nd Friday, 22 July 2009 - Newsletter # 888 Diving: Women’s 3m springboard synchro Guo makes it for the 10th consecutive time! Jingjing Guo and Minxia Wu (CHN) have given Russian team) but the points of all three were China its sixth diving gold of these World almost equal. After day 7 Championships today. Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallape (ITA) came second almost In other words, the last round would show 19 points ahead of Yulia Pakhalina and which team would be lucky enough to take the Gold Silver Bronze TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL Anastasia Pozdnyakova (RUS). It was Guo’s bronze. As for silver, it looked like it would 10th consecutive gold medal at the World already be an “Italian” award. Championships in 3m springboard (both CHN 6 5 6 171717 individual and synchro). In the final round Cagnotto and Dallape gave RUS 6 2 1 999 their rivals no chance to reach them. GBR 2 0 0 222 GER 2 0 0 222 Before Guo’s “era” (which started in 2001), this event was won in 1998 (Perth) by Pakhalina The experience of the Olympic vice-champions ESP 1 5 0 666 AUS 1 0 1 222 and her famous partner Vera Ilyina. After the helped them concentrate when the pressure MEX 1 0 0 111 2004 Games Ilyina retired and Pakhalina was on and take the medal. The points’ USA 0 4 1 555 started to practice with Pozdnyakova. These difference between third and fifth place was CAN 0 1 4 555 two also got silver in Beijing and were expected heart-breaking: 310.80 for Russia, 309.90 for ITA 0 1 3 444 to fight for silver in Rome. Canada, 309.18 for Australia. GRE 0 1 0 111 BRA 0 0 1 111 The preliminary result of the Russian team was MAS 0 0 1 111 good enough. There was one mistake in the SYNCHRO RSA 0 0 1 111 fourth round and that was a reason why TOTAL 191919 191919 191919 575757 Pakhalina and Pozdnyakova got lower points Russia takes gold in Duet Free than Cagnotto and Dallape. Both Italian girls have greatly progressed in the last few years Russian synchronised swimmers have now and have become a main medal hope for their earned five gold medals at these 13th FINA country in diving. The Russian team however, World Championships after the pair of Natalia contemporary piece of music. The performance just seemed more experienced, and also more Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina conquered was edgy yet graceful, and executed with dangerous than the teams of Canada, Australia the Duet Free today. The pair earned victory stunning athleticism that showed why the and USA. with a score of 98.833, once again finishing just Russians are still Masters of this discipline. ahead of the Spanish pair of Andrea Fuentes Their movements were intricate, but During the first three rounds, Pakhalina and and Gemma Mengual, which was given a score nevertheless performed flawlessly. Pozdnyakova were maintaining their second of 98.333. In third were the Chinese twins position with confidence, but all of a sudden Tingting and Wenwen Jiang with a score of Like the rest of the synchro events here in they made a terrible mistake: Pozdnyakova lost 97.000. Rome, Russia’s biggest challenger was Spain, her balance on the board in their Reverse 1.5 and the duet of Gemma Mengual and Andrea Somersault with 2.5 Twists, and the pair lost its Speaking after her win, Romashina said: “We Fuentes. Regarding their silver medal synchronisation and was immediately punished are very happy to have secured the gold medal. performance, Mengual said: “Compared to in the marks and rankings. It was the same We wanted to distinguish ourselves from the yesterday’s performance we corrected a few story with the Russians at the Athens Games: other swimmers. Our performance was perfect; things and this was appreciated. I believe this Vera Ilyina made the same mistake in the same our choreography was easy and full of details. time we have been evaluated correctly and the combination. We have been training for eight months,” the final score reflects the level of our champion confirmed, saying they wanted to performance.” This accident greatly altered the positions of the “add a new style” to their performance. Their finalists. Cagnotto and Dallape proceeded to coach Tatiana Danchenko said the Russian The famous Spanish pair – the crowd’s find themselves in second place - 13.68 ahead medal today was the result of ten years of hard favourite aside from the Italian pair who would of Russia, while Jennifer Abel and Melanie work. swim last – performed with the most feeling. Rinaldi (CAN) moved to the third position, and They seemed to be dancing in the water; Kelci Bryant and Ariel Rittenhouse (USA) and The Russian routine was indeed unique and dancing both with each other and for the crowd. Briony Cole and Sharleen Stratton (AUS) took exciting, and carried out to an eclectic and If their routine was perhaps not the most the fifth and sixth spots (both behind the complicated or precise, it was certainly European champion Montenegro left to battle soon after the break for a 4 -2 turnaround. Two exceptionally creative and presented with great through the second round despite defeating quick goals by Romania had the game at 4-4 emotion. Brazil 19-5. but USA scored either side of the final break with BEAUBIEN netting his third. RADU scored The Chinese representation also shined when The women’s competition reaches the critical from deep at 5:08 but it wasn¹t until 1:16 that they took to the pool, following a solid second-round stage on Saturday with the main the USA sealed the quarter-final spot with an appearance from Japan’s Inui Yukiko and Sakai match-ups New Zealand-Netherlands (11:40), AZEVEDO goal off a 5m free throw. Mariko. China secured the bronze by using a China-USA (15:30), Canada-Germany (16:50) style of swimming that was a combination of and Italy-Greece (21:30). Game 44, 13:30, men, RSA 5 HUN 15 grace and power. Their routine was also Referees: Irfan SADEKOV (RUS), Ursula engaging, abruptly shifting their tempo to a Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan (09:00) and South WENGEROTH slow, languid pace before speeding up again for Africa-Brazil (10:20) are the encounters in the Quarters: 1-6, 1-3, 1-4, 2-2 the conclusion. This diversity, as well as their 13-16 play-off semifinals. Extra man: RSA 2/6; HUN 2/3 strong finish, pleased the judges and audience Hungary cruised through the match and had to alike. Game 41, 09.30, men, KAZ 5 ESP 11 await the Germany-Canada match to see Referees: Mark KOGANOV (AZE), NI Shi Wei whether it advanced to the quarter-finals As twins, the synchronicity of this pair was (CHN) following the shock draw with Germany earlier impressive and they acknowledge that they use Quarters: 1-4, 0-2, 1-2, 3-3 in the week. The shocks continued as Canada their relation as an advantage: “There are Extra man: KAZ 1/3; ESP 4/6 won and Hungary won the group. The first figures that only we, as twins, are able to Spain conquered Kazakhstan and Group C with quarter was sound at 6-1 but South Africa perform. This is because our legs are equally three victories and direct entry to the quarter- managed to trip Hungary up at times and long.” finals. Spain controlled the game from the first slowed the progress. The final period was quarter and led 7-1 early in the third before probably a triumph for South Africa before Kazakhstan¹s RUDAY scored a spectacular taking on the 13-16 group. Denes VARGA was WATER POLO centre-forward goal, working his way slowly the class act for Hungary. around before making it 7-2. Kazakhstan came up strong in the final quarter, Game 45, 17:00, men, CAN 5 GER 4 Hungary heads quarter-final qualifiers in matching goals with Spain, who were coasting Referees: Mario BRGULJAN (MNE), Alan men’s water polo to victory and thinking more of the quarter- BALFANBAYEV (KAZ). finals. Quarters: 1-1, 1-0, 1-0, 2-3 Olympic champion Hungary, world champion Extra man: CAN 2/6; GER 3/10 Croatia, Olympic silver medallist United States Game 42, 10:50, men, SRB 8 AUS 8 Canada created an upset by defeating of America and Spain have qualified for the Referees: Gaetan TURCOTTE (CAN), Filipo Germany for second spot in Group A behind quarter-finals of the men’s water polo GOMEZ (ITA) Hungary. Germany had drawn with Hungary competition. Quarters: 2-1, 1-2,3-4, 2-1 and nearly pulled off another in the dying Extra man: SRB 2/6; AUS 0/6 moments but Canada had done enough Canada caused the biggest upset of the day Serbia and Australia struggled to an 8-8 draw through dynamic defence and expert with a 5-4 margin over Germany, the team that with Serbia finishing second in the group goalkeeping from RANDELL. The stunning shot drew with Hungary earlier in the week. Canada because of a smaller deficit to group winner of the game came in the last 25 seconds when took second spot in Group A while Hungary Spain. Serbia lost by two goals and Australia by GRAHAM was left to take a shot at the end of romped through South Africa 15-5 to secure its three. Australia took its first lead two miutes possession time from well outside and he quarter-final berth.