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BASEBALL

National under-23 crew wins bronze at Baseball World Cup

Korea took home bronze at this year’s U-23 Baseball World Cup in Monterrey, Mexico, on Sunday.

The country’s U-23 team, No. 3 in the world, defeated No. 15 Panama during the bronze medal final with a score of 5-3. Jung Sung-gon of the KT Wiz went to the mound as a starting pitcher and tossed a complete game, striking out four batters to secure the team’s lead.

Throughout the game, Jung gave out only four hits and two walks. On the plate, leadoff Kim Tae-jin of the NC Dinos went 2-for-3 and scored a run while tallying one run batted in. Sim Woo-jun of the Wiz also had two hits during his five at-bats, scoring a run and raking in two RBIs.

HOCKEY

Korean men’s team tops Euro ice hockey tournament

The Korean men’s hockey team topped the 2016 Euro Ice Hockey Challenge in Hungary on Sunday.

During the finals at Budapest, the Korean team, ranked 23rd in the world, defeated the hosts 3-2 to claim the title from the tournament.

Shin Sang-hoon, Cho Min-ho and Michael Swift each scored a goal to lift Korea over No. 19 Hungary.

The Euro Ice Hockey Challenge is an International Ice Hockey Federation competition featuring teams from outside Europe to provide them with opportunities to experience an international hockey event.

By Choi Hyung-jo

FOOTBALL

Madrid to extend Ronaldo’s contract until June 2021

MADRID - Real Madrid has reached a deal to extend Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract until June 2021, when the three-time world player of the year will be 36.

The Spanish club said the new contract will be signed on Monday. Financial details were not released, although the star forward is expected to remain the team’s top-paid player.

The announcement on Sunday came a few hours after Madrid defeated Leganes 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to retain the Spanish league lead. The 31-year-old is in his eighth season with the Spanish powerhouse. He will have played 12 years with the club if he stays through the end of the new contract.

The Portugal forward arrived in Madrid from Manchester United in the summer of 2009. His current contract is due to end in 2018.

The announcement of the new deal comes with Ronaldo facing criticism for an up-and-down start to a season in which he has played below expectations and endured uncharacteristic scoring droughts. He has seven goals in 12 matches with Madrid, and hasn’t netted at the Bernabeu in five consecutive games for his worst scoring slump at home.

Ronaldo’s season started later than usual as he recovered from a knee injury sustained when Portugal defeated France in the final of the European Championship. He led Madrid to two Champions League titles - in 2014 and 2016 - and to a Spanish league title in 2012. He is two goals short of becoming the first player to score 100 career goals in European competitions.

AP