Spanish athletes continue dominance
The British women’s beach soccer team shock Brazil as USA finally add a gold medal to their tally.
Italy’s Daina Flaminia and Nobile Nicole en route to winning the women’s doubles tennis gold medal at the Katara Beach. IQ Photo: Vinod DivakaranSpain continued to add gold medals to their kitty, winning two more on the penultimate day of the first-ever ANOC World Beach Games.
The Spanish aquathlon relay team, consisting of Kevin Vinuela and Francisca Tous, won gold at the Katara Beach early on Tuesday morning.
Later in the evening, at the tennis courts of the same venue, the men’s doubles team of Antonio Ramos and Gerard Rodriguez clinched top honours.
Meanwhile, Italy edged closer to Spain on the medals tally after women tennis players Giulia Gasparri and Sofia Cimatti won gold in the doubles event. Their compatriot Francesca Indelicato emerged as victorious in women’s 60kg wrestling.
Spain is in line for a few more medals on Wednesday after the women’s soccer and men’s handball teams entered the title rounds.
The British women’s beach soccer team provided the most shocking result of the day, sending the mighty Brazilians home (6-5) in the semifinal, despite trailing 2-4 at one stage. Great Britain fought back late in the match, drawing level and then taking a slender one-goal lead to emerge as winners.
Great Britain’s Irene Martin attempts to get past the Brazilian players in the Beach Soccer competition at the Katara Beach. IQ Photo: Vinod DivakaranIrene Martin, who scored three goals, was the team’s star. The decider however came from Elizabeth Kempson, who was on target twice. Great Britain will take on Russia in the final.
The USA finally added gold to their medal tally as the kitefoil racing and men’s skateboarding park fetched them the yellow metals.
While Daniella Moroz was unbeatable in the waters just off the Katara Beach, Heimana Reynolds excelled at the skating venue at Aspire Park.
Iran, Georgia and Nigeria added one more gold each to their tally as their athletes were unstoppable in the men’s wrestling competitions.
Iranian Pouya Pouya Rahmani won the over 90kgs competition while Georgia’s Davit Khutsishvilli clinched over 80kgs gold. Nigeria’s Joy Onyebuchi emerged as winner in women’s over 70kg competition.
Medals Tally
| Rank | Country | G | S | B | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 2 | Italy | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | Brazil | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Georgia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | United States | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 7 | Russia | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 8 | Belarus | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| =9 | Iran | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| =9 | Nigeria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| =11 | Colombia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| =11 | Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| =11 | Pakistan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Azerbaijan | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 15 | Hungary | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 16 | Turkey | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 | Ukraine | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| =18 | Australia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| =18 | China | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| =18 | Finland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| =18 | Poland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| =18 | Puerto Rico | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| =18 | Switzerland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| =18 | Chinese Taipei | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| =25 | Germany | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| =25 | Romania | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| =27 | Bulgaria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| =27 | Chile | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| =27 | Dominican Rep | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| =27 | Hong Kong | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| =27 | Slovenia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| =27 | Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
