22nd - 26th May
A First Triumph For France
Eight teams gathered in Estonia for the UEFA Women's U17 Championship, a competition to showcase many of Europe's future football stars. Spain and Switzerland dominated Group A, while in Group B only a goal difference separated France and England. These four teams also contested the semi-finals, and it was France and Spain who made it through to determine the champion. France's Liana Joseph broke the deadlock in the 64th minute, and again in the 74th. The match appeared sealed when a penalty was scored in the 78th minute, but Spain hit back immediately with two goals in two minutes. It was France who held their nerve to lift the Women's U17 Euro title for the first time in history.
Morocco's Casablanca hosted the African Beach Sambo Championships. Sambo is a popular and growing combat sport. Local stars Yasser Bouhessoune (58kg) and Hamza Eloudghiri (71kg) claimed the first men's gold medals. The next two classes went to Egypt's Mohamed Azaz (88kg) and Algeria's Bilal Benchikh (+88kg). Three women's categories were also contested. These were claimed by Egypt's Maream Elkhateeb (59kg), and Morocco's Chaimaa Taibi (72kg), and Oulaya Khairi (+72kg).
In chess news, Norway's Magnus Carlson has won the Rapid Blitz Poland, earning himself 12.73 International Chess Federation Circuit points. Two days still remain of the International Table Tennis Federation World Championship Finals in Durban, South Africa. In the meantime Japan has created a huge shock with Hina Hayata becoming only the second Japanese player since 1969 to reach the knock-out phase. In air sports, Japan's Kanata Takano has won the World Air Sports Federation Drone Racing World Cup in Incheon, South Korea.
The Netherland's Michael van Gerwen beat Gerwyn Price 11-5 at the O2 Arena in London to win a record seventh Premier League Darts title. Carlow in Ireland hosted the World Billiards 2023 World Matchplay Championship. England's David Causier defeated compatriot Peter Sheehan 8-1 in the final. In running news, Canfranc-Pirineos in Spain has been selected to host the third edition of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships to feature in 2025.
Finally, our friends at Discover the Games are at the European Handball Federation Beach Handball EURO 2023 in Nazaré, Portugal. Walter Tempelman, the founder of Discover the Games provided the following photo of the match between Germany and France.
Click on the photo to learn more about Discover the Games, who also have a desire to bring greater worldwide awareness of smaller sports. The website was recently updated providing you with several ways to partner with them.
Until next time, have a great weekend in sport.