Basketball: Japan Women and Denmark Settle for Tie in Exhibition Match
Japan guard Norika Konno shoots a layup in the first quarter against Denmark in the first game of the teams' Mitsui Fudosan Cup series on July 3, 2025, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. (©KYODO)
The Japan women's basketball national team dominated the second and third quarters against Denmark on Thursday night, July 3. In the opener of the teams' Mitsui Fudosan Cup series, Japan and Denmark settled for a 65-65 tie.
Japan overcame a 10-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, then outscored the visitors 41-24 in the middle two periods.
Denmark trailed 54-47 entering the fourth quarter, but outplayed world No 9 Japan to avoid defeat.
Minami Yabu, a 20-year-old small forward, paced Japan with 12 points off the bench. She sank 3 of 4 3-point shots in 10-plus minutes. Stephanie Mawuli added eight points and Kokoro Tanaka and Monica Okoye finished with seven apiece. Japan small forward Minami Yabu shoots a jumper over Denmark guard Michala Bork in the third quarter on July 3. (KYODO)
Akatsuki Japan head coach Corey Gaines utilized a deep bench in this game, giving 15 players court time, with 13 players putting points on the board.
Gaines' squad made 9 of 34 shots from 3-point range. Japan had 16 assists and 18 turnovers. It also made 11 steals.
World No 55 Denmark outrebounded Japan 50-40.
Guard Alberte Rimdal led Denmark with 20 points. Teammate Frida Formann poured in 19 points.
"We made mistakes and uncharacteristic things we don't usually do, we did tonight," Gaines said, according to Kyodo News, after Thursday's game before adding, "we have a game tomorrow, which we'll play much better. [And] we won't make those mistakes."
Japan defeated Denmark 89-55 in the second game of their Mitsui Fudosan Cup exhibition series on Friday night at the same venue. Yuki Miyazawa had a team-best 15 points for Japan.
With a pair of games on back-to-back nights against Denmark, Japan began final preparations for the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, an eight-nation basketball tournament. Event dates: July 13-20 in Shenzhen, China.
World No 4 China is the highest-ranked team in the tourney. Joining China in Group A for the preliminary round are South Korea, New Zealand and Indonesia.
Group B is comprised of Japan, Australia, the Philippines and Lebanon.
"The Asia Cup is important," Gaines told reporters. "We'll be ready to play our best basketball." In his first game for the Worcester Red Sox during a rehab assignment, Masataka Yoshida bats against the Syracuse Mets of the Triple-A International League on July 2 at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts. (KYODO)
Rehabbing Boston Red Sox slugger Masataka Yoshida appeared in his first regular-season game of the 2025 season in the opener of a Triple-A doubleheader on Wednesday, July 2.
Yoshida, who had offseason surgery on his right shoulder, batted second and went 0-for-2 with a walk for the International League's Worcester Red Sox in a 5-2 home loss to the Syracuse Mets.
In Wednesday's Game 2, Yoshida didn't play.
The doubleheader was necessitated when Tuesday's game, which was to mark Yoshida's return to the field, was rained out.
Yoshida was back in the lineup for Worcester on Thursday. He batted second once again and started in left field in Syracuse's 7-4 win over Worcester.
The former Orix Buffaloes star went 1-for-3 and scored a run. He reached base on a first-inning force play at second and scored in the same inning. Yoshida stroked a line-drive single to left in the third. Wearing a first baseman's glove, Masataka Yoshida takes grounders during a defensive drill on July 2 in Worcester, Massachusetts. (KYODO)
Boston management asked Yoshida to get some "light work" at first base during his injury rehab assignment, MassLive.com reported. He donned a first baseman's mitt and took grounders before Wednesday's doubleheader, getting some defensive work at a position he hasn't played in his 10 seasons as a pro.
The website quoted Boston manager Alex Cora as saying that Yoshida is practicing at first base "just in case, in an emergency" he'd be available.
Cora added, "I don't anticipate him starting at first base, but if something crazy happens, at least he can catch throws and knock down a ground ball." Masataka Yoshida Set to Start Triple-A Rehab Assignment with Worcester Shuri Sakuma holds the winner's memento after the Earth Mondahmin Cup on June 29 at Camelia Hills Country Club in Sadegoura, Chiba Prefecture. (©SANKEI)
In the ongoing 2025 JLPGA Tour season, rising star Shuri Sakuma leads all golfers with three tournament titles. Twelve individuals have collected one win apiece.
The 22-year-old Sakuma, who has played in 15 tournaments to date, sits atop the money rankings chart with ¥116 million JPY ($804,000 USD) in earnings this season.
Sakuma has had eight top-10 finishes, which is tied for the JLPGA Tour lead with Sakura Koiwai. JLPGA Tour golfer Shuri Sakuma hits a tee shot in the final round of the Earth Mondahmin Cup on June 29. (©SANKEI)
A native of Saitama Prefecture, Sakuma made her pro debut in June 2021.
She's won one tournament in each of the past three months.
In April, Sakuma triumphed in the KKTcup VANTELIN Ladies Open, a three-round event, with an 11-under 205.
She won May's Bridgestone Ladies Open with a 20-under 268, shooting under 70 in all four rounds.
Then she won the Earth Mondahmin Cup on June 29 with an 11-under 277. Christophe Lemaire pilots Mikki Fight to a win in the Teio Sho at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo on July 2. Outrange, ridden by Kohei Matsuyama, finished second. (©SANKEI)
In a midweek evening showcase event of older horses (ages 4 and up) at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, Mikki Fight, ridden by veteran French jockey Christophe Lemaire, won the Teio Sho by a neck. Mikki Fight covered the 2,000 meters in 2 minutes, 3.1 seconds.
Outrange, guided by Kohei Matsuyama, placed second on Wednesday, July 2. Japanese racing legend Yutaka Take was third aboard Notturno, 2½ lengths behind the runner-up.
The Teio Sho, which is contested on dirt, was first run in 1978. Japan Racing Association and National Association of Racing (local) horses and jockeys compete against one another.
Wednesday's race included thoroughbreds from Oi Racecourse, Urawa Racecourse and Kochi Racecourse.
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Forward
a day ago
- Japan Forward
Basketball: Japan Women and Denmark Settle for Tie in Exhibition Match
Reporting on the Japan women's basketball team, Masataka Yoshida's injury rehab, rising golf star Shuri Sakuma and Mikki Fight's narrow win at Oi Racecourse. Japan guard Norika Konno shoots a layup in the first quarter against Denmark in the first game of the teams' Mitsui Fudosan Cup series on July 3, 2025, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. (©KYODO) The Japan women's basketball national team dominated the second and third quarters against Denmark on Thursday night, July 3. In the opener of the teams' Mitsui Fudosan Cup series, Japan and Denmark settled for a 65-65 tie. Japan overcame a 10-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, then outscored the visitors 41-24 in the middle two periods. Denmark trailed 54-47 entering the fourth quarter, but outplayed world No 9 Japan to avoid defeat. Minami Yabu, a 20-year-old small forward, paced Japan with 12 points off the bench. She sank 3 of 4 3-point shots in 10-plus minutes. Stephanie Mawuli added eight points and Kokoro Tanaka and Monica Okoye finished with seven apiece. Japan small forward Minami Yabu shoots a jumper over Denmark guard Michala Bork in the third quarter on July 3. (KYODO) Akatsuki Japan head coach Corey Gaines utilized a deep bench in this game, giving 15 players court time, with 13 players putting points on the board. Gaines' squad made 9 of 34 shots from 3-point range. Japan had 16 assists and 18 turnovers. It also made 11 steals. World No 55 Denmark outrebounded Japan 50-40. Guard Alberte Rimdal led Denmark with 20 points. Teammate Frida Formann poured in 19 points. "We made mistakes and uncharacteristic things we don't usually do, we did tonight," Gaines said, according to Kyodo News, after Thursday's game before adding, "we have a game tomorrow, which we'll play much better. [And] we won't make those mistakes." Japan defeated Denmark 89-55 in the second game of their Mitsui Fudosan Cup exhibition series on Friday night at the same venue. Yuki Miyazawa had a team-best 15 points for Japan. With a pair of games on back-to-back nights against Denmark, Japan began final preparations for the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, an eight-nation basketball tournament. Event dates: July 13-20 in Shenzhen, China. World No 4 China is the highest-ranked team in the tourney. Joining China in Group A for the preliminary round are South Korea, New Zealand and Indonesia. Group B is comprised of Japan, Australia, the Philippines and Lebanon. "The Asia Cup is important," Gaines told reporters. "We'll be ready to play our best basketball." In his first game for the Worcester Red Sox during a rehab assignment, Masataka Yoshida bats against the Syracuse Mets of the Triple-A International League on July 2 at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts. (KYODO) Rehabbing Boston Red Sox slugger Masataka Yoshida appeared in his first regular-season game of the 2025 season in the opener of a Triple-A doubleheader on Wednesday, July 2. Yoshida, who had offseason surgery on his right shoulder, batted second and went 0-for-2 with a walk for the International League's Worcester Red Sox in a 5-2 home loss to the Syracuse Mets. In Wednesday's Game 2, Yoshida didn't play. The doubleheader was necessitated when Tuesday's game, which was to mark Yoshida's return to the field, was rained out. Yoshida was back in the lineup for Worcester on Thursday. He batted second once again and started in left field in Syracuse's 7-4 win over Worcester. The former Orix Buffaloes star went 1-for-3 and scored a run. He reached base on a first-inning force play at second and scored in the same inning. Yoshida stroked a line-drive single to left in the third. Wearing a first baseman's glove, Masataka Yoshida takes grounders during a defensive drill on July 2 in Worcester, Massachusetts. (KYODO) Boston management asked Yoshida to get some "light work" at first base during his injury rehab assignment, reported. He donned a first baseman's mitt and took grounders before Wednesday's doubleheader, getting some defensive work at a position he hasn't played in his 10 seasons as a pro. The website quoted Boston manager Alex Cora as saying that Yoshida is practicing at first base "just in case, in an emergency" he'd be available. Cora added, "I don't anticipate him starting at first base, but if something crazy happens, at least he can catch throws and knock down a ground ball." Masataka Yoshida Set to Start Triple-A Rehab Assignment with Worcester Shuri Sakuma holds the winner's memento after the Earth Mondahmin Cup on June 29 at Camelia Hills Country Club in Sadegoura, Chiba Prefecture. (©SANKEI) In the ongoing 2025 JLPGA Tour season, rising star Shuri Sakuma leads all golfers with three tournament titles. Twelve individuals have collected one win apiece. The 22-year-old Sakuma, who has played in 15 tournaments to date, sits atop the money rankings chart with ¥116 million JPY ($804,000 USD) in earnings this season. Sakuma has had eight top-10 finishes, which is tied for the JLPGA Tour lead with Sakura Koiwai. JLPGA Tour golfer Shuri Sakuma hits a tee shot in the final round of the Earth Mondahmin Cup on June 29. (©SANKEI) A native of Saitama Prefecture, Sakuma made her pro debut in June 2021. She's won one tournament in each of the past three months. In April, Sakuma triumphed in the KKTcup VANTELIN Ladies Open, a three-round event, with an 11-under 205. She won May's Bridgestone Ladies Open with a 20-under 268, shooting under 70 in all four rounds. Then she won the Earth Mondahmin Cup on June 29 with an 11-under 277. Christophe Lemaire pilots Mikki Fight to a win in the Teio Sho at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo on July 2. Outrange, ridden by Kohei Matsuyama, finished second. (©SANKEI) In a midweek evening showcase event of older horses (ages 4 and up) at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, Mikki Fight, ridden by veteran French jockey Christophe Lemaire, won the Teio Sho by a neck. Mikki Fight covered the 2,000 meters in 2 minutes, 3.1 seconds. Outrange, guided by Kohei Matsuyama, placed second on Wednesday, July 2. Japanese racing legend Yutaka Take was third aboard Notturno, 2½ lengths behind the runner-up. The Teio Sho, which is contested on dirt, was first run in 1978. Japan Racing Association and National Association of Racing (local) horses and jockeys compete against one another. Wednesday's race included thoroughbreds from Oi Racecourse, Urawa Racecourse and Kochi Racecourse. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tigers place OF Kerry Carpenter on injured list with right hamstring strain
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Detroit Tigers placed outfielder Kerry Carpenter on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right hamstring strain. The move was retroactive to Monday. The 27-year-old, who is hitting .257 with 16 homers and 32 RBIs this season, was lifted in the fifth inning of Sunday's game against Minnesota for a pinch runner. Manager A.J. Hinch indicated Carpenter will not return before the All-Star break. 'It's mild. It's very similar to what he's been playing through, but this is the second time we've had this scare on the field where we're not sure if he can continue to go — the outfield play, the running,' Hinch said. 'So we have to err on the side of caution here and give him the break and see if we can knock this out over this course of these next few weeks.' Detroit recalled infielder Trey Sweeney from Triple-A Toledo to take Carpenter's roster spot before Wednesday's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals. Sweeney, who is hitting .221 with four home runs and 23 RBIs in 70 games, was sent to the minors Saturday. 'I joked with him that in 48 hours he fixed all the things we talked about that he had to work on in Triple-A,' Hinch said. 'But I'm glad he's back because as our roster fills up, the versatility still matters.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The Tigers also placed right-handed pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long on the 15-day injured list with neck stiffness and recalled righty Tyler Owens from Toledo. Detroit also summoned left-hander Bailey Horn from Toledo as its 27th man for the doubleheader. Detroit's staff could also soon get bolstered by the return of right-hander Reese Olson, who has been out with a finger injury since May 18. He is 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA in nine starts this season. 'His next outing is going to be in the big leagues,' Hinch said. 'It's unlikely to be here in Washington, but he's doing fine and just kind of waiting to be activated.' ___ AP MLB:
Japan Forward
4 days ago
- Japan Forward
Masataka Yoshida Set to Start Triple-A Rehab Assignment with Worcester
Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida has been sidelined while recovering from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. Boston Red Sox slugger Masataka Yoshida in an August 2024 file photo. (©Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY SPORTS/via REUTERS) Masataka Yoshida is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with the Worcester Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, on Tuesday, July 1. Since the 2025 MLB season began in March, Yoshida has been on the injured list. He underwent surgery to repair a right shoulder labral tear in October 2024. Boston manager Alex Cora said the time is right for Yoshida, a left fielder/designated hitter, to take the next step toward returning to the major leagues. "The swing feels great," Cora was quoted as saying by multiple Boston media outlets on June 28. "The throwing has been a lot better, being able to bounce back. We just have to map it out — how many games in the [outfield vs designated hitter]. "In the end, when the hitting feels comfortable, he'll be with us." The Worcester RedSox, aka WooSox, face the Syracuse Mets on Tuesday. Yoshida, 31, coped with shoulder pain during the 2024 MLB season. He only played one game in the outfield. Team management wants him to be available as a designated hitter and a left fielder. After serving as DH in 11 games during spring training (he hit .286) in March, Yoshida hasn't played in a regular-season game yet in 2025. While recovering from shoulder surgery, Yoshida was unable to make throws from the outfield during spring training, according to published reports. As a result, Yoshida began the season on the injured list. Masataka Yoshida (GETTY IMAGES/via KYODO) Time away from competition has helped Yoshida's physical condition improve over the past few months. "It's been a little bit longer than I expected," Yoshida said through an interpreter recently, according to "My goal was to be ready by Opening Day when I got the surgery, but it's been a long process. But overall, I think I'm in good shape and ready to go." Before starting his injury rehab assignment, Yoshida told reporters that he hopes to return to Boston before the All-Star break starts on July 14. Although he hasn't had at-bats in a game since spring training in March, the left-handed batter, did face live pitching at Boston's training complex in Fort Myers, Florida, in April and May, reported. And in recent weeks, he's been hitting against a pitching robot. "After spring training, it's been a while since I faced live pitchers, but I've been using Trajekt, hitting off of it, and trying to get my timing down," Yoshida said, according to "I think it just comes down to getting myself adjusted to major league pitching at the end of the day." A four-time All-Star and a two-time Pacific League batting champion with NPB's Orix Buffaloes, Yoshida signed a five-year contract with the Red Sox in December 2022. Yoshida appeared in 140 games in his first season with the Red Sox. He hit .289 with 15 home runs and 72 RBIs in 2023. In 2024, he batted .280 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs in 108 games. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
