Star Snippets: Mitsuo Ogasawara, Norihiro Akahoshi, Chang Jung-koo …..

December 10, 2009 | Posted by benjie

Japan’s Mitsuo Ogasawara of Kashima Antlers was named Player of the Year after leading the team to its third straight title in the J. League. The 30-year old midfielder, native of Morioka, Iwate became the second Kashima player to receive such award after Brazilian Marquinos had it last year.

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Hanshin Tigers outfielder Norihiro Akahoshi has decided to hang up his jersey. At 33, Akahoshi has been suffering from pain in the neck and lower back which could lead to life threatening spinal injury. He has played only with the Tigers in his entire career in the NPB.

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Retired South Korean boxer Chang Jung-koo has been named as one of the 13 inductees for the International Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2009. Chang will be the first South Korean to be named in the elite list of all time greats. The former junior flyweight champion known as the ‘Korean Hawk’ ended his career in 1991 with a 38-4 win-loss record with 17 KOs.

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Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand came short in securing a full card for next year’s LPGA Tour. The 19-year old golf sensation was making her second attempt for the elite tournament in the qualifying stage in Florida. Two other Thais Nontaya Srisawang and Virada Nirapathpongporn fail to make the cut as well.

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World number one-ranked Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia pulled out of the South East Asian Games in Laos. Less than three weeks ago, he committed to join the biennial games and his eleventh hour change of mind surprised the badminton camp in Laos. Chong Wei cited his recurring knee injury as the reason for his withdrawal.