Manchester will host the 2019 World Taekwondo Championships -- after a "record-breaking medal haul for Britain at this summer's Olympic Games in Rio." As part of a three-year package, London and Manchester "will also host legs of the World Grand Prix series" in '17 and '18, respectively. The bid team -- which beat competition from Houston -- is "also discussing the possibility" of hosting the World Para Taekwondo Championships alongside the Grand Prix event at the Copper Box Arena in London next year (BBC, 11/15).
Saturday's A-League match between Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory in the New Zealand capital "has been postponed because of damage caused to the venue by Monday's earthquake," Football Federation Australia said. FFA made the decision "on the advice of the owners of the Wellington Regional Stadium," known for commercial purposes as Westpac Stadium, who nonetheless said that the 34,400-seat arena had been cleared of "major structural damage." Damage to the harborside stadium "included burst water pipes, concrete cracking, broken windows" and "some liquefaction" (REUTERS, 11/15).
Japan's B.League All-Star Game will be played on Jan. 15 at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium, the first-year basketball league announced. The contest tips off at 6:05pm and will be broadcast on NHK BS1, SkyPerfecTV and Sportsnavi Live (JAPAN TIMES, 11/15).
