got word earlier this mont

The following is the third of a series of articles on rival athletes in South Korea’s favorite events at the London 2012 Olympic Games. ―Ed.The Korean badminton team has set its sight on two gold medals in the London 2012 Olympic Games ― one in the men’s doubles and the other in mixed doubles.Of the two disciplines, the men’s double is more favored by Korea as it currently ranks No. 1.On June 21, the six-year Korean duo of Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung topped the list of men’s doubles rankings

LIGNANO, Italy (AP) ― South African double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius finished second in a 400-meter race in Italy on Tuesday, his final tuneup for the London Olympics.Pistorius clocked 46.56 seconds ― well off the personal best of 45.07 he ran at the same meet last year. Calvin Smith of the United States won in 45.52. “My time wasn’t among the best. But I’m good physically and mentally,” Pistorius said. “I’ve used a lot of energy in these past few days, both in training and with the media

LONDON (AP) ― London Games officials dismissed concerns Tuesday over a lost bus driver, a scramble for more security guards and some rain-soaked venues ― embarrassments that had one tabloid newspaper headline using the Olympic rings to spell out the word “OOPS!”Organizers said some of the complaints were exaggerated and tried to put the best face on the unfolding security debacle, as well as other concerns about the games, which start in 10 days.“Let’s put this in proportion,” London Olympics he

Im, Ellison aim for men’s individual Olympic gold medal The following is the second article in a series on rival athletes in South Korea’s most promising events at the London 2012 Olympic Games. – Ed.Two rivals at the center of attention in the global archery community are Im Dong-hyun of South Korea and Brady Ellison of the U.S.　Im, ranked second in the world, is probably Korean archery’s best hope for an individual gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. So far this medal has eluded him. In fact