Singapore Sports School, Friday, August 1, 2008 – The Chinese women water polo team saw off the challenge of Italy to win 7-5 in the Pre-Olympic Water Polo Invitational yesterday.
Coached by Juan Jane Giralt, the former coach of the Spanish men's team, the Chinese showed that they were able to compete under pressure. The Chinese led 2-0 after the 1st quarter but their physical play resulted in several expulsions and that gave the Italians the opportunity to open their scoring. A second Italian goal by Martina Micela early in the 2nd quarter from long range kept the Italians in the game and they trailed 2-3 at the break.
The Chinese scored early in the 2nd half to make it 4-2 and Zan Chi then made it 5-2. The Italians had several opportunities but missed their chance to come back into the game.
The Italians narrowed the gap to 3-5 and continued pressure saw them level the score at 5-5 with six minutes to play. However China came back to score via a lob and a goal in an extra-woman situation to finally win 7-5.
The final game of the day saw Russia beat Greece 13-9 with Russian Sofya Konukh scoring in every quarter. Her best goal was a 10-metre shot that went straight into the top corner of the goal after just 20 second in the 2nd quarter.
Match stats and lineups:
China vs Italy
(2:0, 3:2, 7:3, 10:5)
China: Yang Jun, Teng Fei (1), Lui Ping, Sun Yujun (2), He Jin, Sun Yating (1), Wang Ying, Gao Ao (2), Wang Yi, Ma Huanhuan, Sun Huizi (1), Qiao Leiying, Tan Ying
COACH: Juan Jane Giralt
Italy: Elena Gigli, Martina Miceli (1), Elisa Casanova, Silvia Bosurgi, Silvia Bosurgi (1), Erzsebet Valkai, Manuela Zanchi (1), Tania di Mario (2), Cinzia Ragusa, Francesca Pavan, Federica Rocco, Maddalena Musumeci, Teresa Frassinetti, Chiara Brancati
COACH: Mauro Maugeri
Referees: Adzic Dejan and Mario Bruguljan
Russia Vs Greece
(2:1, 7:4, 10:7, 13:9)
Russia: Valentina Vorontsova, Natalia Shepelina, Ekaterina Prokofyeva, Sofya Konukh (5), Alena Vylegzhanina (3), Nadezda Glyzina, Ekaterina Pantyulina (2), Evgenia Soboleva (1), Oleksandra Karpovich (1), Olga Belyaeva, Elena Smurova, Olga Turova (1), Ekaterina Pantyulina
COACH: Alexander Klemynov
Greece: Georgia Ellinaki, Christina Chrysoula Tsoukala, Angeliki Gerolymou (3), Sofia Iosifidou, Kyriaki Liosi (2), Stavroula Kozompoli, Ajkaterini Oikonomopoulou (1), Antigoni Roumpesi (1), Evangelia Moraitidou (1), Alexandra Asimaki, Stravroula Antonakou, Georgia Lara (1), Maria Tsouri
COACH: Kyriakos Iosifidis
Referees: Michael Hart, Tang Hong Boon
I was so disappointed in the coach of the women’s water polo in the faces that he made at the end of the match with the US team. He showed very poor sportsmanship and came across as very rude. With people like him coaching it is no wonder they lost. I can only imagine how disheartened and discouraged they are. Juan Jane Giralt may be a Frenchman and an emotional person but there is no excuse for his actions and public specticle of poor taste and low class actions.