One of the world's biggest wrestling promotions will run its first ever show in the UK this summer. New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) will make its debut in the Copper Box Arena - the venue that hosted handball and fencing during the London 2012 Olympics. The company has experienced a massive surge in popularity around the globe in recent years and NJPW is looking to respond to demand for its product with a summer spectacular. NJPW stars have appeared in the UK before at shows hosted by British wrestling companies, but this event on August 31 will be the promotion's first solo venture on these shores. Speaking to Mirror Sport, the general manager of New Japan, Michael Craven, said about Royal Quest: "Firstly, none of this would be possible without our British fans - they are the best in the world! "When I joined NJPW, one of my goals was to bring our New Japan to our fans in the United Kingdom. "NJPW Royal Quest would not be possible without them and I want to thank everyone for … [Read more...] about New Japan Pro Wrestling heading to London for first ever UK show
Handball world champs
Instead of a closed shop, World Rugby needs an open mind
As key stakeholders in rugby convene in Dublin tomorrow about a ‘world’ league that seems more concerned with concentrating and increasing the wealth for its bluebloods than spreading the word to the unconverted and the cash to the marginalised, it has probably escaped rather than focused their minds that the deciding game in Europe’s biggest international competition is once again between one nation with a population of just 6.6 million and another with just 3.1 million. Just like 10 years ago, and indeed 14 years ago, the outcome of the Six Nations championship and a possible Grand Slam and Triple Crown hinges on a game between Ireland and Wales in Cardiff. That climax to the 2009 championship –“Grand Slam at stake! HE’S GOT IT!– combined with Bernard Dunne getting up off the canvas to lay Ricardo Cordoba out on it later that evening, still remains one of the greatest Irish sporting days of this century. And we’d all be more partial in … [Read more...] about Instead of a closed shop, World Rugby needs an open mind
Danes crush Norway to win first men’s handball world title
Hosts Denmark beat Norway 31-22 on Sunday in Herning to win the nation's first ever handball world title. Mikkel Hansen, a defender who plays his club handball for Paris Saint-Germain, was again the key Danish player with seven goals. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Morten Toft Olsen added five as Denmark converted 67 per cent of their shots. Magnus Jondal scored nine for Norway who only shot 50 per cent. Denmark are the reigning Olympic gold medalists and won the European title in 2008 and 2012. Earlier, France secured the bronze medal, edging Germany 26-25 READ ALSO: Handball shocker: Olympic champs Denmark knocked out by Hungary … [Read more...] about Danes crush Norway to win first men’s handball world title
Unified Korea men’s handball team keep rivals guessing at world champs
After a unified Korean women's ice-hockey team became a feature of last year's Winter Olympics, a men's team of North and South Korean players is an unknown factor for Thursday's opening game of the world handball championships. A unified Korean team, with four players from the communism-ruled North added to the 16-strong squad of South Korea players, face Germany, the co-hosts alongside Denmark, when the 2019 World Men's Handball Championships opens in Berlin on Thursday. The unified Korean women's ice hockey team was a colourful attraction at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics despite losing all their games and finishing last. Likewise, the men's handball team is not expected to survive the group stages at the 2019 finals, contested by 24 teams. However, the significance of a unified team playing in Germany's capital, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall this November, is not lost on the Koreans. "With the fall of the Wall, one went on the path of … [Read more...] about Unified Korea men’s handball team keep rivals guessing at world champs