Women sport news

Serbia’s Jovana Brakocevic is shaping up to be a key figure in her national team’s FIVB Women’s World Championship Japan 2010 campaign later this year following a solid performance in an All Star victory over an Italian selection in Verona, Italy on Sunday. photo FIVB

Justine Henin and Zheng Jie are the first players into the SF of the Australian Open. Henin defeated Petrova in two tight straight sets 76 75. Zheng Jie swept aside Russias Maria Kirilenko 61 63. Venus and Serena both through to the doubles semi finals as is Raymond and Stosur.

The winner of the HSBC Women’s Champions Local Qualifying Tournament for 2010 is Joey Poh who will take the host country invite spot for the second year running at next month’s showdown of the world’s top professional female golfers.

MOSCOW (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) – Russia sprung the biggest upset of the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil when they beat the tournament favorites Team USA in the Semi-Finals. photo FIBA

23rd of January saw Youth riders from all over the UK converge on Newport Velodrome for the first round of the Welsh Cycling Icebreaker Omnium Series 2010 in conjunction with Newport Velo.

World Number 2 Dinara Safina had to retire in the first set due to a back injury sustained while playing Maria Kirilenko in the fourth round. Kirilenko goes through to her first major QF. Justine Henin continues to shine after a 3 set win over Yanina Wickmayer 7-6(3) 1-6 6-3. Both Williams sisters are through.

After lifting the Cyprus Cup last February and then reaching a European Final for the first time in 25 years (just two months after the U19 side lifted their equivalent), England Womens Head Coach, Hope Powell, believes 2009 was the most successful year English Women’s football has ever experienced. photo FA

About 570 paddlers took to the waters today at the Singapore Canoe Marathon 2010 which kicked off at the Marina Reservoir and saw its biggest turnout to date.

The Womens Top seeds were in action today, with World Number 1 Serena Williams through to the fourth round after knocking out 32nd seed Carla Suarez Navarro in two easy sets 60 63. Sister Venus was close behind with a straight sets win over Wild Card entry Casey Dellacqua. Azarenka and Zvonareva also through. Dulko and Hantuchova both out.

Two weeks after locking down her Olympic spots, Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT) bested the womens field Friday night during the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix victory at Park City Mountain Resort. photo Oliver Kraus

Two-time European Champion Carolina Kostner of Italy has set her eyes on a third title here in Tallinn after winning the Ladies Short Program on Friday. Finland’s Kiira Korpi and Laura Lepistö are trailing Kostner by just a few points. It was a competition at high level with many seasons best scores.

Jelena Jankovic went crashing out of the Australian Open today after a straight sets victory went to Alona Bondarenko of the Ukraine 62 63. A surprise defeat for Kim Clijster saw her swept aside by Russian player Nadia Petrova in two one sided sets 60 61

The Cricket Australia Women’s National Selection Panel (WNSP) has today named a 14-player squad to play New Zealand in the Rose Bowl Series from 10-23 February in Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart.

Australian cricket this evening paid tribute to Betty Wilson, sometimes described as Australias female Bradman and widely acknowledged as the nations greatest female cricketer, who has died aged 88.

As the speed events continued in Sestriere, ITA today with a downhill event, Lauren Woolstencroft (North Vancouver, BC) won another downhill race making it her fifth IPC World Cup win in two weeks with a time of one minute 20.00. photo Alpine Canada

World Champions Oksana Domnina/Maxim Shabalin of Russia retained their lead in the Original Dance, but Italy’s Federica Faiella/Massimo Scali won this segment. Defending European Champions Jana Khokhlova/Sergei Novitski (RUS) slipped to third place before the final Free Dance on Friday.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today that ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White have been voted the December 2009 Team of the Month. photo US Figure Skating/Paul Harvath

Britain’s Shelley Rudman continued her impressive form by winning bronze at the Skeleton European Championships at the Igls track in Austria today (Friday).

Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, January 18, 2010 – Germanys world No. 4 Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig claimed the honours in the third leg of the New Zealand Beach Volleyball Tour, beating home favourites Anna Scarlett and Susan Blundell to win the Mount Maunganui stage on Sunday.

In a surprise all-American final of the Womens Liberty Bell Open between two sixteen-year-olds, New Yorks Amanda Sobhy emerged triumphant to win the $6,700 WISPA World Tour squash event at Berwyn Squash & Fitness Club in Berwyn, PA, USA. photo WISPA

Russian favourite Ana Ivanovic ended her campaign today in Melbourne going down to Gisela Dulko of Argentina. The Russian lost in 3 tight sets. Both Williams sisters won through to the third round in easy wins. Shahar Peer and Daniela Hantuchova both through. One upset in the doubles first round Petrova/Stosur the number 5 seeds went out to Dushevina/Rodionova in three sets.

A unanimous vote in favour of restructuring the Ladies’ Golf Union and adopting new operational rules has paved the way for a more modern and effective approach to managing the organisation. The Annual General Meeting in Cardiff heard that these important changes would be implemented immediately following the AGM.

VIDNOJE (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - Want an idea on how the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic may unfold?

Natalia, one of Brazil’s rising stars, has once again shown that she is set to one of the stars for this year’s edition of the FIVB World Grand Prix after top scoring in Brazil’s “super” Superliga match of the round on Monday. photo FIVB

The Williams sisters both continued their campaign at the Australian Open today easily sweeping aside their opponents in straight set matches. Virginie Razzano and Anabel Medina were two seeds ousted on Day 2

A host of cycling stars past and present will be in attendance next month when the sport’s governing body celebrates its 50th Anniversary and 2009 Annual Awards at a Gala Dinner in Manchester’s Central Convention Centre on Saturday 20 February.