Eye Opener: Archery Trick Shots, Korean Style

There is a reason why the Koreans have dominated competitive archery for such a long time; they are very good.

video credits:  ishubeeke

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Grass is always greener at Wimbledon

The Wimbledon championships have often been cited as the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, and are for very good reasons. Wimbledon is the oldest tournament in tennis history, enjoying over 130 years of history. Moreover, the event is played on the unusual surface of grass, a near-extinct species in today’s age. The tournament is also deeply connected with traditions. It may be highly atypical to see players give curtsies or bows to the royal box or wear all-white attires, but this is part of Wimbledon’s irresistible charm.

Perhaps, the finest case for Wimbledon as the best tennis tournament would be found on the championship trophy itself. The list of singles champions is truly extraordinary with names like Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, and the Williams sisters—each with multiple titles. Wimbledon is surely the players’ favorite tournament.

Age is just a number, just ask Kimiko Date

Clijsters was a former #1 player and grand slam champion. In 2007, she stunned the world of tennis when she announced her retirement from the sport at a young age of 24. Fast forwarded to 2009, Clijsters made a return to competitive tennis. Her comeback was mostly inspired by a Wimbledon exhibition match between her and the retired Steffi Graf. Kim’s comeback hitherto has been very successful, punctuated by an emotional victory at the 2009 U.S. Open.

Like Kim Clijsters, Kimiko Date retired from tennis at a young age (25). As a matter of fact, Date was at her peak when she decided to take a leave from the sport. But unlike Clijsters, Date returned to the tour not in her 20s but in her late 30s (38 to be exact). In a sport where most players retire in their 20s, her comeback appeared destined for failure. It was hard to imagine that a 38-year old woman could even win a match at the tour’s level. Yet, Kimiko Date has thus far defied all her skeptics. While she is not a threat to win grand slams, Date has been very competitive in her return. In late 2009, Date defeated several top players en route to her first title in 12 years.

A great week for sports fans

Summer is almost over, and the season for sports is about to start. The first week of September is packed with big sporting events. For starter, there is the 2010 U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows, NY. This is a gathering of the world’s top tennis players (male and female), competing for one of the sport’s most elusive prizes. For soccer fans, the road to Ukraine and Poland starts next week with the commencement of Euro 2012 qualifying. All of the top European teams, including world champion Spain and runner-up Netherlands, will be playing. Finally, the world basketball championship (headlined by a strong U.S. team) is also set to commence. Truly, there’s something for everyone.

Postseason for Golf?

Many people say that golf is a bore to watch, and I tend to agree. Apparently, PGA Tour officials seem to also acknowledge this reality. In order to spice up interests from the viewers, professional golf has recently become the first non-team sport to adopt season-ending playoffs (or post-season). This year’s contest is called the 2010 FedEx Cup Playoffs and is consisted of four tournaments. There is a cut after each event, and the highest points garner wins the Cup. What other individual sports (ex. tennis, bowling, figure skating) would benefit from a playoff system?

Who is faster than whom?

Competitive swimming is the most underrated sport in the world. People love watching it in the Olympics, but tend to forget about it afterwards. Personally, I enjoy watching competitive swimming on TV as well as in person. What makes this sport unique is the fact that winning is often not the only goal. Swimmers want to win it in style by breaking as many world records as possible. This is why we often see top swimmers expressing disappointments even after winning a race. Anyway, the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships is set for this week. This is the year’s most significant race, featuring top swimmers (including Michael Phelps) from around the world. Give it a chance.

Fall is for sports, autumn is for show

Fall is almost here. According to most polls, Fall is everyone’s favorite season and it has little to do with the weather. People like autumn because it marks the start of the professional sports season. Major sporting leagues like the NFL, NBA, NHL, and college sports all start their seasons in the Fall. Additionally, the English Premier League season (soccer) is scheduled for this weekend. I guess the huge salaries enjoyed by professional athletes are well-justified.