Sports briefs

ATHLETICS

Star sprinter Seo Mal-gu dies of heart attack, aged 60

Former Korean star sprinter Seo
Mal-gu died on Monday. He was 60.

The Korea Association of Athletics Federations said Seo died of a heart attack on Monday morning.

Seo has held the Korean record in the men’s 100-meter race for 31 years after he clocked 10.34 seconds at the 1979 Universiade in Mexico. His record was finally broken in 2010 when Kim Kuk-young finished the 100-meters in 10.23 seconds at the national athletics championship.

BASEBALL

Dinos sign Park Sok-min for record W9.6B with option

NC Dinos on Monday signed free agent Park Sok-min from the Samsung Lions with most expensive deal for a field player in KBO history.

The 30-year-old third baseman inked a four-year deal for 8.6 billion won ($8.3 million). He has the option of earning an additional 1 billion won based on performance.

Including the option, Park beats SK Wyverns Choi Jeong’s 8.6 billion won four-year deal last year.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Lotte Giants signed three-time saves title winner Son Seung-lak to a four-year deal worth 6 billion won, while the Hanwha Eagles signed lefty pitcher Jung Woo-ram in a four-year deal worth 8.4 billion won.

Samsung Lions release Lim Chang-yong over allegations

Samsung Lions have released pitcher Lim Chang-yong who is currently being investigated for alleged illegal gambling overseas.

The KBO on Monday announced the list of reserved players by each club, which is basically a signal of contract renewal, but Lim’s name wasn’t on the Lions’ reserve list.

However, pitchers Yoon Sung-hwan and An Ji-man, who are both under suspicion for illegal gambling, were included in the list. Last month, the Lions dropped Lim, Yoon and An from the Korean Series roster due to the alleged charges.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON

TENNIS

Andy Murray lifts Davis Cup title for first time in 79 years

GHENT, Belgium - Andy Murray gave Britain its first Davis Cup title in 79 years when he beat Belgium’s David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 in the first of reverse singles Sunday.

The win gave Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series and the final singles match was not played. Britain is the only nation to have competed in all Davis Cup editions since 1900 and its 10th title makes it the third most successful nation after the United States (32) and Australia (28). AP