Sports Briefs

BASEBALL

Kang returns from injury to play in minor league game

Kang Jung-ho of the Pittsburgh Pirates played at third base yesterday in a minor league game at the Pirate City complex in Florida.

This is Kang’s first appearance on the base in six month since he suffered a knee injury during a game against the Chicago Cubs on September 18, last year. “Overall, I did better, but it’s not 100 percent yet,” said Kang “It’s getting there.”

Kang also batted for the first time since his injury on March 19 to go 1-for-4. Kang is likely to test out the condition of his knee in the minor league.

The Pirates expect Kang to return some time in mid-April.

GOLF

Jason Day takes top spot in world rankings from Spieth

World ranking for men’s golf saw its first shift in five months.

According to the Official World Golf Ranking announced yesterday, Jason Day of Australia, who recently grabbed two straight wins at Arnold Palmer Invitational and World Golf Championship (WGC) Dell Match Play, climbed in the rankings to top Jordan Spieth of the United States. Spieth went down to No.2 in the standings. This is first time that Day claimed the top spot in five months since November of last year.

With the 2016 Masters Golf Tournament slated to begin next week, Day seems to be at his peak. Although he strained his back during WGC Dell Match Play, he overcame the pain to win the event. On the other hand, Spieth seems to be struggling. Since placing first in January at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Spieth has not had a notable performance. He failed to make the cut at the Northern Trust Open and couldn’t go past the Round of 16 at the WGC Dell Match Play.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Bubba Watson and Rickie Folwer of the United States are ranked the third, fourth and fifth after Day and Spieth. For South Korean golfers, An Byeong-hun is currently ranked at the top among them at 25th. Kim Kyung-tae and Choi Kyung-ju are also ranked within top 100 at 74th and 97th.

By Choi Hyung-jo

TENNIS

Svetlana Kuznetsova knocks Williams out of Miami Open

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. - Serena Williams’ 20-match winning streak at Key Biscayne ended Monday with a 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-2 loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round of the Miami Open.

Williams was bidding for her ninth title in the event and her fourth in a row. But after a grueling first set that lasted nearly an hour, the No. 1-seeded Williams faded on a sweltering afternoon.

The No. 15-seeded Kuznetsova won with defense, extending points until Williams would make a mistake. The Russian finished with only 18 unforced errors to 55 for Williams.

In addition, Williams’ serve was uncharacteristically unreliable. She hit 13 aces but also had nine double faults and was broken six times.

Williams still hasn’t won a tournament since earning her 69th title at Cincinnati in August.

AP