Japanese fans erupted with joy yesterday as the Samurais beat the US 9-4 to advance to the World Baseball Classic final.
Japan, which defeated Cuba to win the inaugural classic three years ago, were due to face their arch-rivals from South Korea, the reigning Olympic champions, yesterday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso led the expressions of praise and goodwill for Team Samurai in baseball-obsessed Japan: telling reporters: “You got to keep up the momentum to win the title for two straight times. I hope they will.”
In its evening edition, the business daily Nikkei wrote: “The United States staked their pride on being the ‘controlling nation’ of baseball. But Japan magnificently countered and repelled them with technique.”
“With the belief that their style has proven right, Japan will face the ‘final’ showdown with South Korea,” it wrote.
Japan’s world figure skating champion Mao Asada said she had been inspired by her country’s run to the Classic final against the homeland of her rival Kim Yu-na.
“I have been cheering for Japan every day. I have drawn so much power from them,” she told reporters before leaving Osaka to defend her title at this week’s world championships also to be held in Los Angeles.
“I want them to win and I will do my best as well,” she said.
Tomoaki Kato, a 32-year-old company worker, told the mass-circulation Yomiuri Shimbun: “I felt the power of [US] major leaguers was awesome. But Japan’s skill prevailed.”
“I really enjoyed it. I was excited,” Japanese golfer Shigeki Maruyama, 39, who has three US PGA Tour wins to his name, told TBS after watching the game.
“I want them to show the Japanese spirit tomorrow,” he said.
Earlier, top government spokesman Takeo Kawamura took time out from his daily briefing to comment on the game.
“I believe it will be a game in which nothing can be taken for granted,” he said about the final. “But I want to pin great hope on the squad.”
The two countries had split four earlier games in the 16-nation event. Japan is the only team to have defeated South Korea in the tournament.
Famous Japanese Kabuki actor Kanzaburo Nakamura, 53, said: “My voice got so hoarse after shouting too much. Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day.”
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
RSS