The Netherlands qualified for the semi-finals from Pool A at the women’s field hockey World Cup on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Germany.
India took their first points of the tournament by defeating Japan 2-0 and Australia defeated New Zealand 4-1.
Australia and Germany meet in the last Pool A match today to decide the other semi-finalist.
PHOTO: AFP
Germany started the first half with a field goal by Maike Stoeckel who finished Natascha Keller’s unchallenged run into the circle with a slap inside the left post.
Maartje Paumen failed to convert two penalty corner chances for the Netherlands in the first half but opened the second half with an interchange with Minke Smeets to flick in off Germany goalkeeper Kristina Reynolds.
The Netherlands got the winner two minutes from time as Naomi van As set up Kim Lammers for an easy goal.
Germany coach Michael Behrmann felt as if he was watching a movie.
“Sometimes it feels like you are in a movie, fighting hard and having chances to score and at the end Netherlands wins,” Behrmann said.
Dutch coach Herman Kruis admitted his side had been shaded by Germany in the first half.
“In the first half several Netherlands players were playing below their normal level but after the break we had more power but I think we were lucky to win 2-1,” Kruis said.
India’s new golden girl, 16-year-old Rani Rampal helped her side upset Japan 2-0 by scoring India’s first goal, a deft push from near the top of the circle inside the right post from the top of the circle.
In the second half Jaseet Handa converted India’s second penalty corner with a flick which deflected off Japan’s runner and into the goal.
Rampal has scored in all India’s games and is the top field goal scorer at the tournament with five goals.
India coach Sandeep Somesh was relieved his side had managed to take three points.
“After three losses I am glad we could come away with some points and it lifts the morale of the team,” Somesh said.
Japan lacked fighting spirit and running power against India, according to Japan coach Zenjiro Yasuda.
New Zealand wore black arm bands today in sympathy with the Christchurch earthquake victims and were on the scoreboard early in the first half as Krystal Forgesson slotted home from close range.
Kobie McGurk converted Australia’s first penalty corner to equalize.
Australia put the game out of New Zealand’s reach late in the second half with three similar goals, scoring rebounds off New Zealand goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit’s pads.
Ashleigh Nelson scored twice and Shelly Liddelow once for the final score of 4-1.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two