Japanese Sports Briefs

Jan 5, 2009 - 5:29 PM (Courtesy of Kyodo News Service) TOKYO, Jan. 5 Kyodo

---------- Olympics: Japan to ask Tokyo Gov. Ishihara to make key speech for 2016 bid TOKYO - Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda plans to ask outspoken Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara to make a presentation in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June for the Japanese capital's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. ''We need Governor Ishihara, who is also the bid committee chief, to make an appeal,'' Takeda said Monday, referring to the occasion when the four finalist cities will be granted the opportunity to speak before International Olympic Committee members.

---------- Japan to launch project to enhance competitiveness of Olympians

TOKYO - A national project to enhance the competitiveness of Japan's Olympic athletes is poised to kick off in April with the aim of boosting the country's medal count toward the 2016 Summer Games, which Tokyo is bidding to host. The project, the first of its kind sponsored by the sports ministry, is designed to provide intensive support for athletes considered to be Olympic medal contenders. Its first goal is to double the medal count that Japan achieved at last year's Beijing Olympics at the next Games.

---------- Baseball: Seibu acquires right-hander Wasdin

TOKYO - The Seibu Lions said Monday they have acquired the services of John Wasdin, a right-hander who has 39 major league career wins and formerly pitched for the Yomiuri Giants. Wasdin, 36, who went 9-6 with three saves and a 3.51 ERA for the St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate with no big league appearances last season, has agreed to a one-year contract carrying a salary of 50 million yen.

---------- Baseball: Seibu pitcher Mitsui to be 'posted' again

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - The Seibu Lions said Monday they will put left-hander Koji Mitsui up for auction for the second time this winter under the posting system after he failed to draw any bids from major league clubs last month. The bidding is expected to start Thursday U.S. time after the 2008 Japan Series champions complete the procedures Wednesday in Japan.

---------- Tennis: Krumm-Date crashes out in 1st round at ASB Classic

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Former world No. 4 Kimiko Krumm-Date, making her first WTA tournament appearance overseas in 13 years, was defeated by American Jill Craybas in straight sets in the first round of the ASB Classic on Monday. The 38-year-old Krumm-Date, who surprised the tennis world by coming out of retirement last year, fell 6-4, 6-3 to Craybas after receiving a wild-card entry.