Women sport news

The NCAA decided Friday afternoon at its Division I business meeting held in Atlanta to approve the addition of sand volleyball to its list of emerging sports for women, a position supported by USA Volleyball (USAV), American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP). photo US Volleyball

Elena Dementieva secured her second consecutive sydney title today after defeating world number 1 Serena Williams.

British slider Shelley Rudman won the gold medal at the St Moritz Skeleton World Cup in Switzerland. Rudman, silver medallist for Great Britain at the Torino Olympic Winter Games in 2006, won her second World Cup gold of the season and her fourth medal overall.

The Algeria women’s team began preparations for the FIVB Womens World Championship 2010 on Sunday by flying to Lille, France for training. photo FIVB

World Number 1 Serena Williams continues to shine by defeating Aravane Rezai in three sets to face 5th seed Elena Dementieva who defeated Victoria Azarenka 63 61.

Canada’s National Senior Womens Team reversed their first-half fortunes and defeated the Americans, 18 – 8, in the first of two tests in Lakeland, Florida.

World number two Alison Merrien is a confirmed starter for next month’s $120,000 Australian Open at the Shepparton Park and Mooroopna bowls clubs.

On face value, the sedate town of Lara and the hustle and bustle of Delhi appear polar opposites. But if Sam Shannahan gets her way, there will soon be a link between the Geelong offshoot and the capital of India.

Breast Cancer Campaign’s women-only cycle ride, Pedal it Pink, sponsored by Santander, is set to take the nation by storm in 2010 with three events already announced and more to follow.

Sarah Haskins was named USA Triathlete Olympic/ITU Female Triathlete of the Year, an honour awarded annually by the USAT Athlete Advisory Council.

Rohkamper says competing in this year’s SWATCH FIVB World Tour will be a big challenge for her and her partner Heike Jensen. photo FIVB

While top seeds Serena Williams and Dinara Safina cruised through their second round matches, 3rd seed Svetland Kuznetsova went down to Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets 75 62

The NSWT has announced their starting XV for their first of two tests against the Americans on January 12th in Lakeland, Florida at the Tigertown athletic complex. photo Megan Mutrie

The England womens selectors have named a 15-strong squad to tour India from February 15th - March 9th 2010. Led by Charlotte Edwards, the squad will play five One Day Internationals and three Twenty20 matches.

With under 80 days to go before the BRITS 2010 Snow and Music Festival descends upon Laax, Switzerland organisers are proud to announce that, SNO!zone - the UK’s largest indoor snow slope operator, are back onboard to take the title rights for the SNO!zone British Snowboard and Freeski Halfpipe Championships.

Welsh Cycling in conjunction with Newport Velo will be holding a 3 race omnium series over a three month period beginning on January 23rd 2010 and continuing on February 20th and March 20th. The events will be for experienced Youth A, B and C riders and held at Newport Velodrome.

Title defender Viborg HK has qualified as second team after Krim Mercator Ljubljana for the main round of Women’s Champions League.

The U.S. Freestyle Ski Team’s women’s moguls squad gave Calgary a Saturday-night encore with three skiers in the top six, led by Park City’s Heather McPhie, who grabbed another all-important top 5 with her second consecutive fourth-place finish.

Zoe Gillings, Britain’s No 1 Snowsport athlete has today produced her seasons best performance finishing 6th in the latest leg of the LG FIS Snowboard World Cup Snowboard Cross tour in Bad Gastein, Austria.

Shelley Rudman, Britain’s Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games silver medallist, continued her impressive form by winning bronze in the sixth round of the 2009/10 Skeleton World Cup at Konigssee in Germany today.

China’s 27 year old GUO Yan won the respective Women’s Singles titles at the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals in the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macao on Sunday 10th January 2010 and in so doing created a moment of history.

Finally, third try’s a charm for Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO). After near misses in hat trick bids at Val d’Isere, France (third in the super G), and Lake Louise, AB (second in the super G), the skier with a vice grip on the early World Cup points standings followed two consecutive downhill wins with a triumph in the super G on Sunday in Haus Im Ennstal, Austria, besting the field by more than a half second. photo Red Bull

It wasnt a question of if, as much as when Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA) and Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton, VT) were going to shred their way to a podium. photo Oliver Kraus

Kim Clijsters defeated fellow belgium player Justine Henin in tight match at The Brisbane International. Clijsters finally won the match 63 46 76.

Belgian Yanina Wickmayer continued to enhance her countrys tennis reputation with a straight sets singles victory over Italian top seed Flavia Pennetta at the ASB Classic.

As a fantastic 2009 closes Netball Australia is ready to take on an action-packed 2010. In preparation for the Commonwealth Games in October, 2010 will see the Diamonds take on Scotland, England, Jamaica as well as arch rivals the Silver Ferns all before they head to Delhi.