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September 27, 2024
 

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Andrew MCKIRDY

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Andrew MCKIRDY
Andrew McKirdy is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His main beat is soccer, but he has also covered rugby, tennis, volleyball, golf and even tug-of-war. A native of the Scottish Borders, he has written for The Scotsman newspaper and organized filming for a program on Japanese soccer for ITV television.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Oct 3, 2008
Japan's soccer calendar sorely in need of a revamp
Last season's J. League title race was as notable for Urawa Reds' physical breakdown as it was for eventual champion Kashima Antlers' success, and one glance at the rest of this year's fixture list should be enough to send a familiar shiver running down Reds manager Gert Engels' spine.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Oct 2, 2008
Nishikori outlasts Garcia-Lopez in tense match
Teenager Kei Nishikori came out on top of an early battle of wills with Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Wednesday to move into a third-round matchup against Richard Gasquet at the Japan Open.
SOCCER
Sep 25, 2008
Reds cruise past Al Qadsia to set up ACL semifinal date with Gamba
SAITAMA — Defending champion Urawa Reds set up an all-Japanese Asian Champions League semifinal clash against Gamba Osaka with a comfortable 2-0 win over Kuwait's Al Qadsia on Wednesday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 24, 2008
Lowly JEF United stuns Nagoya Grampus
A 60-second nightmare for Nagoya Grampus goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki dented his side's title aspirations and handed relegation-haunted JEF United Chiba a precious 2-1 win on Tuesday night.
TENNIS
Sep 22, 2008
Awesome Safina breezes to Toray Pan Pacific win
Russia's Dinara Safina hailed her "best ever tennis" as she swept past compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova to win the Toray Pan Pacific Open final in straight sets on Sunday.
TENNIS
Sep 21, 2008
Safina overpowers Petrova in semis, awaits all-Russian final
Dinara Safina turned in a brutal display of power tennis Saturday to annihilate Nadia Petrova and set up an all-Russian final against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Sep 20, 2008
Kuznetsova eliminates Jankovic in quarterfinals
Jelena Jankovic's bid to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking ended Friday when she joined Olympic champion Elena Dementieva in being bundled out at the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Sep 18, 2008
Mistake-aided Kashima salvage draw in first-leg
KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — Kashima Antlers salvaged a draw but gifted a careless away goal to Adelaide United as their Asian Champions League quarterfinal first leg finished 1-1 on Wednesday night.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Sep 18, 2008
Jankovic relishes chance to compete for top ranking
Jelena Jankovic is determined to draw strength from her U.S. Open final defeat and regain the top spot in the world rankings at this week's Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
TENNIS
Sep 17, 2008
Russian Olympians fight to stay focused after success in Beijing
Olympic gold-medal winner Elena Dementieva admits she is having trouble focusing on her game after the euphoria of Beijing, but losing finalist Dinara Safina has no such problems heading into this week's Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 17, 2008
Oil wealth has big impact on Asia's soccer landscape
When the Asian Champions League began back in March, few outside of Uzbekistan had heard of Kuruvchi. Now, with the club preparing for Wednesday's Asian Champions League quarterfinals after an extraordinary summer, the world is certainly paying attention.
SOCCER
Sep 17, 2008
Engels worried about Reds making transition into ACL quarters
Urawa Reds manager Gert Engels is wary of culture shock as his side prepares to defend its Asian Champions League crown against Al Qadsia in Kuwait on Wednesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 14, 2008
Oita's stifling defense frustrates host Reds
Oita Trinita frustrated Urawa Reds with a stifling defensive performance to earn a 0-0 draw and stay firmly in the J. League title hunt on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 14, 2008
Bosnar confident JEF United can avoid relegation
JEF United Chiba defender Eddy Bosnar is adamant his side can escape relegation from J. League Division 1, despite lying eight points adrift of safety with just 11 games of the season left to play.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 13, 2008
Johnsen: Stojkovic's leadership key for Grampus
Nagoya Grampus striker Frode Johnsen admits he is surprised by his side's challenge for the 2008 J. League title, but is taking nothing for granted as the season moves into its final stretch.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Sep 5, 2008
Utilizing strong midfield key to success for Japan
With Japan still struggling for firepower with the final World Cup qualification round getting under way against Bahrain on Saturday night, a new wind blowing around Europe could help lighten the load.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 28, 2008
Abe allows Reds to draw but Nagoya regains top
Yuki Abe salvaged a point for Urawa Reds with a goal deep into injury time to give his side an unlikely 1-1 draw with Tokyo Verdy on Wednesday.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Aug 24, 2008
Future looking grim for Olympic soccer
Argentina successfully defended its Athens Games gold in the Bird's Nest on Saturday, but events off the pitch have made sure little else about Olympic soccer will be the same again.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Aug 10, 2008
Nakamura's decision to stay with Celtic proved a wise move in the end
Anyone following the saga of quarterback Brett Favre could be forgiven for thinking that athletes care little for their legacy, but not all sportsmen are prepared to gamble with their reputation.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Aug 1, 2008
German power Bayern Munich post impressive victory over Reds
SAITAMA — Bayern Munich put a listless Urawa Reds side to the sword with a comprehensive 4-2 win in a Thursday night friendly match.
China fires long-range missile into Pacific Ocean in rare test
Chinese military vehicles carrying DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles travel past Beijing's Tiananmen Square during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on Oct. 1, 2019.
Russia has a secret war drones project in China, intel sources say
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits a drone production facility of the the Special Technology Center in St. Petersburg on Sept. 19.
As Onosato dominates the spotlight, former sumo stars exit the stage
Takakeisho during a one-day tournament at Kokugikan in Tokyo in February 2020
Japan MSDF warship sails through Taiwan Strait for first time
The Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Sazanami arrives in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean during a scheduled port visit in July. The Sazanami became the first Japanese warship to sail through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday.
Putin issues nuclear warning to the West over Ukraine striking Russia
Russia's President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the Security Council on the subject of nuclear deterrence in Moscow on Wednesday.
Tokyo Game Show 2024 stacked with big returns and hyped announcements
Tokyo Game Show opens to the public on Sept. 28 full of cosplayers promoting a full slate of new and upcoming titles.
A first look inside the new Nintendo Museum
The Nintendo Museum opens to the public on Oct. 2, but unlike the company's all-ages games, the new attraction may be geared more toward older rather than younger gamers.
Japan MSDF warship sails through Taiwan Strait for first time
The Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Sazanami arrives in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean during a scheduled port visit in July. The Sazanami became the first Japanese warship to sail through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday.
People of all ages and sizes scale new heights amid climbing boom in Japan
A climbing wall at a kindergarten in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture. The sport has been on the rise in Japan, mainly due to the popularity it gained from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and new climbing walls are popping all over the place.
China fires long-range missile into Pacific Ocean in rare test
Chinese military vehicles carrying DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles travel past Beijing's Tiananmen Square during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on Oct. 1, 2019.

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