Sports Briefs

Son Yeon-jae leaves World Cup injured

Rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae has withdrawn from the second International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup in Bucharest due to an ankle injury.

According to her agency IB Worldwide, Son was injured Sunday while competing in the hoop event.

The 20-year-old finished her performance but received only 16.850 points to place last among eight finalists.

Son subsequently withdrew from the other individual events: ball, clubs and ribbon. This ends her medal-winning run in the World Cup. The Asian Game champ has medaled in each of the last 12 FIG World Cup events, most recently last month when she won the silver medal in the FIG World Cup in Lisbon in the hoop competition.

Son finished fourth overall on Saturday with score of 72.050 points. Russia’s Yana Kudryavtseva was the overall winner with 75.950 points, followed by compatriot Margarita Mamun with 73.800 points.

Son will return to Korea on Thursday and compete in the national team selection trial between April 18 to 19.

Top badminton team falls to Indonesia

Korea’s top badminton duo Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong finished second in the men’s double on Sunday at the Malaysian Open after being defeated by Indonesia’s Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan.

Lee and Yoo, who are ranked No. 1 in the world in men’s doubles, lost to the world’s No. 8 in a thrilling 1-2 (14-21, 21-15, 23-21).

After tying each set, the Korean pair was trailing 16-20 in the final but managed to get a deuce by taking four straight points.

However, they lost two points consecutively to give up the trophy and prize money worth $39,500.

In the women’s division, Korea also finished second after a loss to China. The Korean team, Chang Ye-na and Jung Kyung-eun, lost to Chinese twins Luo Ying and Luo Yu in 54 minutes with a 0-2 (18-21, 9-21) score.

New GM for Gwangju

Gwangju FC, newly promoted to the K-League Classic, announced on Monday that Gwangju Football Association Chairman Ki Young-ok will be its new general manager.

Ki, 58, is best known as the father of Ki Sung-yueng, who plays for Swansea City in the English Premier League.

He was formerly the coach for Kumho High School and Gwangyang Jecheol High School and will have a three-year term.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON [joo.kyungdon@joongang.co.kr]