News -- February 2008
Basketball live on ABC this weekend 28 February
Watch the Adelaide LINK Lightning and Dandenong Jayco Rangers face-off in the 2007/08 preliminary final live on ABC TV from 4.00pm AEDT this Saturday.
It is all but confirmed that Adelaide’s double-double queen and leading rebounder Tracy Gahan will miss the match after she was diagnosed with a grade two strain of the ACL in her right knee, an injury she suffered late in the first quarter of the Lightning’s major semi loss to Sydney Uni last week.
A decision is being left until the last minute but she remains in severe doubt.
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Ochoa to open defense
Golf – LPGA: Rolex Rankings leader and world number one Lorena Ochoa makes her season debut this week at the inaugural HSBC Women's Champions at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore.
Ochoa, fresh off a 2007 season complete with eight victories and more than $4.3 million in earnings, begins the defense of her Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy honors this week at the first Winner Event of LPGA Playoffs 2008. Featuring a purse of $2 million, the HSBC Women's Champions winner will earn the first of 13 automatic spots in the ADT Championship, held in November at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla.
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Henin shuffled out in Dubai
Tennis – WTA: The seeds reigned supreme on Day 3 of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships as all six on display made their way into the quarterfinals of the $1.5-million, Tier II event. Among the victors was top seed and defending champion Justine Henin, who was made to work hard before finally defeating Katarina Srebotnik in a three-hour epic.
After receiving a first round bye, Henin was playing her first match of the week at the Dubai Tennis Centre and despite struggling to find her fluent best, looked to be heading for a comfortable win when she moved a set and a break ahead. However, Slovenian No.1 Srebotnik, who had to battle through three rounds of qualifying just to reach the main draw, was far from finished and regained parity at 3-3 in second, before snatching the set on a closely contested tie-break.
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Sthalekar named cricketer of the year
Thaindian News: Lisa Sthalekar has been named the women’s international cricketer for the second straight year at the Allan Border medal presentation in Melbourne. The 28-year-old Australian vice-captain joins captain Karen Rolton as the only woman to win the highest honour in Australian women’s cricket more than once. In 2007, she was nominated for the International Cricket Council’s women’s player of the year award.
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Better air for Beijing
Beijing Olympics: At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Environmental Protection, stressed the city's commitment to further improving the air quality this year. The goal is to reach a 70% goal in terms of Grade 2 or better days in 2008, he said.
Since 1998, Beijing has seen the number of days with Grade 2 or better air quality increase by more than 40 percent, according to Du. A grade of 2 or better indicates that the Air Quality Index ranges from 0 to 100.
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China downs North Korea
Foxsports: China fought off a tenacious North Korea on day two of the world team table tennis championships, but not before veteran Wang Nan suffered a shock defeat.
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New look for Netball
Netball Australia: A new look Australian Netball Team will be unveiled later in the year, catapulting the sport into a modern and contemporary era.
The on court success of the world champions will be mimicked off court as Netball Australia in conjunction with its new official apparel partner Kukri Australia develop a new design for its netball apparel, for both the National and the Australian 21/U teams.
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Gilmore strikes in first round 24 February
Surfing: Reigning ASP Women's World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) was in sensational form this morning, lighting up the punchy three foot (1 metre) surf at Duranbah Beach to claim a Round 1 victory in the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG.
Gilmore, who has been on a whirlwind tour collecting accolades and honors since her clinching of the ASP Women's World Title last December, was keen to get back in the lineup this morning, and the champ dazzled with an impressive 15.84 out of a possible 20.
"It's been a bit crazy with all the awards and activities and stuff, but it felt good to get back in the water," Gilmore said. "I guess I was a bit rusty at the beginning, but I started gaining more and more confidence throughout the heat and felt pretty good by the end."
Gilmore, who drew lethal Roxy Trials Winner and last year's event runner-up Carissa Moore (HAW) as well as good friend Karina Petroni (USA), showed no nerves whatsoever, looking both comfortable and confident in her emphatic win.
"It was a great heat to start out with as they both surf so well and it's helped with my confidence," Gilmore said. "Carissa (Moore) has been surfing so well and I was a bit nervous at the beginning of the heat. I think I meet Carissa again in Round 3, but a win out here today is a good start and I'm looking forward to surfing again in Round 3."
More (Pic: Surfing Australia)
England opens with a win 24 February
NZ Herald: England opened their women's cricket tour with a 97-run win over New Zealand A in a warm-up match at Lincoln near Christchurch yesterday. England scored 183 for nine in their 50 overs and then took just 37.2 overs to dismiss New Zealand A for 86.
More; England Cricket Board
Jang leads in Hawaii
AFP (golf): South Korea's Jeong Jang made nine birdies with just one bogey en route to an eight-under-par 64 and a two-shot lead in the opening round of the 1.3 million dollar LPGA Fields Open Thursday.
Jang, who has two career victories, hit 13 fairways and 16 greens in the opening round.
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Cricket a winner in regional areas
ABC: Women’s Cricket is steadily gaining popularity though and nowhere more so than in regional areas.
Heidi Schultz coaches the Mildura West Women's Cricket team and she's seen more and more girls wanting to get involved and "getting out and having a go like the guys are."
While the opportunities aren't widespread for girls to get to the elite level, Heidi says there is a range of touring cricket clinics which offer the chance to hone their skills.
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No excuses for NZ athletics
Stuff.co.nz: Former Olympic marathon medallist Lorraine Moller refuses to "believe this rubbish" that New Zealand sport needs more funding.
The newly inducted member of New Zealand Sport's Hall of Fame gets a little toey when she hears excuses of that ilk.
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China finds religion 22 February
AFP (basketball): China's women basketball players might have been stars in the domestic media, but they were nothing until they "found religion," their Australian coach Tom Maher insists. "That's when a talented player who can't play starts to play."
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Rangers make a comeback
Basketball: The Canberra Capitals crashed out the finals race tonight after the Dandenong Rangers staged an impressive comeback in the second half of their ADF WNBL sudden-death semifinal to win 60-54.
Hopes of claiming an elusive WNBL three-peat will remain just that for another few seasons but perhaps more poignantly the Rangers robbed the Capitals a chance to give retiring veteran Tully Bevilaqua a fairytale finish to her 17-year WNBL career.
More at WNBL
Tauro sets the pace 21 January
World Athletics Tour, Melbourne: The women’s 400m produced one of the races of the night, with World Youth representative Olivia Tauro setting a cracking pace for the first half. She then handed over to Tamsyn Lewis who tore up the home straight to win narrowly from Sherone Simpson, stopping the clock at 51.55. “It was good to have Olivia and Sherone on my outside. I’ve been struggling all year in my four to get that time. There hasn’t been the competition but, well, I had the comp tonight.”
Athletics Australia
Plummer coach of the year 20 February
Netball Australia: Australian Netball Coach Norma Plummer capped off an incredible year of highlights for the sport, named Coach of the Year at the 2007 Australian Sports Awards.
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NZ tour squad chosen
Southern Stars (cricket): The Cricket Australia Women’s National Selection Panel today announced the 14-player Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad to take on the New Zealand White Ferns in the Rose Bowl Series in Christchurch.
After a drawn one-day international series and a Test loss against England, selectors have made two changes for the series, with Western Australia’s Renee Chappell and Queensland’s Delissa Kimmince set to earn their first international caps.
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England retains Ashes 18 February
Sydney Morning Herald: England's women cricketers retained the Ashes on Monday, defeating Australia by six wickets in the one-off Test match at the Bradman Oval in Bowral.
The Southern Stars began Monday's fourth and final day at 4-195 and chasing quick runs.
But the loss of early wickets halted their charge and they eventually declared 40 minutes before lunch at 9-231, a lead of 141.
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First victory for Park
Golf: Just three months after joining the professional ranks, 2007 Australian Amateur Champion Sunny Park has captured her first professional victory at the Peugeot Kangaroo Valley ALPG Classic today.
The 22 year old Sydney girl, who first held a golf club when she was 14, defeated WA's Bree Turnbull on the first extra play off hole after both had tied on a score of 2 under par 70. Turnbull was the winner of the Series second event at Russell Vale in late November whilst Park had also enjoyed a consistent Series tying for 5th at her two previous events at Castle Hill and St Michaels events.
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Webb gives way to Hall 11 February
The Age: Karrie Webb is human after all. Just a week after the world No. 3 produced an extraordinary finish to win the Women's Australian Open, she was unable to repeat the heroics at Royal Pines yesterday in her bid to win a seventh Ladies Masters.
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Also…
LPGA: The Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) Tour presented Australians and LPGA Tour members Jan Stephenson and Karrie Webb with Life Membership during the MFS Women's Australian Open at Kingston Heath Golf Club last week.
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England defeats home side
ABC: England defeated Australia's women's cricket side by seven wickets at the SCG on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in their one-day series.
More; Southern Stars home page
Record-setting weekend in Germany
IAAF: A feeling of “World record” was in the air all week before today’s BW-Bank Meeting - IAAF Indoor Permit - in Karlsruhe, as Sweden’s Susanna Kallur and Dayron Robles of Cuba both had shown they were in range of historical performances in their respective hurdle events.
It was Kallur who took the spotlight this afternoon, with a 7.68 clocking** which erased the 7.69 World indoor standard set by Ludmila Engquist, then running as Ludmila Narozhilenko of the Soviet Union, in a 1990 competition in Chelyabinsk.
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Mirza drops home game 5 February
The Age: Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza opted out of next month's WTA Bangalore Open after a series of extremist reactions to her rise in world tennis.
More; Mirza profile at The Hindu
Webb wins golf thriller 3 February
Australian Open: World No.3 Karrie Webb has held off South Korean sensation Ji-Yai Shin in a nail-biting playoff to clinch her fourth MFS Australian Open title at the second extra hole.
Both players began their final rounds one stroke behind Lindsey Wright before carding day's best rounds of six-under 67 to finish level at eight-under for the tournament.
Each made par on the first play-off hole but it was Webb - in front of a vocal crowd at Kingston Heath in Melbourne - who was steadier when it counted.
The 33-year-old Australian hit her drive from the 18th tee to within three metres to sink a crucial birdie putt and claim back-to-back national crowns after winning at Royal Sydney last year.
"I am very happy to be standing up here. I guess the old girl still has some petrol left in the tank," Webb said after accepting the trophy.
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Vic wins Athletics Cup
Tamsym Lewis (400m) and Georgie Clarke (1500m) were among the crew which took Victoria to victory in the 2008 Australian Athletics Cup over the weekend.
More at Athletics Australia
Golf drama draws to a close 3 February
Australian Open: Australian Joanne Mills and Scotland's Lynn Kenny have made excellent starts to their final rounds at the MFS Australian Open at Kingston Heath in Melbourne.
It's been a remarkable turnaround for both players, who now find themselves in contention for the title after being in danger of missing the cut on Friday.
Sydney-born Mills, 38, made a blistering start to her fourth round with birdies on the first two holes to move into a tie for seventh at two-over-par.
She was soon joined by Kenny - who shot a disastrous first-round 80 - who struck birdies on the third and fourth holes to also move to two-over.
Eleven players are currently within five strokes of leader Lindsey Wright, who will take a one-shot lead into the final round ahead of three-time champion Karrie Webb and South Korea's Ji-Yai Shin.
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Beijing medal worries
Sunday Age: Australian sport is facing a drubbing at the Olympic level unless there is urgent reform of the way sport is funded and administered.
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