Women sport news

The FIVB Women’s World Cup gold medal goes to Italy. For the first time ever, the Women’s team of “Azzurre” entered the World Cup podium and went straight through the highest step. photo FIVB

The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team finished the 2007 FIVB World Cup with a 9-2 record and bronze medal, but the final place on the medal stand took a back seat after the Americans earned a ticket to the 2008 Olympic Games on the second to last day of the tournament. photo FIVB

After taking surprise places in the women's semi-finals, qualifiers Faustine Gilles and Nour El Tayeb were unable to progress further.

For the second year in a row, the third-round field of 16 at the ADT Championship was determined by a playoff. After the 32-player field had completed 36 holes on Friday, three players remained tied at 3-over-par 147 with only two spot available. photo Seoulsisters.com

Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.) and her Team 7 crew took the gun in all three races today to solidify her total score of an impressive 14 points at US SAILING’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship. photo Dan Nerney Rolex

Canadian Caroline Calve won the women's race (1:56.44) with U.S. women completing the podium. Brooke Shaw (Stratton Mountain, VT), normally a snowboardcross or halfpipe rider, was second in 1:59.32 and veteran Lynn Ott (Bend, OR) finish third.

Australia produced a masterful performance on their way to the final after subduing England 51-33 in the New World Netball World Championships in Auckland tonight. photos Micheal Bradley

Jamaica will battle it out with old rivals england to grab that World Ranking N0 3, while Australia and New Zealand face each other in the epic final,,,,,stay tuned

The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, already with its major tournament goal of Olympic qualification in hand, lost to Italy 25-20, 25-18, 27-25 Friday afternoon on the last day of the FIVB World Cup at Nagoya, Japan. The two teams entered the contest as the top two teams in the World Cup standings with coveted 2008 Olympic Games berths already earned.

Unseeded Rushna Mehboob beat fellow Pakistani Saima Shoukat, the No6 seed, in the only upset on the opening day of action in the Women's Pakistan Open Squash Championship in Islamabad.

It has been another year to remember for DPR's outstanding Ri Kum Suk. Having led the Koreans to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup in China this September, the 29-year-old scooped the AFC Asian Women's Player of the Year award last week.

The winner of this year's Evian Masters in France, Natalie Gulbis is the latest headline name to sign up for the Dubai Ladies Masters, the Ladies European Tour’s season finale which takes place at the Emirates Golf Club from December 13-16, 2007. photo LET

U.S. ice dancing team Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov have withdrawn from the upcoming Cup of Russia due to injury. Gregory and Petukhov were performing a rotational lift during the warm-up at Skate Canada when he lost his grip, causing her to hit the ice chest first and him to slide into the boards. The pair subsequently withdrew from the competition. photo Paul and Michelle Harvath US Figure Skating

ITV4 Fearless the 225 powerboat from the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Race Series celebrates victory with a new speed record of 68.24mph, which was set at the Powerboat Records Week in Lake Coniston. Rupert Pugh (driver) and Sophie Pugh (navigator) established a new national speed record for the F4SA series.

Julie gave it everything on saturday, and after leading for about 67 of the 70.3 miles faded in the last 3 miles to come home in 4th place. photo John Coxon

Teresa McWalters has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the women's NCAA West Regional title Saturday in Eugene, Ore.

Australia produced an all-encompassing performance to advance to the semi-finals when they dispatched the Cook Islands 90-22 at the New World Netball World Championships in Auckland today.

Africa again provided highlights, as Botswana beat Trinidad & Tobago - and celebrated with their now-familiar exuberance - and the extraordinary Mary Waya displayed her total commitment in Malawi's quarter-final loss to England. Friday's eight games include four mouth-watering semi-final match-ups: Australia vs England; New Zealand vs Jamaica; Samoa vs South Africa; & Cook Islands vs Malawi. In the second group, Fiji and Botswana meet in the playoff for 9th & 10th.

The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, with five players in double-figure scoring, clinched a berth into the 2008 Olympic Games with a 25-17, 25-14, 25-20 victory over Japan Thursday evening on the second to last day of the FIVB World Cup at Nagoya, Japan.

With an outstanding match, the first one ever played by Taismary Aguero against her former team Cuba, Italy got enough points in the FIVB Women’s World Cup 2007 to be the first team to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Mo Marley will take an England U19 side to Parma, Italy for their final game of 2007, an international friendly against Italy. photo FA

Open to Lady Professionals and Lady Amateurs (with single-figure handicaps)

Kenya Ports Authoity (KPA) won two crucial ties to enhance their quest of finishing at the top of the women's Premier League ahead of this weekends play off matches. photo FIBA

After more than a decade of trying to win the first leg of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, Haleiwa’s own Megan Abubo, 29, finally sampled the sweet taste of home-town victory today, winning the $30,000 REEF Hawaiian Pro in front of a hugely adoring local crowd. photo ASP Towner Covered Images

Six of the top nine teams in the world of women’s water polo, including the top three, will be taking part in the ninth Holiday Cup; December 5-9 at the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach, California.

All of the women sailors gathered here at the Houston Yacht Club on the eve of US SAILING's 2007 Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship share a love of sailing and see competing in this regatta as an achievement of a lifetime. photo Rolex Dan Nerney