phelps

in Italy, we call it "biscotto" (biscuit)... meanwhile in English, "match fixing" is a good definition for what happened earlier today... being India already sure to be among the 4 semifinalists, India's bowlers let England score the amazing amount of 337 runs in 50 overs and basically didn't give themselves a chance when batting...they still managed to score 306 runs, but it clearly wasn't enough (and it was intended not to be enough)... finally, England won by 31 runs and almost certainly saved their asses, earning a spot among the top 4 (without this result, Pakistan's charge in the standings could have been a real threat)... with this result, instead, India made it almost impossible for their rivals to reach the semifinals...

so, the European Games are over...and in a normal world, today we would know who are the European athletes qualified to the Olympic Games through the Continental pathway... but no, in a degenerated sports world, we have to wait until next April and then start calculating and comparing results from different categories to sort it out! by the way, here's a recap of what happened in Minsk and of what should be the situation if the OQP was already over (p.s. the OQR is still missing the points from earned by the fighters in the last K1PL and Serie A events, in Shanghai and Montreal respectively)... women's EG champions Kata: Sandra Sanchez Jaime* (WKF Rank in "Olympic" Kata: 1st, 6412.5 Pts) Kumite, -50kg: Bettina Plank* (WKF Rank in "Olympic" -55kg: 5th, 3292.5 Pts) Kumite, -55kg: Ivet Goranova (WKF Rank in "Olympic" -55kg: 7th, 2580 Pts) Kumite, -61kg: Anita Serogina (WKF Rank in "Olympic" -61kg: 14th, 1432.5 Pts) Kumite, -68kg: Silvia Semeraro (WKF Rank in "Olympic" +61kg: 16th, 1995 Pts) Kumite, +68kg: Laura Palacio Gonzalez (WKF Rank in "Olympic" +61kg: 19th, 1747.5 Pts) * Currently already qualified through OQR men's EG champions Kata: Damian Hugo Quintero Capdevila* (WKF Rank in "Olympic" Kata: 2nd, 5287.5 Pts) Kumite, -60kg: Kalvis Kalnins (WKF Rank in "Olympic" -67kg: 27th, 1395 Pts) Kumite, -67kg: Luca Maresca** (WKF Rank in "Olympic" -67kg: 18th, 1740 Pts) Kumite, -75kg: Stanislav Horuna* (WKF Rank in "Olympic" -75kg: 5th, 3037.5 Pts) Kumite, -84kg: Ivan Kvesic* (WKF Rank in "Olympic" +75kg: 3rd, 3757.5 Pts) Kumite, +84kg: Asiman Gurbanli (WKF Rank in "Olympic" +75kg: 29th, 1297.5 Pts) * Currently already qualified through OQR ** Basically NOT Eligible to qualify, as another Italian Athlete is currently already qualified through OQR in his class based on these results and rankings (still very provisional, as people might imagine), Ivet Goranova (women) and Kalvis Kalnins (men) would be the 2 lucky Europeans getting a Continental spot for the Olympic Games in Tokyo...

the world is full of idiots!

so, the Games are finally over... I must admit that generally it wasn't anything exciting, but still I've been pleased to watch some really entertaining competitions... the final medal table of course is the most meaningless thing of the Games, as the schedule was built without most significant sports and too many Nations didn't take it seriously in any case... Italy did...and we ended up with a lot of medals (the vast majority of them coming from archery -1 week after the epic fail at the world champs- and shotgun shooting -just ahead of their world champs, so nothing to cheer about too much), behind only the 3 former Soviet Countries that were expected to dominate the field (RUS, BLR and UKR)... despite all those medals, the only thing to save is Boari's Olympic Quota in archery and, only if it becomes another Olympic Quota (we have to wait until next April to know that ), Semeraro's Gold Medal in Karate... hopefully, next time round (in 4 years, in Krakow, POL) it will be better...

Men's 400m Davide Re, 44.77 - New NR (La Chaux-de-Fonds, SUI) https://www.oasport.it/2019/06/atletica-davide-re-indemoniato-record-italiano-sui-400-metri-super-44-77-primo-azzurro-sotto-i-45/

I know that fascism is quite strong in Italy right now, but I didn't really expect to see a "Badoglio" again in the news columns... p.s. she actually is Luminosa Bogliolo

Men's Individual Epee Final Results Gold: Ruben Limardo Gascon Silver: Jesùs Limardo Bronze: Josè Felix Dominguez & Yunior Reytor Venet Semifinals: Limardo Gascon b. Reytor Venet 15-8 Limardo b. Dominguez 15-12 Gold Medal Match: Limardo Gascon b. Limardo 15-14  Here is the Full Final Ranking (and Results) from Today's competition: https://fie.org/competitions/2019/799

Women's Individual Sabre Final Results Gold: Anne-Elizabeth Stone Silver: Mariel Zagunis Bronze: Maria Belen Perez Maurice & Gabriella Page Semifinals: Stone b. Perez Maurice 15-11 Zagunis b. Page 15-13 Gold Medal Match: Stone b. Zagunis 15-14  Here is the Full Final Ranking (and Results) from Today's competition: https://fie.org/competitions/2019/801

wrong thread...

The Netherlands crowned women’s FIH Pro League champions The Netherlands have been crowned winners of the inaugural FIH Pro League thanks to a shoot-out victory over Australia, triumphing in a thrilling final played in glorious sunshine at the Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam on Saturday 29 June 2019. A breathtaking contest saw the match finish with the scores locked together at 2-2, before the Netherlands emerged 4-3 winners in the one-on-ones to defeat an Australia team that pushed them every step of the way in front of a sell-out crowd. 

 Australia silenced the home fans when Mariah Williams scored from a penalty corner in the 19th minute before Marijn Veen pulled the Dutch level four minutes later. Kelly Jonker’s fourth quarter strike put the hosts ahead in the fourth quarter, but a late penalty stroke was clinically dispatched by Kaitlin Nobbs to send the match into a shoot-out. With the score locked at 3-3 after four attempts each, a disallowed goal from Australia’s Brooke Peris allowed Lauren Stam to wrap up the victory as the Oranje added the FIH Pro League to their world and European titles. As well as the lifting the trophy, the Netherlands also saw one of their players collect an individual award, with Frederique Matla named as the Best Player of the FIH Pro League. Australia’s Rachael Lynch was named Deloitte Goalkeeper of the Grand Final, while Argentina’s Micaela Retegui took the Auping Best Goal of the FIH Pro League Grand Final thanks to her brilliant strike against Germany in the 3-4 play-off. New Zealand’s Olivia Merry was also confirmed as the overall top scorer in the FIH Pro League, with her sensational 15 goal tally proving too much for the chasing pack who were competing here at in Amsterdam. It was also an extra special day for Lidewij Welten, who was a trophy winner on 200th international appearance. Following the completion of the women’s FIH Pro League, the FIH World Rankings have been updated. The next rankings update will take place on 8 September 2019, following the completion of the Continental Championships. In the title match, Australia (FIH World Ranking: 3) were forced to soak up huge amounts of pressure from the Netherlands (WR:1) in the opening quarter, with goalkeeper Rachael Lynch making numerous crucial blocks to keep the hosts at bay. Laurien Leurink came the closest with a backhand strike that Lynch could only parry, but the Australian shot-stopper produced a remarkable save by spinning around and brilliantly clearing the ball off the goal-line with an instinctive swing of her stick. The huge crowd watching on were being thoroughly entertained by the home favourites, but they fell silent four minutes into the second quarter when the Hockeyroos scored a perfectly executed penalty corner routine, with Mariah Williams brilliantly touching home a low flick from Jodie Kenny which left Dutch goalkeeper Josine Koning stranded. However, the home fans were cheering once again when Marijn Veen powered into the circle from the right and levelled the scores with a fierce strike, beating Lynch at her near post to restore parity. The Netherlands dominated the closing stages of the second quarter but both teams had massive chances in the third period, with Australia - the only team to have beaten the Netherlands in this year’s FIH Pro League - showing no fear against the world champions ahead of an extraordinary final quarter. Laurien Leurink appeared to put the hosts ahead just one minute after the break, only to see her goal ruled out by an Australian appeal to the video umpire. There was no doubt about Kelly Jonker’s goal three minutes later, with the striker guiding an angled deflection into the roof of the net after a perfect pass from Player of the Match Eva de Goede. Just when it seemed that a Netherlands victory was a certainty, a goal-bound penalty corner drag-flick from Jodie Kenny hit the foot of a Netherlands defender, with a penalty stroke being awarded. Kaitlin Nobbs made no mistake from the spot, firing home to send the match into a shoot-out. With only one miss apiece from the two teams from the first eight shoot-out efforts, the match was effectively at sudden-death going into the final round. Australia’s Brooke Peris found the target but a video referral deemed her shot illegal, with Lauren Stam showing the coolest of heads to give the Netherlands a dramatic and hard-earned victory. “It was amazing, it was a tough match with the shoot-outs but I’m so proud we got the win”, said Netherlands ace Xan de Waard. “It’s the first FIH Pro League ever, so I think that is amazing. We’ve had so much fun, so to end it like this is amazing.” 
Australia’s Jane Claxton said: “The Dutch are a force to be reckoned with, and we knew that coming into this game. But we’ve got a lot of fire in our bellies now and it’s really good to have that coming into an Olympic year, so I’m really proud of the girls.” Earlier in the day, Germany (WR:5) claimed a shoot-out victory over Argentina (WR:4) to claim a third place finish in the FIH Pro League after the match finished 1-1 in searing temperatures at the Wagener Stadium. Argentina took the lead thanks to a wonderful improvised shot from Micaela Retegui, who squeezed the ball through her own legs to find the bottom left corner of the goal moments after a mazy run from Victoria Granatto. Retegui’s terrific finish - later named best goal of the FIH Pro League Grand Final - was the only goal of the first two quarters, but Germany hit back early in the third period when Anne Schröder volleyed home from close range. Germany probably had the better of the quarter, but Argentina - who lost Micaela Rebecchi to a head injury - rallied hard in the latter stages but the two teams remained locked at 1-1 to trigger a shoot-out. 
The opening four efforts in the one-on-ones were missed before Germany took control, with Janne Müller-Wieland, Pia Maertens and Viktoria Huse all on target as Die Danas triumphed in 3-1 in the shoot-out. 
“We are really excited”, said Germany captain Janne Müller-Wieland. “They are such a strong side to play against, and such a tough game and in such heat, it was really tough to play in it. But I’m very proud of the girls, such a great reward for a very long Pro League. It’s incredible - we didn’t think of achieving this at the start of the Pro League, so getting a medal is great and that gives us a lot of confidence for the Europeans and for whatever it to follow.” Despite defeat, it was a proud day for Argentina legend Carla Rebecchi, who made her 300th appearance for Las Leonas. “It is an honour to play for my country, wearing this shirt”, said Rebecchi. “I’m really happy to play my 300th game.” FIH Pro League Grand Final - 29 June 2019 

Wagener Stadium, Amsterdam (NED) 
 Result: Women’s 3-4 Play-Off 
 Germany 1, Argentina 1 (3-1 after shoot-out) Player of the Match: Lucina von der Heyde (ARG) Umpires: Amber Church (NZL), Michelle Joubert (RSA) and Coen van Bunge (NED - video) Result: Women’s Final
 Netherlands 2, Australia 2 (4-3 after shoot-out) 
 Player of the Match: Eva de Goede (NED) Umpires: Laurine Delforge (BEL), Sarah Wilson (SCO) and Marcin Grochal (POL - video) 

Awards 
Auping Best Goal of the Grand Final: Micaela Retegui (ARG) in the 3-4 Play-Off Deloitte Goalkeeper of the Grand Final: Rachael Lynch (AUS) Hero Top Scorer: Olivia Merry (NZL) - 15 goals FIH Best Player of the FIH Pro League: Frederique Matla (NED)

The Netherlands won earlier today the women's Pro League 2019, beating Australias by a score of 4-3 after the shootout (regulation ended 2-2)... Germany and Argentina tied 1-1 the 3rd place match and then they won 3-1 the shootout, ending up in 3rd place...

Pakistan almost committed suicide against their neighbours from Afghanistan, but finally they were able to score enough runs in the final 3/4 overs... now they're in pole position to upset the Host Team, unless there's some kind of match fixing tomorrow in the IND vs ENG matchup or some other strange and unexpected result in the last few days of the round robin play... NZL, AUS and IND are basically already safe through the Final Four...not much has changed if compared to 4 years ago (only PAK or ENG would eventually replace RSA in the semis, the other 3 teams being exactly the same)...

they were not at the start... GER & GBR planned to participate in this WC stage with a second tier team, as they notoriously don't like the Tacen course...

normally, yes... but for Italy, this was highly expected...it can't hurt too much... hopefully, the women's football hysteria in Italy is going to stop now...

among the boys, instead, Asiman Gurbanli is now in pole position for the male Olympic Spot, as Quintero and Ivan Kvesic shouldn't miss out on the qualification via OQR...

by the way, great win for Silvia Semeraro, dominating the reigning world champion in her weight class... unfortunately for Italy, Laura Palacio's success could be a big threat to get the lone Olympic Quota from this tournament, as both Semeraro and Palacio most likely won't qualify directly via OQR... now she has to be higher than Palacio in the OQR at the end of the OQP (even if both don't get a direct quota place) and the Spaniard is heavily favoured by the less competitive Heavyweight Class, rather than the most crowded at the top level Cruiserweights, where normally Semeraro fights... it will be an interesting race until next April...even if I hope that no more girls will be added to that (hoping that the no.1 seeded girls will win the remaining classes)...

I don't think Sandra Sanchez is "only" a safe silver medal in Tokyo...she can definitely go for the biggest prize...

2019 African Championships, Final Medal Table EGY, 5 / 7 / 9 TUN, 5 / 3 / 3 MAR, 2 / 0 / 0 SEN, 0 / 1 / 2 RSA, 0 / 1 / 0 ALG, 0 / 0 / 4

well, they were a lot quicker than I expected to update that page (this morning the results of the medal matches were still missing)...

OMG!!!!! thunderstorms coming!!!

yes, it was last Spring...so, he's the reigning world bronze medallist...

Karate, men's +84kg semifinals Asiman Gurbanli vs Gogita Arkania Andjelo Kvesic vs Jonathan Horne

Karate, men's -84kg semifinals Ugur Aktas vs Valerii Chobotar Ivan Kvesic vs Michele Martina

Karate, women's -68kg semifinals Irina Zaretska vs Halyna Melnyk Elena Quirici vs Silvia Semeraro

good and bad news for Italy... the notorious chance waster Clio Ferracuti is out in the women's +68kg class, meanwhile Silvia Semeraro easily beat Miroslava Kopunova and Alizèe Agier after a draw against Irina Zaretska and therefore she and the Azeri girl are through to the semifinals in the women's -68kg class... Karate, women's +68kg semifinals Meltem Hocaoglu vs Titta Keinanen Eleni Chatziliadou vs Laura Palacio Gonzalez