WORLD LEAGUE: Super Final 2011 (Men): Serbia beats Italy for gold; Croatia gets the bronze

Camillo Cametti, FINA Press Commission Chairman

GAME # 21
CHINA - CANADA: 9-10 (2-3, 2-2; 3-4, 2-1)

CHINA: GE Weiqing, TAN Feihu 3 (1P), LIANG Zhongxing 1, YU Lijun, GUO Junliang 1, PAN Ning, LI Bin 1 ©, WANG,Yang, XIE Junmin 1, LI Li , ZHANG Zhufeng, DONG Tianyi, WU Honghui. Coach: CAI Tianxiong.

CANADA: RANDALL Robin ©, KUDABA Constantin 1, TOUNI Omar 1, CONSTANTIN Nicolas 2, BOYD Justin, ROBINSON Scott , CONWAY John , GRAHAM Kevin 1 (P), DAKIC Dusko, VIKALO Oliver 2, MC ELROY Jared 2, ALEKSIC Dusan. Coach: JOVANOVIC Dragan.

REFEREES: FLAHIVE Daniel (AUS), BRGULJAN Mario (MNE).
FINA DELEGATE: FOSTER Richard (USA).

With one minute missing to the end of the game China missed a great opportunità to tie, with the ball dancing on the line before Canada’s goalkeeper finally grabbed it safely. The Canadian narrowly won a tight match (10-9) strenuously fought by both team on a basis of equal strength  and to resolve. For China the rendez-vous with victory was once more procrastined, perhaps to the World Championships, next month in Shanghai, where they will play home.
Progressive score: 2-3, 4-5, 7-9, 9-10.

GAME # 22
AUSTRALIA - MONTENEGRO:  8-7 (1-3, 2-2; 0-1, 4-1)

AUSTRALIA: DENNERLEY Joel, CAMPBELL Richard 1, CLELAND Tim, BAIRD Mitchell, ,  MAITLAND Robbie 1, MARTIN Anthony, COTTERILL Johnno, MC GREGOR Sam 2 ©, YOUNGER Aaron 1, WOODS Gavin, HOWDEN Rhys 1, MILLER Billy 1, ROACH Aidan.  Coach: FOX John.

MONTENEGRO (MNE):  RADIC Zdravko, BRGULJAN Drasko, RADOVIC Aleksandar 1, DANILOVIC Damjan 1, VUKCEVIC Nikola,  TICIC Milan, JANOVIC Mladan 2, DRASKOVIC Dragan, KLIKOVAC Filip, BRGULJAN Darko 1, PETROVIC Antonio 3, JOKIC Predrag ©, SEFIK Denis. Coach: POROBIC Petar.

REFEREES: NI SHI Wei (CHN), GOLDENBERG Michael (USA).
FINA DELEGATE: AMINI Khosrow (IRI).

For the whole first half of the game the team from Montenegro lacked concentration while the Australian team looked much more determined and on target. At half time the score was 5-3 for Australia. In the second half the team coached by Porobic came back in the game and things changed especially in the last quarter when they managed to reverse the course of the game with four goals for and just one against.
1st period. Australia was in command of the game from the very beginning. The Aussies managed to score three goals before Montenegro could answer with one. 
The opening goal came from Australia’s captain Sam Mc Gregor, at 4:47 in the first quarter, on extra-man. Over a couple of minutes later Mc Gregor replicated his prowess scoring again on action from the long distance. Campbell followed up, also on action to give Australia three-goal lead (3-0). Mladan Janovic reduced the gap scoring on extra-man with 45 seconds to the end of the first period.
2nd period. A goal from Howden was answered a couple of minutes later by M. Janovic. At 2:06 Maitland brought Australia up again three goal scoring from outside. Less then 30 seconds later Petrovic scored for MNE on superiority (3-5).
3rd  period. Petrovic scored the only goal in this period on extra-man.
4th  period. With 55 seconds inside the last period Petrovic netted again from two metres on a lob shot at 7:05; at 6:25 Younger on extra man (5-6).
At 5:52 left handed Danilovic scores on superiority tying for MNE at 6-6.
At 4:30 Radovic on extra man brought MNE up one goal for the first time in the game. With one minute to the end Darko Brguljan  scored again securing the victory for Montenegro (8-6). Miller (A) was the last scorer of the game, on superiority, at three seconds from the end.
Progressive score: 1-3, 3-5,  4-5, 8-6.

GAME # 23
USA - CROATIA: 5-11  (2-3, 2-4; 0-1, 1-3)

UNITED STATES (USA): MOSES Merrill,  BUCKNER Shea, HUDNUT Peter, POWERS Jeff 1, WRIGHT Adam, ALEXANDER Brian, BEAUBIEN Layne 1, AZEVEDO Tony ©, BAILEY Ryan 2, HUTTEN Tim, SMITH Jesse, KRUMPHOLZ JW 1, MANN John. Coach: SCHROEDER Terry.

CROATIA: PAVIC Josip,  BURIC Damir 1, BOSKOVIC Miho 1(P), DOBUD Niksa 2, JOKOVIC Maro 3,  MUSLIM Petar, KARAC Frano, BUSLJE Andro, SUKNO Sandro 3 (1P), BARAC Samir ©.  PASKVALIN Fran, OBRADOVIC Paulo 1, BULJUBASIC Ivan. Coach: RUDIC Ratko. 

REFEREES: NAUMOV Sergey (RUS), STAVROPOULOS Nikolaos (GRE).
FINA DELEGATE: AMINI Khosrow (IRI), IBERN Manuel (ESP).

The USA team came here under heavy training and considered this tournament as an opportunity for refining their preparation in view of the next World Championships (and above all in view of the next Olympic Games, where they will have to defend their silver medal from Beijing).  Therefore it could not compete on equal ground with the other top ranked team. This was clear in today’s match against Croatia, which could not have had a different outcome. The team led by coach Ratko Rudic has always kept firmly the reins of the game in its hand, widely deserving the bronze medal.
1st period. Croatia ahead with two goals, respectively from Jokovic on extra-man and Boskovic on penalty. Then Beaubien (USA), Obradovic (C) and Krumpholz (USA) scored in this order, all on superiority.
2nd period. At 6:49 Jokovic (C ) scored again, this time on action. In the lapse of two minutes Dobud netted again for Croatia, also on extra-man; immediately after Bailey reduced the gap on extra man too; Sukno (C ) converted a penalty while Bailey’s second goal, also on superiority, re-established the two-goal difference (4-6). The last goal of the period came from Buric (C ) at less than two minutes from the expiration of the period (4-7).
3rd period. Just one goal was scored in this period, from  Sandro Sukno, at 4:11. Sukno’ scored goal was the eighth for Croatia, which now was leading by 4-goal over the United States. Croatia was in control of the game while the USA looked incapable of stagin an effective reaction.
4th  period. At 6:01 left handed Jokovic scored his third goal in the game; a minute later Dobud netted the 10th goal  and Sukno the 11th for the Balkan side, thus extinguishing the residual hopes of the Americans. A goal from Powers, at 1:48 from the end, was the last of the game (5-11).
Croatia won the bronze medal associated to a prize money of $ 50,000 ($ 35,000 to the USA for their 4th place).
Progressive score: 2-3, 4-7, 4-8, 5-11.

GAME #24
ITALY – SERBIA: 7-8 (2-2, 1-1; 2-2, 2-3)

ITALY: TEMPESTI Stefano, LUONGO Stefano, GITTO Niccolò, FIGLIOLI Pietro 1, PEREZ Amaurys, FELUGO Maurizio ©, GIACOPPO Massimo, GALLO Valentino 1, PRESCIUTTI Christian, FIORENTINI Deni, AICARDI Matteo 3, DESERTI Arnaldo, GIORGETTI Alex 2. Coach: CAMPAGNA Alessandro. 

SERBIA: SORO Slobodan, CUK Milos 1, GOCIC Zivko, UDOVICIC Vanja 1©, VAPENSKI Boris, PIJETLOVIC Dusko 2, NIKIC Slobodan, ALEKSIC Milan 1, RADJEN Nikola, FILIPOVIC Filip 3, PRLAINOVIC Andrija, MITROVIC Stefan, PIJETLOVIC Gojko, Coach: UDOVICIC Dejan.

REFEREES: MARGETA Boris (SLO), MOLINER Angel (ESP).
FINA DELEGATE: FOSTER Richard (USA), FIROIU Nicola (GER).

This exciting match developed in front of a crowd of 1,000 (and of many more television viewers) between two teams of even strength. Italy and Serbia tied the first three quarters and the match was resolved in favour of Serbia only at less than three minutes from the end. 
1st quarter. Serbia went swiftly ahead with two goals scored respectively by Vanja Udovicic at 6:26 on extra-man (Gallo excluded) and by Dusko Pijetlovic, at 4:15, from outside. After missing two extra-men opportunities, at 2.47 Italy reduced the gap with centre-forward Aicardi who scored on action from two-metres. With 50 seconds to the end of the quarter Giorgetti finalised a nice team action, tying for Italy at 2-2.
2nd quarter. At 6:25 Cuk put Serbia up one goal on superiority. On the opposite front Italy missed a precious opportunity but so did Serbia soon after. At :58 Aicardi shoot an impromptu missile from the long distance and scored a great action goal, getting a new tie for Italy (3-3).

Meanwhile Italy’s goalie Tempesti repeatedly frustrated the efforts of the Serbians strikers.  At half time the teams were on 3-3.
3rd period. 19 seconds inside the 3rd fraction Italy’s #8,  left handed Gallo, gave Italy its first advantage scoring from the distance. 42 seconds after Serbia’s #8 Aleksic tied on extra-man (4-4). At 4.16 Giorgetti send Italy in the lead again shooting from the distance and scoring on extra-man. At 11 seconds to the end of period Filipovic tied for Serbia on a counter-attack (5-5).
4th period. At 6:17 Filipovic put Serbia in the lead (6-5) on a lob shot on extra-man. At 5:21 Radjen was sanctioned with both an exclusion and a penalty: Figlioli converted a tied for Italy (6-6). At 4:49 on the next extra man Dusko Pijetlovic gave Serbia a new lead. Not for long as a new blaze from the long distance from Aicardi prompted Italy’s new tie (7-7). It was the third personal goal for Italy’s #11. At 2:43 Serbia’s Filipovic scored his third too, also from outside, putting his team up one goal again (8-7): that was also the final and winning goal of the match and of the whole tournament. In fact Italy could not exploit its chance of getting a new tie (and the penalty shootouts) when with 9 seconds missing to the end Andrija Prlainovic was excluded. After the final whistle Serbia could once more celebrates its victory in this competition: its 6th success out of ten editions (two as Serbia/Montenegro). 
Together with the top prize money of $ 100,000, Serbia gained the more important qualification for the London 2012 Olympic Games. For Italy its second silver medal in this competition – the first one dating back to 2003 – and a $70,000 prize money. 
Progressive score: 2-2, 3-3, 5-5, 7-8.

FINAL RANKINGS
1.    SERBIA
2.    ITALY
3.    CROATIA
4.    UNITED STATES
5.    MONTENEGRO
6.    AUSTRALIA
7.    CANADA
8.    CHINA

BEST SCORERS (Top Ten)
1.    FILIP FILIPOVIC (SRB), SUKNO (CRO) 16
3.    GIORGETTI (ITA) 13
4.    CONSTANTIN (CAN), D. PIJETLOVIC (SRB) 12
6.    UDOVICIC (SRB) 11
7.    GRAHAM (CAN), MC GREGOR (AUS), BOSKOVIC (CRO) 10
10. M. JANOVIC (MNE), NIKIC (SRB), PRESCIUTTI (ITA), A. PRLAINOVIC (SRB) 8

PRESS BEST TEAM
1.    TEMPESTI Stefano (ITA)
2.    UDOVICIC Vanja (SRB)
3.    SUKNO Sandro (CRO)
4.    PRLAINOVIC Andrija (SRB)
5.    FILIPOVIC Filip (SRB)
6.    GIORGETTI Alex (ITA)
7.    PRESCIUTTI Christian (ITA)

BEST GOALKEEPER
SLOBODAN SORO (SRB)

BEST FIELD PLAYER
ALEX GIORGETTI (ITA

sumber:fina

WORLD LEAGUE: Super Final 2011 (Women): Unstoppable USA claims incredible sixth World League crown

TIANJIN, China (June 19) - United States of America continued its domination of the FINA Women’s World League crown with an incredible sixth title against Italy in the gold-medal final at the Tianjin Olympic Centre Swimming & Diving Pool this evening.

The USA escaped the doldrums and a 7-7 tie inside the final five minutes to win 9-7. The top-of-the-dais effort means the North Americans have won all the major events for the last two years — 2009 World Championship, 2010 World Cup and three successive World Leagues — and is an ominous sign leading up to next year’s London Olympic Games.

The only time in the eight editions of the World League that the USA did not stand on the podium was in Kirishi, Russia in 2005 (finishing fifth). In 2008, Russia had the better of the USA in the final.

For Brenda VILLA and Heather PETRI it was their sixth World League gold medal to go with their three Olympic medals and three FINA World Championship golds. VILLA, named to the Media All Star Team, also has World Cup gold in her collection.

Betsy ARMSTRONG, voted the tournament’s best goalkeeper, secured her fourth gold medal along with Lauren WENGER, Elsie WINDES and Kameryn CRAIG. Three others took home their third golds and three more their second.

It was a second silver medal for Italy to go with the 2006 one, alongside two bronzes. Italy had not qualified the last two years and finished eighth at its last appearance in 2009.

USA head coach Adam KRIKORIAN said: “We escaped with a win. We missed a lot of six-on-five chances. They had a lot of momentum going into the game. 

“To come from behind and pull out a win shows a lot of character.”

On what the tournament means leading into the FINA World Championships in Shanghai next month, KRIKORIAN said: “It’s great preparation for everyone here. All teams will now go back home and analyse the things they did well and not so well. They will make adjustments and bring their A game to Shanghai.”

On winning five titles in the past two years: “I have a short memory. You are only as good as your next game.”

For Italian captain Elise CASANOVA, it was a wonderful moment. “We have a new team and we are very strong. They are younger and I am not. I am 38 but inside I am 15 or 16. I like to play with this team. We play all of the match and the spirit is OK.

On what she will do tonight to celebrate making the final and taking home silver: “They will dance. I will sleep. They are young and I am not,” she said.

Australia won the battle for third place, beating China 7-5 after surviving many scares in the final minutes.
China laid siege to the Australian goal for much of that time, regaining the ball off goalie deflections and two extra-man chances but not conversions. It was sad for China, playing at its best without GAO Ao, who missed the tournament through injury, but it was Australia’s day.

For Australia, it was a fourth bronze medal to go with the two silvers won in the last two years.

Head coach Greg McFADDEN said he was “over the moon” with the victory.

“It was a great team effort but we had to work on extra man. We nullified their extra man and they were lucky to score. We talked about what to do each quarter and it paid off.

On the outlook for Shanghai next month: “I am happy where we are. We were unlucky against the USA and against Russia we had a bad start. It’s close at the top of the world. Now it’s Shanghai and we have a big game first up against Canada.”

Russia, so much feared this year but who stumbled against Italy to miss the semifinals, rolled Canada 14-9 for fifth place. In the first game of the tournament, Russia won 9-8 in the clash between the two.

Russia head coach Alexander KABANOV said his team played better than the past few days.

“The first game is always different and the players nervous. Today it was easy. We knew what to expect from them and expect from us.”

On the massive counter-attack success by Russia: “I think this is usually important. Our counter-attack was successful and we had many times where we were one and two players up. Maybe they didn’t want to swim today!”
Canadian head coach Pat OATEN was blunt about his team’s effort: “They scored eight counter-attack goals. It killed us. I felt there was never any flow to the game and we can’t convert the man up!”

Greece defeated Spain 14-8 for seventh place. It was Greece’s best quality play of the week and possibly Spain’s worst. Spain lost star centre forward M Carmen GARCIA with a bleeding wound near her right eye for the third period but returned for the fourth.

Georgia LARA (GRE) said it was an important game. We will meet (Spain) for sure at the Worlds. Today was the best we could play. Most of the time we concentrated and did what we said we would do.

“We tried some new things and most were helpful as the score was good and we won. Our extra (man) was good and we had a good rhythm, which is most important for us.”

Spanish head coach Miki OCA was most disappointed with the way his team lost.

“I was very disappointed, much more than the first two days (when Spain lost 14-6 to Australia and Russia). We learned our lessons but then we didn’t. It hurts me because we should be getting better as the tournament progresses. We will learn and grow.”

With the World League Super Final completed, all eyes and focus will be on next month’s FINA World Championships in Shanghai.

Match reports:
MATCH 21, 15:00, CLASSIFICATION 7th & 8th, SPAIN 8 GREECE 14
Quarters: 3-4, 2-4, 0-2, 3-4
Referees: Amber DRURY (USA), MENG An Long (CHN)
Extra Man: ESP: 3/9. GRE: 6/14
Pens: ESP: 0/0. GRE: 0/0

Teams:
SPAIN: Ava COPADO, Blanca GIL (2), Ana ESPAR (1), Roser TARRAGO (1), Matilde ORTIZ (1), Jennifer PAREJA, Lorena MIRANDA, Pilar PENA, Andrea BLAS (1), Ona MESSEGUER (1), M. Carmen GARCIA (1), Marta BACH, Laura ESTER. Head Coach: Miguela OCA.
GREECE: Eleni KOUVDOU, Christina TSOUKALA (2), Antiopi MELIDONI (1), Ilektra Maria PSOUNI (1), Kyriaki LIOSI (1), Alkisti AVRAMIDOU (1), Alexandra ASIMAKI (2), Antigoni ROUMPESI, Angeliki GEROLYMOU (1), Triantafyllia MANOLIOUDAKI (4), Stavroula ANTONAKOU (1), Georgia LARA (1), Eleni GOULA. Head Coach: Georgios MORFESIS.

Greece played some of its best water polo of the tournament, coming from 1-0 down to lead 4-3 at the quarter and 9-4 by halftime. Spain tried hard against the onslaught but the forward strike power went out of Spain when star centre forward M Carmen GARCIA received a cut near her right eye while wrestling at two metres. She left the water with bloody streaming down her face, was treated poolside and returned for the fourth quarter.  Spain led through Blanca GIL from six metres but Alexandra ASIMAKI replied with the easiest of turning goals at two metres. GARCIA scored with a tip on from the left-post position for 2-1. Then Greece got serious with Triantafyllia MANOLIOUDAKI and Antiopi MELIDONI from the left-hand-catch position and Angeliki GEROLYMOU from the other side, taking Greece to 4-2. Roser TARRAGO scored an excellent lob from deep left six seconds from time for 4-3. Greece increased the tempo even further with Maria PSOUNI from the top; Kyriaki LIOSI on a drive on extra down the right and Christina TSOUKALA from the top on extra for 7-3. Spain called a timeout immediately after the goal to settle the team. Ona MESSEGUER scored on a counter for Spain but MANOLIOUDAKI jumped on a rebound to score and GIL scored three seconds from halftime to come within three of Greece at 8-5. Soon after the restart, GARCIA received her blood substitution. MANOLIOUDAKI scored from a rebound for 9-5. Greece called time and converted the extra-man attack through Stavroula ANTONAKOU. Greece led 10-5 at the final break. MANOLIOUDAKI started the fourth with a lob from deep right and Matilde ORTIZ received a short cross pass to the near post on extra for 11-6. The next three goals went to Greece with ASIMAKI lobbing at two metres, Alkisti AVRAMIDOU and TSOUKALA taking the score to 14-6. Spain scored the last two goals through Ana ESPAR on counter and Andrea BLAS from the top.

MATCH 22, 16:20, CLASSIFICATION 5th & 6th, RUSSIA 14 CANADA 9
Quarters: 4-1, 2-2, 4-2, 4-4
Referees: Noel HARROD (AUS), John WALDOW (NZL)
Extra Man: RUS: 0/6. CAN: 4/9
Pens: RUS: 2/2. CAN: 2/2

Teams:
RUSSIA: Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA, Nadezhda FEDOTOVA (2), Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA (3), Sofia KONUKH (2), Alexandra ANTONOVA, Victoria KUROCHKINA, Ekaterina LISUNOVA (1), Ekaterina TANKEEVA (1), Olga BELYAEVA (3), Evgenia IVANOVA (1), Yulia GAUFLER, Ekaterina ZELENTSOVA,. Head Coach: Alexander KABANOV.
CANADA: Rachel RIDDELL, Krystina ALOGBO (1), Katrina MONTON, Emily CSIKOS (2), Sophie BARON LA SALLE (1), Whitney GENOWAY (1), (Rosanna TOMIUK (1), Dominique PERREAULT (1), Monika EGGENS, (1) Hanna YELIZAROVA (1), Tara CAMPBELL (1), Marina RADU, Serena BREDIN. Head Coach: Pat OATEN.

Russia ran away with the match against Canada, or more precisely, swam away, especially on counter attack. It made the task look easy and showed why Russia should have been in the semifinals. Russia took control of the first half, remembering well the tough game on day one where it was 3-3 at halftime. Olga BELYAEVA scored first from centre forward and KRYSTINA ALOGBO replied, claiming a rebound and slowly shooting from in close. In just over three minutes Russia had three more. BELYAEVA sent in a backhand goal from two metres, Nadezhda FEDOTOVA scored on extra from deep and Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA netted on the drive for 4-1, 11 seconds from the buzzer. Hanna YELIZAROVA converted a penalty for Canada (her eighth goal for the week). PROKOFYEVA gained a deflection of her shot from the top and EVGENIYA SOBOLEVA converted from the penalty line for 6-2. Whitney GENOWAY eased the pain for Canada on a short drive six seconds from halftime. Monika EGGENS rifled one in from the top, two minutes into the third period. BELYAEVA scored her third and 10th for the tournament from centre forward, followed by a PROKOFYEVA lob at the end of counter. Tara CAMPBELL replied for Canada but Sofia KONUKH and Evgenia IVANOVA lifted Russia to 10-5, the last with a swift drive on counter down the right. FEDOTOVA scored on extra and Canada replied through Rosanna TOMIUK on penalty for 11-6. Evgenia IVANOVA was suspended at this time. Canada used its first timeout at 6:22 but no score. KONUKH shifted at two metres and received an angled pass to score from the far post. Emily CSIKOS scored a skip shot on extra for 12-7.  Ekaterina LISUNOVA scored a penalty goal and Ekaterina TANKEEVA drove down the left to score at 1:51 for 14-7. Canada used a second timeout and Sophie BARON LA SALLE converted the extra. CSIKOS grabbed her second on extra in the last three seconds for 11 during the tournament. 
As an aside, the match was the last that long-serving international referee Noel HARROD (AUS) would officiate a senior FINA match.

MATCH 23, 17:40, CLASSIFICATION 3rd & 4th, AUSTRALIA 7 CHINA 5
Quarters: 1-2, 2-2, 2-1, 2-0
Referees: Filippo GOMEZ (ITA), Marie-Claude DESLIERES (CAN)
Extra Man: AUS: 1/6. CHN: 2/10 
Pens: AUS: 1/1. CHN: 0/0

Teams:
AUSTRALIA: Alicia McCORMACK, Gemma BEADSWORTH (2), Sophie SMITH, Rebecca RIPPON (1), Jane MORAN, Ashleigh SOUTHERN (1), Rowena WEBSTER (1), Kate GYNTHER (1), Keesja GOFERS, Holly LINCOLN-SMITH, Nicola ZAGAME, Kelsey WAKEFIELD. Head Coach: Alexander OSADCHUK.
CHINA: YANG Jun, TENG Fei, LIU Ping, SUN Yujun, HE Jin, SUN Yating (1), SONG Donglun (1), CHEN Yuan, WANG Yi, MA Huanhuan (3), SUN Huizi, ZHANG Lei, WANG Ying. Head Coach: Juan JANE GIRALT.

Australia finished on top of China for the bronze medal after not gaining the lead until two minutes in the final quarter. It was a controlled water polo from both sides but Australia’s superior extra-man defence proved critical. Frequent training partners, Australia and China were going to provide a tight game. Aussie Stingers captain Kate GYNTHER opened the scoring on penalty at 3:49. SUN Yating made the most of a loose ball and poor Australian defence to push the ball into goal from one metre on the next attack. SONG Donglun rifled in a shot from deep on the left, careering in off the far post for 2-1 at the quarter. MA Huanhuan made it 3-1 with a lob on extra. Two minutes later Ash SOUTHERN drove down the right and threaded a goal past the defence. Rowena WEBSTER levelled the game at 3-3 a minute after. MA struck again 1:15 from halftime with a straight shot from the left side of the pool across the cage, catching out Aussie goalkeeper Kelsey WAKEFIELD. China would have been pleased with its lead and a half, which was easily its best of the tournament. Gemma BEADSWORTH smashed one in from the top to level at 4-4. Australia showed some good defence on extra but the defender dropped off MA, against the coach’s orders and she shot from well out with a well-aimed projectile for 5-4 at 6:21. Australia called timeout at 5:21 on extra. For TENG Fei it was her third foul. No score came from the ploy but three minutes later SOUTHERN scored her second for 5-5. In the fourth period China went to a timeout for no joy but Australia scored on the next attack when Rebecca RIPPON sent in an acute-angled shot to take the lead for the first time. There was still six minutes left and China had most of the attack and in one instance twice regained the ball off a shot and gained extra man but no score came. The game was put beyond doubt when BEADSWORTH lobbed from six metres at 2:04. China had four more attacks and two extra-man chances until the buzzer but could not find a hole and had to settle for fourth, one placing south of the historic bronze medal gained at last year’s FINA World Cup in Christchurch, New Zealand.

MATCH 24, 19:00, CLASSIFICATION 1st & 2nd, ITAL Y 7 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 9
Quarters: 1-2, 3-1, 1-3, 2-3
Referees: Gabor VOGEL (HUN), German MOLLER (ARG)
Extra Man: ITA: 2/12. USA 5/12
Pens: ITA: 0/0. USA: 0/1

Teams:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Heather PETRI, Melissa SEIDEMANN (1), Brenda VILLA (1), Lauren WENGER, Courtney MATHEWSON (1), JESSICA STEFFENS, LAUREN SILVER (1), Elsie WINDES (1), Kelly RULON (2), Annika DRIES (1), Kameryn CRAIG, Margaret STEFFENS. HEAD COACH: Adam KRIKORIAN.
ITALY: Giulia GORLERO, Simona ABBATE (1), Elisa CASANOVA (2), Giulia RAMBALDI, Martina SAVIOLI, Alegra LAPI, Marta COLAIOCCO, Roberta BIANCONI (4), Giulia EMMOLO (6), Francesca POMERI (2), Aleksandra COTTI, Teresa FRASSINETTI (3), Elisa QUEIROLO (3). Head Coach: Fabio CONTI.

The tournament went to script when the USA beat Italy in the gold-medal final but Italy paid no heed to it and led midway through the third period and came back to level the game inside the final five minutes. The USA appeared to have a dream start with a penalty foul sending Kelly RULON to the line. However were shot was blocked by Giulia GORLERO. Italy did not miss on the next attack with Roberta BIANCONI drilling a shot from the top on extra. Brenda VILLA and Courtney MATHEWSON both scored on left-hand catch with the second goal coming three seconds from the buzzer to give the USA a 2-1 lead. Then came the LAPI factor. It was Alegra LAPI, so quiet all tournament when it comes to scoring, who stood up big time and scored three goals in the second quarter. All were from out the top with the middle shot coming in from downtown Beijing with a lob. The only joy for USA was Margaret STEFFENS on extra, also from outside. Italy proved that losing the first three games meant nothing. Italy took a timeout early in the third but no goal eventuated. But a minute later it was captain Elise CASANOVA who set the place alight with a fierce drive and shot while her head was underwater. Lauren WENGER bravely took the full impact of the drive but the sneaky shot caught Betsy ARMSTRONG unawares. At 5-3 ahead most people were stunned but not the North Americans. Firstly it was Annika DRIES in the hole who leaned over and flicked in a rebounded ball. Two minutes later, coach Adam KRIKORIAN called a timeout, got the whiteboard out and instructed his team what to do. MATHEWSON finished the plan from the five-metre line on extra to tie the game for the fourth time. As the time ticked down, RULON made amends for the missed penalty by lobbing from five metres four seconds from the final break. The championship quarter had arrived and the USA, sniffing a sixth crown, sent the ball deep left to the go-to girl, MATHEWSON, who squeezed in her third in the bottom left for 7-5. Italy struck back within a minute through BIANCONI on right-hand catch. BIANCONI chanced her arm again when she sent in a missile, hitting the right upright, bouncing off the back of ARMSTRONG and into goal for 7-7 at 4:47. VILLA then screamed in a shot, sweeping it around her body, cross-cage into the left at 3:57 and the lead. BIANCONI missed a big lob, hitting the right upright. At 2:16, Margaret STEFFENS scored the exact way VILLA did less than two minutes before, giving the USA a huge 9-7 advantage in such a tight game. BIANCONI fell off the shot on extra on the next attack. Both teams had attacks blocked before USA went to a timeout. The plan was to waste time and an ejection was gained. The ball was wasted  until 12 seconds but the last shot from Elisa QUEIROLO barely made ARMSTRONG. USA was a six-times winner and $100,000 richer.

FINAL PLACINGS
1. United States of America
2. Italy
3. Australia
4. China  
5. Russia
6. Canada
7. Greece
8. Spain

MEDIA ALL STAR TEAM
Goalkeeper:         Betsy ARMSTRONG (USA)
Centre Forward:     Olga BELYAEVA (RUS)
Left-Hander:         Giulia EMMOLO (ITA)
Drivers:         Sofia KONUKH (RUS)
Kate GYNTHER (AUS)
MA Huanhuan (CHN)
Brenda VILLA (USA)

LEADING GOAL-SCORERS
14    Sofia KONUKH (RUS)
13    Blanca GIL (ESP) 
12    Giulia EMMOLO (ITA)
12    Evgenia IVANOVA (RUS)
12    MA Huanhuan (CHN) 
11    Emily CSIKOS (CAN)
11    Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA (RUS)
10    Jennifer PAREJA (ESP)    
10    Bronwen KNOX (AUS)
10    Olga BELYAEVA (RUS)
9    M Carmen GARCIA (ESP)
9    Alexandra ASIMAKI (GRE)
9    Kate GYNTHER (AUS)
8    Roberta BIANCONI (ITA)
8    Antigoni ROUMPESI (GRE)
8    Simona ABBATE (ITA)
8    MANOLIOUDAKI  (GRE)
8    Hanna YELIZAROVA (CAN)
8    SUN Yating (CHN)
7    TENG Fei (CHN)
7    Krystina ALOGBO (CAN)
7    Ona MESSEGUER (ESP)
7    Stavroula ANTONAKOU (GRE)
7     FEDOTOVA (RUS)
6    Kelly RULON (USA)
5    Aleksandra COTTI (ITA)
5    Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA (RUS)    
6    Ashleigh SOUTHERN (AUS)
5    Brenda VILLA (USA)
5    SUN Yujun (CHN)
6    Sophie BARON LA SALLE (CAN)

sumber:swimming world magazine

KUKORS WINS GOLD AS SANTA CLARA GRAND PRIX CONCLUDES

Ariana Kukors (Auburn, Wash.) turned in the world’s fastest time of the year in the 200m IM on the final day of competition at the 2011 Santa Clara International Grand Prix. Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) picked up his fourth medal of the meet Sunday night while Missy Franklin (Centennial, Colo.) was named the champion of the 2010-2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series.
 
In addition to Franklin’s win as the Grand Prix Series Champion, she also took home the meet’s high-point award for female swimmers in Santa Clara. Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) was named the high-point award winner on the men’s side. Franklin will be presented with the Grand Prix Series trophy at USA Swimming ConocoPhillips National Championship which will take place August 2-6 in Palo Alto, Calif. As a high school student with collegiate eligibility, Franklin is unable to receive the Grand Prix Series prize money.
 
In the 200m IM, Kukors broke her own meet record set in 2009 by swimming a 2:09.53. Her time was also the fastest time in the 200m IM this year. Stephanie Rice from Australia took the silver medal by swimming a 2:11.39 and Caitlin Leverenz (Tucson, Ariz.) won the bronze with a 2:13.24.
 
Kathleen Hersey (Atlanta, Ga.) set a meet record in the first event of the night, the women’s 200m fly. Her time of 2:06.89 was nearly a second faster than the old record set by Mary Descenza in 2008. Stephanie Rice from Australia had the second fastest time at 2:07.54 and 2008 Olympian Elaine Breeden (Lexington, Ky.) placed third with a 2:08.14.
 
Phelps and Nicholas D’Arcy from Australia were neck-and-neck in the men’s 200m butterfly but in the end, D’Arcy touched the wall first by one-one hundredth of a second in 1:55.39. Phelps finished in 1:55.40 and Robert Bollier (Mission Hills, Kan.) came in third at 1:57.92.
 
In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Jessica Hardy (Long Beach, Calif.) took home the gold medal with a 1:07.45. Ashley Wanland (Long Grove, Ill.) beat out Amanda Beard (Irvine, Calif.) for second place with a time of 1:09.25. Beard finished in 1:09.46. During morning prelims Sunday, Rebecca Soni (Plainsboro, N.J.) swam the fastest time of the day, setting a meet record with a time of 1:05.83. Soni opted to not swim in Sunday’s finals.
 
In the women’s 100m back, Australia’s Emily Seebohm swam the fifth fastest time in the world this year with a 59.77. Franklin finished second to Seebohm in 59.98 while fellow Australian Meagen Nay swam a 1:00.96 for third.
 
Daniel Bell from New Zealand had a strong showing in the men’s 100m backstroke. His time of 54.70 beat Lochte’s 55.22 and Eugene Godsoe’s (Greensboro, N.C) 55.63. Lochte and Godsoe finished second and third, respectively.
 
Thiago Pereira from Brazil broke the third meet record of the night with a time of 1:57.63. The victory was Pereira’s second of the four-day meet. Lochte came into the wall next at 1:58.99 and Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.) finished third at 2:01.88.
 
In the women’s 800m free, Wendy Trott of South Africa finished first with a time of 8:32.27. Camryne Morris (Baltimore, Md.) was second in 8:35.14. Alexa Komarnycky of Canada finished third in 8:35.27. The men’s 1500m free was won by Michael McBroom in 15:23.43. Jackson Wilcox (Hixson, Tenn.) finished second in 15:32.11 and Mark Randall was third in 15:33.07. 
 
The Santa Clara International Grand Prix was the seventh and final stop of the 2010-2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series

WORLD LEAGUE : Super Final 2011 (Women): USA impressive in 8-5 win over China

TIANJIN, China (June 15) - Reigning champion United States of America looked impressive against world No 3 China on day-two action at the FINA Women’s World League Super Final in Tianjin tonight. Playing in the impressive Tianjin Olympic Centre Swimming & Diving Pool in front of 700 people, USA took a 4-2 halftime lead to 8-3 against a jaded-looking China.

Chinese head coach Juan JANE GIRALT said the tournament was tough “with the best eight teams in the world here”. “To play up approximately with the USA and Australia we need to play normal. The solutions are technical. Perhaps I am not selling my ideas very well. We are not creating opportunities very well.”

For USA mastermind Adam KRIKORIAN it was a margin he did not expect. “To beat a team like that by four goals means it must have been an aberration (by them).” He was pleased with his defence — “the five-man defence and the half-court defence”. “Our goalkeeper (Tumuaialii ANAE) played well and I think we were a little too passive once ahead.

“They missed some early goals so after that they had to think twice. It was nice to get a lead and keep the crowd out of it, so to speak.” On China’s chances at the tournament: “I wouldn’t be surprised if they were in the final,” he said.

Greece outgunned Italy 8-4, also in Group A action, shifting from 3-1 to 6-1 and 7-3 at the breaks to victory. Greek head coach Georgios MORFESIS was upset with the foul count — 14-5 — against his team as both teams were playing zone defence. “It was disappointing. How is it possible that two teams are playing zone and one gets one exclusion and the other five? I don’t understand.

“We played very well today with some good defence. The main problem today was the different way they whistled with the same defensive zone. However, this was good preparation for us. We now have to solve this fouling problem.”

Spain’s Miki OCA said he wasn’t happy with the way his team fronted for the match. “The start was not strong like yesterday. We made too many mistakes. The first quarter and second quarter is important to stay in the game. Yesterday we had some training but we have one game good and one game not good. Our preparation must be better.”

In Group B, Russia beat Spain 14-6, the same score Australia beat Spain on the opening day and Australia beat Canada 10-8 after twice holding four-goal margins. Russian head coach Alexander KABANOV was unconcerned when Spain twice took the lead in the second quarter. He proudly watched as his team kept Spain scoreless for nearly 13 minutes and won the third period 5-0. “We were much stronger as it showed in the third period. We were always sure we would win.”

Spanish head coach Miki OCA was pleased with his team’s first-half effort but lamented another day where his team was “killed”. “The third period was a disaster. I think they beat us 7-0 (from 3-4 to 10-4). We didn’t do well on extra man with shots and passes. We will try and get better.”

Australia had the wood over Canada but the Aussie Stingers head coach Greg McFADDEN said his side was “inconsistent”. “We had a couple of good leads but we allowed Canada back into the game with some easy goals. We weren’t composed as much as yesterday (in the 14-6 win over Spain). There were individual moments of madness. “Rachel (RIDDELL) was good in goals for them today and she kept them in the game. “It was not a great win but a win’s a win,” McFADDEN said. 

Canadian head coach Pat OATEN laid the blame at mental errors. “Mental errors killed us. We can’t win (tight matches) until we don’t make these errors. There were positive things on offence but we have not been playing together enough. Girls have been off doing their own thing. “It was close at the end and we had a chance to win the game but we can’t make those silly mental errors.”

On the awarding of a controversial penalty against goalkeeper RIDDELL, OATEN said: “Our defender had her hand on the (Australian) hand and Rachel had her hand on top of that. It was stupid.”

Match reports:

MATCH 5, 15:00, RUSSIA 14 SPAIN 6
Quarters: 2-2, 3-2, 5-0, 4-2

RUSSIA: Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA, Victoria KUROCHKINA, Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA (2), Sofia KONUKH (3), Alexandra ANTONOVA (2), Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA (1), Ekaterina LISUNOVA (2), Evgenia SOBOLEVA (1), Ekaterina TANKEEVA, Olga BELYAEVA, Evgenia IVANOVA (2), Yulia GAUFLER (1), Ekaterina ZELENTSOVA. Head Coach: Alexander KABANOV.

SPAIN: Ava COPADO, Blanca GIL (1), Ana ESPAR, Roser TARRAGO, Matilde ORTIZ, Jennifer PAREJA (3), Lorena MIRANDA, Pilar PENA, Andrea BLAS, Ona MESSEGUER (1), M. Carmen GARCIA (1), Marta BACH, Laura ESTER. Head Coach: Miguela OCA.

Russia played a steady match and never panicked when 3-2  and 4-3 down to Spain early in the second quarter. The Russian attack hit top gear midway through the third quarter and the rest is history. Russia started strongly with the first two goals to Alexandra ANTONOVA and Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA but Spain showed some excellent water polo with M Carmen GARCIA scoring from the deep right and Jennifer PAREJA from a penalty. Spain went to the lead through Blanca GIL on extra nearly halfway through the second quarter. Evgenia SOBOLEVA received a nice cross-pass into the zone on counter to level the game but Ona MESSEGUER gave Spain the lead again with a shot from the top. At 4-3, it was looking good for Spain. However, Russia moved seamlessly into a higher gear and Ekaterina LISUNOVA and captain Sofia KONUKH took the halftime lead of 5-4. A five-goal quarter to Russia took the game to 10-4 with KONUKH and Evgenia IVANOVA scoring twice each and ANTONOVA gaining her second. KONUKH’s goal at 8-4 appeared a gift on counter after the Spanish centre forward was dragged back but a foul was called on her instead. While Russia went eight minutes without scoring earlier in the game, Spain stopped its scoring drought at nearly 13 minutes when PAREJA scored the first of two goals, either side of IVANOVA’s third, which came against the grain when all her team-mate were pressed hard and she found space to drill the ball from the outside. PAREJA could have made it her  fourth goal but had her penalty attempt blocked.  Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA made her scoring debut after sitting out the first match with a sore shoulder, shooting from the top on extra for 12-6. Spain took a timeout to no effect and Yulia GAUFLER joined the scoresheet soon after the exclusion period. Olga BELYAEVA then missed the easiest of shots from two metres, electing to lob instead of blasting the ball home. It went above the crossbar. PROKOFYEVA lobbed Ava COPADO for 14-6 with 32 seconds left and it proved that patience was a virtue for the Russians.

MATCH 6, 16:20, GROUP A, GREECE 8 ITALY 4
Quarters: 3-1, 3-0, 1-2, 1-1

GREECE: Eleni KOUVDOU, Christina TSOUKALA, Antiopi MELIDONI, Ilektra Maria PSOUNI, Kyriaki LIOSI (2), Alkisti AVRAMIDOU, Alexandra ASIMAKI (3), Antigoni ROUMPESI (1), Angeliki GEROLYMOU (1), Triantafyllia MANOLIOUDAKI (1), Stavroula ANTONAKOU, Georgia LARA, Eleni GOULA. Head Coach: Georgios MORFESIS.

ITALY: Giulia GOLERO, Simona ABBATE (1), Elisa CASANOVA, Giulia RAMBALDI, Martina SAVIOLI, Allegra LAPI, Marta COLAIOCCO, Roberta BIANCONI (1), Giulia EMMOLO (1), Francesca POMERI, Aleksandra COTTI, Teresa FRASSINETTI, Laura TEANI, Elisa QUEIROLO (1), Medea VERDE. Head Coach: Fabio CONTI.

Greece had a marvellous start and by halftime controlled the game with a five-goal buffer. Angeliki GEROLYMOU and captain Kyriaki LIOSI gave the best start with the second goal an excellent short pass to the near post on extra-man attack. Roberta BIANCONI typified Italy’s game in the first half with a penalty shot stopped by Eleni KOUVDOU. Livewire centre forward Alexandra ASIMAKI made it 3-0 before Simona ABBATE scored Italy’s first at 0:39. It was all Greece in the second quarter with LIOSI on a lob shot, ASIMAKI from centre forward and ASIMAKI again, this time with an awkward receival at two metres, a huge twist and her third goal just eight seconds from time. Italy shot well but the Greek defence was too good. Italy looked better prepared for the second half and gained the first goal on extra when Elisa QUEIROLO sat up and powered in a long shot for 6-2. LIOSI was caught for a big kickoff when one of her shots went high and Italy called a timeout. BIANCONI followed the script and converted extra just as the Greek player returned. Christina TSOUKALA gained her third major foul but Italian could not convert the extra. At the other end of the pool, Triantafyllia MANOLIOUDAKI made it 7-3 on extra. Italy’s attempts to score before the final break were fruitless despite being one player up. After the restart, Italian head coach Fabio CONTI called a timeout on winning the swim. The ball shifted around smoothly and found Giulia EMMOLO on left-hand catch and she scored with ease for 7-4. Greece had a timeout chance at 3:21 but GEROLYMOU’s shot was wide of the goal. Antigoni ROUMPESI put the game beyond doubt with a goal at 2:19 for 8-4. KOUVDOU continued her excellent tournament with two great saves in the dying moments. In the end it was the experience of the Greeks that proved decisive, despite the huge extra-man count against.

MATCH 7, 17:40, GROUP B, AUSTRALIA 10 CANADA 8
Quarters: 2-1, 2-1, 6-4, 0-2

AUSTRALIA: Kelsey WAKEFIELD, Gemma BEADSWORTH (2), Sophie SMITH, Rebecca RIPPON (1), Jane MORAN, Bronwen KNOX (1), Rowena WEBSTER, Kate GYNTHER (1), Glencora RALPH (1), Holly LINCOLN-SMITH, Zoe ARANCINI, Nicola ZAGAME (3), Keesja GOFERS (1). Head Coach: Greg McFADDEN.

CANADA: Rachel RIDDELL, Krystina ALOGBO, Katrina MONTON, Emily CSIKOS (1), Joelle BEKHAZI (3), Whitney GENOWAY, Rosanna TOMIUK (2), Sophie BARON LA SALLE, Monika EGGENS, Hanna YELIZAROVA, Tara CAMPBELL, Marina RADU, Stephanie VALIN (2). Head Coach: Pat OATEN.

Australia came up trumps with a two-goal margin over Canada but in doing so dropped two four-goal leads. The first half see-sawed with Australia scoring twice, then Canada twice and again Australia with a late pair for a 4-2 halftime margin. This was a true battle of regular protagonists and goals had to slip through rather be hammered in. The first goal came when Canada was caught stranded on a counter and Nicola ZAGAME had the freedom and luxury of taunting Canadian goalkeeper Rachel RIDDELL before popping the ball over her head. Glencora RALPH made it 2-0 down the left. Rosanna TOMIUK then had a great couple of minutes play, scoring when the Aussie Stingers had a couple binned with just seven seconds left in the quarter. Australia had an extra man at the break but could not get a goal and TOMIUK nailed her second after an extra-man play as the Aussies failed to shuffle fast enough.  Five minutes later, Gemma BEADSWORTH broke the impasse with a sliding backhand goal from two metres. Keesja GOFERS, whose sister Teniele won a gold medal in Tianjin at the FINA World Cup five years ago, scored at 1:06. Australia took little time in making it 5-2, scoring half a minute into the second half, through veteran Rebecca Rippon at deep right on extra. Stephanie VALIN pulled one back when two Aussies were binned but BEADSWORTH shot and scored from the top at the end of extra-man advantage on the next attack. Australia blew two chances with RIDDELL stopping a one-one-one chance from Zoe ARANCINI and Bronwen KNOX had her rebound shot tipped over by a defender. Emily CSIKOS scored immediately after from the top for 6-4. The reprieve was short-lived as KNOX made amends from the deep left for 7-4.  Australia went to a timeout when Krystina ALOGBO gained a major foul and several passes later, ZAGAME scored with a sweep-arm shot from deep left for 8-4. Joelle BEKHAZI replied from the top on the next attack. At 1:46 in the quarter, Canada took a timeout on extra but the ploy to pass across the goal line to VALINS cam unstuck as it hit the back line. On the counter, Kate GYNTHER gifted the ball to ZAGAME for 9-5. BEKHAZI was again in the thick of it, stealing the ball from under the nose of goalkeeper Kelsey WAKEFIELD and the close attentions of GYNTHER to score from a metre out. BEADSWORTH jumped on a loose ball just before the buzzer and RIDDELL came out and was adjudged to push the ball under as the buzzer sounded. GYNTHER swam up and scored the penalty goal for 10-6 at the final break with a 6-4 period in which BEKHAZI was outstanding. Canada wasn’t beaten yet. VALIN sent in a goal on right-hand-catch position at 6:37 and Joelle BEKHAZI added another on extra at 5:04 for 10-8. The game was on. Both teams used poor options in the next four minutes and it came down to the final minute when Canada used a timeout but ALOGBO’s shot was tipped over by WAKEFIELD.  Canada had another chance but GYNTHER stole the ball and passed to a countering Rebecca RIPPON who had her shot stopped by RIDDELL, possibly the standout player of the match.

MATCH 8, 19:00, GROUP A, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 8 CHINA 5

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Tumuaialii ANAE, Heather PETRI (1), Melissa SEIDEMANN, Brenda VILLA (1), Lauren WENGER (1), Anne BELDEN (2), JESSICA STEFFENS (1), LAUREN SILVER (1), Elsie WINDES (1), Kelly RULON, Annika DRIES, Kameryn CRAIG, Margaret STEFFENS. HEAD COACH: Adam KRIKORIAN.

CHINA: YANG Jun, TENG Fei, (2) LIU Ping, SUN Yujun, HE Jin, SUN Yating (2), SONG Donglun, CHEN Yuan, WANG Yi, MA Huanhuan (1), SUN Huizi, ZHANG Lei, WANG Ying. Head Coach: Juan JANE GIRALT.

The USA looked like a team more willing to compete at the highest level. This ranked the world No 1 and world No 3 teams but it didn’t look like it. China was too tentative and, whereas it would take quick shots in the past, hesitation was the byword and the USA took advantage. The USA looked as good as its credentials but China could still impress in the days ahead. It was 1-1 for nearly six minutes of the first half after Lauren WENGER and SUN Yating scored goals, the latter with a smart backhand, crisply taken. Elsie WINDES scored in a goalmouth melee just before the buzzer for a 2-1 USA lead. Anne BELDEN on the right and Jessica STEFFENS with a bounce shot on extra, had the game at 4-1. China took an immediate timeout to slow the onslaught, which it did with no goal coming for four minutes. TENG Fei scored on extra 84 seconds from halftime. The old-stagers, Brenda VILLA (captain tonight) and Heather PETRI (captain last night) each scored — something they did frequently at the 2000 Olympic Games for the first time.. BELDEN swam on counter to score and Lauren SILVER drilled another for 8-3 a minute before the final break. China stepped up a shade in the final quarter and MA Huanhuan struck first on extra but at 4:15 when the game was fast slipping away. When China hesitated on another shot, USA head coach Adam KRIKORIAN called a timeout at 2:30 but nothing eventuated. YANG Jun stopped a ripper from SILVER and China used its second timeout at 0:42, in the hope of pulling at least one goal back. TENG supplied the goal with a long lob 14 seconds from time for 8-5.

Vietnam ranks third at SEA Swimming Championships

Nhan Dan - With 14 gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze medals, Vietnam ended up ranking third at the 35th Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championships which closed in the central coastal city of Da Nang on June 12.

Hosts Vietnam sent many young athletes to the annual event including Hoang Quy Phuoc, the nation's number one young swimmer and the first Vietnamese athlete to earn a ticket to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Thailand came out on top with 48 gold, 45 silver and 27 bronze medals, while Singapore finished second with 14 golds, 21 silvers and 30 bronzes.

The tournament provided a good opportunity for Vietnamese swimmers to prepare for the World Swimming Championships that will be held in China in July

USA Women's Water Polo Tops Italy 9-6 To Open FINA World League Super Final -

THE USA Women's National Team opened the FINA World League Super Final on the right foot defeating Italy 9-6 as they begin their run towards a sixth Super Final crown. Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Commerce) and Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF) each scored twice and Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) did the job in net turning away nine shots. The United States is back in action tomorrow when they take on the host China at 4:00am pst.

The United States got things started on the offense end when Villa tossed in her first goal of the match for a 1-0 lead. That was short lived with the Italians coming back for two straight scores and a 2-1 advantage after the first quarter. Team USA got things in gear in the second period running off three straight goals from Villa, Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC), and Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC) to help take a 4-2 advantage at halftime.
Craig kept it moving to open the third quarter scoring for the United States to build a 5-2 lead but two straight goals from Italy would knock it back down to a one goal advantage. The two squads would trade scores, one coming from Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Monte Vista HS/Diablo) and the United States was in front 6-5 headed to the fourth. 

In the final period the lead was bolstered when Kelly Rulon (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC) found the cage some two minutes into the quarter. That was followed by another Craig score and the red, white, and blue were in command 8-5. Italy would get one back but the United States had the final word when Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/Stanford) scored for a 9-6 lead which is where the match would end.
 "Any win is a good win in this tournament. I know we can execute better but I was pleased with our defense but most importantly I was pleased with our defense after the 1st quarter," said Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach.
 The United States went 3/5 on power plays while Italy was 3/10 and the Italians were 1/1 on penalty shots. In other action Russia defeat Canada 9-8, Australia routed Spain 14-6, and China edged Greece 9-8.

Scoring
Quarters: 1-2, 3-0, 2-3, 3-1 - USA 9 - Italy 6
Referees: Irfan SADEKOV (RUS), Gabor VOGEL (HUN)
Extra man: USA: 3/5. ITA 3/10
Pens: USA: 0/0. ITA: 1/1

Teams:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Heather PETRI, Melissa SEIDEMANN (1), Brenda VILLA (2), Lauren WENGER (1), Courtney MATHEWSON (1), JESSICA STEFFENS, LAUREN SILVER, Elsie WINDES, Kelly RULON (1), Annika DRIES, Kameryn CRAIG (2), Margaret STEFFENS (1). HEAD COACH: Adam KRIKORIAN.

ITALY: Giulia GOLERO, Simona ABBATE (1), Elisa CASANOVA, Giulia RAMBALDI, Allegra LAPI, Martina SAVIOLI, Marta COLAIOCCO, Roberta BIANCONI, Giulia EMMOLO (1), Francesca POMERI, Aleksandra COTTI (2) Teresa FRASSINETTI (2), Elisa QUEIROLO. Head Coach Fabio CONTI

Eight teams ready for action at Super Final

The national teams of Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain and USA will compete in the Super Final of the 8th FINA Women’s Water Polo World League taking place in Tianjin (China) from June 14-19, 2011.
After the preliminary rounds held from May 9-22 in three continents, all teams prepare for a tough competitive field in this year’s World League.
Five-time World League winner, current World champion and Olympic silver-medallist USA is the great favourite of this competition. The U.S. squad will fiercely defend their 2010 title clinched at home in La Jolla (Cal.), hoping to add another crown to their record-breaking collection. In all editions of the World League, they missed the podium just once, in 2005.
Australia, Canada and Russia will also fight for top honours. The Australians finished second in La Jolla last year and third at the 2008 Beijing Olympics while the Canadians picked up silver from both the 2009 edition of the World League and the FINA World Championships in Rome. Last but not least, Russia is a strong podium contender, with a bronze-medal finish in Rome and three podiums in World League history.
China, Greece, Italy and Spain are the remaining teams in the Super Final race. Taking third at last year’s World Cup, China is an established threat to other podium challengers.

Sembilan Atlet SEA Games Diuji di Vietnam

Sebanyak 22 perenang yang terdiri atas sembilan atlet SEA Games dan 13 atlet Prima Pratama diberangkatkan ke Da Nang City, Vietnam untuk mengikuti Kejuaraan Renang Kelompok Umur Asia Tenggara 2011 yang akan berlangsung 10 - 12 Juni mendatang.

Tim yang beranggotakan 12 atlet putri dan 10 atlet putra ini diharapkan mencetak hasil maksimal karena event ini menjadi tolok ukur prestasi bagi atlet pelatnas SEA Games XXVI yang akan berlangsung 11 - 25 November mendatang di Palembang dan Jakarta. "Tim yang diberangkatkan memang tidak semuanya atlet pelatnas SEA Games. Hanya sembilan orang saja atlet pelatnas SEA Games, sisanya atlet pelatnas pratama atau lapis 2.

Namun 10 di antara mereka diharapkan meraih medali untuk memantapkan posisi mereka sebagai tim inti SEA Games," ujar pelatih renang pelatnas Albert Susanto kepada Suara Karya di kantor PB PRSI Gelora Bung Karno Senayan, Jakarta, Rabu (1/6).

Albert menegaskan hal itu karena tim renang yang berada di pelatnas sekarang jumlahnya masih 120 persen. Lantaran kejuaraan di Da Nang City ini dijadikan sebagai salah satu agenda try out tim pelatnas renang, maka atlet yang turun pada event tersebut diharapkan menunjukkan prestasi maksimal.Dikatakan, persaingan untuk menjadi tim inti renang masih terbuka lebar. Pasalnya, sebelum pembentukan tim inti September mendatang masih ada kejuaraan penting yang harus diikuti, yakni Singapura Open 21 - 26 Juni dan ASEAN Swimming Championships (ASC) September mendatang di Jakarta.

Jadi, bila ada atlet yang lengah dan prestasinya menurun, posisinya bisa saja digantikan oleh atlet nonpelatnas kalau ada yang berprestasi di dua kejuaraan tersebut. "Kini kita mempersiapkan 24 atlet di pelatnas yang dibagi dalam dua lokasi, di Cikini Jakarta dan Karang Suta, Bandung.

Sekalipun atlet yang ada di pelatnas sudah mendekati 100 persen, tapi bukan berarti mereka yang di luar pelatnas tidak bisa masuk. Kesempatan masih terbuka bagi perenang nonpelatnas untuk menunjukkan prestasinya hingga September.

Jadi perenang pelatnas harus hati-hati kalau tidak ingin tersingkir di saat-saat terakhir," terang Albert.Ke-9 atlet pelatnas yang dikirim adalah Raina Saumi Grahana, Ressa Dewi, Yessy Yosaputra, Fibriani Ratna Marita, Afi Noviandari, Patricia Josita, I Gede Siman Sudartawa, Dennis Tiwa, dan Alexis Wijaya Ohmar.

Sementara atlet pelatnas pratama adalah Ameliana Kurniawan, Nurul Fajar Fitrianti, Monaliza, Nadia Panestika, Kazie Kristiantina, Olivia A Vernandez, Rodricx Luhur, Samuel Preston White, Kenny Lesan Putra, Ricky Anggawijaya, Satrio Bagaskara, Muh Hamgari, dan Ilham Ahmad. Menurut Albert, satu perenang pelatnas putri Yessy Yosaputera beralih ke nomor open water swimming lantaran prestasinya cukup baik di nomor tersebut. "Ini keputusan Yessy sendiri untuk beralih ke nomor open water swimming. PB PRSI mendukung karena peluang Yessy untuk merebut medali di nomor ini sangat terbuka lebar," kata Albert. (Markon Piliang/Suara Karya)

PRSI Jabar Turunkan 16 Atlet

Pengurus Daerah (Pengda) Persatuan Renang Seluruh Indonesia (PRSI) Jawa Barat akan menurunkan 16 atletnya di babak kualifikasi Pekan Olahraga Nasional (PON) XVIII/2012 cabang olahraga loncat indah yang berlangsung di kolam renang UPI, Jln. Setiabudhi Bandung, 15 - 18 Juni mendatang.

Selain babak kualifikasi, secara bersamaan juga digelar Kejuaraan Nasional (Kejurnas) loncat indah kelompok umur. Pada Kejurnas kelompok umur, Jawa Barat hanya menurunkan 2 atletnya.
Menurut Sekretaris Umum (Sekum) Pengda PRSI Jawa Barat, Verdia Yosef, pada babak kualifikasi loncat indah, pihaknya bertekad meloloskan sebanyak mungkin atlet untuk bisa ikut di PON 2012 yang akan berlangsung di Riau.

"Target kita tentunya ingin meloloskan sebanyak mungkin atlet agar di PON nanti peluang meraih medali emas terbuka lebar. Dari 16 atlet yang ikut, kita harapkan 8 di antaranya bisa lolos," terang Yosef kepada "GM", Jumat (3/6).

Diakuinya, persaingan pada babak kualifikasi PON nanti cukup ketat. Apalagi Jabar harus bersaing dengan daerah yang selama ini dikenal dengan atletnya yang potensial. "Pesaing terberat kita untuk putra Jawa Timur, sedangkan untuk putri DKI Jakarta. Tapi kita tetap waspada dengan daerah lain. Sebab saat ini kekuatan daerah hampir merata," jelasnya.

Menghadapi babak kualifikasi nanti, tambah Yosef, para atlet tidak latihan secara terpusat. Mereka menggelar latihan di masing-masing daerahnya. "Kita tidak ada sentralisasi karena dari KONI belum ada program itu. Tapi kita tetap yakin, anak-anak bisa tampil maksimal," ujarnya.

Soal Jawa Barat yang menjadi tuan rumah babak kualifikasi PON, menurut Yosef, karena pihaknya mengajukannya. "Kita yang mengajukan sendiri untuk menjadi tuan rumah. Pertimbangannya ada tempat yang memiliki sarana yang bertaraf internasional. Ini juga sekaligus untuk penyelenggaraan Kejurnas," tambahnya. 

Terkait target di PON XVIII/2012 nanti, Yosef mengatakan, pihaknya membidik dua medali emas. "Persaingannya memang cukup berat sehingga kita targetkan dua emas. Medali emas tersebut diharapkan bisa diraih Yeni Sukron dan Rohmat," (Galamedia.com)

Kejurnas Loncat Indah KU dan Terbuka 2011: Jatim Pertahankan Gelar Juara Umum

Tim Jawa Timur kembali mempertahankan gelar juara umum dalam Kejuaraan Nasional Loncat Indah Kelompok Umur dan Terbuka 2011 yang berlangsung di kolam renang UPI Bandung, Juni 2011.

Jawa Timur unggul setelah meraih 12 medali emas, 7 perak, dan 6 perunggu. Sementara rival Jatim, DKI menempati urutan kedua dengan perolehan 11 emas, 7 perak, dan 3 perunggu. Ditempat ketiga Jawa Tengah 2 emas 3 perak dan 2 perunggu sedangkan tuan rumah Jawa Barat urutan keempat meraih satu emas dan dua perunggu. Selain itu terpilih pula atlet terbaik putra Adriyan (DKI) dan Natalie Dinda (DKI).

Sejak awal sudah diperkirakan bahwa Jawa Timur akan mendominasi perolehan medali emas dengan masih mengandalkan pada atlet senior seperti Nasrullah, Husaini Noor, dan Subekti. Sedangkan DKI masih mengandalkan pada Adriyan, Natalie Dinda, dan Sari Ambarwati. Sementara atlet wakil Indonesia di AASF 2008 Eka Purnama Indah kembali berlaga membela Kalimantan Selatan setelah sebulan sebelum kejurnas ini berlatih di kolam renang Senayan Jakarta.

Kejurnas ini diikuti sekitar seratus atlet dari delapan daerah untuk memperebutkan 26 medali emas dari 26 nomor yang dipertandingkan. Selain memenuhi agenda rutin tahunan, kejurnas kali ini juga merupakan babak kualifikasi bagi daerah untuk mengirim atletnya pada PON XVIII/2012 di Riau. Menjelang akhir tahun ini, babak kualifikasi akan mencapai puncaknya. Hampir dipastikan hanya delapan daerah yang akan mengikuti cabang loncat indah pada PON nanti dengan kuota sekitar 30 atlet. Daerah yang paling banyak meloloskan atletnya ke PON nanti memiliki peluang meraih medali terbanyak.

Dipilihnya Bandung sebagai tempat penyelenggaraan Kejurnas tidak di Jakarta atau Surabaya seperti biasanya, menurut Komtek Loncat Indah PB PRSI Mochtar Yasin, dipilihnya kota Bandung sebagai tempat penyelenggaraan adalah bertujuan untuk memberi kesempatan pada daerah melaksanakan kegiatan tahunan ini.

Sementara perkembangan prestasi cabang loncat indah sendiri sampai saat ini belum menggembiarakan untuk kawasan Asia Tenggara saja. Hal ini disebabkan masih terbatasnya prasarana dan pembinaan. Ada daerah yang memiliki kolam renang tapi tidak memiliki sarana loncat indah. Ada pula sarana loncat indah tapi tidak dimanfaatkan akibatnya dipangkas oleh pemilik kolam.

Klasemen:

1.Jawa Timur (12-7-6)

2.DKI Jakarta (11-7-3)

3.Jawa Tengah (2-3-2)

4.Jawa Barat (1-2-0)

5.Sumsel (0-3-10)

6.Kalsel (0-3-4)

7.Sumut (0-1-0)

Atlet Terbaik:

Putra: Adriyan (DKI)

Putri: Natalie Dinda (DKI)

amily:� b c ��� �� mso-ansi-language:SV'>3. Nora Subschinski (JERMAN) 332.40

Menara 10m: 

1. Yi Ying Xing (CHINA) 391.15;

2. Pandelela Rinong (MAS) 350.65;

3. Nora Subschinski (JERMAN) 341.35

Papan 3m sinkro: 

1. Ye Chen/Lin Qu (CHINA) 308.40;

2. Tina Punzel/Nora Subschinski (JERMAN) 291.00;

3. Olena Fedorova/Anna Pysmenska (UKRAINA) 280.50

Menara 10m sinkro: 

1. Pandelela Rinong/Mun Yee Leong (MAS) 312.96;

2. Yajie Si/Yi Ying Xing (CHINA) 309.00;

3. Nora Subschinski/Christin Steuer (JERMAN) 300.54