Women sport news

Qualifier Joey Chan led a flurry of upsets in today’s first round of the CIMB KL Open Squash Championships in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. The established international Tour event is celebrating its sixth successive year sponsored by CIMB.

Arsenal Ladies captain Faye White and manager Laura Harvey both lamented a poor first half during their 1-1 draw with Linkopings. Report by David Brenchley. Photo - Arsenal.com

Double Paralympic swimming champion Eleanor Simmonds is one of the leading swimmers confirmed today for the GB team taking on competitors from around the world at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester in May.

A second half Ellen White wondergoal earned Arsenal Ladies a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final tie against Swedish side Linkopings. Report by David Brenchley. Photo - Arsenal.com

GB’s swimming athlete’s with a disability look set to prepare for the home Paralympic Games in the city of Manchester after being identified in principle to host the team camp. The country's best swimmers will make the most of the world class facilities at the Manchester Aquatics Centre where they will finalise what will be four years of preparation.

The U.S. Women's National Team will play a pair of games against Canada on April 7 and 8, in Ann Arbor, Mich., prior to departing for the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship in Zurich and Winterthur, Switzerland.

In tonight's opening match of Round 6, the West Coast Fever host the NSW Swifts at Challenge Stadium. When these sides met in Sydney just 10 days ago, the Fever led for the first three quarters before surrendering to an intense final quarter comeback by the Swifts.

AUSTRALIAN young guns Sally Fitzgibbons and Tyler Wright have advanced through to the round of 12at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6 star world tour Legendary Pacific Coast Pro in association with Commonwealth Bank in Newcastle today.

It became obvious during the 2nd quarter that the Australian’s had not played officially together as a team prior to this game.

Yanina Wickmayer overpowered Shahar Peer on Wednesday evening to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open and return to the Top 20. Next up for Wickmayer is No.15 seed Marion Bartoli, who beat No.19 seed Ana Ivanovic earlier on Wednesday in straight sets

TeamBath aim to return to winning ways in the Fiat Netball Superleague when they host Hertfordshire Mavericks on Friday (18 March) night in a re-run of last year¹s Superleague final.

England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has made two changes for Friday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland, which sees England bidding for a sixth successive crown and a Grand Slam at Ashbourne RFC, kick off 730pm.

Everton and Arsenal go into their Champions League quarter final first leg ties with the same aim - to put themselves in pole position to qualify for the semis. Report by David Brenchley. Photo - Arsenal.com

Tampa/London/Manila - Kiteboarding, World Tour KB4girls: The KB4girls 2011 World Tour is off to a very successful start this week with the first event of the season in the Philippines. The first tour stop out of 10 took part as a PRO event in cooperation with the KTA (Kiteboard Tour Asia) and focused on coaching female kiters before and during the competition stop.

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) today confirmed the competition dates and venue for the triathlon in London 2012.

Lincoln Ladies are delighted to announce the signing of England international Casey Stoney from Chelsea. Content and Photo - Lincoln Ladies FC

In the light of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami disasters the ISU released a formal statement concerning the cancellation of the World Figure Skating Championships 2011 Tokyo on safety grounds.

Following a disappointing run of results, Loughborough Lightning may not be blamed for feeling reluctant to allow the Sky cameras into the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall next Monday (21st March). However, last weekend’s performance against play-off challengers Surrey Storm, dubbed by many as their best of the season, has left Lightning player coach Olivia Murphy relishing the challenge of proving their doubters wrong, and impressing in front of a live television audience.

Maria Sharapova was in blistering form has she swept past former world number 1 Dinara Safina in straight sets 62-60. Kim Clijsters had to retire after she won the first set 6-3 against 15th seed Marion Bartoli.

The FA can confirm that ESPN’s first live FA WSL match next month will be the London derby between Chelsea Ladies and Arsenal Ladies. Text and photo - The FA.

Great Britain’s Men’s and Women’s national teams will compete in the Olympic Basketball Tournament at the 2012 London Games after FIBA granted them automatic places at the Central Board on Sunday. photo FIBA

Reanne Evans cruised to victory in the Connie Gough National Championship to extend her record run on the women's snooker circuit to 84 matches without defeat. The six-time women's world champion defeated Portsmouth's Emma Bonney 3-0 in the final at Fareham Snooker Club in Hampshire

Brooklands Poynton lost twice at the weekend in Women’s Premier Division to seal their relegation fate. A narrow 1-0 loss to fellow relegation strugglers Olton & WW was followed by a 3-0 defeat to league leaders Leicester.

Olympians Natalie Cook, Tamsin Hinchley (Barnett) and Louise Bawden were on opposite sides of the net with their three respective partners – all gunning for an edge ahead of an international season crucial to qualifying for the London Olympic Games in 2012. The maximum number of teams a nation can qualify for is two. photo FIVB

Mayaguez Indians’ setter Michele Cardona, the all-time assist leader of the Puerto Rican Women’s Superior League, reached a historic milestone when she recorded her 6,000 career assist in a match against Caguas Criollas on Thursday. photo FIVB

Former World Number 1 Dinara Safina showed more fight yesterday as she defeated number 4 seed Sam Stosur in straight sets. Safina will now meet the only Russian to reach world number 1 Maria Sharapova. Sharapova, seeded No.16, cruised past No.20 seed Aravane Rezai, 62 62.