Women sport news

The countdown continues to the Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships. Four weeks from today, the first day of competition will begin at English Bay and Stanley Park as more than 3,000 athletes from 45 countries will take part in the 20th edition of ITU's flagship event.

The lower half of the women's draw was thrown into disarray when Jenny Duncalf defeated Rachael Grinham, the reigning world champion and former world number one, 9-5, 1-9, 9-6, 9-1.

Dinara Safina won her first Tier I singles title at the Qatar Telecom German Open on Sunday, notching her third Top 10 victory of the week in a three set final against compatriot Elena Dementieva.

The event's first upset took place in the women's event when Isabelle Stoehr, a qualifier from France, beat eighth-seeded Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy 9-2, 2-9, 9-6, 9-6 in 66 minutes.

Dinara Safina won a thriller against Serena Williams for her second straight blockbuster win, after her upset of world No.1 Justine Henin in the round of 16. Jelena Jankovic was also sent home early

Annika Sorenstam, already a two-time winner this season, and Jeong Jang, of South Korea, both carded a 5-under-par 66 for Friday’s low round at the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill. Jeong Jang (67-66), who has cashed in nearly $350,000 this season on the strength of two top-10 finishes, moved from a first-round tie for 12th into a tie for second with Rolex Rankings’ number one Lorena Ochoa (65-68) at 9-under-par 133.

The USA Women's Senior National Team will be hosting Canada in a three game exhibition set starting on Tuesday May 13 and concluding on Thursday May 15.

Saturday 17th May, Cyclones vs Tx Fury, Smiley High School 7pm

British Handball News Update, Featuring Line player Lesley Robb

The Thunder and Tornadoes teams will clash in the Super League Final on Sunday May 11th at Heythrop Park, kick-off 145pm, after both teams maintained their 100 percent clean sheet at the weekend.

The England Women’s squads who will compete in the Amsterdam and London Emirates Airline Sevens this month have today (Thursday) been announced.

The Great Britain squad to face Argentina in two Tests at Reading Hockey Club next week has been announced.

The South Zone had better watch out – the rest of the RYA Zones will be gunning for their crown when the battle for the 2008 RYA Eric Twiname Championships takes place at Rutland Sailing Club this weekend (10-11 May).

Popular TV star Davina McCall will once again help to give Great Britain’s sailors a glorious Olympic send off when she attends the prestigious 2008 Sail for Gold Ball. photo Davina McCall with Ben Ainslie at 2004 Sail for Gold Ball

Hull & Humber has won Race 9 of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race, crossing the revised finish line at 2022 GMT on Tuesday 6 May. It is the team¹s third individual stage victory of the 35,000-mile race which is being contested by ten internationally-backed 68-foot yachts.

More young sailors than ever before will get the benefit of funding support from ISAF's Athlete Participation Programme as they make their first steps onto the world sailing stage at this year's Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.

Lakeshore Foundation, an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training site in Birmingham, Ala., has been named the recipient of the 2008 Amazing Partner Award by U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Further underlining the continued success of Volleyball and Beach Volleyball as Olympic disciplines is the news that tickets for the tournaments at the Beijing Games have already been sold out. photo FIVB

Justine Henin, the only active player to capture the Qatar Telecom German Open title three times, was ousted in the round of 16 by someone she hadn't lost a set to in five previous meetings.

New research showing cricket is the most popular TV sport in Australia was welcome but the devil in its detail shows all major Australian sports need to lift their game with women, Cricket Australia (CA) said today.

– Football and Government’s groundbreaking partnership, the Football Foundation, is set to give a big new boost to grass roots sport as a new three-year investment commitment worth £135 million was announced by its funding partners – the Premier League, The Football Association and the Government.

A Fara Williams hat-trick kept England on course to qualify for Euro 2009, as they saw off Belarus with ease to take a crucial three points from their visit to Minsk. photo FA.

The Ladies European Tour visits Turkey for the first time in its 30-year history this week for the €250,000 Garanti American Express Turkish Open at National Golf Club in Belek, Antalya.

Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters (pictured receiving trophy from Lady Captain Anita Smith) staged a record-breaking performance to win the girls’ title at the Fairhaven Trophy tournament at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire.

McKay and Sorenstam head the leaderboard at The Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill.

Some of the youngsters who impressed for Spain’s junior teams last year will now be given a chance to shine with the senior side after being named in coach Evaristo Perez’s preliminary squad for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. photo FIBA