ITF SENIORS WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL RESULTS

ITF SENIORS WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, FLORIDA, USA

FINAL RESULTS

Men’s 35 Doubles

Marc Leimbach/Daniel Dolbea(GER) d. Mark Beim/Alan Macdonald (GBR) 62 46 [10-5]

Mixed 35 Doubles

Angelika Roesch/Daniel Dolbea (GER) d. Stephanie Kolar/Matthias Mueller (GER) 21 ret.

Men’s 40 Singles

Bart Beks (NED) d. Ricardo Mena (PAR) 64 62

Men’s 40 Doubles

Bart Beks/Sander Groen (NED) d. Carlos Gomez Diaz (ARG)/Ricardo Mena (PAR) 62 64

Women’s 40 Singles

Sandrine Testud (FRA) d. Tsvetelina Nikolova (BUL) 75 63

Women’s 40 Doubles

Sussy Boyanovich/Karim Strohmeier-Merino (PER) d. Eva Peczely (GER)/Lucie Schwab (AUT) w/o

Mixed 40 Doubles

Sandrine Testud (FRA)/Edoardo Mazza (ITA) d. Piret Ilves (EST)/Christian Findeisen (GER) 62 63

Men’s 45 Singles

Eoin Collins (USA) d. Frank Vermeer (NED) 63 46 63

Men’s 45 Doubles

Aldo Burga/Ricardo Mendevil (USA) d. Carl Clark/Mario Tabares (USA) 36 64 [10-7]

Women’s 45 Singles

Julie Cass (USA) d. Karim Strohmeier-Merino (PER) 46 64 63

Women’s 45 Doubles

Sybille Niox-Chateau/Karine Quentrec (FRA) d. Julie Cass/Vesna McKenna (USA) 53 ret.

Mixed 45 Doubles

Monica Liliana Patron/Fernando De Marinis (ARG) d. Margaret Lumia (USA)/Carlos Gomez Diaz (ARG) 62 64

Men’s 50 Doubles

Mikael Pernfors/Tobias Svantesson (SWE) d. Alain Moracchini/Konstantinos Effraimoglu (GRE) 60 62

Women’s 50 Doubles

Ros Balodis/Leanne Swaysland (AUS) d. Vicki Buholz/Judy Newman (USA) 76(4) 16 [10-5]

Mixed 50 Doubles

Erika Smith/Rick Leach (USA) d. Brenda Foster (AUS)/Chris Hearn (GBR) 64 64

Men’s 55 Doubles

Mike Tammen/Daniel Waldman (USA) d. Wesley Cash/Mark Vines (USA) 64 64
Women’s 55 Doubles

Pamela Cooke/Carolyn Nichols (USA) d. Mary Ginnard/Tina Karwasky (USA) 46 63 [10-7]

Mixed 55 Doubles

Christine French/Paul French (GBR) d. Ros Balodis/Colin Holgate (AUS) 67(5) 62 [10-7]

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. Starting with one team trophy in 1958, and four individual events in 1981, the competitions have grown to offer a total of 72 World Championship titles each year to teams, and in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. The 2014 ITF Super-Seniors World Team and Individual Championships will be held in Antalya, Turkey in October.

ITF SENIORS WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, FLORIDA, USA, RESULTS

ITF SENIORS WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, FLORIDA, USA

RESULTS SATURDAY 3 MAY

Men’s 35 Singles

Roberto Menendez Ferre (ESP) d. Kresimir Ritz (CRO) 61 63

Women’s 35 Singles

Angelika Roesch (GER) d. Patricia Zerdan (USA) 62 60

Women’s 35 Doubles

Simona Bruetting/Gee-Gee Garvin (USA) d. Mifumi Emoto (JPN)/Mami Inoue (USA) 36 63 [10-7]

Men’s 50 Singles

Mikael Pernfors (SWE) d. Massimiliano Pace (ITA) 62 62

Women’s 50 Singles

Fran Chandler (USA) d. Marie-Christine Calleja (FRA) 62 64

Men’s 55 Singles

Glenn Busby (AUS) d. Daniel Waldman (USA) 61 62

Women’s 55 Singles

Christine French (GBR) d. Diane Barker (USA) 63 26 75

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. Starting with one team trophy in 1958, and four individual events in 1981, the competitions have grown to offer a total of 72 World Championship titles each year to teams, and in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. The 2014 ITF Super-Seniors World Team and Individual Championships will be held in Antalya, Turkey in October.

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

NFF INVITES NKWOCHA, SEVEN OTHER FOREIGN PLAYERS FOR RWANDA

The Nigeria Football Federation has given approval to Super Falcons Coach Edwin Okon to beef the team up with the invitation of eight foreign based professionals
players ahead of the African Women Championship (AWC) qualifier against Rwanda.

Team administrator, Ruth David disclosed that letters of invitation has been sent to the clubs of eight of the players listed by the coach for the May 24 date with Rwanda.

She explained that all the invited players are expected to report at the Abuja camp of the Super Falcons on May 13 to enable them have a minimum of five days training with the other players before picking a squad that will play Rwanda.

The players invited are Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunnana SK,Sweden), Sarah Micheal (KIF Orebro,Sweden), Francisca Ordega (Pitea IF,Sweden), Onome Ebi (Minsk FC,Belarus), Osinachi Ohale (Houston Dash,United States), Faith Ikidi (Pitea IF,Sweden), Desire Oparanozie (Atasehir Belediyespor,Turkey) and Helen Ukaonu (Sunnana SK,Sweden).

The foreign based players are to join the 24 home based players who have been in camp for close to one month in Abuja.

Coach Edwin Okon insists that all the foreign based players must report early enough to accertain their fitness level adding that only players who are able to prove themselves would face Rwanda.

The match against the She-Amavubi of Rwanda will take place in the weekend of May 23-25.

We have learnt from Morocco matches – Ugbade

Flying Eagles assistant coach Nduka Ugbade has said they have taken a lot of lessons from last week’s friendlies against Morocco U20s.

The Flying Eagles were forced to draws in the two matches in Morocco – 2-2 in the first match and 1-1 in the second game.

“The matches showed we have to step up our game because this is a much higher level than U17,” Ugbade said.

“So, we have to work on the boys psychologically in this aspect as well as improve them on the pitch because of the demands of a high-performance level we have now found ourselves in.”

The Nigeria U20s resumed training in Abuja Monday morning with a full house that included five of the foreign-based call-ups.

They are skipper Musa Muhammed (Besiktas,Turkey), Keelchi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali (Manchester City), Musa Yahaya (Tottenham Hotspur),Chidera Eze (FC Porto, Portugal).

Nwakali will later limp out of training with a right knee complaint.

Several players were excused from Monday morning’s training on account of knocks they suffered in Morocco, but which the medical staff say are not serious.

They included three-goal hero from Morocco Alhassan Ibrahim aka ‘Mu-azam’, Bernard Bulbwa and Taiwo Awoniyi.

FIFA ref Edibe lectures Flying Eagles

FIFA referee Peter Edibe handled the Flying Eagles Monday morning training so as to take the players through the laws of the game.

The training sessions were for seven-a-side games and after which Edibe addressed the players on the need to abide by a better dress code and be mindful of infringements inside their box even when the ball is at the other end of the pitch.

Edibe said he was proud that the bulk of the U17 team, who he also took on a similar exercise last year in Calabar went on to win the FIFA Fair Play Trophy at the U17 World Cup in the UAE.

HOSSZU: “I ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING NEW, EVEN AFTER 20 YEARS OF SWIMMING!”

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu is attending the SportAccord Convention in Belek, Turkey this week. The current 200m and 400m IM World champion is on-hand both in and out the pool as she is to take part in a practice session with kids from the local swimming clubs today and the first-ever “Youth Club” discussion panel on Thursday April 10, together with other outstanding young athletes.

Always flashing a smile, the 24-year-old is creating the buzz at the FINA stand in the Susesi Convention Centre. The Iron Lady of swimming takes a moment to reflect on her career, goals and aspirations for the sport she loves so much.

Winner of the 2012 and 2013 FINA World Cups, what is your training secret to swim so many events?
I train eight to nine hours a day, five in the morning and three to four in the afternoon. It’s a lot of work but it’s also my passion: I love to swim.

Do you train differently for the World Cup than for other championships? In which way?
Given that my specialty is IM, I have to train all strokes and that’s also why I’ve been competing in all the different strokes during the World Cup. Of course, for the World Championships and the Olympics I will only prepare for 200m IM and the 400m IM.

What makes the FINA World Cup attractive to athletes?
The prize money, the environment at the event – a place with the top athletes – and a great overall vibe.

What are your goals leading up to the Rio Games?
During the last Olympic Games I came in fourth which is the worst position. This time around I am hoping to get to the podium and I am therefore training with that in mind. There is the Maria Lenk Trophy in Sao Paulo, Brazil which is coming up and will be a good place to see where I’m at in terms of times, followed by the Singapore Swim Stars challenge in September and maybe others leading up to the FINA Swimming World Cup and FINA short-course Swimming World Championships in Doha.

How would you describe your swimming career in a few words?
Swimming is a passion. I love how it feels like being in the water, feeling the strokes as I swim. There’s always something to work on, to improve and I find it really fun. Year in and year out, I always learn something new: even after 20 years of swimming!

Tomorrow, you will take part in the Youth Club panel to discuss the challenges of attracting a younger generation of viewers to the Olympic Games. How do you think the visibility of your sport can be improved to attract more people?
I want swimming to become a professional sport like athletics or basketball, a sport that is followed year-round and that people enjoy watching – not only a sport that is enjoyed during the Olympic Games or World Championships.

If you had to promote swimming to youth around the world, how would you proceed?
I would remind them that being an elite athlete is a lot of hard work and it’s not always easy. I’ve also had some hard times and some times of doubt. We can always find an excuse not to train but young swimmers should remember that it’s not the excuses that will get you far. Nobody at the world championships will care about your excuses if you haven’t done a good time. With the appropriate training and determination, the results will come automatically.

Source: FINA.ORG

Manchester City release Iheanacho, Nwakali to Flying Eagles

Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali will join the Flying Eagles on Wednesday, April 9, after playing a game for the Manchester City youth team.

Flying Eagles team secretary Aliyu Auwal Ibrahim said he received the confirmation of the players’ arrival from the City sports director.

“Iheanacho and Nwakali have a game on April 8 and they will be released to join us a day after. I received this assurance from the sports director of Manchester City,” Aliyu Auwal disclosed.

“We hope to soon receive confirmation on the other foreign-based players we have called up.”

The Flying Eagles have also invited Musa Muhammed (Besiktas, Turkey), Musa Yahaya (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Chidera Eze (FC Porto, Portugal) and Dele Alampasu, who is currently undergoing trials in Belgium.

Ahead 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships: Oshonaike, Quadri allay fears over Italy, Czech Republic threats

The pair of Funke Oshonaike and Aruna Quadri believes the world rating of Italy and Czech Republic cannot intimidate Nigeria when they confront these European sides at the 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championship in Tokyo, Japan next month.

With Nigeria’s female team to be anchored by Germany-based Oshonaike has been pitched against Italy, India, Turkey, Portugal and Bulgaria, while the male team to be spearheaded by one of Africa’s most decorated table tennis player, Segun Toriola will tackle European giants like of Czech Republic and Belgium as well as Indonesia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada in Group E. but Oshonaike is optimistic that with quality preparation on the part of his teammates would make it easy for the team in Tokyo.

“I know that there is minnow in the game again as every country is eager to be the best in the world. For us, we managed to remain in division two after a poor outing at the last edition in Dortmund, Germany.

All the teams in our group are familiar to us because in Germany, we narrowly lose to Italy because of their experienced Chinese player, who gave us a tough time. India and Turkey are also very good. But India will surely be using the tournament to shape up for the Commonwealth Games, so we will both be looking out for each other. So I am sure that with good preparation from my teammates, we will surmount the hurdle in Japan,” she said.

The 2011 All Africa Games silver medalist, however believes the participation of Nigerian players in ITTF World Tours would surely help the team to acquaint with some of the players coming to Japan.

In his reaction, Portugal-based Quadri admitted that it was a tough challenge for the male team.

“I can say the group is very difficult and at the same time it is very good for us to prepare adequately for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

The group will bring out the best in us, which means to be the best we must win against the best. Canada is a familiar foe for many years and I see us winning against Canada again just like we did at the last edition in Germany. Indonesia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is not as tough as Canada but we must be at our best to win against these teams. We will not underrate any of these teams,” he said.
Continuing he said: “Czech Republic as the top seed is the most difficult according to their ranking but we will not be deceived by the ranking. With the calibre of players they have in their team and their individual ranking shows that they are the favourite but we will give our 100 per cent best and it is possible to win against them. We are as good as Belgium and I think we can win against them as I see that nothing is impossible.”

Having missed out from gaining promotion in 2012, Quadri said: “I think we have a very good chance of surviving in this group. I am confident of qualifying to the next round of the tournament. The first team qualified directly to quarterfinal and the next best teams will play in round of 16.

I think if we are not in first position we will be in second position and if we are not in second position for sure we will be in third position. For sure we will qualify from group stage.”

“Our team is good form right now and I am confident we can do better and Nigeria can gain promotion to first division if we play better than the last edition in Germany. I can say for myself, I am well prepared because in the last four months I have been playing touch matches. Also the Qatar and Kuwait experience has boosted my confidence, while my participation in the German and Spanish Opens will also be of help to me personally,” he added.

Nigeria draws Czech Republic, Belgium, others for World Table Tennis Championships

Nigeria’s male team has been handed a tough draw for the 2014 World Table Tennis Team Championships, as the Segun Toriola-captained side will tackle top playing nations like Czech Republic and Belgium in division two of the tournament.

Aside Czech Republic and Belgium, the team will confront the likes of Canada, Indonesia and Bosni-Herzegovina in Group E of the competition holding next month in Tokyo, Japan.

For the women pairing, the Funke Oshonaike-led side has been pitched against Commonwealth giant, India as well as Italy, Turkey, Portugal and Bulgaria in Group G.

Nigeria’s men team first group match will be against Indonesia on April 28, while on April 29 the team will face Belgium and Czech Republic.

On April 30, the team will take on Bosnia-Herzegovina while its last group match on May 1 will be against Canada.

For the women team, their first group encounter will be against India on April 28, while on April 29, the team will battle Bulgaria and Italy. On April 30, Nigeria will clash against Portugal, while its last group match is against Turkey on May 1.

The top teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinal stage with the last four teams gaining promotion to the championship division in 2016.

In 2010 and 2012,Nigeria’s male team made significant efforts to progress to the elite division but their efforts were not enough to secure a place for the team.

In the men’s seeding of Group E, Czech Republic is the top seeded team in division two and the team and Belgium are rated above Nigeria in the group.

However, the female team has not been impressive since 2008 in Guangzhou, China while at the 2012 edition in Dortmund, Germany, the team managed to escape relegation to division three. In this year’s edition, the trio of India, Italy and Turkey are seeded ahead of Nigeria while Portugal and Bulgaria are lower than Nigeria in the rating.

Meanwhile in the championship division, defending champion – China has been drawn in Group A alongside Austira, Russia, Brazil, Poland and Serbia, while Germany is in Group B with Hong Kong, Croatia, Singapore, Denmark and Ukraine.

Host – Japan has been pitched against Portugal, France, Greece, Romania and Hungary in Group C, while South Korea will tackle the likes of Chinese Taipei, Sweden, Belarus, Spain and North Korea in Group D.

For Japan’s Seiya Kishikawa, the draw was a good one for the team.

“We would like to qualify with the first position in the group, and then can get good a good draw hopefully”, said Seiya Kishikawa. “The first match against Greece who has a good defender, will be the most important for us.”

But Kenta Matsudaira referred to Greece’s Panagiotis Gionis, a player many now fear.

“We can’t say that we’re in an easy group because every nation is very strong”, added Kenta Matsudaira. “Each has good quality, I can only say that it is good for me because there are all European teams except Japan in our group.

Head Coach of the German Men’s Team, Jörg Rosskopf said: “No question, the group is demanding but this does not influence our goal; we want to be first in the group and thus secure the best position, not to meet China before the final. Above all, as a coach I have to worry more about the shape of my players than about the draw, we still have three short training camps and the German Open before the World Championships; it is important that the players reach their top performance in the remaining time and focus one hundred percent on Tokyo”.

FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championships Italy 2014 Drawing of Lots complete

Parma, Italy, March 10, 2014 – Two time defending champions Russia, ranked 6th in the world, face a fascinating first round of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 having been drawn in Pool C to be played in Verona with Thailand (WR12), the Netherlands (WR18), Kazakhstan (WR23) and two NORCECA representatives following the completion of the Drawing of Lots at the Farnese Theatre in Parma on Monday.

A total of 24 countries were drawn across four pools for the first round of the 17th edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, which will be held across six different cities (Trieste, Milan, Modena, Verona, Rome, Bari) in Italy from September 23 to October 12.

The top 12 teams in the world ranking as of January 2014, were placed across the four pools in accordance with the serpentine system. Hosts Italy (world ranking 4) were placed in position 1 before the remaining 11 teams followed.

The remaining 12 teams were drawn across the bottom three positions of each of the four first round pools thanks to the help of Italian volleyball legend Maurizia Cacciatori in front of FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F°, Italy Volleyball Federation President Carlo Magri and FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 Organising Committee President Carlos Salvatori amongst other dignitaries.

In arguably the toughest group, Pool B in Trieste features Olympic champions Brazil (WR1), Serbia (WR7), Turkey (WR11), Cameroon (WR26), Bulgaria (WR35) and one team from NORCECA still to be determined.

Hosts and 2002 champions Italy, ranked 4th in the world, will play Germany (WR9), Argentina (WR18), Croatia (WR24), Tunisia (WR27) and one more team from NORCECA still to be defined in Pool A in Rome.

The fourth and final first-round pool sees the 2010 World Championship bronze medallists Japan (WR3), grouped with China (WR5), Belgium (WR22), Azerbaijan (WR37) and two NORCECA teams to be played in Bari.

Pools for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014

Pool A in Rome – Italy, NORCECA 2, Germany, Argentina, Croatia, Tunisia

Pool B in Trieste – Brazil, Serbia, Turkey, NORCECA 4, Cameroon, Bulgaria

Pool C in Verona – NORCECA 1, Russia, Thailand, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, NORCECA 6

Pool D in Bari – Japan, China, NORCECA 3, NORCECA 5, Belgium, Azerbaijan

The last remaining qualifiers in the NORCECA Confederation will take place from May 12 to June 9. For more info click here.

A record number of 279 teams participated in the qualification process for the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Championships. This total, coming from 166 national federations across the five FIVB confederations, represents an increase of 65 teams from the previous best of 214 teams from 119 federations for the 2010 World Championships (compared with 102 in 2006, 72 in 2002 and 63 in 1998).

There were 127 teams that have played in the qualification process for the Women’s World Championship.

Russia won their second straight FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship title in Japan in 2010 after beating Brazil in the final. Japan completed the podium after beating USA in the bronze medal match.

Joy for Cameroon as they clinch ticket to Women’s Volleyball World Championship

Cameroon’s volleyball ladies could hardly believe their luck. “Qualified for the World Championship Italy 2014! Thank you God,” wrote their best-known international Laetitia Moma Bassoko on her Facebook page after a success even she seemed to find hard to comprehend.

The Lionesses, as the Cameroon national team is traditionally known as, could do nothing but sit and watch on the final match day of the qualifying tournament in the Harcha Hacène Hall in Algeria, as hosts Algeria provided the necessary support in a real thriller.

Egypt failed to convert a two set to one lead and a match point in the fourth set, eventually losing 3-2 (23-25, 25-15, 19-25, 29-27, 15-10) to Algeria. This left the final table with three teams with a record of four wins and one defeat. In the end, it came down to point difference, with Cameroon (13) claiming the ticket to the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship from September 23 to October 12 in Italy. Egypt (12) and Algeria (11), on the other hand, will have to watch from home. Having lost 3-2 to Egypt, Cameroon ultimately had a dominant 3-1 win against hosts Algeria to thank for their progress to the World Championship.

One week after Tunisia surprisingly became the first ladies team from Africa to qualify for the highlight of the season, on the back of a key victory against Kenya, Cameroon secured the second and final ticket awarded by the CAVB confederation. In doing so, they completed the double for the proud country, whose men had already qualified under similarly fortunate circumstances for the FIVB Men’s World Championships in Poland from August 30 to September 21. Incidentally, the men finished just ahead of Algeria in second place. The fact that it was the Algerians who then helped Cameroon to the Women’s World Championship speaks volumes about the level of fair play in volleyball in general, and particularly in Algeria.

“Cameroon’s men have now qualified for the World Championship twice in a row, while the ladies have made it through on two of the last three occasions. That makes our country by far the number one volleyball nation in central Africa,” said the coach of the Cameroon men’s team, Peter Nonnenbroich. The German had previously supervised the Cameroon ladies team on their historic first appearance at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championships as an FIVB development assistant. The Lionesses finished 21st on their debut in Japan. Nonnenbroich then went on to guide the men to the competition in 2010 and 2014. The World Championship sees the top teams in the world play against each other every four years.

Women’s coach Joseph Nane Eone admitted that they had drawn inspiration from the men’s triumph: “When one succeeds, it boosts the morale of the other team. But it is even better when you have two children, and both pass the examination.” After qualifying for the World Championship, the men’s team was rewarded by the Cameroon governance with a bonus of about US$ 100,000. The ladies will also receive a bonus, although – as in most African countries – women’s volleyball does not enjoy the same status as the men’s game.

“Football is a religion in Cameroon. Of the other sports, volleyball is number one,” explained Nonnenbroich. Despite this, conditions are nowhere near those found in the top countries in Europe, Asia and America. Matches in the national men’s and women’s leagues are almost all played outside, and mostly on rock-hard surfaces like concrete. The men and ladies spent weeks preparing together for their qualifying campaigns for the FIVB World Championships in the country’s only large volleyball hall, in the capital Yaounde.

Almost all of Cameroon’s successful ladies team play in the national league. Only Laetitia Moma Bassoko has made the step up to a top international club. The hitter plays for German champions Schweriner SC, and was involved in this year’s European Champions League. The second appearance at the FIVB World Championship presents Cameroon’s ladies with another opportunity to play in front of a global public. Nonnenbroich: “It will not be easy for the ladies at the World Championship, as there is a very big gap with the top countries. However, they will do their very best, as a rank outsider, to create an upset.”

Cameroon was the 18th of the 24 teams to qualify for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championships. Before them, the other African team from Tunisia and seven European teams had already come through their qualifying tournaments on the first weekend of 2014: the winners of the five third-round qualifying tournaments – Turkey, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Croatia, and Bulgaria – as well as the top two second-placed teams Serbia and the Netherlands. They joined hosts Italy, defending champions Russia and Germany from Europe, Brazil and Argentina from South America, and Japan, China, Thailand and Kazakhstan from Asia.

These 18 teams are certain to be present when the lots are drawn for the season highlight on March 10 in Parma. The destination of the remaining six tickets will be determined after the ceremonial drawing of lots. The five qualifying tournaments in the NORCECA confederation (each with four teams) will be played in May with hosts Cuba (May 5 to 11), USA, Canada, Dominican Republic (all from may 13 to19) and Puerto Rico (May 20 to 26). The winner of each group will qualify for the World Championship, while the group runners-up go through to a play-off for the final place with six teams from June 2 to 9 in Trinidad.

The African CAVB confederation’s final ticket will be allocated this week: Tunisia is both the host and hot favourite at the last African qualifying tournament till March 8, when they will battle it out against Seychelles, Congo Brazzaville, Senegal and Niger for a ticket to the FIVB Men’s World Championships. Maybe Tunisia will have two reasons to celebrate – like Cameroon.

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas results: 7 February 2014

The ITF has announced the latest results from Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Americas Zone Group I, Asia/Oceania Zone Groups I and II, and Europe/Africa Zone Groups I and III.

Five Zone Group events are taking place this week: Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Budapest, Hungary (4-9 February); Americas Zone Group I in Lambare, Paraguay (5-8 February); Asia/Oceania Zone Groups I and II in Astana, Kazakhstan (4-8 February); and Europe/Africa Zone Group III in Tallinn, Estonia (5-8 February).

All nations contesting the Zone Group I events will be bidding to qualify for the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs on 19-20 April, with two teams qualifying from the Europe/Africa Zone, and one team from both the Americas and Asia/Oceania Zones.

The 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II first round ties are taking place on 8-9 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 95 nations taking part in 2014. 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 Wilson Sporting Goods (Official Ball) is an international 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 and http://www.fedcup.tv

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I

Venue: Syma Event and Congress Centre, Budapest, Hungary (hard – indoor)

Pool A

Belgium defeated Croatia 3-0

Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) d. Tereza Mrdeza (CRO) 64 16 62
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Donna Vekic (CRO) 63 62
Alison Van Uytvanck/Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Darija Jurak/Tereza Mrdeza (CRO) 06 64 64

Netherlands defeated Luxembourg 3-0

Richel Hogenkamp (NED) d. Sharon Pesch (LUX) 63 61
Kiki Bertens (NED) d. Tiffany Cornelius (LUX) 61 61
Michaella Krajicek/Lesley Kerkhove (NED) d. Tiffany Cornelius/Sharon Pesch (LUX) 61 60

Pool B

Romania defeated Great Britain 2-1

Heather Watson (GBR) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 67(7) 61 64
Simona Halep (ROU) d. Johanna Konta (GBR) 61 64
Irina-Camelia Begu/Monica Niculescu (ROU) d. Jocelyn Rae/Heather Watson (GBR) 60 62

Hungary defeated Latvia 2-1

Reka-Luca Jani (HUN) d. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 60 64
Diana Marcinkevica (LAT) d. Timea Babos (HUN) 62 64
Timea Babos/Reka-Luca Jani (HUN) d. Diana Marcinkevica/Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 75 36 61

Pool D

Belarus defeated Bulgaria 2-1

Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) d. Borislava Botusharova (BUL) 61 63
Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. Viktoriya Tomova (BUL) 63 64
Elitsa Kostova/Viktoriya Tomova (BUL) d. Ilona Kremen/Iryna Shymanovich (BLR) 46 63 75

Portugal defeated Turkey 2-1

Ipek Soylu (TUR) d. Barbara Luz (POR) 76(3) 62
Michelle Larcher De Brito (POR) d. Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR) 64 62
Michelle Larcher De Brito/Barbara Luz (POR) d. Cagla Buyukakcay/Pemra Ozgen (TUR) 26 63 63

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I

Venue: National Tennis Centre, Astana, Kazakhstan (hard – indoor)

Pool A

Thailand defeated Kazakhstan 2-1

Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) d. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) 64 63
Luksika Kumkhum (THA) d. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 06 64 61
Luksika Kumkhum/Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) d. Yaroslava Shvedova/Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 64 76(3)

Pool B

China, P.R. defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0

Qiang Wang (CHN) d. Chia Hsien Yang (TPE) 61 75
Shuai Zhang (CHN) d. Ting-Fei Juan (TPE) 60 60
Qiang Wang/Shuai Zhang (CHN) d. Ting-Fei Juan/Ya-Hsuan Lee (TPE) 62 62

Uzbekistan defeated Korea, Rep. 2-1

Sabina Sharipova (UZB) d. So-Ra Lee (KOR) 61 61
Nigina Abduraimova (UZB) d. Su Jeong Jang (KOR) 16 75 63
Na Lae Han/Mi Yoo (KOR) d. Arina Folts/Alina Abdurakhimova (UZB) 62 60

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I

Venue: Yacht y Golf Club Paraguayo, Lambare, Paraguay (clay – outdoor)

Pool A

Paraguay defeated Venzuela 2-0

Montserrat Gonzalez (PAR) d. Andrea Gamiz (VEN) 75 63
Veronica Cepede Royg (PAR) d. Adriana Perez (VEN) 61 64
Veronica Cepede Royg/Montserrat Gonzalez (PAR) v Andrea Gamiz/Adriana Perez (VEN)

Pool B

Brazil defeated Colombia 2-0

Paula Cristina Goncalves (BRA) d. Catalina Castano (COL) 63 64
Teliana Pereira (BRA) d. Mariana Duque-Marino (COL) 60 76(5)
Catalina Castano/Mariana Duque-Marino (COL) v Paula Cristina Goncalves/Teliana Pereira (BRA)

Ecuador defeated Bahamas 2-0

Charlotte Roemer (ECU) d. Iesha Shepherd (BAH) 60 61
Domenica Gonzalez (ECU) d. Nikkita Fountain (BAH) 63 60
Nikkita Fountain/Larikah Russell (BAH) v Rafaella Baquerizo/Rafaela Gomez (ECU)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II

Venue: National Tennis Centre, Astana, KAZ (hard – indoor)

1st to 4th place play-off

Hong Kong, China defeated India 2-1

Eudice Chong (HKG) d. Prarthana G. Thombare (IND) 62 61
Ling Zhang (HKG) d. Ankita Raina (IND) 64 63
Ankita Raina/Rishika Sunkara (IND) d. Kwan Yau Ng/Ho Ching Wu (HKG) 62 61

Philippines defeated Turkmenistan 3-0

Anna Clarice Patrimonio (PHI) d. Jahana Bayramova (TKM) 62 60
Marian Jade Capadocia (PHI) d. Anastasiya Prenko (TKM) 46 64 60
Marian Jade Capadocia/Anna Clarice Patrimonio (PHI) d. Jahana Bayramova/Guljahan Kadyrova (TKM) 61 61

5th to 8th place play-off

New Zealand defeated Malaysia 3-0

Emma Hayman (NZL) d. Aslina Chua An Ping (MAS) 62 63
Marina Erakovic (NZL) d. Alyssa Boey (MAS) 62 60
Abigail Guthrie/Dianne Hollands (NZL) d. Michelle Li Sha Khoo/Yus Syazlin Nabila Binti Yusri (MAS) 61 60

Singapore defeated Kyrgyzstan 2-1

Inna Volkovich (KGZ) d. Geraldine Ang (SIN) 62 76(3)
Rheeya Doshi (SIN) d. Alina Lazareva (KGZ) 61 61
Geraldine Ang/Rheeya Doshi (SIN) d. Alina Lazareva/Inna Volkovich (KGZ) 61 62

9th to 12th place play-off

Vietnam defeated Iran 3-0

Thi Tam Hao Tran (VIE) d. Ghazal Pakbaten (IRI) 61 60
Phi Khanh Huynh (VIE) d. Sahar Amini Hajibashi (IRI) 76(6) 46 75
Minh Trang Dao/Thi Thanh Binh Phan (VIE) d. Ghazal Pakbaten/Sadaf Sadeghvaziri (IRI) 16 62 62

Sri Lanka defeated Iraq 3-0

Nethmi Himashi Waduge (SRI) d. Halla Alajeely (IRQ) 63 62
Amreetha Muttiah (SRI) d. Ghada Alajeely (IRQ) 60 61
Kemalie Herath/Medhira Samarasinghe (SRI) d. Ghada Alajeely/Halla Alajeely (IRQ) 63 61

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP III

Venue: Tere Tennis Center, Tallinn, Estonia (hard – indoor)

Pool A

Estonia defeated Armenia 3-0

Anett Kontaveit (EST) d. Ani Safaryan (ARM) 60 60
Kaia Kanepi (EST) d. Ani Amiraghyan (ARM) 60 60
Eva Paalma/Tatjana Vorobjova (EST) d. Lusine Chobanyan/Ani Safaryan (ARM) 63 62

Pool B

Greece defeated Moldova 2-1

Valentini Grammatikopoulou (GRE) d. Anastasia Detiuc (MDA) 61 60
Maria Sakkari (GRE) d. Julia Helbet (MDA) 62 61
Gabriela Porubin/Julia Helbet (MDA) d. Maria Sakkari/Agni Stefanou (GRE) 63 62

Pool C

Denmark defeated Norway 2-1

Mai Grage (DEN) d. Ida Seljevoll Skancke (NOR) 61 63
Karen Barbat (DEN) d. Melanie Stokke (NOR) 60 62
Ida Seljevoll Skancke/Melanie Stokke (NOR) d. Malou Ejdesgaard/Mai Grage (DEN) 76(7) 76(3)

Pool D

Ireland defeated Malta 2-1

Elaine Genovese (MLT) d. Jane Fennelly (IRL) 63 46 62
Amy Bowtell (IRL) d. Katrina Sammut (MLT) 63 60
Amy Bowtell/Rachael Dillon (IRL) d. Rosanne Dimech/Elaine Genovese (MLT) 61 61

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas results: 4 February 2014

The ITF has announced the latest results from Europe/Africa Zone Group I and Asia/Oceania Zone Group II.

Five Zone Group events are taking place this week: Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Budapest, Hungary (4-9 February); Americas Zone Group I in Lambare, Paraguay (5-8 February); Asia/Oceania Zone Groups I and II in Astana, Kazakhstan (4-8 February); and Europe/Africa Zone Group III in Tallinn, Estonia (5-8 February).

All nations contesting the Zone Group I events will be bidding to qualify for the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs on 19-20 April, with two teams qualifying from the Europe/Africa Zone, and one team from both the Americas and Asia/Oceania Zones.

The 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II first round ties are taking place on 8-9 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 95 nations taking part in 2014. 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 Wilson Sporting Goods (Official Ball) is an international 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 and http://www.fedcup.tv

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I

Venue: Syma Event and Congress Centre, Budapest, Hungary (hard – indoor)

Pool A

Belgium defeated Luxembourg 3-0

Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) d. Claudine Schaul (LUX) 61 67(5) 61
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Anne Kremer (LUX) 64 64
An-Sophie Mestach/Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Anne Kremer/Claudine Schaul (LUX) 62 62

Netherlands defeated Croatia 3-0

Richel Hogenkamp (NED) d. Petra Martic (CRO) 46 75 75
Kiki Bertens (NED) d. Donna Vekic (CRO) 62 64
Kiki Bertens/Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. Darija Jurak/Petra Martic (CRO) 75 62

Pool D

Belarus defeated Turkey 3-0
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) d. Pemra Ozgen (TUR) 64 63
Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR) 75 36 76(6)
Ilona Kremen/Iryna Shymanovich (BLR) d. Cagla Buyukakcay/Pemra Ozgen (TUR) 75 61

Portugal defeated Bulgaria 2-1
Maria Joao Koehler (POR) d. Isabella Shinikova (BUL) 36 61 64
Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) d. Elitsa Kostova (BUL) 46 62 76(3)
Isabella Shinikova/Viktoriya Tomova (BUL) d. Barbara Luz/Ines Murta (POR) 62 75

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II

Venue: National Tennis Centre, Astana, KAZ (hard – indoor)

Pool A

Malaysia defeated Vietnam 2-1
Hao Thi Tam Tran (VIE) d. Aslina Chua An Ping (MAS) 63 75
Alyssa Boey (MAS) d. Khanh Phi Huynh (VIE) 63 62
Alyssa Boey/Aslina Chua An Ping (MAS) d. Khanh Phi Huynh/Hao Thi Tam Tran (VIE) 63 75

Pool B

Philippines defeated Singapore 3-0

Anna Clarice Patrimonio (PHI) d. Geraldine Ang (SIN) 63 60
Marian Jade Capadocia (PHI) d. Rheeya Doshi (SIN) 64 61
Marian Jade Capadocia/Anna Clarice Patrimonio (PHI) d. Geraldine Ang/Rheeya Doshi (SIN) 61 61

Pool C

Turkmenistan defeated Iraq 2-1

Jahana Bayramova (TKM) d. Halla Alajeely (IRQ) 60 76(1)
Anastasiya Prenko (TKM) d. Ghada Alajeely (IRQ) 61 60
Ghada Alajeely/Halla Alajeely (IRQ) d. Jahana Bayramova/Guljahan Kadyrova (TKM) 62 62

Pool D

India defeated Iran 3-0
Rishika Sunkara (IND) d. Ghazaleh Torkaman (IRI) 60 60
Prarthana G. Thombare (IND) d. Sahar Amini Hajibashi (IRI) 76(3) 60
Ankita Raina/Rishika Sunkara (IND) d. Sadaf Sadeghvaziri/Ghazal Pakbaten (IRI) 60 61

New Zealand defeated Pakistan 3-0
Dianne Hollands (NZL) d. Ushna Suhail (PAK) 61 60
Marina Erakovic (NZL) d. Sara Mansoor (PAK) 60 61
Abigail Guthrie/Emma Hayman (NZL) d. Maheen Dada/Rida Khalid (PAK) 60 61