Olympics: Kobayashi 16th as Japan slumped in Nordic combined
February 11, 2006Norihito Kobayashi gained ground with a strong cross country run and finished 16th in the Nordic combined individual event for the best result in a disappointing campaign for Japanese skiers at the Turin Winter Olympic Games on Saturday. Kobayashi, who was 23rd after the ski jumping leg, overtook seven skiers in the 15-kilometer cross country race and finished 2 minutes, 38.5 seconds behind surprise winner Georg Hettich of Germany.
Olympics: Japan's medal hopes fade in Nordic combined
February 11, 2006Japanese skiers saw their hopes for a podium finish dwindle Saturday after the ski jumping portion of the Nordic combined individual event at the Turin Olympics. Yosuke Hatakeyama outjumped top-ranked Japanese Daito Takahashi to place 10th with efforts of 98 and 97 meters at the K-95 hill and now has one minute, 50 seconds to make up on leader Georg Hettich of Germany in a 15-kilometer cross country race.
Soccer: Japan kick off World Cup year with defeat to U.S.
February 11, 2006Japan made a disappointing start to World Cup year after being condemned to a 3-2 defeat by the United States in a friendly in San Francisco on Friday. First-half goals from Eddie Pope and Clint Dempsey put the Americans on their way before Taylor Twellman capped an impressive display with the third early in the second period at SBC Park.
Wrestling: 'Animal' Hamaguchi named national head coach
February 11, 2006Heigo Hamaguchi, the father of Olympic bronze medalist Kyoko Hamaguchi, has been named head coach of the Japanese women's national team for this year's Asian championships, the Japan Wrestling Federation said Friday. Hamaguchi, a former pro wrestler known as ''Animal'' Hamaguchi, will serve as a national head coach for the first time at the Asian championships to be held in Kazakhstan in early April.