---------- Soccer: Narazaki spares Japan's blushes in East Asian opener
TOKYO - Goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki spared Japan embarrassment with a late penalty save in a 0-0 draw at home to China in the opening game of the East Asian championship in Tokyo on Saturday.
China, who have failed to qualify for this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, had the opportunity to take an 82nd-minute lead when defender Yuto Nagatomo was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area.
---------- Tennis: Japan beats Taiwan to earn Fed Cup playoff spot
TOKYO - Japan defeated Taiwan 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to clinch a place in a Fed Cup promotion/relegation playoff on April 24-25 against a World Group II first-round loser.
After Ayumi Morita's 7-6(2), 6-4 loss to Chang Kai-chen, Kimiko Date Krumm evened the best-of-three series at one apiece by beating Chan Yung-jan 7-5, 7-5 in the women's team event.
---------- Soccer: Japan beat China in East Asian women's opener
TOKYO - Japan made the perfect start to their defense of the East Asian women's championship with a routine 2-0 win over China on Saturday.
Aya Miyama put Japan in front with a 19th-minute free kick in bitterly cold conditions at Ajinomoto Stadium, the midfielder rifling the ball over the Chinese wall and in off the post to give goalkeeper Zhang Yanru no chance.
---------- Golf: Ishikawa gains further ground at Northern Trust Open
PACIFIC PALISADES, California - Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa picked up two more strokes Friday to boost his chances of making the cut at the Northern Trust Open.
Ishikawa moved to 5 under for the tournament -- a tie for seventh on the provisional leaderboard -- through 13 holes before a rain-hit second round was suspended by darkness at Riviera Country Club.
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