Egypt To Host 2015 Women’s African Club Championship

2015 Women’s African Club Championship

The African Volleyball Confederation “CAVB” granted Egypt the organisation of the 2015 edition of the Women’s African Club Championship March 25 to April 6, 2015 in Cairo.

The competition will qualify the African champions to the 2015 Women’s Club World Championship to be held in Switzerland May 5 to 10, 2015.

CAVB put February 28 as deadline for the National Federation to register their teams in the competition.

Egypt To Host 2015 Women’s African Club Championship

The Women’s African Club Championship is considered one of the most attractive competition in Africa as it attracted 16 teams to participate last year. Algeria’s GSP is the current African champions after they won the last edition in 2014 held in Tunisia.

CAVB web site: http://www.cavb.org
Twitter: CAVB Tweets
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAVBVolleyball
YouTube: CAVB Video
Instagram: CAVB_ volleyball

“Go And Bring The CAN Under-17 Trophy” Sultan Of Sokoto Charges Golden Eaglets

His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV, the Sultan of
Sokoto, has charged the Golden Eaglets to go and bring the African Under-17 Championship trophy’ as he prayed for the team’s successful outing at Niger 2015 holding in Niger between February 15 and March 1.

The national U-17 team who are in Sokoto to finalise their preparation for the tournament, paid a courtesy call on the titular ruler of Sokoto in his palace on Monday at the behest of Kogunan Sakwatto, Mallam Danladi Nasir Bako – the Sokoto’s state commissioner for information.

In the presence of some of his high-ranking palace chiefs, the Sultan who is a keen follower of soccer, advised the youngsters to be disciplined and focus on the assignment at hand in Niger in order to bring honour to the country.

GOLDEN EAGLETS’STARTING LINE UP AGAINST SUPER LION

“I’m very happy to receive on behalf of the hospitable people of Sokoto and I want to believe this is the first time some of you are coming to the palace,” the Sultan told his guest led by Coach Emmanuel Amuneke. “In fact, this is the first time we are hosting a national team here at the palace and I’m particularly delighted to formally welcome all of you to the palace as this would afford you the opportunity to know that the Sultan is a human being like you.”

The Amirul Mumineen said he was thrilled that the team dimmed it fit to pay him a courtesy call and seek blessings before embarking on the trip to Niger and counselled they remained good ambassadors of the country. He further counselled officials to continue to play fatherly roles to the players who he warned ‘to obey without question.’

He said further: “We want you to be good ambassadors of this country when you go to Niger and personally, I want you to go and bring the trophy again to Nigeria. But even as you do this, you must be disciplined and listen to your coaches because without discipline you cannot achieve much even as a footballer.”

Golden Eaglets

The former military officer further counselled the players never to neglect their education and never to be carried away with the stardom of being footballers.

Both Coach Amuneke and Captain Kelechi Nwakali took turn to thank the Sultan and the palace chiefs for finding time out of their busy schedule to host and offered prayers on behalf of the team, promising to do everything humanly possible and in the true spirit of sportsmanship, to conquer the continent in Niger

FIVB President Out To Raise Volleyball’s Global Profile

FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graca is pushing regional confederations to boost their presence online and raise the sport’s global profile to a higher level.

Dr Ary S. Graca delivered the message at the body’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland this week, stressing that the five confederations must work much harder to achieve their targets. The FIVB President and the FIVB First Vice President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz jointly chaired the meeting, which was held on February 2. Press Officers from five confederations consisting of Asia, Norceca, Africa, South America and Europe and officials from the FIVB Press Department attended the one-day meeting to exchange their points of view as well as improving their working atmosphere while covering major volleyball tournaments.

The meeting heard that organisers’ use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram would accelerate the growing popularity of volleyball by reaching out to the growing army of online sports fans. By raising the online profile of star players via photos and reports of their exploits, a new audience would gradually become familiar with volleyball as a sport to rival football on the world stage.

As for photos, it’s not always a necessary matter that only good-quality photos are available for the press to select for use. The more important thing is that there should be a variety of photos to be chosen for use in those social medias. This will help publish volleyball activities among the audiences.

“In the near future, we have to highlight all volleyball activities and tournaments with video and the other selling points such as photos of superstars in action. This will help raise interest. More people will realise the value of this action-packed sport,” Dr Ary Graca said.

FIVB President out to raise sport’s global profile

Meanwhile, Press Officers from the five confederations have asked tournament organisers to spice up their match coverage with more statistics, analysis and comments from players, while giving the media more access to the teams and individual players. They also expressed ideas of working atmosphere at their coverage in the last year’s FIVB Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Championships in Poland and Italy respectively. They would like the tournament press delegate to shorten the match description and instead focus on interesting sidebar stories including significant performances of players. In any tournament, interviews are said to be completed at the Mixed Zone only. However, if needed, TV media can conduct the team interview in a room specially provided by the organisers.

The meeting also heard reports from each regional organiser, with the Asian Volleyball Confederation airing the official inauguration of the AVC headquarters in Bangkok, the six competitions they will host this year including the Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship in China and the Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship in Iran and the recent launch of the new-look AVC website at http://www.asianvolleyball.net.

Okocha, Kanu, Amodu, Others Off To London As Taleveras Redeems Pledge

The trip of the first batch of highly–qualified Nigerians for match reading and backroom analysis technique programme in the United Kingdom is assured, as sponsors Taleveras Foundation on Monday released the cheque for the amount of money to cover the trip and the programme.

Chief Executive Officer of Taleveras Foundation, Mr. Igho Sanomi said on Monday in Abuja that his organization was extremely proud to be involved in a process meant to facilitate the rapid development of Nigeria football.

“We are doing this based on our belief that the potential is there for Nigeria football to be much better than what it is now, and everyone who has something to offer should come forward and be counted.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick (third from left) in handshake with Taleveras Foundation CEO, Igho Sanomi (third from right). High Chief Emeka Inyama (second from left) and Barrister Amadu (left) and others officials of Taleveras join them.

“Taleveras Foundation is excited to be involved in this programme that will see the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Jay –Jay Okocha, Coach Amodu Shaibu, Garba Lawal and Florence Omagbemi improved themselves in order to be able to deliver positive impact on Nigeria football in the very near future.”

NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, just back from CAF duties at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, praised Taleveras Foundation for the organisation’s professionalism, integrity and keen interest in the development of football in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

“I was at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, but I was not happy that the Super Eagles were not there to defend their title. The capacity building programme in the United Kingdom is one of the plans the present NFF Executive Committee has in place to reposition Nigeria football.

“For me, and other members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management, Nigeria must never again fail to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

“I like to commend Taleveras Foundation for redeeming their pledge. I have been reliably informed that most of the persons listed for the trip have already secured entry visas into United Kingdom.”

Officials reliably informed that the first batch will depart Nigeria for the United Kingdom on 25th February. Among those listed are former National Team Captains Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Garba Lawal and Yisa Sofoluwe, Coaches Amodu Shaibu, Sam John Obuh, Isa Ladan Bosso, Salisu Yusuf and Kelechi Emeteole, Edema Fuludu, Paul Aigbogun, Dahiru Sadi, Ann Chiejine, Siji Lagunju, David Ngodigha, Florence Omagbemi and Garba Musa.

Nigeria’s Quadri Inspires GD Toledos To Lift Portuguese Cup

Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri helped GD Toledos to retain this year’s Portuguese table tennis Cup concluded at the weekend in Porto.

Quadri, who was bundled out in the quarterfinal of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championship in Cairo, Egypt last month was in superb form at the two-day tournament without dropping a match.

Playing from the preliminary stage to the semifinal, Quadri supported by his Portuguese teammates showed class and this was reflected in their semifinal tie against Juncal, a match which they won 3-0.

However, they were faced with a Herculean task in the final as they were pitched against fans’ favourite, Sporting Lisbon.

Aruna Quadri with GD Toledos teammates after the Portuguese Cup title

As the biggest of their campaign in the tournament, Quadri team once again rose to the occasion despite dropping a game, they ensured that the cup remained with GD Toledos, as they won 3-1 to win the title for the third consecutive times.

An excited Quadri believes the success would surely spur him on for this week’s Kuwait Open.

“I feel so great winning the title again and team work materialized in delivering the Portuguese Cup once again. I have won the title thrice in a row and retaining the title again has increased my confidence for Qatar and Kuwait Opens.

I think this weekend matches in the Portuguese Cup has prepared for the next coming pro tours due to the fact that I played some tough matches,” he enthused.

Meanwhile, the defeat suffered in the men’s singles at the ITTF Africa Senior Championship held in Egypt has adversely affected the fortune of the ITTF Star Player in the February world rating released by the world table tennis ruling body at the weekend.

Aruna Quadri with GD Toledos teammates after the Portuguese Cup title

For bowing to Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali, Quadri dropped from 30 to 32 in the latest ranking while his conqueror improved in his rating from 195 to 179 in the world.

Also, for emerging as winner of the ITTF Africa Senior Championship, Egypt’s Omar Assar is ranked 43; a position which exceeds his previous best of 57 in July 2013.

The Oyo State-born athlete admitted that the slide in his world rating would help him to continue to work hard.

“My ranking going down is a wake-up call although I felt disappointed and at the same time I am happy that I gained more additional point to my ranking bonus points. It is a sign that I must work harder than before and I am finally happy that African is having two players in top 50 with Egypt’s Omar Assar now rated 43,” he said.

Aruna Quadri with GD Toledos teammates after the Portuguese Cup title

As the Kuwait Open, one of major series in the ITTF World Tours serves off on Wednesday February 11; Quadri will be campaigning from the qualifiers as the world’s top 16 will be competing from the main draw having been seeded by the organizers of the championship.

However, the 26-year-old Nigerian says he would be happy to exceed his previous outing at the tournament in Kuwait.

“I will be very happy if I can surpass my last year’s performance in the pro tour. I never qualified to the main draw in any major series of the ITTF World Tour and I will be glad if I can break that record in Kuwait and Germany Opens this year,” he added.

WSB Regular Season Week 4 (6 – 8 February) Results

Cuba Domadores continue their perfect start to Season V against China Dragons

For many sports franchises, maintaining success after achieving a Championship is one of the hardest things to do, but the World Series of Boxing (WSB) Season IV winners Cuba Domadores have now gone 20-0 in their first four matches of the new campaign.

The Cubans were at home in Havana as they maintained their grip at the top of Group A with yet another 5-0 victory, this time over China Dragons who are still looking for their first win of the season.

Flyweight (52 kg) Yosbany Veitia began the night off in style for the Domadores, dropping just one round against Chang Yong to pick up his tenth successive WSB win.

Lightweight (60 kg) Cuban fighter Lazaro Alvarez then won his second match of Season V with a wide points victory over Shan Jun.

2013 AIBA World Championships silver medalist Arisnoidys Despaigne made his first appearance of the season for Cuba at Welterweight (69 kg), but was made to work hard for his victory against China’s Hurichabilige who bossed the last two rounds of their fight.

After the overall win was secured by Despaigne, Light heavyweight (81 kg) Julio César la Cruz won his second match in a row as he crushed former Chinese National Championships medalist Shi Guojun with a number of 10:8 rounds.

The whitewash victory was concluded in the last match of the night, where 2-0 Cuban Super heavyweight (91+ kg) outclassed Serbian Vladan Babic.

Cuba Domadores look to go 25-0 next week away to local rivals Mexico Guerreros, while China Dragons again look for their first WSB victory at home to Morocco Atlas Lions.

Ruthless Russian Boxing Team resume their winning habit against Mexico Guerreros

After defeat in their last World Series of Boxing (WSB) match in Cuba, Russian Boxing Team returned to winning ways at home in Samara as they whitewashed a Mexico Guerreros Franchise who came into this match having won two matches in succession.

This was Russia’s first match at home this season, and if they maintain the quality they showed against Mexico throughout the rest of the group stages, they will be very hard to beat.

The night began with a split decision win for Russia’s former AIBA Youth World Championships bronze medallist Vasiliy Vetkin who earned Flyweight (52 kg) victory with a split decision win over Orlando Huitzil Ahuatl.

One judge scored the contest to Vetkin 50:45, another 49:46, while the third judge appreciated the work of the Mexican more and awarded him the contest.

Another close bout followed at Lightweight (60 kg) where Adlan Abdurashidov eventually won his second match of the season against William Zepeda Segura by just one point on all three scorecards.

Radzhab Butaev also clinched a second win in a row, and the match victory for Russia with a decisive performance over the out of form 0-2 Mexican Marvin Cabrera, who was once one of the best Welterweights (69 kg) in WSB.

Another split decision result followed at Light heavyweight (81 kg) where Pavel Silyagin won an entertaining match against Igor Teziev.

The final Super heavyweight (91+ kg) match was a walkover win for Maxim Babanin after Nelson Hysa did not compete, which established the 5-0 win for Russia.

After this resounding victory, Russian Boxing Team are at home again next week against British Lionhearts, while Mexico Guerreros are at home to the undefeated Cuba

Morocco Atlas Lions roar to victory in Kiev against Ukraine Otamans

On a night of intense World Series of Boxing (WSB) action in Kiev, Morocco Atlas Lions stunned the previously undefeated Ukraine Otamans to win their second match in a row, while subjecting Ukraine to their first loss of the season.

The new Moroccan Franchise have surprised many boxing fans with their brilliant performances over the past two weeks, but more than deserved their 3-2 victory away from home.

They began with a victory at Flyweight (52 kg) where Achraf Kharroubi won his first match of the season against Maksym Fatych via unanimous decision.

A second success for the Atlas Lions occurred at Lightweight (60 kg) as Abdellah Boudrar gave Ukraine’s Oleg Prudkyi his first loss of Season V according to all three judges.

Morocco sealed the overall victory in match number three, when Welterweight (69 kg) Mohammed Rabii went 2-0 in the competition with a split decision win over Oleg Zubenko.

Ukraine Otamans improved in the last two bouts however, beginning at Light heavyweight (81 kg) as European Junior Championships silver medallist Oleksandr Khyzhniak won his second match of the season against Holland’s Peter Mullenberg on points.

Home favourite Taras Neudachyn then clawed back another win for Ukraine at Super heavyweight (91+ kg) when he outpointed Abouhamada Abdeljalil.

After their second spectacular win, Morocco Atlas Lions are away next week to China Dragons who have yet to taste victory this season, while Ukraine Otamans will look to shake off this defeat away to Algeria Desert Hawks.

Puerto Rico Hurricanes pick up third win of the season against Caciques Venezuela

After losing in Italy last week, the Puerto Rico Hurricanes returned to winning ways in San Juan with a resounding 4-1 victory over Caciques Venezuela.

Puerto Rico have now won three out of their four World Series of Boxing (WSB) matches this season, while the new Venezuelan Franchise have only picked up a victory in one of their bouts.

Jeyvier Cintrón Ocasio is one of the most exciting prospects in the entire Flyweight (52 kg) division, and he picked up his second win of the season against the previously undefeated Eduard Johan Bermúdez Salas, stopping his South American opponent in the first round.

Puerto Rican Lightweight (60 kg) Jose Rosario also picked up his second win in a row, this time in closer fashion when he beat Venezuelan debutant Fradimil Macayo via split decision.

Welterweight (69 kg) Nicklaus Flaz then improved his WSB record to 1-1 against Caciques star Gabriel Maestre Perez who lost his first match of the campaign via unanimous decision.

With the match already in the bag for the Hurricanes, home favourite Light heavyweight (81 kg) Joseph Laboy lost on points to the 2-0 Albert Ramon Ramirez Duran.

The victories continued at Super heavyweight (91+ kg) however, as Clayton Laurent Jr defeated Edgar Ramon Munoz Mata on points.

Next week, Puerto Rico Hurricanes travel away to Astana Arlans Kazakhstan, while Caciques Venezuela are at home to Argentina Condors.

Amazing Azerbaijan Baku Fires do not lose a round against Rafako Hussars Poland

World Series of Boxing (WSB) Season IV runners-up Azerbaijan Baku Fires came into this Group B fixture having lost their last two matches, but returned to winning ways with a flawless 5-0 victory over Rafako Hussars Poland.

During the course of the five fights, no Azeri boxer lost a single round against their Polish opponents, in one of the most one-sided matches in the history of the competition.

The night began at Flyweight (52 kg) as home favourite Elvin Mamishzada won his first match of the season against Poland’s Grzegorz Kozlowski via incredibly wide margins, with two judges awarding him the fight 50:43, while the third had it 50:42.

Lightweight (60 kg) WSB legend Albert Selimov then enjoyed a similarly decisive win over Dawid Michelus, as he did not lose a single round during their bout.

The perfect run continued for The Baku Fires at Welterweight (69 kg) when Azerbaijan’s Parviz Baghirov also won every single frame against Ireland’s 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Steven Donnelly to secure the match for his Franchise.

Light heavyweight (81 kg) Soltan Migitinov then won all of the first four rounds against Poland’s Jordan Kuliński, before stopping his opponent in the fifth.

The last match of the night was at Super heavyweight (91+ kg) and Azerbaijan’s Arslanbek Makhmudov responded superbly after being stopped two weeks ago by winning widely over Mantas Valavicius.

Azerbaijan Baku Fires will have all the confidence in the world next week away to USA Knockouts, while Rafako Hussars Poland are at home to Italia Thunder.

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan dominate USA Knockouts to remain undefeated in WSB

Both Astana Arlans Kazakhstan and USA Knockouts entered this Group B World Series of Boxing (WSB) contest having won their first three matches of the season, but after five fights in Karaganda City, the Astana Arlans remained undefeated with a whitewash 5-0 victory.

The night began at Flyweight (52 kg) where Miras Zhakupov recovered well from losing the first round with a comfortable victory against 1-1 American Brent Venegas III.

Kazak Lightweight (60 kg) Yerzhan Mussafirov won his opening match of Season V against fellow debutant Maliek Dawnnell Montgomery in close fashion, with a narrow split decision verdict going in his favour.

Astana Arlans Welterweight (69 kg) star Aslanbek Shymbergenov secured the win for his Franchise with another split decision win against American Brian Ceballo.

Ceballo struggled in the early part of the fight, but despite losing he will take great confidence from dominating the last two rounds of their bout.

The fourth fight was at Light heavyweight (81 kg), and Croatia’s Hrvoje Sep earned his second win of Season V for Kazakhstan against Steven Nelson, winning widely on two scorecards, and by a single round on the third.

Giant Croatian Super heavyweight (91+ kg) Filip Hrgovic secured the whitewash for Kazakhstan by knocking out Brandon Glanton in round two of their fight.

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan look for their fifth win in a row next week at home to Puerto Rico Hurricanes, while USA Knockouts will aim to return to winning ways as they entertain Azerbaijan Baku Fires.

Ovtcharov & Liu strike gold in Baku to qualify for ITTF World Cups

ITTF

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) and LIU Jia (AUT) have qualified for the 2015 ITTF Men’s & Women’s World Cups by striking gold at the NN Table Tennis Club 2015 ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 6 – 8 February 2015.

The NN Table Tennis Club 2015 ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup is the European continental qualifications for the Men’s & Women’s World Cups later in the year, with the top three placed players gaining direct qualification to the prestigious events.

In a tense final against Marcos FREITAS (POR), OVTCHAROV recovered from 3-1 deficit to overcome the defending champion in a 7-games thriller (10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4).

After his victory, the top seeded German shared “Actually I was not playing badly, I was in the lead in the first game, but when I lost it, it gave advantage to Marcos. He played very well today, and I had to give my best.”

Dimitrij Ovtcharov & Liu Jia have qualified for the ITTF World Cups!

“It was especially difficult in the final after the tough semifinal against Panagiotis. After that tense semifinal match, the main task for me was to calm down and to prepare myself for the final” added the 26-year-old who won his semifinal against Panagiotis GIONIS (GRE) by the slightest margins.

For the Women’s gold medal match, surprise finalist Petrissa SOLJA (GER) could not repeat the success of her male counterpart, losing to the defending champion, LIU Jia (AUT) in 5 games (3-11, 14-12, 8-11, 3-11, 9-11).

The top seeded Austrian had an error-free performance in the final and joked that she had played like a machine. “I think Petrissa was a little bit nervous, and on the other hand, I played one of my best matches here.”

Other than OVTCHAROV & LIU, Marcos FREITAS (POR) and Panagiotis GIONIS (GRE), as well as Petrissa SOLJA (GER) and Irene IVANCAN (GER), who took the second and third places in the Men’s & Women’s Singles respectively, have also gained direct qualifications to the 2015 ITTF Men’s & Women’s World Cups.

With the NN Table Tennis Club 2015 ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup concluded, all eyes now turn to the first Super Series of the US$3,000,000 GAC Group 2015 World Tour in Kuwait, which starts on 11 Feb 2015.

FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS RESULTS: 8 February 2015

Please find below Sunday’s results from the 2015 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II first round ties taking place on 7-8 February.

In the World Group semifinals, on 18-19 April, Russia will be at home to Germany, while France will be away to Czech Republic.

Maria Sharapova photo credit upi.com

Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland and USA, the four winners in World Group II, have qualified for the World Group play-offs on 18-19 April, where they will be joined by the four World Group first round losers, Australia, Canada, Italy and Poland.

Belarus, Japan, Paraguay and Serbia, who all qualified from their respective Zone Group I events which finished on Saturday, will contest the World Group II play-offs on 18-19 April, where they will be joined by the four World Group II losers, Argentina, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

The draw for the World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs will be held at the ITF offices in London on Tuesday 10 February at 10:00 GMT. The seeds will be based on the new Fed Cup Nations Ranking of 9 February.

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 99 nations entered in 2015. The event celebrated its 50th birthday in 2013 in the ITF’s centenary year. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Fed Cup. Adecco (Official HR Sponsor) is an international sponsor and beIN SPORTS is the Official Global Media Rights Partner. Follow all the action on http://www.fedcup.com, http://www.fedcup.com/es, http://www.twitter.com/fedcup, http://www.facebook.com/FedCup, http://www.Weibo.com/fedcupofficial and http://www.fedcup.tv.

Serena Williams, photo credi Александр Осипов
https://www.flickr.com/photos/da_belkin/6959258742/in/photolist-bAY2aG-bAXDjE-9gY3Nx-bPSgHc-bPShya-bPShJ8-bPSgL6-bAXDrh-bAXDAy-bAXEq7-bPSiLT-bAXCyh-bAXE35-bPSipD-bAXEE3-bPSE64-bB1nV3-bPSEg6-bB1nfs-bB1mCy-bPShg4-bPSC1M-bB1nJS-bPSEh2-bPV23c-bPV1Tv-bB1n1w-bAY1C1-bB1nMj-bAY1Nm-bPSDTk-bPSF6c-bB1n3W-bPSi2k-bPV14a-bAY1SL-bPV35F-bPSEEi-bPSEUi-bAY1L5-bAXDBE-bB1ocN-bB1nTs-bAY1Hy-bPSj7Z-bB1n7q-bB1mWo-bAY2gA-bPSEj8-bPV12V

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

CZECH REPUBLIC defeated CANADA 4-0
Venue: PEPS, Quebec City, CAN (hard – indoors)

Karolina Pliskova (CZE) d. Francoise Abanda (CAN) 62 64
Tereza Smitkova (CZE) d. Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) 61 62
Karolina Pliskova (CZE) d. Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) 64 62
Francoise Abanda (CAN) v Tereza Smitkova (CZE) not played
Denisa Allertova/Lucie Hradecka (CZE) d. Francoise Abanda/Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) 61 76(2)

FRANCE defeated ITALY 3-2
Venue: 105 Stadium, Genoa, ITA (clay – indoors)

Sara Errani (ITA) d. Caroline Garcia (FRA) 76(2) 75
Camila Giorgi (ITA) d. Alize Cornet (FRA) 64 62
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. Sara Errani (ITA) 64 63
Caroline Garcia (FRA) d. Camila Giorgi (ITA) 46 60 62
Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci (ITA) 61 62

RUSSIA defeated POLAND 4-0
Venue: Krakow Arena, Krakow, POL (hard – indoors)

Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 64 26 62
Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 60 63
Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 61 75
Urszula Radwanska (POL) v Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) not played
Vitalia Diatchenko/Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Klaudia Jans-Ignacik/Alicja Rosolska (POL) 64 64

GERMANY defeated AUSTRALIA 4-1
Venue: Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, GER (hard – indoors)

Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) d. Angelique Kerber (GER) 46 62 64
Andrea Petkovic (GER) d. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 64 36 1210
Angelique Kerber (GER) d. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 62 64
Andrea Petkovic (GER) d. Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) 63 36 86
Julia Goerges/Sabine Lisicki (GER) d. Casey Dellacqua/Olivia Rogowska (AUS) 67(2) 76(7) [10-6]

WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND

NETHERLANDS defeated SLOVAKIA 4-1
Venue: Omnisport Apeldoorn, Apeldoorn, NED (clay – indoors)

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) d. Kiki Bertens (NED) 62 75
Arantxa Rus (NED) d. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 63 64
Kiki Bertens (NED) d. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 61 26 61
Arantxa Rus (NED) d. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) 63 26 64
Richel Hogenkamp/Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. Kristina Kucova/Kristina Schmiedlova (SVK) 75 61

ROMANIA defeated SPAIN 3-2
Venue: Danube Arena, Galati, ROU (hard – indoors)

Simona Halep (ROU) d. Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 62 61
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) d. Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) 63 62
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) d. Simona Halep (ROU) 64 63
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) d. Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 62 64
Irina-Camelia Begu/Monica Niculescu (ROU) d. Anabel Medina Garrigues/Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 57 63 62

SWITZERLAND defeated SWEDEN 3-1
Venue: Helsingborg Arena, Helsingborg, SWE (hard – indoors)

Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 76(4) 60
Belinda Bencic (SUI) d. Johanna Larsson (SWE) 61 62
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. Johanna Larsson (SWE) 63 76(5)
Rebecca Peterson (SWE) v Belinda Bencic (SUI) not played
Johanna Larsson/Rebecca Peterson (SWE) d. Viktorija Golubic/Xenia Knoll (SUI) 57 62 [10-5]

USA defeated ARGENTINA 4-1
Venue: Pilara Tennis Club, Buenos Aires (clay – outdoors)

Venus Williams (USA) d. Paula Ormaechea (ARG) 63 62
Serena Williams (USA) d. Maria Irigoyen (ARG) 75 60
Paula Ormaechea (ARG) d. CoCo Vandeweghe (USA) 64 64
Venus Williams (USA) d. Maria Irigoyen (ARG) 61 64
Taylor Townsend/CoCo Vandeweghe (USA) d. Tatiana Bua/Nadia Podoroska (ARG) 62 63

CAVB Coaches Commission Provides More Bright Future In Africa

2015 CAVB Coaches Commission Meeting

CAVB Coaches Commission held its meeting in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday with new ideas to raise the coaches activity to a higher level in presence of CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani and the commission president Sherif El Shemerly.

Elwani praised the efforts done by the coaches in Africa to improve the level of the sport at all levels and asked the commission to put on table more proposals to promote both volleyball and beach volleyball.

CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani

El Shemely started the meeting with a presentation of the CAVB Coaches report at the FIVB Coaches commission last week and showed the items of progress in 2014.

He then showed the organised coaches courses in 2014 and the calendar of courses in 2015 at the National, regional and continental levels.

The commission also discussed the Coaches Aid Program and coaches scholarship which was proposed in the last year’s meeting.

The meeting was attended by CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani, Coaches Commission President Sherif El Shemerly, Mayam Blaise, Oghuma Tony, Bernard Denise, Moustafa Ahchouche, Adam Kpenoukoundehow and CAVB Executive Director Howyda Mondy.

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