Women sport news

Emmie Charayron (FRA) once again reigned supreme as a European champion, this time in the women's elite division at the 2011 ETU European Triathlon Championships. Photo: ITU / Janos Schmidt

As opening assignments go, they do not get much tougher than the World Champions in the first game. Against the defending Champions Trophy title holders Argentina in Amstelveen, England narrowly went down 1-0. photo Ady Kerry

The sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup is finally under way, with Sunday’s two opening games producing two tight scorelines and no shortage of quality football.

BYDOGOSZCZ (EuroBasket Women 2011) - Are Russia back on track in their pursuit of the EuroBasket Women title that would guarantee a spot at next year's Olympics? photo FIBA

BAMAKO (FIBA Africa Championship for Women) - The draw for the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship for Women took place in the Malian capital of Bamako on Saturday. photo FIBA

As the sparkling sand of Umag’s center court settled for the final time Sunday, Poland’s Karolina Baran/Katarzyna Kociolek were crowned women’s world champions as the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Youth World Championships concluded. photo FIVB

Switzerland qualified for the final stage of the inaugural CEV Continental Beach Volleyball Cup after edging Great Britain in the final game of the Zonal Phase tournament that came to a close today in Illichivsk.

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng became the youngest female golfer in history to win four major titles, shooting a final-round 66 to capture the 2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship by 10 strokes. LPGA

Defending champ Serena Williams and former champion Maria Sharapova are both showing good form going into tomorrows 7th day of competition. Both eased through their third round matches with straight wins. Monday's order of play has both Williams sisters, top seed Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova. Francesca Schiavone out

England made it two wins out of two in the NatWest Women's Quadrangular Series after another excellent all round display secured a 22 run win over Australia at Bristol today.

A full day of heats has ended here at the 2011 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Tacen. This is the first of the World Cup series this season and the competition will be ongoing from 24 - 26 June 2011. Report and Photo - International Canoe Federation.

On a night that was tailored towards the Racers’ Lisa Norris, the Bandits’ Monica Abbott stole the show in a 10-0, one-hit gem, highlighted by 18 strikeouts at Firestone Stadium. photo Dana Kwit

In a match between two of the most in-form players at the moment, Victoria Azarenka got past Daniela Hantuchova in a tough one on Centre Court on Friday, beating the Slovak for the first time in three meetings. 63 36 62. Women's top seed Caroline Wozniacki, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova all play today.

Featuring some of the stars of this summer's FIFA Women's World CupTM in Germany, "Live Your Goals" will target the next generation of women's footballers around the globe. Report - FIFA. Photo - FIFA via Getty Images.

Australia reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ under the guidance of coach Tom Sermanni in what was a breakthrough achievement for the team from Down Under. Fast forward four years and Sermanni is now aiming to prove Australia is here to stay as a force in the women’s game.

The quarterfinals of the 2011 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship wrapped up on Thursday with straight-sets victories from defending champions Chang of Thailand as well as teams from China, Kazakhstan and host country Vietnam. photo FIVB

Playing the first two of three main draw pool play matches Thursday, the world’s best young women’s tandems are enjoying the Umag sunshine, soothing summer breezes and the heated competition at the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Youth World Championships. photo FIVB

Standard Life GB women came agonisingly close to recording the biggest victory in their history before losing 64-63 against Lithuania in the opening game of EuroBasket second stage on Thursday.

England women powered to an eight wicket victory over New Zealand at the Ford County Ground, Chelmsford, yesterday.

Wild card Sabine Lisicki is showing she is someone to watch on grass after defeating French Open Champion Li Na 36 64 86. Schiavone, Serena Williams and Kuznetsova also through to round 3. Wimbledon Day 5-The match to watch will be Daniela Hantuchova [25] against Victoria Azarenka(BLR)[4] up on centre court.

As USA were en route from their training base in Austria to Dresden, the location for their first game in the FIFA Women’s World Cup against Korea DPR, Abby Wambach, scorer of over 100 goals for the US women’s national team was in determined mood. FIFA

Olympic champion Kerri Pottharst says world champions Juliana and Larrisa will be the team to beat for the rest of the year, following their inspirational triumph at the FIVB Swatch World Championships Rome 2011 powered by smart on Sunday. photo FIVB

Rising above the rest, four women’s beach volleyball teams endured blazing sunshine in a picture post-card setting along the Adriatic Sea, advancing through three qualifying rounds Wednesday to advance to the 24-team main draw at the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Championships. photo FIVB

Italy's 19-year-old swimming champion, Cecilia Camellini will be using all the hours in the day to study for her final school exams and train in the run up to next month's IPC Swimming European Championships in Berlin, Germany.

It was only a month ago that Melody Francis was stunned in the 1st round of the Black Knight Open in Perth at the hands of Korea's eventual champion Ahn Eun Chan.

A strong European contingent will be looking to make their mark at the final Major of the year, the Ricoh Women’s British Open, as they also hope to secure their place in the 2011 European Solheim Cup team.