WATER POLO WORLD LEAGUES 2015: EUROPEAN SQUADS THRILL

With another thrilling year for international water polo in sight, world-class players and their national teams are already making waves in the European preliminaries. In round 3 of the home-and-away games held on December 29, 2014, Olympic champions Croatia beat Montenegro 14-8 in Rijeka.

A total 13 teams are taking part in the qualification phase for Europe, divided in the following groups:

Group A: Hungary, Greece, Romania, Slovakia
Group B: Serbia, Russia, Germany, Spain
Group C: Montenegro, Italy, Croatia, Turkey and France

Round 4 on January 20, 2015 will see Greece meeting current World champions Hungary in Athens (GRE); Romania receives Slovakia in Bucharest (ROU); Russia faces five-time World League winner Serbia in Astrakhan City (RUS); Germany plays Spain in Bremen (GER); 2014 World League bronze medallist Montenegro meets Turkey in Budva (MNE) while Italy, 2012 Olympic silver medallists, will pit their strength against the Croatians in Turin (ITA).

Meanwhile, teams from the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania (to be announced soon) are gearing up for the upcoming FINA World League Intercontinental Tournament to be held from March 30 to April 4, 2015 in Corona del Mar (USA).

A total eight teams will earn a ticket for the men’s Super Final taking place in Bergamo, Italy on June 23-28, 2015: four from Europe, including host Italy, and four from the Intercontinental tournament.
In the women’s competition, round 3 of the European preliminaries is scheduled for January 27, 2015 with the following match-ups: Russia receives Italy in Kirishi (RUS); Hungary meets France in Gyor (HUN); Greece faces reigning World champions Spain in Athens (GRE) and Germany visits the Netherlands in Drachten.

Auckland in New Zealand will welcome the teams for the women’s Intercontinental Tournament from April 28 to May 3, 2015 while the Super Final will be staged in China (city to be announced soon) on June 9-14, 2015.

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APB Ranking Phase “Matches Of Champions” Results (75kg, 81kg and 91kg)

Istanbul, Caserta and Sofia hosted the APB Ranking Round 3 matches for the Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight categories with the following results:

MIDDLE 75 KG – FRIDAY, 12 DECEMBER (21:00 GMT +2)

Location: Istanbul, Venue: Caferaga Spor Salonu

Home star and World Championships bronze medalist Adem Kilicci defeated Egypt’s All-Africa Games bronze medallist Hosam Abdin on points to continue his undefeated start to the competition.

European Boxing Champion Artem Chebotarev also defeated Dmytro Mytrofanov on points, and he will face Kilicci in the next Round for the Ranking Title.

Match Results:

Marlo DELG ADO (ECU) vs Michel TAVARES (FRA) W.P.

Nickson ABAKA (KEN) vs Bogdan JURATONI (BUL) W.P.

Artem CHEBOTAREV (RUS) W.P. vs Dmytro MYTROFANOV (UKR)

Adem KILICCI (TUR) W.P. vs Hosam ABDIN (EGY)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT 81 KG – FRIDAY, 12 DECEMBER (19:30 GMT +2)

Location: Sofia – Venue: Universiada Hall

London 2012 Olympian Ehsan Rouzbahani, defeated undefeated professional boxer Mathieu Bauderlique (FRA), and Russia’s Nikita Ivanov, the 2013 European Boxing Champion lost his first APB bout against Kennedy St Pierre.

The results mean Rouzbahani and St Pierre will fight in the next Round for the Light Heavyweight Ranking Title.

Match results:

Serge MICHEL (GER) vs Joe WARD (IRE) W.P. (54:60/ 54:60/ 54:60)

Mathieu BAUDERLOQUE (FRA) vs Ehsan ROUZBAHANI (IRI) W.P. (55:59/ 56:58/ 57:57)

Kennedy St PIERRE (MRI) T.K.O. (R5) vs Nikita IVANOV (RUS)

Spas GENOV (BUL) W.P. (58:56/ 59:55/ 58:56) vs Oybek MAMAZULUNOV (UZB)

HEAVY 91 KG – FRIDAY, 12 DECEMBER (21:00 GMT +1)

Location: Castel Morrone, Caserta – Venue: Palamaggio

Italian icon and two-time World Champion Clemente Russo defeated Asian Boxing Champion Anton Pinchuk (KAZ) on points.

Germany’s Emir Ahmatovic lost against the Russian Aleksey Egorov on points, which means Russo and Egorov will fight in the next Round for the Ranking Title.

Match results:

Chouaib BOULOUDINATS (ALG) T.K.O. (R3 2:50) vs Javonta CHARLES (USA)

Roman GOLOVASHCHENKO (UKR) W.P. (59:55/ 59:55/ 59:55) vs Yamil PERALTA (ARG)

Aleksey EGOROV (RUS) W.P. (58:56/ 59:55/ 58:56) vs Emir AHMATOVIC (GER)

Clemente RUSSO (ITA) W.P. (58:56/ 58:56/ 58:56) vs Anton PINCHUK (KAZ)

Preview Of The APB Ranking Phase- Matches For Champions

AIBA Pro Boxing has announced the first 3 matches of the Ranking Phase Round 3 that will take place this Friday December 12 in Istanbul (Turkey), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Caserta (Italy) according to the following schedule:

(Match-ups based on Week 1 and 2 Rankings)

MIDDLE 75 KG – FRIDAY, 12 DECEMBER (21:00 GMT+2)
Location: Istanbul – Venue: Caferaga Spor Salonu

Adem Kilicci, bronze medallist in the AIBA World Boxing Championship 2007, will face Hosam Abdin, All-Africa Games 2007 bronze medallist.

Artem Chebotarev, European Boxing Champion 2013, fights against Dmytro Mytrofanov, Summer Universiade 2013 gold medallist.

Both bouts give the opportunity to fight for the Title in the next Round.

Match schedule:

Marlo DELGADO (ECU) vs Michel TAVARES (FRA)
Nickson ABAKA (KEN) vs Bogdan JURATONI (BUL)
Artem CHEBOTAREV (RUS) vs Dmytro MYTROFANOV (UKR)
Adem KILICCI (TUR) vs Hosam ABDIN (EGY)

LIGHT HEAVY 81 KG – FRIDAY, 12 DECEMBER (19:30 GMT+2)
Location: Sofia – Venue: Universiada Hall

Mathieu Bauderlique, French National Champion 2011, who won his two ranking bouts in APB, will fight against Ehsan Rouzbahani, London 2012 Olympian, for a place in the Title Match.

The second place is reserved to the winner of the bout between Kennedy St Pierre, Vice Commonwealth Games Champion 2014, and Nikita Ivanov, European Boxing Champion 2013.

Match schedule:

Serge MICHEL (GER) vs Joe WARD (IRE)
Mathieu Bauderlique (FRA) vs Ehsan Rouzbahani (IRI)
Kennedy ST Pierre (MRI) vs Nikita IVANOV (RUS)
Spas GENOV (BUL) vs Oybek MAMAZULUNOV (UZB)

HEAVY 91 KG – FRIDAY, 12 DECEMBER (21:00 GMT+1)
Location: Castel Morrone, Caserta – Venue: Palamaggio

After losing his second bout, Clemente Russo, twice World Boxing Champion, will fight against Anton Pinchuk, Asian Boxing Champion 2013, to keep safe his Title options.

Javonta Charles (USA), undefeated pro boxer, returns the competition in Round 3 against Chouaib Bouloudinats, All-Africa Games 2013 gold medallist.

Match schedule:

Chouaib BOULOUDINATS (ALG) vs Javonta CHARLES (USA)
Roman GOLOVASHCHENKO (UKR) vs Yamil PERALTA (ARG)
Aleksey EGOROV (RUS) vs Emir AHMATOVIC (GER)
Clemente RUSSO (ITA) vs Anton PINCHUK (KAZ)

ITF SUPER-SENIORS WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, ANTALYA, TURKEY FINAL RESULTS – 26 OCTOBER 2014

Please find below the final results from the 2014 ITF Super-Seniors World Individual Championships in Antalya, Turkey on Sunday 26 October. A total of 636 players from 37 countries competed in singles, doubles and mixed doubles across six age categories from 60-and-over to 85-and-over on 19-26 October. Several finals were unable to be completed due to bad weather over the weekend.

The ITF Seniors and Super-Seniors World Team and Individual Championships are the premier events on the ITF Seniors Circuit. Players aged 35-and-over to 55-and-over compete in the Seniors Championships, while those aged 60-and-over to 85-and-over compete in the Super-Seniors Championships.

For further information, please visit the ITF seniors website: http://www.itftennis.com/seniors

Final results

Men’s 60 Singles

Roger Guedes (BRA) d. Javier Lazcano-Hernandez (ESP) 36 62 [10-4]

Men’s 60 Doubles

James Cameron/Keith Porter (CAN) d. Thomas Emmrich/Dan Nemes (GER) w/o.

Women’s 60 Singles

Nora Blom (NED) v. Tina Karwasky (USA) 63 66 unfinished

Women’s 60 Doubles

Nora Blom (NED)/Tina Karwasky (USA) v. Adrienne Avis/Helen Worland (AUS) not played

Mixed 60 Doubles

Caroline Glaszmann/Bruno Renoult (FRA) d. Helen Worland/Michael Collins (AUS) w/o.

Men’s 65 Singles

Jorge Camina Borda (ESP) d. Luis Flor de la Morena (ESP) 60 12 ret.

Men’s 65 Doubles

Leslie Buck/Mike Dahm (USA) d. Frans Norby/Kasper Rud (DEN) w/o.

Women’s 65 Singles

Heidi Eisterlehner (GER) d. Sylvia Bauwens (GER) 67(3) 63 [10-5]

Women’s 65 Doubles

Kerry Ballard (AUS)/Shirley Fox (GBR) d. Carol Campling (AUS)/Frances MacLennan (GBR) 40 42

Mixed 65 Doubles

Final not played

Men’s 70 Singles

Peter Adrigan (GER) d. Henk Nijeboer (GBR) 64 62

Men’s 70 Doubles

Final not played

Women’s 70 Singles

Ellie Krocke (NED) d. Heide Orth (GER) 61 62

Women’s 70 Doubles

Petro Kruger (RSA)/Heide Orth (GER) v. Jacqueline Boothman (GBR)/Ellie Krocke (NED) 20 unfinished

Mixed 70 Doubles

Petro Kruger/Kobus De La Port (RSA) d. Beverley Eddington/Lee Taylor (AUS) w/o.

Men’s 75 Singles

Don Biddle (AUS) d. Bob Howes (AUS) w/o.

Men’s 75 Doubles

Tony McBride/Donald Shears (GBR) d. Thomas L. Brunkow/ William Poist (USA) 14 42 [10-2]

Women’s 75 Singles

Inge Weber (CAN) d. Roz King (USA) 61 34 ret.

Women’s 75 Doubles

Nola Collins (AUS)/Nanda Fischer (GER) d. Dori Devries/Roz King (USA) w/o.

Mixed 75 Doubles

Nola Collins/Don Biddle (AUS) d. Joy Rigter (AUS)/Wilhelm Liska (AUT) w/o.

Men’s 80 Singles

King Van Nostrand (USA) d. George McCabe (USA) 60 61

Men’s 80 Doubles

George McCabe/Chuck Nelson (USA) d. Lorne Main/ Gordon Verge (CAN) 40 42

Women’s 80 Singles

Ilse Michael (GER) d. Ann Fotheringham (AUS) 46 64 [10-4]

Women’s 80 Doubles

Muffie Grieve (CAN)/Jackie Zylstra (RSA) d. Emiko Saito/Chizuko Shigemitsu (JPN) 42 41

Mixed 80 Doubles

Muffie Grieve (CAN)/Max Byrne (AUS) d. Anne Williams (GBR)/Robert Barwick (AUS) 42 04 [10-3]

Men’s 85 Singles

Angelo Sala (ITA) d. Michael Novik (RUS) 2-2 ret.

Men’s 85 Doubles

Michael Novik (RUS)/Angelo Sala (ITA) d. Doug Corbett (AUS)/Vladimir Rubtsov (RUS) 26 64 [13-11]

Women’s 85 Singles

Doris Jane Lutz (USA) d. Erzsebet Szentirmay (HUN) 64 64

Women’s 85 Doubles

Round robin winners: Betty Howard (GBR)/Erzsebet Szentirmay (HUN)

Mixed 85 Doubles

Doris Jane Lutz (USA)/Doug Corbett (AUS) d. Erzsebet Szentirmay (HUN)/Michael Novik (RUS) w/o.

ITF SUPER-SENIORS WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL RESULTS – 18 OCTOBER 2014

Results of the 2014 ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships in Antalya, Turkey on Saturday 18 October.

The Championships took place from the 13-18 October, with 156 teams from 30 countries competing in ten events for players aged from 60-and-over to 80 and-over.

The ITF Super-Seniors World Individual Championships are taking place in Antalya next week on 19-26 October.

The ITF Seniors and Super-Seniors World Team and Individual Championships are the premier events on the ITF Seniors Circuit. Players aged 35-and-over to 55-and-over compete in the Seniors Championships, while those aged 60-and-over to 85-and-over compete in the Super-Seniors Championships.

Final results

Von Cramm Cup (Men’s 60)

FRANCE defeated USA 2-1:
Anthony Dawson (USA) d. Didier Kaisserian (FRA) 36 75 76(3)
Marc Renoult (FRA) d. Geoffrey Cykman (USA) 76[4] 75
Marc Renoult/Didier Kaisserian (FRA) d. Anthony Dawson/Thomas Smith (USA) 57 63 75

Britannia Cup (Men’s 65)

SPAIN defeated SWITZERLAND 3-0:
Luis Flor (ESP) d. Rene Bortolani (SUI) 64 61
Jorge Camina (ESP) d. Petr Kolacek (SUI) 61 64
Luis Flor/Juan Ruiz (ESP) d. Petr Kolacek/Andreas Szocsik (SUI) w/o

Jack Crawford Cup (Men’s 70)

FRANCE defeated AUSTRIA 2-1:
Francois Pierson (FRA) d. Klaus Kreuzhuber (AUT) 61 62
Peter Pokorny (AUT) d. Patrice Beust (FRA) 63 60
Patrice Beust/Francois Pierson (FRA) d. Peter Pokorny/Gerhard Strassl (AUT) 75 63

Bitsy Grant Cup (Men’s 75)

AUSTRALIA defeated GERMANY 2-1:
Horst Hatti (GER) d. Bruce Rehn (AUS) 63 63
Robert Howes (AUS) d. Heinz Klainemas (GER) 63 63
Robert Howes/John Mansfield (AUS) d. Klaus Haas/Horst Hatti 60 62

Gardnar Mulloy Cup (Men’s 80)

USA defeated GERMANY 3-0:
John Powless (USA) d. Wilfried Mahler (GER) 63 61
King Van Nostrand (USA) d. Herbert Althaus (GER) 61 61
Neil Hurlbut/George McCabe (USA) d. Guenter Schwellnus/Bruno Ackernecht (GER) 63 61

Alice Marble (Women’s 60)

GREAT BRITAIN defeated USA 2-1:
Sally Freeman (GBR) d. Sherri Bronson (USA) 61 75
Tina Karwasky (USA) d. Frances Candy (GBR) 75 62.
Pauline Fisher/Sally Freeman (GBR) d. Tina Karwasky/Sherri Bronson (USA) 61 46 64

Kitty Godfree Cup (Women’s 65)

USA defeated FRANCE 3-0:
Brenda Carter (USA) d. Martine Monlibert (FRA) 16 64 64
Martha Downing (USA) d. Gail Benedetti (FRA) 64 26 61
Carol Clay/Kathleen Bennett (USA) d. Gail Benedetti/Marie-Ann Sevestre-Ghisolfi (FRA) w/o.

Althea Gibson Cup (Women’s 70)

GERMANY defeated FRANCE 2-1:
Sylvie Galfard-Kirsten (FRA) d. Hanne Eckert (GER) 63 75
Heide Orth (GER) d. Michele Bichon (FRA) 76[6] 67[5] 63
Brigitte Hoffmann/Christel Knapp (GER) d. Michele Bichon/Sylvie Galfard-Kirsten (FRA) 76[3] 63

Queens Cup (Women’s 75)

USA defeated GERMANY 3-0:
Roz King (USA) d. Annetraut Bauwens (GER) 63 67[1] 62
Doris De Vries (USA) d. Nanda Fischer (GER) 76[0] 67[9] 10 ret.
Burnett Herrick/Ria Graham (USA) d. Ileana Von Onciul/Annetraut Bauwens (GER) 62 61

Doris Hart Cup (Women’s 80)

CANADA defeated FRANCE 2-1:
Rosemarie Asch (CAN) d. Mireille Giraud (FRA) 62 61
Odile Niox-Chateau (FRA) d. Muffie Grieve (CAN) 36 63 [10-6]
Rosemarie Asch/Muffie Grieve (CAN) d. Colette Valere Chochod/Sabine Leflaive (FRA) 62 62

APB Announces The Middleweights Making Up The 75kg Category

An exciting group of middleweights will make up the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) 75kg category, with a fantastic field of fighters including international superstars and continental conquerors each looking to grasp that all important Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualification place.

Amongst the squadron of elite athletes striving to book their tickets to the Brazilian capital is rugged Romanian and 2011 World Boxing Championships bronze medalist Bogdan Juratoni, who has his sights firmly set on becoming the first ever APB World Champion in the middleweight category.

Juratoni, who also won silver in the 2013 European Boxing Championships in Minsk, said: “AIBA Pro Boxing PB is definitely a good thing. You can be professional at the same time as retaining your Olympic eligibility, so it’s a positive step for the sport.

“I’m ready to compete and my aim is to be the first middleweight World Champion in APB. I was at the London 2012 Olympic Games and it was an incredible experience. For that reason I want to go to Rio, and I believe that APB provides a great opportunity for me to qualify.”

AIBA Pro Boxing PB, photo credit AIBA

Lining up alongside Juratoni in the competition is multi-decorated Turk Adem Kilicci. Kilicci has won a host of medals in international tournaments in a glittering boxing career, including the bronze medal in the 2007 World Boxing Championships and gold in the 2013 Mediterranean Games.

French idol and World Series of Boxing (WSB) veteran Michel ‘Le Cubain’ Tavares and Egyptian 2007 All-Africa Games bronze medalist Hosam Abdin are also in the middleweight mix, together with rangy Russian Artem Chebotarev who won the gold medal in the European Boxing Championships in 2010.

Completing the 75kg group are German WSB star Xhek Paskali, 2013 Summer Universiade gold medalist Dmytro Mytrofanov from Ukraine and London 2012 Olympian from Ecuador Marlo Delgado who concludes the pack of APB boxers eager to make their quest for qualification a successful one.

Cameroon Prepare In France For The Women’s World Championship

Cameroon Women’s Volleyball team is now building up to the 2014 World championship in Italy with a training camp at fit Bolioris and St Africa in France until August 28.

The team leaves this camp to Slovenia on August 28 for the fourth stage of preparation before having another stage in Poland ahead of the World Championship in Italy.

Cameroon team started their first stage of preparation on June 5 a physical training in their country followed by a tainting camp in Turkey from 18 June to 14 July 2014 for another physical preparation.

Cameroon Women’s Volleyball team-Backline spiking

For coaches Jean Rene Akono and Eone Joseph Nane, this first phase was essentially physical and that is why they selected 21 players.

“After 18 days of intense work, we were able to play a friendly match against Turkey Junior team that we won as we won 3-1(25-18, 24-26, 25-23, 25-20),” Nane said.

“When we started our technical preparation, my ladies were able to apply all the strategies after they reached a good physical stage.”

After this brief stay in Turkey, the Cameroonian delegation returned to Cameroon to continue training till they left for Italy for a month of preparation under supervision of the French coach Alexander Ghibaudo who is a specialist in physical preparation.

The Cameroonian team lost 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 25-25, 15-25,11-15) against a selection of Italian players.

For the coaches, the defeat of the team in that game and in the absence of some European based players wasn’t a bad result.

Cameroon will be one of 2 Teams who will represent Africa in the World Championship with Tunisia. Cameroon will line up in Pool B against Brazil, Serbia, Turkey, Canada and Bulgaria.

Cameroon Volleyball team with the staff

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Rising Talents To Step Up At Junior Worlds This August!

This August and September, a wealth of talents will make their debut on the international stage in four FINA disciplines – synchronised swimming, water polo, open water swimming and diving – with the organisation of FINA World Youth and Juniors Championships.

The 14th FINA World Junior Synchro Championships kick off Yesterday, July 30 in Helsinki, Finland with more than 260 swimmers from 34 countries to fight for top honours in solo, duet, team and free combination for five days.

Meanwhile in Istanbul, Turkey (August 2-10) the second edition of the FINA World Men’s Youth Water Polo Championships (18 & U) will bring together 20 teams from the strongest and rising nations in the sport. The women’s Championships will follow two weeks later in Madrid, Spain with 16 teams.

In September (5-7), fresh faces of the open water stage will take the plunge in the Lake of Balaton, Hungary for the second edition of the event while Penza, Russia will welcome the world’s best diving talents from the 9th to 14th for a 20th edition of Junior Worlds.

AIBA Selects Major Cities To Host All Major AIBA Competitions For 2015 And 2016

Winning Cities to Host All AIBA Major Competitions for 2015 and 2016 were Selected

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) is pleased to announce the results of the bidding for AIBA’s major competitions to be held in 2015 and 2016, as well as for the Olympic Qualifying Events for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The host cities were selected by the AIBA Executive Committee Members in a secret ballot on July 17th during their meeting currently being held in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Executive Committee Members selected the following Host Cities, further to the bid presentations made by all candidates yesterday:

• St. Petersburg won to host the 2015 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships

• Taipei will host the AOB Women’s Junior/Youth World Championships

• Astana, Kazakhstan, won to host the 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships

• Yaounde, Cameroon, won to host the 2016 AOB African Olympic Qualifying Event

• Buenos Aires won to host the 2016 AOB American Olympic Qualifying Event

• Qian’an, China, won to host the AOB Asian/Oceania Olympic Qualifying Event

• St Petersburg won to host the 2016 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships

• Istanbul won to host the 2016 AOB European Olympic Qualifying Event

• Baku, Azerbaijan, won to host the 2016 Final AOB World Olympic Qualifying Event

Cameroon Women Prepare In Turkey For World Championship

Cameroon Volleyball Women’s team started their real preparations for the 2014 in Italy through a camp in Istanbul, Turkey this weekend.

The African representative will be playing friendly matches there with local clubs in an attempt for their head coach Nane Eone to test his players ahead of the prestigious event.

The coach who led Cameroon to the finals through the exciting qualification in Algeria asked his players to have a discipline inside and outside the court during the camp because it will be the main item of evaluation during the World Championship.

Cameroon Women team start preparations for World Championship

Cameroon qualified for the World Championship through African Pool T in Algeria where they won the six nation tournament along with Egypt, Algeria, Botswana, Nigeria and DR Congo.

Cameroon will compete in Pool B at the World championship in Italy with Brazil, Serbia, Turkey, Canada and Bulgaria.

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Iran reach first final and Serbia still in contention while Cuba take Group 3 gold

Iran booked their place in the World League final for the first time in their history with a convincing 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-22) victory over Poland in Tehran on Sunday evening.

The result means Iran move level on points with Italy at the top of Pool A and look forward to a double-header with bottom-placed Poland in the final pool matches (4-5 July).

“When we started the World League with two defeats, nobody believed in my team but we proved that we have the quality to go through,” said Iran coach Slobodan Kovac. “It’s important that we win our next matches in Poland and finish top of the group.”

The Iranian team gave notice of their intentions by racing into a 4-0 lead in the first set and, despite a solid start from Poland in set two, never looked like relinquishing their advantage at the Azadi Sports Complex.

A hard-fought third set came to an end when the home team took four successive points to settle the match thanks to a towering spike from Amir Ghafour.

In Pool B, Serbia kept their hopes alive of a place in the final with a straightforward 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-14) win over Bulgaria in Nis. Serbia now sit one point behind second-placed Russia going into the final round of matches.

Results elsewhere on week six mean France are still dreaming of qualifying for the final six in Firenze (16-20 July) thanks to a powerful 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 25-16) win over Argentina.

Led by top scorer Mory Sidibé, with 13 points, the result means that France qualify for Group 2’s final four in Sydney (11-13 July), although coach Laurent Tillie says his side “have to improve in many areas” if they are to finish among the honours.

They could be joined in Australia by the Netherlands, who had to work hard to earn a 3-2 (25-21, 25-27, 18-25, 25-19, 15-9) victory over Korea at the Chungmu Indoor Gymnasium in Daejeon.

Inspired by the strong serving of Robin Overbeeke and the quick attacks of Michael Parkinson, the Netherlands kept the faith after seeing their 1-0 lead from the first set turn into a 2-1 deficit. They finished the day sitting on top of Pool E.

Iran’s Adel Gholami spikes against the Polish one-man block by Piotr Nowakowski
Photo Credit: FIVB Media

GROUP 3 GOLD FOR CUBA, CHINA TAKE BRONZE

There was gold for Cuba in Group 3 as they won a gruelling five-setter (26-24, 19-25, 25-20, 21-25, 16-14) against hosts Turkey to edge the final match in Bursa.

The Turks had been the only team to beat Cuba in this year’s World League, in the Intercontinental Round, but despite their best efforts were unable to repeat that success on Sunday in front of a spirited home crowd.

Captain Rolando Cepeda led the way for Cuba with 28 points, ably supported by Santiago Uriarte (22), while Turkey top scorer was Toy Metin (17).

The bronze medal in Group 3 went to China, who had lost narrowly to Cuba in Saturday’s semifinal.

The Chinese, who had lost 3-0 to their Slovakian opponents 15 days earlier, dropped the first set but fought back to win 3-1 (21-25, 39-37, 25-23, 25-19), with victory in the second set – the longest in the competition so far – giving them a huge boost.

There was joy too for Japan. In their final FIVB Volleyball World League match of the season, Masashi Nambu’s side recovered from throwing away a two set advantage to record their first win, beating Germany 3-2 (25-22, 25-22, 14-25, 23-25, 17-15).

“Since this team started out a year-and-a-half ago we have suffered so much,” said Japan captain Yu Koshikawa, who scored 22 points for his side. “Now we have finally won, and we can see what winning feels like. I think it will accelerate our growth as a team.”

FIVB World League Final Group 3, Coaches expect tough competition

The coaches of teams participating in the FIVB World League final Group 3 and their team captains collectively stated in the press conference that the competition at the extra ordinary tournament in Bursa, Turkey will be very tough and Hosts Turkey along with Cuba, China and Slovakia have equal chances to claim the first position when the finals get underway on Saturday.

The press conference was held at Crowne Plaza, in Bursa on Saturday ahead of the Semifinal matches on Saturday where Cuba take on China at 14.00 local time, while hosts Turkey will play Slovakia at 17.00.

FIVB Control Committee President Mrs. Marta Centeno, Vice President of Turkish Volleyball Federation Mr. Akif Ustundag, Bursa Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Mr. Suleyman Sahin and Vice president of Bursa Metropilitan Municipalty Mr. Abdullah Karadag attended the meeting with the captains and coaches of four participating teams, China, Cuba, Slovakia and Turkey.

China coach Xie Gouchen, stated that they have been welcomed very well in Bursa and said “First of all we would like to thank to Turkish Volleyball Federation. When we arrived, we saw a great hall and have been welcomed with a great hospitality. This is the first time in Turkey, most of us. Turkish league is one of the top leagues in the world. We will learn each other during the tournament. For the match tomorrow, we will have a good preparation. Cuba is a very strong team. We will do our best and learn from Cuba team also.”

China Captain Zhong Weijun commented that they are very happy to be in Bursa and qualify for the finals and they want to show a good effort.

FIVB Volleyball Word League 2014 Final Four, Press Conference

Rodolfo Luis Sanchez, coach of Cuba team, said “This is a great opportunity to be here. Our team came to the finals very strong. Tomorrow we will do our best against China.” and captain of Cuba Rolando Cepeda added “It does not matter how many matches you played in the past. We have to play good. We want the trophy of Group 3 Finals.”

Slovakia coach Flavio Gulinelli mentioned the excellence of facilities in Bursa: “First of all thanks to the organization for very good facilities. We hope to be in condition to exchange a good performance on the court. Being here is a good opportunity for our team. We would like to perform as good as we can in this tournament.”

“We will try to do our best. We are happy to participate in this organization. We will play against Turkey. We hope to play good volleyball and win against home team.” said Emanuel Kohut, captain of Slovakia.”

Emanuele Zanini, coach of Turkish National Team, stressed that there is difference in Women’s and Men’s volleyball: “I think women’s volleyball is one thing and men’s volleyball is another. These are two different worlds. Turkish league improved a lot. There will be a lot of great players in Turkey next season. It’s a pleasure to be here. We are here not for just we are organizer but we deserved it. We are here because we are the second placed team of our group. China, Cuba and Slovakia are all more experienced than us and higher in the world rankings than us. We hope that a lot of people to join and sport us in Bursa. We will do our best. We have great hope and will try to reach the final.”

Italian coach of Turkey Emanuele Zanini, who was in charge for the Slovakian team for 4 years, said that he is happy to compete against his old team: “It is pleasure to meet some players and people that I coached for 4 years. We won European League twice. It was an important experience and gave me satisfaction. We met last season and the match was very close. We lost 3-2 in the European championship. Tomorrow will be another fight. I hope the final result will be different.”

Captain of the hosting team, Arslan Eksi stated that they are very proud of hosting the Group 3 Finals in Bursa and expects a good support from their fans: “We are very proud to host FIVB World League Group 3 Finals. We are the host team and that is an advantage for us but we have three strong opponents. We played well during the group matches. If we will play our own game against Slovakia, I believe we will reach the final. This is an important competition for Men’s volleyball in Turkey. We want to be permanently in World League. We hope our fans will be there and support us as they do every time.”