Written off before the tournament, Seoul Sports High water polo team wins gold at National Sports Festival

Team defeats Gyeonggi, Gangwon and South Gyeongsang high schools in succession The Seoul Sports High School water polo team, widely considered the weakest contender heading into the competition, pulled off one of the tournament's biggest upsets by claiming gold at the 107th National Sports Festival. The Seoul Metropolitan Sports Council announced Friday that the team defeated Gyeonggi Sports High School, Gangwon Province Sports High School and South Gyeongsang Province Sports High School in succession to take the top spot. Seoul Sports High had been seen as outmatched by its rivals heading into this season, but the team quickly dispelled those doubts in the water. It beat Gyeonggi Sports High 12-8 in the quarterfinals, then staged a comeback in the semifinals on Tuesday, overturning a 5-6 deficit after two periods to defeat Gangwon Province Sports High 10-9. In the final, the team routed South Gyeongsang Province Sports High 14-8 to clinch the gold medal. Some say the team's tight cohesion and teamwork, built through rigorous training, proved decisive in a sport that demands both physical endurance and seamless coordination among players. Seoul Metropolitan Sports Council Chairman Kang Tae-sun said he was proud of the team for "refusing to be shaken by the pre-tournament assessments that put them at a disadvantage, and fighting all the way to win the precious gold medal at the National Sports Festival." He added that he hoped the victory would give the players a major confidence boost and serve as a springboard for student athletics and water polo in Seoul to reach a new level.

Oct. 23, 2026

Messi wins Spain's 'Nobel Prize' award, says many talented people fall through the cracks

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi of Inter Miami became the first individual soccer player to win the sports category of Spain's Princess of Asturias Award as a sole recipient. In an interview with Spain's EFE news agency, Messi was asked what kind of player he hoped to be remembered as. "I want to be remembered as a great sportsman who always fought for his goals and dreams," he said, according to Yonhap. The interview was conducted a day before the 2026 Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony, scheduled for early Saturday at the Campoamor Theater in Oviedo, Spain. The Princess of Asturias Award is often called Spain's Nobel Prize. One of the most prestigious honors in Europe, it is presented annually to individuals and institutions that have made outstanding achievements in eight fields, including the arts, literature, science and sports. Messi is the first individual soccer player to win the award's sports category as a sole recipient. Earlier, in the soccer category, the Brazilian national team (2002) and the Spanish national team (2010) had received the award as groups. As individual players, Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez of Spain shared the prize in 2012. Messi arrived in Oviedo, in Spain's Asturias region, by private jet to attend the ceremony. At a special event held ahead of the ceremony, he also spent time with about 5,000 local children. "The most important thing is knowing how to lose," Messi told the gathering. "You may or may not reach your goals, but you have to be able to know that you gave everything you had and feel satisfied with that." In the EFE interview, he said, "There are many people with great talent who fall by the wayside due to a lack of opportunity." He added that he was honored to have his name added to the list of Princess of Asturias Award sports winners alongside legendary figures. Messi retires after 126 goals in 208 international appearances Messi hung up his national team jersey after more than 22 years, playing his final match for Argentina in a friendly against Benin at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Oct. 7 Korean Standard Time. He capped his farewell appearance with a goal and two assists. Argentina won the match 3-0. Messi made his international debut in August 2005 but announced his retirement from the national team after Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final. He reversed that decision after fans — including Argentina's president — urged him to stay. He then announced his retirement a second time after finishing as runner-up at this year's North and Central America World Cup, before playing his farewell match in front of fans. Messi finished his international career with 126 goals in 208 appearances. His trophy haul includes one World Cup title (2022), two Copa America titles (2021 and 2024) and one Finalissima title (2022). Immediately after the final whistle, players from both Argentina and Benin embraced Messi to thank him for his dedication. In the sky above, a drone show traced the outline of his No. 10 jersey and his face to mark his retirement from international football.

Oct. 23, 2026

Samsung bank on Fedde as playoff opener looms against KIA

Game 1 set for Sunday at Daegu; Fedde to face Naile Ku Ja-wook's return a boost, but left-handed bullpen gaps a concern Can the Samsung Lions overcome the weakness their starting rotation showed against the KIA Tigers in the regular season and take the first step toward a Korean Series berth? The pressure falls squarely on Chris Fedde, 30, the American right-hander named as the Game 1 starter for the best-of-five playoff series. Samsung will host KIA in Game 1 of the playoff at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on Sunday at 2 p.m. Samsung will send Fedde to the mound, while KIA will counter with James Naile, 33, also American. Samsung went 7-9 against KIA in this year's regular season, with their starters managing only two wins in those matchups. The rotation repeatedly struggled to contain KIA's lineup, putting the team in a hole early in multiple games. In a short series, the starting pitcher's role becomes even more critical. Fedde himself had a difficult time against KIA. In two regular-season starts, he went winless with two losses and an ERA of 5.25. He gave up six runs on July 30, though he did pitch well on Aug. 11 — allowing just three runs, one earned, over seven innings — only to take the loss. KIA's Naile, by contrast, went 2-0 against Samsung with a 3.24 ERA. On head-to-head numbers alone, Naile holds a clear edge. Still, Fedde showed encouraging signs in an intrasquad game Monday, throwing four scoreless innings and touching a top speed of 150.1 kilometers per hour. After the session, he posted on social media that he could not wait for Sunday to arrive, signaling his eagerness to take the mound. Samsung's bullpen also faces a setback. Left-handers Lee Seung-hyun and Baek Jeong-hyun are both expected to be left off the playoff roster due to injury. Their absence could complicate late-game matchup decisions against left-handed batters and limit pitching-change options, making it all the more important that Fedde goes deep into the game. On offense, Samsung are counting on the return of captain Ku Ja-wook. Ku suffered a left hamstring injury on Sept. 30 and, after rehabilitation, appeared as the No. 3 designated hitter in Monday's intrasquad game, going 1-for-3 with a walk. His absence had taken a visible toll on the lineup. In the nine October games Samsung played without him, the team went 3-6, posting a batting average of .212 (62 hits in 292 at-bats) and a slugging percentage of .342 — last in the league in both categories during that stretch. That stands in stark contrast to the team's full regular-season batting average of .273. Ku hit .340 against KIA in the regular season, while Lewin Diaz managed only .214 and Choi Hyung-woo .190. His return to the heart of the order is expected to give the offense a meaningful lift, though his hamstring condition may limit him in the field. The player Samsung must be most wary of is Kim Do-young. He battered Samsung pitching in the regular season, hitting .306 with nine home runs, 20 RBIs and an OPS of 1.190. He also hit four home runs in seven road games at Daegu. In the semifinal playoff against LG, he homered three times and was named series MVP. Samsung had a 13-day break after the regular season ended, while KIA swept through the semifinal playoff in three games, giving them the dual advantage of staying sharp and conserving energy. How well Samsung's rested rotation can translate that physical freshness into performance will be another key factor. Ultimately, Samsung's fortunes in Game 1 hinge on how effectively Fedde neutralizes KIA's lineup. With gaps in the bullpen, the Lions will need Fedde to deliver a quality start and Ku to spark the offense if they are to seize the early momentum in the series.

Oct. 23, 2026

Park Seo-young returns at Road FC 079 after injury, surgery

Park faces Japan's Wada Serina at 49 kg on Nov. 1 at Jangchung Arena Park says she will 'completely dominate' her opponent in Korea-Japan matchup Park Seo-young, 23, is set to make her comeback after battling injury, surgery and a title-fight loss, taking on a Japanese prospect in her return to the cage. Park will face Japan's Wada Serina, 24, at a 49-kilogram contract weight at Road FC 079, scheduled for Nov. 1 at Jangchung Arena in Seoul. Park took up combat sports in high school and gained wider recognition through "Matjjang-ui Shin," a fighting talent show on SBS MediaNet. She went 2-5 in her first seven professional bouts before reeling off three consecutive wins to establish herself as a contender. She also claimed the title at Japan's Shootboxing Infinity League. A shoulder injury then forced her onto the operating table, requiring roughly a year of rehabilitation. Upon her return, she challenged Road FC atomweight champion Park Jeong-eun but lost by decision. In that fight, an elbow strike from Park Jeong-eun opened a cut above her left eyebrow, causing significant bleeding — yet she told the cage doctor and referee she wanted to continue and fought to the final bell, leaving a strong impression on fans. More recently, she has been serving as a training partner for Lee Bo-mi, a bronze medalist in MMA at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Her upcoming opponent, Wada, is a striker with a background in karate and taekwondo. She made her Road FC debut on Aug. 29, defeating Jeong Min-ji to introduce herself to Korean fans. "I was excited when I got the offer, knowing it would be a Korea-Japan matchup on home soil," Park said. "This time I want to completely overwhelm my opponent. I'll show everyone I can dominate with both striking and ground work." Park has also mapped out her path beyond the Wada fight: she wants to test her ground game against Hong Yun-ha, 37, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, before setting her sights on a title rematch with Park Jeong-eun. "After beating Wada convincingly and getting one more fight in, I want to challenge Park Jeong-eun again," she said. "In our first fight I showed some striking ability, but my ground game wasn't good enough. I want to prove myself against Hong as well and become a well-rounded fighter." Road FC 079 will be held in two sessions on the day of the event — the first beginning at 2 p.m. and the second at 5 p.m. The second session's main event will feature Artur Soloviev against Park Si-won at a 72-kilogram contract weight, with a 59-kilogram bout between Pyeon Ye-jun and Aerchuli also on the card.

Oct. 23, 2026

Chimaev vows to chase Strickland 'anywhere,' even up a weight class

Former UFC middleweight champion obsessed with avenging first career loss; offered Strickland $1 million to fight anywhere Hamzat Chimaev (32, UAE), the former UFC middleweight champion, has again declared his determination to secure a rematch with Sean Strickland (35, United States) — the man who handed him the first loss of his career — saying he will follow Strickland to a higher weight class if necessary. In an interview with MMA Fighting published Friday, Chimaev was asked what he would do if Strickland moved up to light heavyweight. "If he goes up to 205 pounds, I'll go up too," Chimaev said. "He can't run from me." He made clear he would move all the way to heavyweight if that is what it takes to make the rematch happen, regardless of which division Strickland competes in. The driving force behind Chimaev's fixation is revenge for the defeat he suffered at UFC 328 in May. Fighting as the reigning middleweight champion, Chimaev lost his title to Strickland by split decision — the first loss of his professional career after 15 consecutive victories since his MMA debut. Immediately after the fight, Chimaev had considered a weight-class change. According to UFC CEO Dana White, Chimaev said shortly after the loss that he no longer wanted to fight at middleweight and was interested in moving up to light heavyweight. He soon reversed course, however. Chimaev's camp told ESPN that he wanted only a rematch with Strickland and would not accept any other bout. His team even used the word "obsessed" to describe his desire for the rematch. On Oct. 5, Chimaev publicly challenged Strickland on social media, offering $1 million to fight him anywhere — inside or outside the UFC octagon. The offer was a personal one from Chimaev, however, and not an official purse negotiation sanctioned by the UFC. In the interview, Chimaev also made no secret of the financial motivation behind his push for a rematch. He said a fight with Strickland would command a large purse, emphasizing the bout's high commercial appeal. The two fighters trained together in the past, but their relationship soured over disputes during sparring sessions and a series of public exchanges. Ahead of UFC 328, the promotion deployed additional security personnel to prevent a physical confrontation between the two camps. Whether a rematch materializes remains uncertain. Nassourdine Imavov of France has been mentioned as a potential opponent for Strickland's first title defense, and Strickland is currently at odds with the UFC over his fight purse. Strickland has indicated he could vacate the championship belt and move up to light heavyweight to fulfill the remainder of his UFC contract if negotiations do not go smoothly. While avenging his first loss remains Chimaev's top priority, he has also said that if Strickland and Imavov fight, he would be open to facing whichever of the two comes out on top.

Oct. 23, 2026

Gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong wins four golds, MVP title as Gyeonggi Province tops National Sports Festival

Athletics' Ahn Young-hoon, cyclist Kwon Ji-seong each win five golds 60 national and meet records set or tied Gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong, 24, of Jecheon City Hall won four gold medals at the 107th National Sports Festival to be named the event's most valuable player, while Gyeonggi Province claimed the overall regional title. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said the seven-day festival concluded Thursday with a closing ceremony at Jeju World Cup Stadium. The competition drew about 30,000 athletes across 50 sports — 49 official and one exhibition. Yeo swept the women's open artistic gymnastics events, taking gold in the floor exercise, balance beam, vault and individual all-around. She also added a silver in the team all-around and a bronze on the uneven bars, finishing with six medals in total. No gymnastics athlete had won the festival's MVP award since Seong Ji-hye in 2012, making Yeo's selection the first in 14 years. She also claimed gold on the vault at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games earlier this year. Ahn Young-hoon, 22, of Inha University and cyclist Kwon Ji-seong, 18, of the Gangwon Province Cycling Federation each won five gold medals. Ahn swept the women's university division track events — the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400-meter relay, 1,600-meter relay and mixed 1,600-meter relay — becoming the first athlete in history to win five titles in track events at the festival. Kwon took gold in the men's under-18 4-kilometer team pursuit, omnium, 30-kilometer Madison, individual road race and team road race. The festival produced 60 records or ties in all — two unofficial world records, six national records, 18 national junior records, one national junior tie, 31 meet records and two meet ties. Among multi-event winners, two athletes won five golds, 11 won four, 48 won three and 162 won two. In the overall regional standings, Gyeonggi Province topped the table with 424 medals and a combined score of 67,273 points. North Gyeongsang Province finished second with 54,888 points, followed by Seoul with 54,186 points. The achievement award — given to the region showing the greatest improvement over the previous festival — went to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Jeolla Province and South Chungcheong Province, in that order. In the under-18 division standings, Gyeonggi Province ranked first, Seoul second and North Gyeongsang Province third. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said it reviewed 7,049 competition results during the festival and introduced a new digital scoreboard system to improve record-keeping accuracy. The opening and closing ceremonies also marked the first time the National Sports Festival used NFT digital tickets. Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min said in his closing remarks that he hoped "the experiences gained at the National Sports Festival will carry over to sports communities across each region, driving the development of local sports and strengthening the foundation of Korean athletics." The National Sports Festival flag was handed over to Gyeonggi Province, which will host the next edition. The 108th National Sports Festival is scheduled to run across Gyeonggi Province from Oct. 8 to Oct. 14, 2027.

Oct. 23, 2026

Cho Jae-ho, Sanchez, Choi Sung-won among upsets in PBA round of 64

Defending champion Nguyen, Kim Jun-tae also eliminated Martinez, Kang Dong-gung, Zapata advance Several top contenders suffered early exits in the Professional Billiards Association tour on Thursday. Cho Jae-ho, Daniel Sanchez of Spain, Choi Sung-won and Kim Jun-tae were all eliminated in the round of 64 of the men's PBA division at the 2026-2027 season's fifth tour event — the Jal Saneun Bangbeop ZGM NH NongHyup Card PBA-LPBA Championship — held at the Kintex PBA Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The upset-heavy trend from the fourth tour's round of 64 carried over into this event. Cho lost to Kim Nam-su by a set score of 1-3. He dropped the first set 7-15, leveled the match by taking the second 15-6, but fell in the third and fourth sets 9-15 and 4-15, respectively. Sanchez was swept 0-3 by fellow Spaniard Antonio Montes, who posted an average of 2.045 to overwhelm Sanchez, who managed only 0.900. Choi fell to Oh Tae-jun and Kim Jun-tae lost to Ton Viet Hoang Minh of Vietnam, both in tiebreakers. Nguyen Quoc Nguyen of Vietnam, winner of the previous fourth tour event, also bowed out in the round of 64, losing 1-3 to Kim Kwan-woo. Kang Dong-gung advanced to the round of 32 with a 3-1 win over Yoo Chang-sun. Kim Young-won swept Park Heung-sik 3-0, and David Martinez of Spain defeated Bang Jeong-geuk 3-1. Lee Chung-bok, Jo Geon-hwi, David Zapata of Spain and Murat Naci Coklu of Turkey also moved through to the round of 32. In the women's LPBA round of 16, held the same day, Kim Ga-young defeated Han Ji-eun 3-2 in sets to reach the quarterfinals. Kim scored a perfect cue — clearing all points in a set within a single inning — in the first set, then traded sets with Han before closing out the fifth set 9-0. Park Jeong-hyeon, Lee Mi-rae, Kim Bo-mi, Kang Yu-jin, Lee Seon-yeong and Lee Ma-ri also advanced to the LPBA quarterfinals. Jung Su-bin, who claimed her first career title at the previous event, suffered a comeback defeat, losing 2-3 to Im Jeong-suk.

Oct. 23, 2026

MAX FC to crown first Korea Series champions in 3 weight classes

First League 46 set for Saturday 810 fighters competed in 405 bouts over past year Domestic stand-up fighting organization MAX FC will hold the inaugural Korea Series championship bouts at MAX FC First League 46 in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Saturday. Three inaugural champions will be decided across the men's 65-kilogram and 70-kilogram classes and the women's 56-kilogram class. Ranking bouts, amateur league matches and open league bouts will also be on the card. In the men's 65 kg title fight, Kim Geon-ho (19, Cheongbuk Tuhon Jeongsimgwan) meets Min Gyeong-seong (17, Yeoju Jeongjin Gymnasium). The men's 70 kg bout features Kang Seong-mo (17, Namyangju Jeongjin Wild) against Song Geon-u (20, Jeju Fight and Fitness), while Kim Hwi-jin (29, Suwon Homaesil Taikhon) and Heo Ju-gyeong (23, Wonju Team J) will contest the women's 56 kg title. The Korea Series is a newly established championship that MAX FC created to give amateur fighters concrete goals and competitive opportunities. MAX FC introduced the open league in July last year to expand competitive opportunities for Muay Thai and kickboxing practitioners. The format was designed to ease the pressure of winning and losing, allowing recreational trainees to gain real match experience. In the year since the open league launched, 405 bouts were held across 11 events, with 810 fighters competing in total — 136 open league bouts, 212 amateur league bouts and 57 First League bouts. Building on that foundation, MAX FC established the Korea Series to give amateur fighters the chance to compete not just for experience but for a championship title. "This is a stage that brings together everyone from first-time stand-up fighting practitioners to amateur athletes challenging for a championship title," MAX FC President Lee Yong-bok said. "We expect it to be an opportunity to further expand the league structure that MAX FC has built."

Oct. 23, 2026

Nippon Shaft sponsors DB Insurance Young Guns Match Play

Tournament runs Monday through Friday at Rainbow Hills Country Club in North Chungcheong Province Golf shaft specialist Nippon Shaft will sponsor the 11th DB Insurance Young Guns Match Play, a domestic tournament aimed at developing promising young male golfers in South Korea. The amateur men's event runs Monday through Friday at Rainbow Hills Country Club in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, with DB Insurance as the host and the KPGA as the organizer. Nippon Shaft manufactures steel and carbon golf shafts and is best known for its N.S.PRO brand. The format opens with a two-day, 36-hole stroke play qualifying round, after which the top 32 players advance to a three-day match play tournament to determine the champion. Nippon Shaft will award the winner shafts valued at 1 million won ($754), with second- through fourth-place finishers each receiving shafts worth 500,000 won and fifth- through eighth-place finishers each receiving shafts worth 300,000 won. Any player who records a hole-in-one will receive shafts valued at 2 million won, and all main-round participants will receive commemorative gifts including ball markers and golf tees. The total sponsorship package is valued at around 10 million won. The field is expected to include national team member Kang Seung-gu and other members of the national team reserve squad, along with other top domestic prospects. The winner and top finishers will earn entry into the 2027 KPGA Tour's DB Insurance Promi Open, giving them a chance to compete on the professional circuit. "We are delighted to sponsor a tournament where young players who will lead the future of Korean golf can showcase their skills and grow," a Nippon Shaft official said. "We will continue to support players in improving their performance and developing the next generation of golf talent."

Oct. 23, 2026

Noh Seung-yul opens Bermuda Championship in tie for 30th

Seven birdies, three bogeys for 4-under 67; five strokes off the lead Noh Seung-yul opened the Butterfield Bermuda Championship — a PGA Tour event with a $6 million purse — in a tie for 30th place Friday. Playing at Port Royal Golf Course (par 71) in Southampton, Bermuda, Noh carded seven birdies and three bogeys for a 4-under-par 67 in the first round. He sits five strokes behind solo leader Chandler Blanchet of the United States, who fired a 9-under 62. Noh entered the week ranked 189th in the FedEx Cup standings, looking to secure his PGA Tour card for next year through the fall series. His projected ranking after the opening round rose five spots to 184th. To lock up a full card for the 2027 season, he must climb inside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings by the end of the fall series, meaning he needs to keep improving his position over the remaining rounds. Noh was 3 under through 15 holes before finding a greenside bunker off the tee at the par-3 16th for a bogey. He recovered with back-to-back birdies at the par-5 17th and par-4 18th to finish at 4 under. Solo leader Blanchet posted two eagles, six birdies and one bogey for his 9-under 62. Corey Conners and Ben Silverman, both of Canada, were among a group one stroke back at 8-under 63, sharing second place. The Bermuda Championship is part of the PGA Tour's fall series, where players compete to secure their tour cards for the following season. None of the 120 players in the field ranked inside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings.

Oct. 23, 2026

Combat sports press on with Saudi events as tennis, golf pull out

US orders diplomatic staff evacuation after airport attacks Tennis, golf events postponed while boxing, UFC, WWE hold firm Combat sports scheduled through October–December International sports events in Saudi Arabia are being postponed or canceled over safety concerns stemming from armed conflict in the region. Combat sports — boxing, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling — are bucking that trend, pressing ahead with their scheduled events even as the US government has ordered the evacuation of diplomatic personnel. The Department of State on Thursday ordered non-essential government staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. The move came after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked civilian airports and key infrastructure, causing casualties and disrupting flight operations. King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh was struck Oct. 10 in an attack that killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300. Subsequent attacks halted airport operations entirely; some flights have since resumed, but disruptions continue. Despite the turmoil, the World Boxing Council super middleweight title fight between boxing star Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, 36, of Mexico, and Christian Mbilli, 31, of Canada, is set to proceed as scheduled in Riyadh on Oct. 31. Turki Al-Asheikh, who leads Saudi Arabia's sports and entertainment ventures, said Canelo intends to go ahead with the bout. But promoter Oscar De La Hoya, 53, of the United States, urged organizers to cancel or relocate the event. Trainer Robert Garcia also raised concerns, questioning whether the safety of fighters and their teams could be guaranteed when airports were coming under attack. WWE is also holding firm on its Crown Jewel event, set for Nov. 7 in Riyadh. Some staff members are said to be uneasy about traveling to the country, but the promotion is continuing preparations in cooperation with a professional security firm. UFC likewise plans to proceed with UFC Fight Night in Riyadh on Dec. 5. Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and Russia's Sharabutdin Magomedov are expected to headline the card, though UFC has yet to make an official announcement on the matchup. UFC CEO Dana White said he has no plans to change the organization's Middle East schedule. Zuffa Boxing, TKO's boxing promotion, is also set to hold a separate event in Riyadh on Nov. 14. Other sports have taken a different approach. The Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition, which had been scheduled for Riyadh this month, was pushed back to late December. The Asian Tour's Saudi International golf tournament, originally set for Nov. 18–21, was postponed indefinitely. The UCI Urban Cycling World Championships, planned for early November, was canceled outright. FIFA also postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026, which had been set for Jeddah. Even the Future Investment Initiative, a major investment conference that Saudi Arabia regards as a national priority, scrapped its plans for later this month and pushed the event to next year. The combat sports industry's close financial ties with Saudi Arabia appear to be driving its resolve to press ahead. UFC and WWE both operate under TKO Group, a US sports and entertainment conglomerate, which also runs Zuffa Boxing with Saudi capital involvement. Relocating events would also carry a steep financial cost. Investment bank Guggenheim estimated Tuesday that if all three Middle East events — WWE Crown Jewel, UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and a UFC Fight Night in Doha, Qatar — were moved to other regions, TKO's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization could fall by $70 million to $90 million. Guggenheim also cut its price target for TKO shares from $235 to $228, citing uncertainty in the Middle East. In a column published Friday, Ben Fowlkes of the combat sports outlet Uncrowd asked why sports events needed to be held in a region at risk of armed conflict when the US had gone so far as to pull its diplomatic staff. He said organizers would face fierce criticism if something went wrong.

Oct. 23, 2026

Soccer commentator urges players named in national team discord row to speak out

Soccer commentator Park Moon-sung urged the players at the center of an alleged conflict within the national team to come forward publicly and resolve the situation themselves. Park expressed concerns Thursday in a video posted to his YouTube channel "Dalsune Live" about allegations of internal discord within the national team and the controversy over the mention of a "No. 7 player" that emerged during a recent national audit. "Is this really something that should be dealt with at a national audit?" Park said. "I'm not criticizing the audit itself, but hasn't this just been stoking the fire?" "What has actually improved now that it's being raised at the national audit?" he said. "Isn't it strange that things that should have stayed inside keep leaking out and getting aired like this?" Park also said reports of Kim Min-jae apologizing in a group chat had been leaked. "What is the point of constantly exposing relationship problems?" he said. "I'm not curious about the fact that they don't get along." "It has appeared at the national audit and is being reported on," Park said. "I think a line has already been crossed, and resolving this internally no longer seems possible." Park urged that the matter be brought to a close one way or another. "The players who were named need to wrap this up — by publicly stating their positions," he said, adding that they should "speak up directly, without letting things keep leaking out."

Oct. 23, 2026

Shin Sang-hoon sits 1 shot off lead after opening round of Genesis Championship

Shin Sang-hoon sits in sole second place, one shot off the lead, after the opening round of the Genesis Championship, a co-sanctioned event between the KPGA Tour and the DP World Tour. Shin carded six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under-par 66 Thursday at Woojeong Hills Country Club (par 71) in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, finishing one stroke behind leader Casey Jarvis of South Africa. Shin returned to competitive play this season after completing his mandatory military service, won the KPGA Tour's Golfzon Open in a playoff over Jeong Chan-min and currently leads the Genesis Points standings. He opened with a bunker shot to tap-in range for a birdie on the par-4 first hole, then bounced back from a bogey on the fourth with a birdie on the fifth. On the par-4 ninth, he holed a 30-meter chip-in birdie, then drained consecutive birdie putts of 6 meters and 4.8 meters on the 11th and 12th holes. He closed on the par-5 18th, sticking an approach to within 80 centimeters of the pin for a tap-in birdie. "I generally like difficult courses, and Woojeong Hills is definitely tough," Shin said after his round. "The greens have subtle breaks and the course management is demanding — one mistake anywhere from the tee shot to the putt and you're looking at a bogey. Today my short game held up and the putter was working, so everything came together." Jarvis, who won the Magical Kenya Open and the Investec South African Open on the DP World Tour this season, leads by one shot after firing a 6-under-par 65, with seven birdies and one bogey. Kim Si-woo, the highest-ranked player in the field at world No. 14, is tied for third after a 4-under-par 67. He made five birdies against one bogey and said the pin positions tested him early. "There were more tricky pin positions than I expected early on, which made it hard to attack directly," Kim said. "There were a lot of difficult holes and I got a bit anxious and tense after making a bogey, but I kept trying to stick to my game. I gradually got a feel for the turf and the greens and started to find my rhythm in the back nine." Ryan Fox of New Zealand, who won The Open Championship this season, is tied for eighth at 3-under-par 68. Starting from the 10th hole, Fox traded birdies and bogeys on his front nine to finish even par through that stretch, then birdied three of his final four holes to close strongly. Im Sung-jae, who finished runner-up at last week's Asian Tour Macao Open, is tied for 33rd after an even-par round of two birdies and two bogeys, alongside Moon Do-yeop, Lee Su-min and Choi Seung-bin. "Woojeong Hills is a tough course with a lot of tricky spots, so it's important to stay out of trouble and avoid mistakes," Im said. "My tee shots were decent today, but I was disappointed with my scrambling in the back nine. Starting tomorrow, I'll focus on that and try not to drop any more shots." Defending champion Lee Jeong-hwan is tied for 53rd after a 1-over-par 72. Wang Jeong-hun, winner of the Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational, managed only a 3-over-par 74, leaving him tied for 87th alongside Lee Kyung-hoon. Long hitter Jeong Chan-min, who won the Charity Classic last week, carded a 4-over-par 75 to sit tied for 100th and faces the danger of missing the cut.

Oct. 22, 2026

Ryu Hae-ran saves home-course honor with bogey-free 67 at BMW Ladies Championship

Ryu Hae-ran opened the BMW Ladies Championship — the only LPGA Tour event held in South Korea — with a bogey-free round to sit one stroke off the lead in a tie for third place. Playing at Pine Beach Golf Links (par 72) in Haenam, South Jeolla Province on Thursday, Ryu carded five birdies without a bogey for a 5-under-par 67, joining Lauren Coughlin, Lucy Li (both United States) and Julia Lopez Ramirez (Spain) in a share of third. She trails co-leaders Caris Davidson (Australia) and Yoshida Yuri (Japan), who each shot 6-under 66, by one stroke. Ryu, who hails from Yeongam — a town near the tournament venue in Haenam — played a flawless opening round to the delight of local fans and posted the best score among South Korean players. "My father is from near the course, so a lot of people from South Jeolla Province came out to cheer," she said. "I'll keep giving my best over the remaining three days, so please keep cheering me on." Ryu opened her scoring with a birdie on the par-5 second hole, then added back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth to turn at 3 under. She kept her focus on the back nine, making consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. She closed out the tricky 17th and 18th with pars. Ryu missed only one of 14 fairways with her driver and hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation, a testament to her ball-striking accuracy. Her average driving distance was 252.0 yards and she used 32 putts. On the LPGA Tour this season, Ryu leads the field in greens in regulation (79.04 percent), greens in regulation from the fairway (86.55 percent) and strokes gained: approach (1.50 per round). She also ranks third in total strokes gained (2.24) and third in strokes gained: off the tee (0.91). "The wind was stronger than I expected, so I was a bit worried, but all the practice I put in on Wednesday was a big help during Thursday's round," Ryu said. "I was a little disappointed with how I managed the final hole, but I'll take it as a reminder to work even harder and go into Friday's round with a calm head." Ryu has been one of the standout players on tour this year, winning two majors. She claimed her first major title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June, then added a second at the Amundi Evian Championship. Two weeks ago, she also captured her first KLPGA Tour major at the Hite Jinro Championship. Kim Hyo-joo carded a 3-under 69 — five birdies against two bogeys — to begin the week in a tie for eighth alongside Yang Hee-young, Kim Min-joo, Kim Min-sun 7, Noh Ye-rim, Jennifer Kupcho (United States) and Lottie Woad (England). Park Min-ji, Kim Min-sol and Yoo Hyun-jo each shot 2-under 70 to share 18th place with Jeon Ji-won, Hataoka Nasa (Japan), Maja Stark (Sweden) and Angel Yin (United States). Choi Hye-jin, who finished runner-up at last week's Buick LPGA Shanghai, opened with a 1-under 71 to sit in a tie for 29th alongside Choi Ye-rim, Shin Ji-eun, Kim A-rim, Park Bo-kyum and Iwai Aki (Japan). Defending champion Kim Sei-young made three consecutive bogeys on the first through third holes but recovered with three birdies over the remaining holes to card an even-par 72, leaving her in a tie for 40th with Yoon I-na, Jeon In-ji, Seo Gyo-rim, Lee Da-yeon and Lee Ye-won.

Oct. 22, 2026

Shin Sang-hoon sits one back in second after Genesis Championship opening round

Shin cards 5-under 66; Kim Si-woo in joint third at 4-under Jarvis leads outright; Fox tied eighth Shin Sang-hoon, the KPGA Tour's top-ranked player in Genesis points, moved into sole second place after the opening round of the Genesis Championship on Thursday, putting himself in contention for a third victory of the season. Shin carded six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under-par 66 at Woojeong Hills Country Club (par 71, 7,367 yards) in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, at the co-sanctioned KPGA Tour and DP World Tour event with a $4 million purse. He sits one stroke behind sole leader Casey Jarvis of South Africa, who fired a 6-under 65. Shin has won twice on the KPGA Tour this season and ranks third on the money list. He also finished runner-up at the Charity Classic on Sunday, falling one shot short of Jeong Chan-min. Shin's round got off to a promising start at the par-4 first hole, where he found a greenside bunker with his approach but converted the bunker shot for birdie. He made bogey at the par-3 fourth before bouncing back with a birdie at the par-5 fifth, then holed a chip-in birdie from about 29 meters at the par-4 ninth to turn at 2-under. On the back nine, Shin drained consecutive birdie putts of about six meters at the par-4 11th and about 4.8 meters at the par-4 12th. He parred holes 13 through 17 before closing with a birdie at the par-5 18th, where he stuck an approach from the rough beside the green to within about 80 centimeters of the cup. PGA Tour player Kim Si-woo, 31, posted five birdies and one bogey for a 4-under 67, joining Antoine Rozner of France, Frederic Lacroix of France, Mikael Lindberg of Sweden and Niklas Lemke of Sweden in a tie for third. Kim opened with a bogey at the par-4 first but recovered with a birdie at the par-5 fifth. He then poured in four birdies on the back nine, including one at the par-5 18th, to pull within two shots of the lead. Sole leader Jarvis made seven birdies against one bogey, going out in 3-under and adding three more on the back nine to claim the top spot on the leaderboard after day one. Ryan Fox of New Zealand, who won The Open Championship this season, carded five birdies and two bogeys for a 3-under 68 to sit in a tie for eighth. Im Sung-jae, 28, who played alongside Fox, finished at even-par 71 with two birdies and two bogeys, tied for 33rd. Im, the 2019 champion, said the feel of his shots and putting was good early on but his distance control deserted him on the back nine and he was frustrated to miss par-saving opportunities. "From tomorrow I'll focus on cutting out the mistakes," he added. Among Korean players, Lee Dae-han and Lee Sang-yeop both shot 2-under 69 to share 12th place. Defending champion Lee Jeong-hwan carded a 1-over 72 to sit tied for 53rd. The Genesis Championship, marking its 10th anniversary this year, runs through Sunday. The winner will receive $680,000 and two-year playing rights on both the KPGA Tour and the DP World Tour.

Oct. 22, 2026

Kang Jun-i wins silver in skateboard street at 2026 World Skate Games in Asuncion

South Korea's national roller sports team demonstrated the country's competitive standing at the 2026 World Skate Games (WSG ASU26), held in Asuncion, Paraguay. The team won three medals in total — one silver and two bronze — at the competition, which ran from Oct. 2 to Oct. 18, the Korea Roller Sports Federation said Thursday. Athletes delivered results across skateboard, inline freestyle and speed disciplines, while the inline hockey and artistic teams also posted notable performances. Kang Jun-i, a third-year student at Yeongdeungpo High School in Seoul, claimed the silver medal in men's street skateboarding with a final score of 179.32 points. He finished just 2.94 points behind gold medalist Onodera Kinu of Japan, showcasing the growing potential of Korean skateboarding on the world stage. The street event takes place on a course modeled after urban structures such as stairs and handrails, with skaters judged on the difficulty and execution of their tricks. Kang, who had already established himself as a world-class competitor by winning gold at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, again confirmed his place among the global elite with a technically polished performance. In inline freestyle, the South Korean team earned a bronze medal in team speed slalom — an event in which competitors weave through evenly spaced cones as quickly and precisely as possible, demanding explosive acceleration, balance and technical precision. The team finished third against top competitors from around the world, a result that reflected the payoff of consistent training and international experience and underscored the growing global competitiveness of Korean inline freestyle. In speed skating, Jeon Ye-seul, a third-year student at Jecheon Girls' Middle School in North Chungcheong Province, added a bronze medal in the junior women's points 5,000 meters. The P5,000m event requires athletes to complete a 5,000-meter race while accumulating points at designated intervals, testing not only endurance and speed but also tactical race management. Jeon finished third against top junior competitors from around the world, highlighting the upward trajectory of South Korea's junior speed discipline. Her performance carries added significance for the development of next-generation athletes and the expansion of their international competition experience. Beyond the medals, one of the most celebrated achievements of the tournament was the men's junior inline hockey team recording its first-ever two wins at a single world championship. The squad defeated India and Mexico to finish 12th overall — the first time South Korea's men's junior inline hockey program has won twice in a single world championship event. Korean athletes also performed well in the artistic discipline. In senior women's inline freeskating, Gam Yun-gyeong of Seoul's Luminous club placed eighth and Jeon Ji-su, a first-year student at Korea National Sport University in Seoul, placed ninth — both finishing inside the world's top 10. In the junior women's category, Park Ju-eun, a second-year student at Sau High School in Gyeonggi Province, placed ninth, and Jo Ye-eun, a second-year student at Hallym Arts High School in Seoul, placed 12th. Korea Roller Sports Federation President Kim Gyeong-seok praised the athletes for their passion and competitive spirit at a tournament that drew the world's best. "The medals won in skateboard, inline freestyle and speed are the hard-earned fruits of the dedication shown by our athletes and coaches," he said. He added that the men's junior inline hockey team's first-ever two wins at a single world championship, along with the strong showings by the artistic athletes on the world stage, were meaningful results that demonstrated the potential of Korean roller sports. "We will continue to identify talented athletes, develop them systematically, raise the performance level of our national teams, and provide the support our athletes need to compete on the world stage in better conditions," he said.

Oct. 22, 2026

Ryu Hae-ran one stroke off lead after opening round of BMW Ladies Championship

Five birdies, no bogeys for 5-under 67 in round 1 'Will calculate wind better, fix missed putts in remaining rounds' Kim Hyo-joo, Yang Hee-young, Kim Min-sun7 tied for 8th Ryu Hae-ran opened her bid for a third LPGA Tour victory this season by finishing tied for third after the first round of the BMW Ladies Championship, held on home soil Thursday. Playing at Pine Beach Golf Links (par 72) in Haenam-gun, South Jeolla Province, Ryu carded five birdies against no bogeys for a 5-under 67. She sits one stroke behind co-leaders Caris Davidson of Australia and Yuriko Yoshida of Japan, who each shot 6-under 66. Ryu has already claimed two LPGA Tour major titles this season and added a KLPGA Tour major — the Hite Jinro Championship — earlier this month. She is now chasing a third LPGA Tour win of the year and is considered a leading contender for the Vare Trophy, awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average on tour. Ryu opened her scoring with a birdie on the par-5 second hole, then converted a chip-in from more than 15 meters on the par-4 fifth after missing the green. She added another birdie on the par-5 sixth to finish the front nine 3 under. On the back nine, she birdied the par-3 15th and holed a putt of more than 10 meters on the par-4 16th for back-to-back birdies. A short birdie putt slipped by on the par-5 17th, leaving her with a touch of regret. After her round, Ryu said the wind was stronger than she had expected but that her practice session Wednesday had paid off. "After making three birdies and holding par for five or six holes without a bogey, those back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16 felt like a gift," she said. "When I made those two birdies at the crucial stretch, I felt like I was on top of the world." Looking ahead to the remaining rounds, she said weather would be the biggest variable on the course. "I'll calculate the wind more precisely and make up for the putts I missed today," she said. On the Vare Trophy race, Ryu said she was not thinking about it for now. "I'm just focusing on my game. I'll leave the award to fate and do my best with what I'm given." LPGA Tour players Kim Hyo-joo and Yang Hee-young, along with KLPGA Tour players Kim Min-sun7 and Kim Min-ju, all shot 3-under 69 to finish tied for eighth. Kim Min-sun7 has two wins on the KLPGA Tour this season. Park Min-ji, Kim Min-sol, Yoo Hyun-jo and Jeon Ji-won carded 2-under 70 to share 18th place. Co-leader Davidson said her irons and hybrid shots were close to perfect on the day. "There was a shot that nearly went in for a hole-in-one, and I hit it close to the pin several times," she said. "The wind was blowing and the pace of play was slow, but I kept my patience. I'll carry that patience and good iron play into the remaining rounds."

Oct. 22, 2026

Volk eyes record 9th featherweight title win at UFC 333

Australian champion seeks to surpass Aldo on Sunday; Yan-Dvalishvili rubber match also on card UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (38, Australia) will bid for the record for most featherweight title fight victories when he faces undefeated contender Movsar Evloev (32, Russia), who holds a perfect 20-0 professional record. Volkanovski makes his second featherweight title defense in the main event of UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Sunday (Korean Standard Time). Carrying a career record of 28 wins and four losses, Volkanovski has gone 8-0 in UFC featherweight title fights. He successfully defended the belt five times during his first reign and added one more defense after reclaiming the championship. A victory Sunday would give him nine title-fight wins at featherweight, surpassing Jose Aldo's all-time record. Evloev has won every fight of his professional career. He was a bantamweight champion in the Russian MMA organization M-1 and went on a 10-fight winning streak in the UFC after his debut against Choi Seung-woo in 2019. A Greco-Roman wrestling specialist, he averages 4.8 successful takedowns per 15 minutes. Volkanovski shrugged off concerns about age-related decline. "Every time I walk into the octagon, people wonder if I've lost a step," he said. "When the fight is over, the headline will be, 'How is he performing like this at 38?'" He added that his stylistic advantages give him an edge. "There's a reason people say I match up well against wrestlers," he said. "Evloev will create problems, but I'm more than capable of solving them." Evloev pushed back. "Volkanovski is still dangerous — you could even say he's in his prime," he said. "But he has never faced someone who pressures him the way I do. We'll find out whose conditioning is better when we get in there." The co-main event brings a third meeting between bantamweight champion Petr Yan (33, Russia) and former champion Merab Dvalishvili (35, Georgia). The two fighters split their first two bouts. Dvalishvili won a unanimous decision in their first encounter in 2023, but Yan claimed the championship belt with a decision victory at UFC 323 in December last year. Dvalishvili, who holds a career record of 21 wins and five losses, returns after roughly 10 months away. "There won't be a repeat of last time, when I was back in two months," he said. "I've rested properly and found my calm. This time I won't be fixated on takedowns — I'll show a different side of myself." Yan, at 20-5, is determined to replicate his second-fight performance. In that bout he stuffed 27 of Dvalishvili's 29 takedown attempts, dominating the wrestling exchanges. "Two fights have given me plenty of information on my opponent," Yan said. "I'll put everything into winning just as decisively as last time." The UFC 333 undercard begins at 1 a.m. Sunday, with the main card starting at 3 a.m., both broadcast exclusively on Tving.

Oct. 22, 2026

Jockey Seo Seung-un becomes fifth in Korean racing history to reach 1,000 wins

Second Busan-Gyeongnam jockey to reach milestone... career win rate of 17.9% 103 wins this year, personal single-season record within reach Jockey Seo Seung-un (37), who competes at Korea Racing Authority's Lets Run Park Busan Gyeongnam, reached 1,000 career wins Friday — 15 years after his debut. Seo crossed the finish line first aboard Geum-a Adept in the ninth race at Lets Run Park Busan Gyeongnam on Friday, claiming his 1,000th victory since turning professional in 2011. The milestone makes him the fifth jockey in Korean racing history to reach the mark, and the second based primarily at the Busan Gyeongnam track, after retired jockey Yoo Hyun-myeong. Seo has entered 5,607 races in his career, recording 1,002 wins, 798 second-place finishes and 726 third-place finishes. His career win rate stands at 17.9%, with a place rate of 32.1% and a show rate of 45.1%. He posted a double-digit win rate in his very first season and has never fallen below 10% in any season since. From 2023 onward, he has maintained a win rate of around 20% each year, cementing his status as one of the leading jockeys at Busan Gyeongnam. This year, Seo has recorded 103 wins from 513 races for a win rate of 20.1%, a place rate of 35.4% and a show rate of 49.5%. He has maintained consistent results even after the introduction of an integrated jockey system in June required him to ride at both Seoul and Busan Gyeongnam. Named the best jockey at Busan Gyeongnam for four consecutive years since 2022, Seo is also closing in on his personal single-season record of 106 wins. He has also excelled in graded stakes races, leading all active jockeys with 39 such victories. Particularly notable was his partnership with the celebrated horse Winner's Man, with whom he combined for nine graded stakes wins, including the President's Cup (G1), the Korea Cup (G1) and the Grand Prix (G1). "I am grateful to the owners, trainers and stable hands who gave me the opportunity to ride, and to the racing fans who have shown their support over so many years," Seo said. "Because we are working with living animals, there are many variables, so I try to study hard before every single race," he added. "I will keep building on my wins one race at a time, approaching it as if I am starting all over again from scratch."

Oct. 22, 2026

Garcia claims deal with Mayweather, WBC approval still pending

'Official title fight,' video call posted publicly WBC president earlier offered conditional support WBC welterweight world champion Ryan Garcia (28, United States) has claimed he reached an agreement to fight legendary undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather (49, United States), raising the question of whether a bout pitting Mayweather's 50-0 record against Garcia's world title will actually take place. Garcia posted a screenshot of a video call with Mayweather on his social media Thursday (Korean Standard Time), announcing the agreement. "I just got off the phone with Mayweather. He wants an official fight at 147 pounds (about 66.7 kilograms). We both agreed. Let's fight!" he said. He also posted on X, formerly Twitter: "At first I thought it was crazy, but it's real. Floyd and I have agreed to fight. It's a WBC welterweight world title fight at 147 pounds. Fifty and zero versus the current champion." Garcia had insisted from the moment negotiations with Mayweather's camp became known that the bout must be an official professional fight, not an exhibition. His position is that Mayweather's 50-0 record — intact since his retirement in 2017 — must be on the line. The WBC has also left the door open. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said in a recent interview with HardRockBet that he could support a title fight if Mayweather passes a medical examination and receives a license from the boxing commission in the jurisdiction where the bout is held. That, however, is a conditional stance, and the WBC has not officially sanctioned the fight. Mayweather's camp has also not publicly confirmed the agreement Garcia claims to have reached. No date, venue or contract terms have been announced. Mayweather won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics before going on to claim world titles in five weight classes as a professional. He retired in August 2017 after stopping MMA star Conor McGregor by TKO in the 10th round, finishing his career at 50-0 (27 knockouts). He has since competed only in exhibition bouts. If the fight is sanctioned as an official professional contest, it would mark Mayweather's return to competitive boxing for the first time in roughly nine years. He turns 50 in February next year. Garcia claimed the WBC welterweight title in February this year with a decision victory over Mario Barrios of the United States, then made his first successful defense in September with a knockout of Conor Benn of Britain. Garcia's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, had previously said he was willing to pursue a fight with Mayweather, provided it was an official professional bout rather than an exhibition.

Oct. 22, 2026