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Women’s sports round-up: 21-27 January

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2013 Australian Open champion Victoria AzarenkaWelcome to our weekly bulletin of British women’s results and news from around the globe.

Cricket:

The cricket World Cup saga has continued this week on two fronts.

In a move widely condemned by most cricket experts as disrespectful to the women’s game, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to move all of the Women’s World Cup games scheduled to take place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, so that the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) can use it for the final of the Indian men’s domestic season’s Ranji Trophy.

The tournament is now set to be played at five stadiums: the Barabati Stadium and the DRIEMS stadium in Cuttack, and the MIG Club, Brabourne Stadium and MCA’s Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

This change also helps tackle the security concerns raised about the safety of the Pakistan team in India. All Pakistan’s group matches are now to be played in Cuttack.

There are several changes to the tournament schedule. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has published details of these changes. See their website for details.

Cycling:

The Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling women’s team is due to launch this week.

The full team comprises; Elinor Barker (GB), Beatrice Bartelloni (Ita), Giorgia Bronzini (Ita), Emily Collins (NZ), Rochelle Gilmore (Aus), Mayuko Hagiwara (Jpn), Dani King (GB), Lauren Kitchen (Aus), Amy Roberts (GB), Joanna Rowsell (GB), Ana Bianca Schnitzmeier (Ger) and Laura Trott (GB).

The launch follows the announcement last week that the national cycling charity CTC is to launch a women’s team, and undoubtedly represents a great move forward for women’s cycling.

It means there will be 33 registered women’s teams for the 2013 road season.

But Lizzie Armistead, one of the sport’s greatest critics when it comes to sexism, is not convinced that the introduction of new teams is the answer.

She is concerned that the inequality in pay and prize money, and the lack of media coverage for women’s cycling are just as important.

In an interview with the BBC she said, “the issue is much bigger than simply putting a few jerseys on a few women’s backs”.

And as promised, we also have the final result of the women’s omnium at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup, held in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

The winner was Sarah Hammer of the USA with a total of 14 points. Elinor Barker improved her position on the second day to finish 15th with 79 points.

Football:

Tickets for the 2013 UEFA Women’s Champions League final, to be played on 23 May at Stamford Bridge, went on sale on 22 January.

In an interview with the London Evening Standard former England Captain and ambassador for the final, Faye White, said, “Women’s football is growing in popularity at an impressive rate.

“The UEFA Women’s Champions League final is a fantastic opportunity for fans to come together to see top-quality football played in a prestigious stadium.

“I hope that it will help inspire a new generation of female footballers in England.”

Kick-off will be 7.30pm. Adult tickets will be priced at £10, with juniors only £5. Tickets can be purchased from the Chelsea FC website.

Netball:

England made short work of Australia for the second time in a week on last week, as they beat them in front of a 7000-strong Wembley Arena crowd 51-49.

This meant they had already taken the series before the final match, a historic result given that before the series, England had only beaten the Aussies twice since 1981.

Another 7000 people saw them complete a 3-0 whitewash in style at the NIA in Birmingham on Saturday, taking the game 58-51.

Tennis:

It was a somewhat surprising line-up for the Australian Women’s final on 26 January.

The seemingly unstoppable Maria Sharapova was dumped out at the semi-final stage by 6th seed Li Na.

Top seed Victoria Azarenka booked her final place by beating Sloane Stephens, shock semi-finalist and conqueror of Laura Robson.

The final was scrappy with defending champion Azarenka, losing the first set, before finally winning 4-6 6-4 6-3.

Gussie (Gertrude Agusta) Moran died this week, aged 89.

Nicknamed “Gorgeous Gussie”, Moran peaked at no. 4 in the US rankings, but her fame rests largely on the controversy caused when she wore knickers trimmed with lace at Wimbledon in 1949.

The lace, clearly visible to the watching public, scandalised the All England club and caused the outfit’s designer, Ted Tinling, to be fired from his job for “having drawn attention to the sexual area.”

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