Toyota hopeful of hosting 2007 F1 race in Shizuoka
February 1, 2006Toyota Motor Corp. President Katsuaki Watanabe indicated Wednesday that the carmaker is hopeful of hosting the 2007 Formula One World Championship Race at its Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture. ''I have heard of good prospects,'' Watanabe said in an interview with Kyodo News, noting that the final decision is up to Formula One's governing body, the FIA.
Tennis: Hingis rumbles over Cho at Toray Pan Pacific Open
February 1, 2006Former world No. 1 Martina Hingis mowed down South Korean Cho Yoon Jeong 6-0, 6-0 Wednesday to reach the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open. On a day when all of the seeded players won their matches and host Japan saw its last three players bow out, Hingis, who recently came out of retirement, showed no signs of rust at the Tokyo meet.
Gold medal hope Kato leaves for Turin
February 1, 2006Speed skater Joji Kato, a gold medal favorite in the men's 500 meters, left Japan for Italy for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games with renewed confidence Wednesday. ''I'm in good shape and I've come back to form, skating-wise,'' said Kato, the 500-meter world record holder whose lackluster performance at last month's world sprint championships prompted concerns about his form ahead of the Turin Olympics.