Sports Briefs

SHOOTING

Jin Jong-oh continues to prove he’s still the best

Jin Jong-oh, four-time Olympic gold medalist, has proven himself unmatched in the domestic competition once more by winning the 10-meter air pistol event (33-foot) at this year’s Korean National Sports Festival on Sunday.

During the 97th Korean National Sports Festival, Jin shot 203.3 in the final round of the men’s 10-meter air pistol event, outshooting Han Seung-woo by almost a point to take gold. Han shot 202.4 during the final round.

This is Jin’s sixth consecutive title in the event at the Korean National Sports Festival. Jin has claimed gold in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event in the domestic competition since 2011.

Jin climbed to the final round as the first in the competition by shooting 586 during the qualifying round.

Jin, representing the City of Busan, also took gold from the team category in the 10-meter air pistol event, with his team shooting 1753 points. Added to the gold he earned on Saturday in the men’s 50-meter air pistol, during which he climbed to the top of the podium by shooting 198.0 points, Jin took three gold medals in shooting from this year’s Korean National Sports Festival.

By Choi Hyung-jo

FOOTBALL

Thomas Mueller plays hard against Czech Republic

HAMBURG, Germany - Thomas Mueller scored twice for the second game running as Germany eased past the Czech Republic 3-0 to maintain its winning start to World Cup qualifying on Saturday.

Mueller, who scored twice in the opening 3-0 win in Norway, has yet to score in six Bundesliga games for Bayern Munich this season.

The first goal came early when Mesut Ozil sent Mario Goetze’s cross onto Mueller, who dispatched simply to the far corner with the aid of a slight deflection.

Germany had almost three-quarters of the possession, seemingly almost all of it in the Czechs’ half, while 93 percent passing accuracy was an indication of the home side’s dominance.

The only quibble coach Joachim Loew could have had was that his side did not add to its goal-tally despite the glut of chances before the break.

Toni Kroos remedied that minutes after the re-start, firing inside the right post from outside the penalty area after Joshua Kimmich squared the ball.

Borek Dockal had the Czech Republic’s first attempt on target in the 63rd.

But Mueller killed off any vague notions of a comeback with his second two minutes later.

AP