Women sport news

Play was simply incredible at times. Three sets of fantastic play by the new world number 1 Dinara Safina and former world number 1Venus WIlliams. Intensity of play was awesome throughout the match. Safina had 3 double faults before saving a break point and winning the final set 6-4. The match lasted just over 3 hours and 9 minutes.

Rolex Rankings number 1 Lorena Ochoa extends her lead on the second day of the Michelob Ultra at Kingsmill. Her 6-under-par 65 in round two gives her an overall mark of 13-under-par 129 (64-65), and more importantly a three-stroke advantage entering the third round of play. photo Al Messerschmidt/Michelob ULTRA Open

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) and U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, announced today the donation of 100 new sport wheelchairs to community-based Paralympic sports programs in Chicago to support the city’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and foster recreational and competitive sport opportunities for people with physical disabilities.

Top seed Dinara Safina def Martinez Sanchez in three sets to enter the Rome Semi Finals along with Svetlana Kuznetsova, Venus Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

Reigning champion Charlotte Cornwallis of Britain powered through her opening match of the Women’s World Real Tennis Championship at Newport, Rhode Island beating young American Caroline Lippincott in straight sets to reach the quarter-final.

New York Yacht Club Invitational_Crump to represent NJK and Royal Danish YC, respectively. photo Dan Nerney Rolex.

With the new Olympic boat, the ISAF Elliott 6m,making its debut at the ISAF (International Sailing Federation) Sailing World Cup event in Kiel, Germany, in June and womens match racing events growing in number and participation throughout the world

3rd ACRO International Tournament for Clubs “For the Mayor’s Cup” From May 8 – 9, 2009, the Bulgarian Federation of Sports Acrobatics is organising the 3rd ACRO International Tournament for Clubs “For the Mayor’s Cup”, an international competition that is well on its way to becoming a traditional event. photo MinkusImages

Premiere international gymnastics interclub meet. Of the 1,800 gymnasts from 26 countries expected in Dornbirn, who will walk away with the first gymnastic clubs FIG Trophy in hand? One thing’s for sure, those who are part of one of the 70 clubs registered for the first Gym For Life contest in FIG history dream of nothing else. The event will be held in Dornbirn (AUT), July 15 – 19 of this year.

FITA announce a new partnership with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines would like to support archers when they are travelling to competitions. All national team archers will be allowed extra luggage of 12 kg free of charge for their archery equipment. This offer is valid on Turkish Airlines flights during the partnership with FITA.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has announced today that the Experimental Kiteboarding Competition Rules have been released and published on the ISAF website - www.sailing.org.

As tradition would have it, the month of May crowns Corbeil-Essonnes (FRA) international capital of Rhythmic Gymnastics for one full weekend. 2009 is no different; and the discipline’s influence waxes strong this time of the year just south of Paris. photo MinkusImages

U.S. elite triathletes welcome competitors from the Americas, Caribbean. Elite athletes from the Americas and Caribbean nations will gather in the heartland of the United States for the 2009 ITU Pan American Triathlon Confederation Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., on May 16.

The exotic location of the Cayman Islands provides the setting for a brand new event on the WISPA World Squash Tour when the Womens Cayman Islands Open takes place on Grand Cayman next month.

The trio of WISPA World Tour titles won by Shelley Kitchen already this year has finally seen the New Zealander back in the world top ten, according to the new May Womens World Squash Rankings announced today (Thursday) by the Womens International Squash PlayersAssociation (WISPA).

Chicago, IL. The sun was shining brightly as the two undefeated divisional foes squared off at North Park University vying for the lead in the Midwest Division.

Sports social networking site tourlegends.com announces the launch of tourlegends Fantasy Cricket, a free application which enables cricket fans & players to create and manage a fantasy cricket competition within their club or amongst friends.

Arsenal won their fourth successive FA Womens Cup when they edged out Sunderland at Pride Park. Katie Chapmans first half goal set up victory as Vic Akers Premier League team continued their dominance of the English game. photo FA

The beauty of the Mozambiquan coast is truly inspirational as the twelve invited surfers to the Roxy Invitational discovered today. Waking up to find tiny waves running down the length of the Ponta d’Ouro sandbank, several of the ladies opted for an early morning surf while a smaller crew went snorkeling on the reefs inside the bay.

The much awaited new look pwaworldtour.com will go live at 10.00 (CET) on the morning of 6th May 2009. http://www.pwaworldtour.com/

The Olympics are always looking for new ways to sustain our interest during the lull from one Games to the next. However, discussions about new methods of drug testing or how many judges will work figure skating events only go so far.

Sebastian Coe has today lent his support to the BT Paralympic World Cup and says the event is an important stepping stone in the build up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

ParalympicsGB was jointly awarded Outstanding Contribution to British Sport alongside TeamGB at the prestigious Sport Industry Awards, held yesterday evening (Thursday April 30, 2009) at the Battersea Evolution.

Over the last three days, netball fans have been treated to one of the closest rounds in ANZ Championship history. Of the four games, three were separated by an incredible two goals or less – showing just how tight this championship is amongst the five Australian and five New Zealand teams. Plus Round 6 matches. photo Micheal Bradley

Garnering all the attention of a heavyweight fight, this weekend’s matchup between the Dallas Diamonds and the Atlanta Xplosion was a battle of the undefeated.

Flavia Penetta had the shot of the day in Rome against Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. The match ended with a 3 set win for Pennetta going into the second round. Venus Williams def Lucie Safarova in 3 sets to reach the 3rd round as did Victoria Azarenka, her partner Ayumi Morita of Japan retired after the first set with a left thigh strain.