Monday, 20th February
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023
Australia, the current holders and outright favourites, secured their semi-final spot after defeating South Africa in the group phase on Saturday evening. Pakistan's defeat on Sunday to the West Indies, meant that England have also qualified for the semi-finals. In England's group, second-placed India are expected to defeat Ireland today to progress to the next phase. In Australia's group, the hosts South Africa have to defeat Bangladesh tomorrow to have a realistic chance to progress. Behind the favourites, both Sri Lanka and New Zealand have four points. South Africa are on two, but have a better run rate. The semi-finals are on Thursday and Friday, with the grand final on Sunday in Newlands, Cape Town.
The city of Bathurst, located in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales in Australia, hosted the recent World Athletics Cross Country Championships. African athletes maintained their dominance as Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) and Beatrice Chebet (KEN) became the new world champions. Ishmael Kipkurui (KEN) and Senayet Getachew (ETH) were victorious in the U20 group, while Kenya claimed gold in the Mixed Relay. Further World Athletics news is that Lamecha Girma (ETH) broke the world indoor 3000m record with a stunning 7:23.81 at the indoor Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais last Wednesday.
At the second event of the 2022-2023 FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Munich, Alexandra Kosteniuk claimed the chess tournament victory despite losing to Chinese sensation Zhu Jiner. In football news, Saudi Arabia have been selected to host the FIFA Club World Cup 2023 for the first time. The tournament is scheduled to take place from 12-22 December.
USA won the Team Parallel in the beginning of last week as the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships continued at Courchevel Meribel in France. In the Individual Parallel, victory went to Maria Therese Tviberg (NOR) and Alexander Schmid (GER). Already setting records this year, Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) became Giant Slalom world champion, with Marco Odermatt (SUI) claiming the men's title. To close off an incredible two weeks in France, Slalom victories went to Laurence St-Germain (CAN) and Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR).
The IBU Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof, Germany, was also in the second week. Johannes Thingnes Boe (NOR) won his fourth gold medal in the 20 km Individual. Hanna Oeberg (SWE), after dropping to 33rd position, stormed back to claim the 15 km Individual. Boe then completed his fifth gold in the Single Mixed Relay. Victory in the Men's 4 x 7.5 km Relay went to Quentin Fillon Maillet (FRA), while Lisa Vittozzi (ITA) won the 4 x 6 km Relay. The World Championship concluded with the Mass Start. Sweden took a clean sweep through Hanna Oeberg and Sebastian Samuelsson.
We had several UCI ProSeries races over the previous few days. Matteo Jorgensen (USA) won the Tour of Oman. The Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol in Spain was claimed by Tadej Pogačar (SLO), while over in Portugal victory in the Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta went to Daniel Felipe Martinez Poveda (COL). Back to Spain where Justine Ghekiere (BEL) won the Setmana Ciclista-Volta Comunitat Valenciana Fèmines. Bjorn Andreassen (NOR) and Loes Adegeest (NED) are the UCI Cycling Esports World Champions. Adegeest also successfully defended her title. Saudi Arabia hosted the UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup - Park. Elite gold medals went to Logan Martin (AUS) and Hannah Roberts (USA). The African Road Cycling Championships concluded in Accra on Monday. Here are the full results: https://bit.ly/3ScbNek
On the Professional Squash Association World Tour, World No.1 Nouran Gohar (EGY) lifted the Gaynor Cincinnati Gaynor Cup. Over in Calgary, World No.11 Joel Makin (WAL) claimed victory in the Canadian Men’s Open. In darts Michael Smith (ENG) won his first Cazoo Premier League Night hosted in Glasgow.
Reiteralm in Austria hosted Ski Cross over the weekend. Sandra Naeslund (SWE) dominated the women's event, while the men's titles were claimed by David Mobaerg (SWE) and Jonas Lenherr (SUI). Classic, Sprint, and Parallel Sprint were the events in the Telemark World Cup in Aal, Norway. Classic gold went to Martina Wyss (SUI) and Elie Nabot (FRA). Wyss continued her form in Sprint, with the men's title claimed by Bastien Dayer (SUI). Goril Strom Eriksen (NOR) and Elie Nabot (FRA) won the Parellel Sprint. Rasnov in Romania hosted the HS97 Ski Jumping World Cup. Anna Odine Stroem (NOR) and Andreas Wellinger (GER) are the champions, with the Team title going to Germany.
Sigulda in Latvia hosted the IBSF Skeleton and Bobsleigh World Cup. Matt Weston (GBR) and Tina Hermann (GER) are the Skeleton champions, while gold in the Women's Monobob was won by Kaillie Humphries (USA). Johannes Lochner (GER) led his 2-man Bobsleigh to victory on both days, while Laura Nolte (GER) claimed the 2-woman Bobsleigh title.
Joey Logano and Aric Almirola won Duel 1 and 2 at the Daytona International Speedway on Thursday. The races lead up to one of the biggest on the NASCAR Cup Series. Yesterday Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took victory at the famous Daytona 500. At the All Terrain Skate Cross Federation Ice Cross World Championship we have one more race weekend to look forward to. Current standings have Robin Worling (CAN) and Justïne Zonne (LAT) leading, with Linus Ollikainen (FIN) still the top junior. A major weather incident in Sydney caused damage to several of the yachts at the Sail Grand Prix. France were awarded the victory, while Australia still lead the standings on 76 points. Only two more race weekends remain of Season 3.
Virgile Devin (FRA) and Marianne van der Steen (NED) won Lead at the UIAA Ice Climbing European Cup hosted in Glasgow. Leigh Wood (GBR) lost his WBA Featherweight title to Mauricio Lara (MEX) on Saturday evening in Nottingham, England.
Luge fans had two major FIL World Cup events over the weekend to look out for. Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) and Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) won gold on the single seater at Umhausen's natural track. Peter Pigneter and Florian Clara (ITA) won Doubles gold. St. Moritz-Celerina was the location for the next Eberspächer World Cup and Relay World Cup. Single seater titles went to Dajana Eitberger (GER) and Max Langenhan (GER). Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER) won Women's Doubles, while compatriots Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt became the Men's Doubles champions. Germany also won the Team Relay gold.
Bolzano in Italy hosted the Marmotta Trophy, the next ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup. Axelle Gachet Mollaret (FRA) and Matteo Eydallin (ITA) are the Senior Individual champions. Senior Sprint titles were claimed by Emily Harrop (FRA) and Arno Lietha (SUI). Over the weekend Ragne Wiklund (NOR) claimed a track record in the 3000m of the ISU Speed Skating World Cup held in the city of Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland. Full results of the event can be found here: https://bit.ly/3k4B0Lj Earlier in the week 15-year-old Angel Daleman (NED) became the youngest ever Allround World Junior Champion in Speed Skating. Daleman won four individual gold medals, a silver and a bronze at the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships.
Robert Milkins (ENG) won the BetVictor Welsh Open as an 125/1 outsider. Milkins beat compatriot Shaun Murphy 9-7 in the final. The snooker event forms part of the World Snooker Tour. In National Basketball Association news, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has set a new All-Star Game record of 55 points in a match. At the Dutch Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Femke Bol stormed to a new world indoor 400m record of 49.26.
Until next time, have a great week in sport.