15 August 2006

South Africa's canoe polo teams wrapped up their challenges at the Canoe Polo World Championships in Amsterdam with a number of good results, retaining their relative global standing in the sport.

With a record 64 teams taking part in the event at Bosbaan, the South African men ended the tournament in nineteenth place, with the women's team went one place better at eighteenth.

The men ended their tournament with a memorable win over the strong canoeing nation of Hungary, after being on the receiving end of tough encounters with a number of the world's best teams.

First round
In their first round, South Africa's men's side went down to the hosts The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and Chinese Taipei, before bouncing back to beat the USA.

The women's first round was equally tough, as they had been drawn into the toughest pool of the entire competition. They lost first round clashes with Italy, Great Britain, Belgium and Canada.

In the latter stages, the SA women's side grew in confidence, and posted wins over the Czech Republic and Singapore, before losing to Sweden in the playoff for seventeenth place.

Stiff opposition
"The opposition was very stiff," said Kate Burnett. "The women showed a lot of grit and determination, even when they were up against the top teams," she added.

France took the men's world championship crown, beating Italy in a final that saw the Italians fight back impressively in the last chukka.

Germany won the women's world title, in a thrilling final against New Zealand that went to extra time.

Results

Men

	Action from the Canoe Polo World Championships (Photo: Jeroen Derksema Canoe Polo World Championships)

	McGregor adds Berg to title list SA's canoe marathon queen SA man takes G4 Challenge Pretorius wins Molokai Challenge Records galore at Dusi 2006 Lombard rewrites Berg history Three world-class canoe marathons

	Canoeing South Africa  Canoe Polo World Championships

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