Kang So-hwi’s will for his first VNL win Ace Kang So-hwi (Korea Expressway Corporation) of the Korean women's volleyball team showed a strong will to win the upcoming 2024 International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Volleyball Nations League (VNL). Korean women's volleyball has suffered for a long time due to generational changes. We were unable to properly fill the void left by key players who left after the Tokyo Olympics. The aftermath was great. In every international competition he went to, he suffered a series of defeats. Not winning a medal at the Asian Games for the first time in 17 years was especially painful. Before we knew it, the world ranking had fallen to 40th place. The players were also discouraged by the repeated slump. Kang So-hwi said, “We lost a lot (at international competitions) two years in a row, so everyone’s confidence has dropped a lot.” He continued, "I am working on (preparing for VNL) with the mindset that I will endure everything and overcome it strongly even if there is pain." Amid difficult circumstances, coach Fernando Morales took over as new coach in March of this year. Since his appointment, he has focused on rebuilding team morale, which has fallen. He encouraged the players, saying, “It’s okay to make mistakes. Try with confidence.” So-Hwi Kang said, “The coach always gives us a lot of trust. Thanks to that, I think the players will be able to show a more active side in this tournament (VNL).” In addition, So-Hwi Kang also mentioned Coach Morales’ coaching style. He said, "The coach doesn't often point out when players make mistakes while being aggressive. However, when the players show lack of confidence, he tells them, 'That's not allowed.'"

**Lee Jeong-hoo, who lost a home run in three consecutive games, said, ‘Ah! 'Fenway Park' ** Lee Jeong-hoo (26, San Francisco Giants) was blocked by the abnormal structure of Fenway Park and lost a home run in three consecutive games. Jeong-hoo Lee started as the number one hitter (center fielder) in the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) game against the Boston Red Sox held at Fenway Park in Boston, USA on the 3rd (Korean time), but recorded no hits in four at-bats. His season batting average dropped to 0.250 (29 hits in 116 at-bats). In his first at-bat, leadoff Lee Jeong-hoo hit a deep sinker (155km) thrown by starter Josh Winkowski, but was caught by center fielder. He hit the ball well enough to fly 122m with an exit speed of close to 166km, but it flew out. He hit a ball that would have been a home run if it had been in any other stadium than Fenway Park. Lee Jung-hoo also missed a home run in the first and second games of the three-game series against Boston.

Gwangju, escaping consecutive losses, aims for 2nd consecutive win against Daejeon Gwangju FC, who succeeded in escaping their 6-game losing streak, is gaining momentum and aiming for a 2-game win in a row against Daejeon . Gwangju FC will play the 11th round of K-League 1 against Daejeon Hana Citizen at Gwangju Soccer Stadium at 4:30 pm on the 6th. The match between the two teams, who are competing for the rankings with a 1-point difference, is actually considered a 6-point game. In the last 10 games, Gwangju has an overwhelming advantage with 4 wins, 5 draws, and 1 loss. In particular, since coach Lee Jeong-hyo took office, the team has never lost with 3 wins and 4 draws. Gwangju finally broke its six-game losing streak by scoring three goals in a midweek away game against Jeju. On the other hand, Daejeon remained at 10 points after drawing goalless with Gimcheon in their midweek home game.

Chartered plane launched and players called up early. Malaysian national football team coach Kim Pan-gon takes on the challenge of a cliffhanger for the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian final qualifiers. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is providing full support to coach Kim and the Malaysian players, including charter flights, to achieve optimal results. Malaysia, led by coach Kim, will play an away game to Kyrgyzstan in the 5th round of Group D of the North and Central America World Cup Asia 2nd qualifying round scheduled for 00:00 (Korean time) on the 7th at Spartak Stadium in Bishkek, and then at Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur at 10:00 p.m. on the 11th. They will clash with Chinese Taipei in the upcoming 6th round. As of now, after 4 games, Malaysia is ranked 3rd in Group D with 6 points from 2 wins, 2 losses, 6 goals, and 5 conceded. They were at the top of the group before the two-game series of the second qualifying round in March, but their ranking dropped significantly after losing twice home and away to Oman. The current leader in Group D is Kyrgyzstan (9 points) with 3 wins and 1 loss. Kyrgyzstan is tied with Oman, who has the same record, in terms of points, but is ahead of them in points. Kyrgyzstan's pace is very good, but Malaysia has no reason to be afraid. Malaysia defeated Kyrgyzstan at home last November. After falling behind by a score of 1-3, they achieved a 4-3 victory, sending Malaysian soccer fans into a frenzy. If Malaysia wants to advance to the final qualifying round, it must first defeat Kyrgyzstan. As they are playing their last game against Chinese Taipei, who are on a scoreless home losing streak, if they win, they can push Kyrgyzstan out of the top 2, which gives them a ticket to the final qualifying round.

Kang So-hwi’s will for his first VNL win, Ace Kang So-hwi (Korea Expressway Corporation) of the Korean women's volleyball team showed a strong will to win the upcoming 2024 International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Volleyball Nations League (VNL). Korean women's volleyball has suffered for a long time due to generational changes. We were unable to properly fill the void left by key players who left after the Tokyo Olympics. The aftermath was great. In every international competition he went to, he suffered a series of defeats. Not winning a medal at the Asian Games for the first time in 17 years was especially painful. Before we knew it, the world ranking had fallen to 40th place. The players were also discouraged by the repeated slump. Kang So-hwi said, “We lost a lot (at international competitions) two years in a row, so everyone’s confidence has dropped a lot.” He continued, "I am working on (preparing for VNL) with the mindset that I will endure everything and overcome it strongly even if there is pain." Amid difficult circumstances, coach Fernando Morales took over as new coach in March of this year. Since his appointment, he has focused on rebuilding team morale, which has fallen. He encouraged the players, saying, “It’s okay to make mistakes. Try with confidence.” So-Hwi Kang said, “The coach always gives us a lot of trust. Thanks to that, I think the players will be able to show a more active side in this tournament (VNL).” In addition, So-Hwi Kang also mentioned Coach Morales’ coaching style. He said, "The coach doesn't often point out when players make mistakes while being aggressive. However, when the players show lack of confidence, he tells them, 'That's not allowed.'"

**Coming soon” Pittsburgh, prospect from No. 1 overall pick imminent to be unsealed ** He is showing performance worthy of the league's top pitching prospect. In 6 games so far, he has allowed 2 runs (1 earned) in 23 innings, has an ERA of 0.39, walks 6, and has 41 strikeouts. His top velocity is approaching 100 mph. In an interview with the New York Post, one scout described Skins as “the best college pitcher after Stephen Strasburg,” and another scout named Skins as one of the “top three” along with Strasburg and Gerrit Cole. Although he appears ready to debut in the big league right away, the Pittsburgh team appears to be controlling the pace. As the season progressed, the build-up progressed slowly. Currently, the number of pitches has risen to 89 pitches.

Ham Jeong-woo continues his challenge to advance into the U.S. Ham Ham (30, Hana Financial Group) continues his challenge to advance to the PGA Tour. Ham Jeong-woo will leave for the United States on the 28th (Korean time) to compete in two Korn Ferry Tour competitions in a row. The 'Club Car Championship' will be held in Savannah, Georgia from the 5th to the 8th of next month, and the 'LECOM Suncoast Classic' will be held in Lakewood Ranch, Florida from the 19th to the 22nd. Ham Jeong-woo said, “Now is the time to show results,” and expressed his determination, “As I have adapted to the Korn Ferry Tour stage, I will do my best to deliver good news to domestic golf fans in these two tournaments.” Ham Jeong-woo won the KPGA Korean Tour Genesis Grand Prize last season and participated in the final round of PGA Tour Q School last year. At the time, he finished tied for 45th and failed to advance to the PGA Tour, but did qualify for some Korn Ferry Tour events this season.

“It’s actually my last chance, I’ll stay as long as possible.” Ham Ham (30, Hana Financial Group) continues his challenge to advance to the PGA Tour. Ham Jeong-woo will leave for the United States on the 28th (Korean time) to compete in two Korn Ferry Tour competitions in a row. The 'Club Car Championship' will be held in Savannah, Georgia from the 5th to the 8th of next month, and the 'LECOM Suncoast Classic' will be held in Lakewood Ranch, Florida from the 19th to the 22nd. Ham Jeong-woo said, “Now is the time to show results,” and expressed his determination, “As I have adapted to the Korn Ferry Tour stage, I will do my best to deliver good news to domestic golf fans in these two tournaments.” Ham Jeong-woo won the KPGA Korean Tour Genesis Grand Prize last season and participated in the final round of PGA Tour Q School last year. At the time, he finished tied for 45th and failed to advance to the PGA Tour, but did qualify for some Korn Ferry Tour events this season.

** Announcement of 17 people including Han Player** A large number of top setters in the professional volleyball V-League men's division have entered the free agent (FA) market. On the 5th, the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) announced the list of 17 players who have acquired FA qualifications. There are many top setters released in this free agency market. Veteran setter Han Seon-soo, who led Korean Air to the championship, KEPCO setter Kim Gwang-guk, and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance setter Noh Jae-wook qualified as free agents. Hyundai Capital setter Kim Myeong-gwan also qualified as a free agent, but is scheduled to join the Armed Forces Athletic Corps, making it difficult for him to participate in the league next season.

Jeong Kang-seon, president of Jeonbuk Sports Council The Korea Sports Council officially appointed the captain and vice-captain to lead the athletes at the 'G-100 National Team Encouragement Event' held at the Champion House of the Jincheon National Team Athletes' Village in North Chungcheong Province this morning. At the G-100 event on this day, Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran, Korea Sports Council President Lee Ki-heung (IOC member), IOC member Yoo Seung-min (Korea Table Tennis Association President), Jang Jae-geun, head of the athlete's village, sports organizations, and provincial and provincial sports councils were in attendance, preparing for the Paris Olympics. I cheered for the players and coaches. Lee Ki-heung, president of the Korea Sports Council, said in his opening speech, "The Paris Olympics are just 100 days away. The Korean team at this event is expected to rank in the top 15 overall with five gold medals, but there are concerns that it may fall below 20th in some cases." I pointed it out. “Nevertheless, our athletes have worked hard to overcome their limitations and achieve their goals, and after 100 days, their efforts will bear fruit,” he said. “For the Olympics, the Korean Sports Council will provide Paris with a special performance support group, professional care team, and customized medical science support.” By establishing the Olympic 'care-full project', we are also operating a pre-training camp in Paris 12 years after the 2012 London Olympics to help athletes adapt to the local environment and improve their condition. “We will provide support so that you can adjust well and perform at your best,” he said. He then asked for public support for the athletes participating in the Paris Olympics. “Now we need the people’s passionate support. We ask for the people’s special affection and interest so that our players can perform at their best,” he said. Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran, a 'legendary senior' who was a gold medalist in weightlifting at the Beijing Olympics, consistently emphasized 'original spirit', saying, "The same spirit I had when I first entered this athletes' village, the same spirit that I did my best for myself even when no one paid attention." “I hope you prepare well by taking care of your physical and mental health for the remaining 100 days, and I will do my best to support you along with the Korea Sports Council and the sports family,” he promised. Chairman Lee officially announced in front of the Korean national team, "I have appointed Jeong Kang-seon, president of the Jeollabuk-do Sports Council, as the head of the team for the Paris Olympics." “Director Jeong has been leading the local sports association and has worked to create a sustainable sports environment through the mutual growth of elite, life sports, and school sports,” he said, adding, “He is a person with work capabilities encompassing the central and local areas.” He explained the reason for his appointment. . Lee Sang-hyun, president of the Korea Hockey Association, was reappointed as vice-captain following the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Thailand's women's volleyball, ranked 13th in the world Of the 12 finalists on the Thai women's volleyball team for the Hangzhou Asian Games, only 8 are from overseas. Thailand, ranked 13th in the world rankings of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), successfully advanced to the quarterfinals through the group stage at the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. Thailand, ranked first in Group B in the group stage, is scheduled to compete with Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Kazakhstan in Group F of the quarterfinal round for a ticket to the semifinals. Thailand's women's volleyball's best result in the Asian Games was second place in 2018. Thailand, which reached the top spot at this year's Asian Championships for the first time in 10 years, will challenge for its first gold medal in Asian Games history despite being rejected. As Japan enters the tournament with second-tier players, the home team China is considered the strongest candidate for the championship. Among them, 8 out of 12 Thai women's volleyball players who participated in the Asian Games are overseas. Five people will play in the Japanese V.League and three will play in the Korean V-League.

If you don't have teeth, use your gums... Veterans Kim Seong-hyun and Ha Jae-hoon showed off SSG’s potential SG won 9-7 in the home game against NC Dinos held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 3rd. SSG, which had won three games in a row, maintained its 5th place position with 68 wins, 3 draws, and 63 losses. Veterans Kim Seong-hyeon (36) and Ha Jae-hoon (33) stood out. Seong-Hyun Kim started as the 6th hitter and shortstop, going 1 hit in 3 at-bats, 1 walk, and 1 run, while Jae-Hoon Ha came on as a substitute and performed well with 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 1 home run, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 3 runs Their performance means a lot. SSG was worried about the vacancy in the inside and outfield as outfielder Choi Ji-hoon and infielder Park Seong-han, the core of the center line, joined the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games baseball team. However, Kim Seong-hyun and Ha Jae-hoon erased such concerns. Kim Seong-hyun was the ignition of the great victory that day. He announced the chase by scoring the team's first run in the bottom of the 5th inning when the team was down 0-5, when he got on base with 1 out and a hit to right, and then continued on with 1 out and runner Kim Min-sik on 2nd base. He created another opportunity by getting a walk even with one out in the bottom of the 6th inning when the score was 5-5.

** KBO League 10 teams start spring camp** he 10 KBO League clubs are entering full-scale preparation for the 2024 season. Each team will leave the country one by one for the first spring camp from the 29th to the 31st. The players, who have prepared their bodies through personal training all winter, leave for a warm place and begin competing for the new season. Last year, the most popular primary training destination was the United States. Seven of the 10 teams left for the first spring camp in the U.S. mainland. The clubs were highly satisfied with the climate and facilities, so they accepted inconveniences such as travel distance and adjusting to time difference. However, recently, the number of clubs choosing the United States has decreased due to problems such as cold weather and high inflation due to climate change.

“I learned baseball” Chae Eun-seong’s routine that made Noh Si-hwan the home run king… The explosion of potential of Hanwha Noh Si-hwan (24), who became the KBO League home run king last year, cannot be explained without mentioning Chae Eun-seong (34). Last year, during spring camp in Arizona, USA, Chae Eun-seong said, “You need a partner to lift weights well. After pairing up and saying, “Let’s do this with me,” the two players repeated the same routine throughout the season. We prepared for the game by doing weight training every two days, regardless of whether it was home or away. For home games, he went to work early at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon at 11:30 a.m., and on away trips, he maintained his strength and stamina by stretching and lifting weights at his lodgings before lunch. In particular, Noh Si-hwan did not lose strength until the end of the season. Noh Si-hwan, who started all 131 games excluding the period of participation in the Asian Games, said, “It is meaningful that I played the full season without any pain. “It was good to be able to show that he is a player who is healthy and takes good care of himself,” he said. “It was effective to lift weights according to senior Chae Eun-seong.” He barely gained any weight. He reflected, “During the season, you need to eat as much energy as you put in, but maybe because you continued to lift weights, you didn’t gain much weight.” As a result, he had a career-high season with a batting average of .298 (153 hits in 514 at-bats), 31 home runs, 101 RBI, 74 walks, 118 strikeouts, an on-base percentage of .388, a slugging percentage of .541, and an OPS of .929. Noh Si-hwan, who ranked first in home runs and RBIs and second in slugging percentage and OPS, also received the Golden Glove Award in the third baseman category and became a top-class player in the league. Noh Si-hwan, who never left out the story of Chae Eun-seong during the post-season awards ceremony, said, “I learned baseball from Eun-seong. He expressed his gratitude again, saying, “I received a lot of help from talking to him about how to overcome things when things aren’t going well and even talking about batting technique issues.”

Lee Hak-ju and Son Ho-young, a surprise hero appears at a dead end? Lotte and LG announced a surprise sign-and-trade on the 26th that many people did not expect until the beginning of the transfer market. Veteran infielder Kim Min-seong (36) was at the center of it all. Kim Min-seong, who had been unable to find a way out in the free agent market, found a clue through sign-and-trade. First, Minseong Kim signed a 2+1 year contract with LG for a total of 900 million won (down payment of 200 million won, total annual salary of 500 million won, total incentive of 200 million won). Then, they immediately made a trade with Lotte and instead of sending Kim Min-seong, they recruited infielder Kim Min-soo (26). Initially, Kim Min-seong's side considered sign-and-trade as a method, but it wasn't that long ago that Lotte came up with that card. In a way, it was as if something had unraveled in an instant. There is an assessment that everyone can benefit. First of all, Minseong Kim looked for a team where he could receive better treatment and more opportunities. It is known that the conditions that LG proposed to Kim Min-seong were leader training for a total of 500 million won for two years. It was difficult to offer more money in a situation where the club had a tight salary cap. Kim Min-seong increased his total amount by being traded, and it is highly likely that he will get more opportunities to play in Lotte than in LG, where the starting players can be seen as solid. The reason why Lotte suddenly pushed to recruit Kim Min-seong is because Han Dong-hee, who is the team's starting third baseman and should be the team's main hitter from a long-term perspective, is about to enlist. Han Dong-hee, who needed a turning point in her career, applied to the Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Sangmu). He will enlist in June if he is finally accepted. In a broader sense, one more infielder was needed to fill the void left by Han Dong-hee. Kim Min-seong is a player who literally sees all four positions in the infield. He is expected to start as the starting second baseman and play various positions.

Birmingham City, England's second division, Midfielder Baek Seung-ho (26), who participated in the 2022 Qatar World Cup and Hangzhou Asian Games with the Taegeuk symbol, joined Birmingham City of the England Professional Football Championship (Second Division). Birmingham City announced on the 30th (Korean time) that they signed a contract with Baek Seung-ho until June 2026. As a result, Baek Seung-ho will appear on the European stage again three years after 2021, when he transferred to K-League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai after playing for Darmstadt in the German second division. Baek Seung-ho, a former member of FC Barcelona's youth team in Spain, played for Girona in Spain and the second-tier team Peralada before joining Darmstadt in 2019 and moving to Germany, and has been active in Jeonbuk since 2021.

Van Dijk hints at parting ways with Liverpool, "Decision will be made after the end of the season" he aftermath of manager Jurgen Klopp's departure is already anticipated. First of all, the players are agitated. Virgil van Dijk has not confirmed whether he will renew his contract with Liverpool. He actually shocked people by saying that he could leave Liverpool. British media 'The Sun' commented on this on the 30th (hereinafter Korean time), "As soon as Coach Klopp announced that he would voluntarily resign from Liverpool, a question mark arose over Van Dijk's contract renewal. Perhaps this could be the beginning of the departure of Liverpool's key players. “There is,” he said. When asked whether he would extend his contract with Liverpool, Van Dijk said, "It's a very important question. I don't know either. Big things will happen for Liverpool in the future. There are so many things that have been predicted to change, not just the coach. I'm very curious about what direction it will go. “I don’t know when that will happen, but I will judge based on the situation. As of now, I cannot answer about renewing my contract.”

“Ichiro will be inducted unconditionally, the key is to pass unanimously like Libero” Japanese baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki (51) will attempt to become the second unanimous induction into the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) Hall of Fame in 2025. BBWAA announced the final results of the 2024 Hall of Fame election vote on the 24th (Korean time). Adria Beltre (95.1%), Todd Helton (79.7%) and Joe Mawer (76.1%) passed the induction criteria. Local media highlighted candidates for induction into the Hall of Fame in 2025. Ichiro is definitely number one. USA Today reported, “Ichiro and CC Sabathia are likely to pass the criteria for their first attempt at the Hall of Fame.” To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, a person must receive at least 75% of the votes. If the vote rate is less than 5%, the candidate is immediately disqualified, and if the vote rate remains between 5 and 75%, the candidate can remain eligible for a total of 10 years.

‘Boras Division’ signs three contracts in two days, Ryu Hyun-jin soon? Another claim has been raised that Ryu Hyun-jin (37), who has been free for more than two months, should wear the San Diego Padres uniform. San Diego fan media 'Friars On Base' reported on the 24th (Korean time) that James Paxton signed with the LA Dodgers and said, 'Earlier this week, left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin and right-hander Michael Lorenzen were mentioned in connection with San Diego. 'If the Padres were to argue over the match between Ryu Hyun-jin and Loren, it would be much more reasonable to select the left-hander (Ryu Hyun-jin) under all conditions being equal. The Padres only have one starting left-hander on their 40-man roster, Jay Groome. However, it is difficult for him to even survive on the roster this spring.' According to local media reports, Paxton agreed to a one-year contract worth $12 million with the Dodgers on the 23rd. As the Dodgers, who were looking for a fifth starter, recruited Paxton, the only 'mid-price' free agent starters left on the market are Ryu Hyun-jin and Lorenzen. This means that for San Diego, negotiating with Ryu Hyun-jin is much more beneficial. Lorenzen pitched 153 innings in 29 games (25 starts) for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies last year, recording 9 wins and 9 losses, an ERA of 4.18, and 111 strikeouts. He debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015 and posted a career record of 40 wins, 38 losses, and an earned run average of 4.11.

Former Portugal coach Fernando Santos confessed that his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo has not recovered since the round of 16 of the last World Cup. Spanish media 'Marca' reported on the 9th (Korean time) that 'Santos said he has not talked to Ronaldo since the World Cup.' Santos is famous as the coach who made the decision to place Ronaldo on the bench from the round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “I would make the same decision now,” Santos said. “It was a strategic decision. We have to think about the team first. Tactically, it was the best decision. As you know, the technical team and I discussed this. It was a decision we made after careful consideration. “I looked back. At that time, Portugal passed Group H in first place (with Korea in second place). Ronaldo appeared as a starter in all three group stage matches, but his performance was not very good. Santos faced Switzerland in the round of 16 and made the bold decision to exclude Ronaldo from the starting lineup. Santos hired Goncalo Hamus, who was a rising prospect at the time, as the starting striker. Hamus is a forward who currently plays with Lee Kang-in at Paris Saint-Germain. When Hamus scored a hat trick and Portugal won 6-1, Ronaldo was at a loss for words.