Sports briefs

SPEED SKATING

Lee wins bronze at World Cup series in Netherlands

Korea’s Lee Seung-hoon won his first medal of the 2015-16 season of the International Skating Union Speed Skating World Cup series on Sunday.

Lee, the gold medalist in the men’s 10,000-meter at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, won the bronze medal in the men’s mass start speed skating event held in Heerenveen, Netherlands, after clocking 7 minutes 23.13 seconds. The 27-year-old was behind Arjan Stroetinga of the Netherlands, who finished at 7:22.37, and Italy’s Fabio Francolini who had 7:22.74.

Meanwhile, two-time Olympic gold medal skater Lee Sang-hwa finished fourth in the women’s 500-meter sprint on Sunday, ending her third straight gold medal race at the World Cup series. The 27-year-old clocked 37.98 seconds.

China’s Yu Jing was first at 37.84, followed by Heather Richardson-Bergsma of the United States at 37.87 and China’s Zhang Hong at 37.90.

TABLE TENNIS

Jeon takes third place at world finals in Portugal

Table tennis star Jeon Ji-hee settled for bronze at the GAC Group ITTF World Tour Grand Finals on Sunday after she lost to China’s Chen Meng.

At the event, which features the top 16 players, held in Lisbon, Portugal, No. 6 seed Jeon lost to No. 10 seed Chen 4-2 (11-3, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6) in the women’s single semifinals.

Jeon, 23, was the only Korean to reach the semifinals in the event. She beat compatriot Yang Ha-eun and Misako Wakamiya of Japan to be in the top four.

Meanwhile, the women’s single title went to China’s Ding Ning, while fellow Chinese Ma Long edged Fan Zhendong to claim the men’s title.

SAMBO

Korea picked to host next year’s Asian Championship

Korea will host of the 2016 Sambo Asian Championship, the Korea Sambo Federation said on Monday.

Korea was selected to host next year’s Asian tournament for the Russian martial art and combat sport at the general meeting of the Asian Sambo Federation in Atyrau, Kazakhstan.

The local federation’s chairman, Moon Jong-geum, was also elected as head of the East Asian Sambo Federation. Korea is already chosen as the host of the 2019 Sambo World Championship.

FOOTBALL

Midfielder Yoon to transfer to China’s Yanbian FC

Jeju United said on Monday that midfielder Yoon Bit-garam will transfer to China’s Yanbian Changbaishan FC. The financial details weren’t announced.

Yoon, 25, is the 2010 K-League Classic Rookie of the Year with Gyeongnam FC. He later moved to Seongnam FC in 2012 before joining Jeju United in 2013. He has 29 goals and 30 assists in 196 K-League matches.

Yanbian, who will play in the Chinese first division next year, last week signed Pohang Steelers forward Kim Seung-dae.

By Joo Kyung-don