Women sport news

Sanya Richards, Allyson Felix, Lolo Jones avenged their performances in Beijing Friday by winning their respective events at the 2008 Weltklasse Zurich, the fifth IAAF Golden League Meet of the season.

They had played only 17 World Tour events together, with a silver medal from Marseille as the best. Their short international beach volley history were crowned with gold Saturday in the SWATCH FIVB World Tour Otera Open. photo FIVB

US Open-No.2 seed Jelena Jankovic was the first to reach the quarterfinals on Sunday, defeating No.21 seed Caroline Wozniacki in three sets. The first four quarterfinal berths are up for grabs on Day 7.

(Taihu, Suzhou, China, Thursday 28th August 2008) -- A massive boost to ladies professional golf in China has come with the announcement by China Golf Association that the country will host its first ever Ladies European Tour event and that Annika Sorenstam, will play.

Opals captain Lauren Jackson had surgery in Sydney to repair a painful problem in her ankle photo FIBA Beijing 08

The ISWC world rankings have been updated after the Euopean Championship 2008 in Karpathos, Greece.

Para-alpine sit skier Brad Lennea (Whistler, BC) and guide Emily Glossop (Ottawa, ON), who guided Kathleen Forestell (Ottawa, ON) to a World Cup medal in 2006, have announced that they will not be competing with the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team this season. photo Alpine Canada

As the world’s top Paralympians gather in Beijing for the 2008 Paralympic Games, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) today announced details of how spectators can start planning to attend some of the most inspirational and affordably priced sporting events in the world — at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

U.S. Figure Skating and icenetwork.com have announced the initial “World Figure Skater Rankings” for the 2008-09 season. The rankings, found on icenetwork.com and updated weekly, rank the top 20 figure skaters in the world in ladies, pairs and ice dancing.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The women's field will be headlined by former Olympian Elva Dryer (Gunnison, Colo.); the 2007 USA half marathon champion will be in search of her first 20 km crown. The championships, hosted by the 31st annual Stratton Faxon New Haven 20K, will be held Labor Day, Monday, September 1.

206 British athletes head back to Beijing in the next few days as ParalympicsGB attempts to add to the glorious, recent gold haul of TeamGB when the 2008 Paralympic Games takes place in the Chinese capital from September 6-17.

National Player Lin Qingyi (Micky) has had to withdraw from the Fisher & Paykel Nations Cup after fracturing her ring finger during a training session and is therefore unable to play. This injury will require surgery which she will undergo soon.

Nila Hakedal and Ingrid Torlen made Norwegian beach volleyball history during SWATCH FIVB World Tour Otera Open Friday by earning the host country’s first ever “final four” berth in their own tournament. photo FIVB

Top seed Jelena Jankovic was back on court for a 3rd round encounter with Zheng Jie of China. Jankovic prevailed 7-5 7-5 to move into the fourth round. The biggest upset of the day was Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova she was defeated in three sets by Katarina Srebotnik of Slovakia. Former World Number 1 Lindsay Davenport went out in two sets to Marion Bartoli of France.

SEIGNOSSE, France (Wednesday, August 27, 2008) – Lee Ann Curren (Biarritz, FRA), 19, claimed the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-2 Rip Curl Pro Junior Mademoiselle today at Les Bourdaines in Seignosse. Curren, who defeated Justine Dupont (FRA), Pauline Ado (FRA) and Marie Dejean (FRA) in a 100% French final. photo ASP

Britain's Paralympic swimming squad have now started the final build-up to the Paralympic Games at the ParalympicsGB holding camp in Macau. At the 2004 Paralympic Games Britain finished just behind China in the swimming medal table and for the returning Paralympians they will be aiming to go one better this time around.

England Netball’s National Selectors and the Head Coach, Sue Hawkins, have named 15 players for the Test Series taking place in Australia and New Zealand this October.

Lausanne, August 28, 2008 – The Brazilian Women’s team received a rapturous welcome from thousands of fans during a victory parade for the Beijing Olympic gold-medal winners on the streets of Sao Paulo on Wednesday.

Friday’s fourth-round opponents Carolina Solberg Salgado of Brazil and Nila Hakedal of Norway have one thing in common: the city of Kristiansand. Carolina’s grandfather comes from this Norwegian southcoast city, while Nila has lived most of her life here. photo FIVB

Brighton’s Nivea Sun Yellowave Beach Sports Centre is currently being transformed ahead of Britain’s first ever beach volleyball world championship event next week. Just days after London accepted the Olympic flag from Beijing, Britain is preparing to host its first major event of the new Olympiad.

World No.188 Julie Coin became the lowest-ranked player - by 55 spots - ever to beat a reigning No.1, with a 63 46 63 win over Ana Ivanovic. The second round came to a close on Thursday. Venus Williams also won her second round match.

Britain¹s podium-topping sailors were today welcomed home to London, and to the news that leading long-term investments provider Skandia has confirmed its continued support of the British sailing team for the next four years. photo onEdition

Rewarded for dazzling ANZ Championship seasons and outstanding performance throughout the national camp program, Kate Beveridge, Kimberlee Green and Laura Geitz have earned their Australian Player badge following the announcement of the 2008 Australian Netball Team.

Australian Netball captain Sharelle McMahon will miss the 2008 Holden Netball Test Series and the New World International Netball Series.

The National Women's Football Association and it's teams will be hosting special girl's football camps this Fall.

Singapore-American golfer Cristie Kerr moves closer to qualifying for a coveted spot on Team International for the Lexus Cup 2008. Kerr won the Safeway Classic presented by Pepsi on Sunday in a sudden-death playoff to beat possible team mates, Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson and Sophie Gustafson. Kerr did a fantastic job to hold her nerve during a tense final round on Sunday and took the title.