Olympics: Japan's curling team lifts sprits in Turin
February 19, 2006In what has been an absolute train wreck so far for Japan at the Turin Olympics, the women's curling team provided a spirit booster on Sunday with a chance of booking a spot in the semifinals. Japan, which has no medals after nine days of competition, beat defending Olympic champion Britain 10-5 in women's curling, keeping alive its hopes of making the final four in a sport that appears to be gaining in popularity overnight.
Olympics: Japanese bobsledders simply happy with Olympic runs
February 19, 2006Japanese bobsleigh pair Suguru Kiyokawa and Ryuichi Kobayashi failed to make the cut on Sunday for the last heat but said they were simply glad that they just made Olympic runs. Kiyokawa and Kobayashi, who had earlier faced the danger of being stripped of a place in the Turin Games, had to leave the Cesana Pariol track after placing 27th after three runs in 2 minutes, 52.19 seconds.
Horse racing: Kane Hekili romps to victory at February Stakes
February 19, 2006Star jockey Yutaka Take steered top favorite Kane Hekili to a comfortable victory in the year's first Grade One race at the February Stakes on Sunday. Meisho Bowler and Tosho Gear were vying for the lead after the final bend at Tokyo Racecourse before Kane Hekili came storming down the outside on the 1,600-meter dirt track to win in 1 minute, 34.9 seconds.
Golf: Miyazato finishes 48th on LPGA rookie debut
February 19, 2006Ai Miyazato carded a final-round even-par 72 to finish a disappointing 48th on her LPGA Tour rookie debut at the season-opening SBS Open on Saturday. Miyazato made a bogey and a birdie after beginning her round from the 10th at Turtle Bay Resort's Palmer Course, and made two birdies against as many bogeys after the turn to close on 1-over 217, 11 shots behind winner Kim Joo Mi of South Korea.