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An all-mediterranean final for Spain and Italy
Trieste (April 21) - Following their respective victory against Hungary and Russia, the squads of Spain and Italy will battle for the first place in tomorrow's final of the Women's Water Polo Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Trieste (ITA). Having successfully reached the quarter finals yesterday, the four teams have met the Olympic target to compete at the London Games this summer. In today's other two matches, Greece was the obvious winner in their clash with Kazakhstan, scoring 21-9 while the Netherlands defeated Canada 16-13.
After yesterday’s decisive quarter-finals, adrenaline was lower on day 6 of the tournament. Some teams seemed to lack motivation. Others, quite simply, did not have much energy left. Whatever the reason, today’s matches were less intense than yesterday’s, with the exception of the last match between Russia and Italy, which was thrilling and exciting until the very end.
Russia, Spain and Japan on synchro team podium, securing London berths
London (April 21) - Russia remained dominant on the penultimate day of competition of the FINA Olympic Games Synchronised Swimming Qualification as they sealed their place in the London Olympic Games.
The medallists Russia, Spain and Japan all secured their positions to compete at the London Olympic Games. Russia took to the water using the same routine that won them gold at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai and looked powerful from their first highlight.
DWS 2012, Tijuana: Espinosa (MEX) crowned in 10m platform
Tijuana, MEXICO - China, Mexico and the United States were the countries that dominated the first day of the FINA/Midea Diving World Series 2012, held at the Aquatic Complex High Performance Center in Tijuana from April 20-21.
As one of the best in the world and the Americas, home hero Paola Espinosa won in front of her crowd the gold medal in the women's 10m platform with a total 367.40 points.With the absence in the event of Olympic champion Ruolin Chen, who will only compete in the 10m platform synchro, Espinosa wove her own competition, carried the Mexican flag to the top and had the national anthem replayed.
Russian duo wins first synchro gold
London (April 20) - The medals in the Duet were sealed on the third day of competition at the FINA Olympic Games Synchronised Swimming Qualification at the London Aquatics Centre. Russia, Spain and Ukraine excelled in both the Technical and Free routines to secure the medals in the Duet programme.
Hungary, Russia, Spain and Italy march to Olympic temple
Trieste (April 20) - The women's teams of Hungary, Russia, Spain and Italy, each winning their respective quarter final game on Day 6 of the Women's Water Polo Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Trieste (ITA), successfully booked their ticket to the 2012 London Olympic Games. The four squads will join Australia, China, Great Britain and the United States in the most expected international water polo showdown of the Olympic cycle this summer.
In today's first encounter, Hungary imposed a grueling victory, 18-5, on Kazakhstan, thus being the first to secure the precious Olympic spot. Russia was too good for Canada, whose consistent team managed to lose by one goal (7-6). In a surprising game outcome, World champion Greece (and 2004 Olympic silver medallist) missed their chance to secure a London berth, losing to ever-impressive Spain 9-7. The Olympic dream of another heavy favourite abruptly vanished; that of the Dutch squad, Olympic champions in Beijing. The Netherlands indeed lost their chance to defend their Olympic title in London after a bitter loss to the home squad, Italy, 7-6.
Russia, Spain place 1-2 in Team tech, Japan and Ukraine tie for third
London (April 19) - Day two of the FINA Olympic Games Synchronised Swimming Qualification saw the Russian team prove dominant in the Team Technical routine. After enjoying success on day one of the competition. The Russian team pushed on to an accomplished performance with their Russian dance inspired routine.
Drawn in sixth, the athletes took to the starting platform with confidence and began their routine with their usual precision and impressive technique. They demonstrated their required elements with ease and they finished the routine to a final score of 97.700.
Hungary and the Netherlands top favourites in advance of quarter finals
Trieste (April 19) - Hungary and the Netherlands top their respective group, A and B, after an intense Day 5, the last of the Preliminary Round, at the Women's Water Polo Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Trieste (ITA). The two European squads advance to the quarter finals as top favourites to secure one of the four remaining Olympic spots and will face different opponents on Day 6: the Magyars will play against Kazakhstan and are assured of a comfortable victory while the Dutch will have a tougher game against host Italy, last of its Group but still an established threat.
In Group B, Kazakhstan and Brazil finished their game on a tie (7-7) while the showdown between Olympic champion Netherlands and World number 1 Greece ended up with a clear victory for the Dutch squad, 13-6. In Group A, the wins were once more very close with Hungary defeating Spain 10-9 and Russia eclipsing locals 15-13.
DWS 2012: Tijuana to welcome the world's best divers for final showdown
TIJUANA, Mexico - The world's best divers are in the border city of Tijuana for the fourth and final leg of the FINA/Midea Diving World Series 2012, to be held at the High Performance Sports Center, in Baja California, Mexico, from April 20-21. The event brings together the best divers from twelve nations for the most important showdown ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games: China, Canada, USA, Italy, Ukraine, Britain, Malaysia, Germany, France and Mexico to name a few.
The competition programme includes 3m springboard and 10m platform individual and synchro for women's and men's. The pool has been equipped with bleachers to welcome 2,200 people, which can be appreciated from any angle competencies in addition to the webcast and TV. In 2008, Tijuana already hosted a Series leg, which turned out to be a great success ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where home hero Paola Espinosa and duo partner Tatiana Ortiz earned the bronze in the 10m platform synchro event.
No lead in Group A, World champion Greece tops Group B
Trieste (April 18) - Action-packed games took place on the fourth day of the Women's Water Polo Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Trieste (ITA), where world-class teams battle to secure the last four London berths. In Group B, Greece had an easy win over Kazakhstan, whose squad yet produced a solid performance, for a total score of 16-8. This game marked the Greeks' third victory in-a-row, the only squad to do so in this group. In the following match, Canada had little trouble holding at bay Brazil, winning 11-4.
In Group A, victories were much more hard-fought between the four contenders, whose squads considerably heightened the level of competition. Russia faced pressure from Spain, eventually defeating their strong opponent 12-11. The last game of the day between Italy and Hungary saw the home squad defeating the strong contender in a tight 11-9. With one loss and one win each so far, all Group A teams currently have two points, with no leader.
Russia, first in Duet tech, leads the way towards London 2012
London (April 18) - Olympic Champions Russia team laid down their intent for this summer’s Games with a dominating performance on the first day of the FINA Olympic Games Synchronised Swimming Qualification, presented by VISA, at London's brand new Aquatics Centre, the venue for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Day one of the competition began with the Duet Technical routine and Russia were drawn fifth. The Duet of Natalia Ischenko and Svetlana Romashina demonstrated their strengths from the start of the routine with perfect timing on their first figure.
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