Baseball: No settlement reached between Brewers and Ohka
January 17, 2006The Milwaukee Brewers swapped salary figures with starting pitcher Tomokazu Ohka on Tuesday but were unable to reach a settlement, baseball sources said. Right-hander Ohka, who made $2.75 million in 2005, wants a raise to $5.2 million in arbitration while the Brewers' offer came in at $4.25 million, a gap of $950,000.
Soccer: JFA in talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina for March 1 friendly
January 17, 2006The Japan Football Association is close to a deal with its counterpart of Bosnia-Herzegovina on a friendly match between the two countries on March 1, JFA President Saburo Kawabuchi said Tuesday. The two soccer associations will likely reach an agreement as early as Wednesday on the friendly, which is being hastily arranged after the Asian Cup qualifier between Japan and Saudi Arabia scheduled for that day was postponed to Sept. 1.
Sumo: Asashoryu moves into share of lead at New Year sumo
January 17, 2006Normal service was resumed at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday as grand champion Asashoryu defeated Kotomitsuki to grab a share of the lead heading into the final stretch of the 15-day meet in Tokyo. Asashoryu's win moved him into a strong position for a record eighth straight Emperor's Cup, joining ozeki Tochiazuma and dark horse Hokutoriki in a three-way tie at 9-1 as the race for the championship heats up.
Tennis: Asagoe into 2nd round at Australian Open
January 17, 2006Japan's Shinobu Asagoe recovered from a set down to beat Israel's Shahar Peer to advance to the second round of the women's singles at the Australian Open on Tuesday. Asagoe struggled to hold on to her rhythm and dropped the first set but turned a corner when she broke Peer in the first game of the second set before going on to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.