Another day of top level Inline Hockey, where the very best of Junior level Men and Senior level Women have come to reach their very best potential for the glory of gold, and the spirit of the best of sporting competition. It’s the penultimate day of competition for the Jr Men and Sr Women at the World Skate Inline Hockey Championships!
Every game matters, every point counts, any positions obtained in this competition, from the base of the table all the way to the top are critically important in setting up each team for the rest of the year, leading up to next year's competition. Each team strives to climb the table, and demonstrate the hard work and dedication over a years worth of training and development. This year is no exception, and we can say that the competition has been a delight.
Today's competition sorted positions from the base, right up to 5th position. These matter in order to create vitally important international seedings. In these matches, we witnessed in the Jr Men's division, Brazil securing their second win over the host team, by a narrow margin of 2-1. This consolidates Brazil in 9th position, and confirms Argentina in 10th. Brazilian player Joao Pedro Bertolla will be celebrated as one of their most valuable players, with a team-leading tournament record of 5 goals, and six points. Argentina will be hailing Lisandro Mercere as a local hero, leading their team with 5 goals and 5 points, and that's even after sitting in the box for 12 minutes! Truly a dynamic player who wanted to be involved in every play.
Moving up the table, Italy convincingly placed themselves in 7th position over Korea, who will appreciate making it to 8th position, having only won 1 match in the tournament. The final score was 6-0, allowing Italian players such as Renzo Rocco, Christian Pietromonaco, Giacomo Masiero, Alessandro Rossetto and Tommaso Lazzari to all share the glory on 5 tournament points each. Seungwoo Cho will go home to Korea as their new talisman, leading the team with 6 points from 2 goals.
In the final pacing matches of the day, France narrowly beat Columbia in overtime to just pip the South Americans into 5th position. Columbia is truly emerging as a formidable power in Inline Hockey, and the ability of this junior side will offer them great prospects in the future of Columbian growth in competition. Watch for players like Sebastian Prieto and Jacobo Pena, who lead their team with 8 points each this tournament. For France, who have a proven record in Inline Hockey, this may have been job done, but I wonder if they did not hope for more, and will come back strong with the backing of their national infrastructure? Watch for French tournament leader Labreux Yoni, with his 10 goals in 7 games record in the future.
Tomorrow's medal matches will prove to be unmissable games in this year's tournament, where we shall see if a young Namibian side can continue to play outstandingly well, and overcome the ever dangerous and professional Czech team, who have one more opportunity to discover their extra level and claim the bronze. Then in another white-knuckle roller coaster ride, the comeback kings from the USA will face the seemingly unstoppable Chinese Taipei team. What a prospect for a Gold medal match!
Of course, exactly the same process of casting in stone the positions and seedings from the base to 5th position was ongoing today in the Senior women’s competition. This division is experiencing great change and fluctuation, as the old guard have been caught, and overtaken by emerging talent with ever more speed, strength and raw talent. This was perfectly illustrated in the placement matches, starting with Brazil securing 9th place over Uruguay in their 7-1 match yesterday. Brazil will be celebrating players such as team leading Isadora Bassetto and Marcela Maria de Souza with 2 points apiece. While Uruguay will take what they have learned in this highest level of competition, and build for next years climb up the tables from 10th position. Watch for Soledad Mautone to play her part in the future.
Team Canada, who found their rhythm to defeat the onward developing Colombian team 5-2. This secures 7th position for the Canadians, who may feel disappointed with this placing, but will use every moment of this tournament, combined with their vast experience and pool of natural talent back home to redevelop. Watch for their talented tournament leaders Jackie Jarrell and Alannah Kedra to feature in their return to the top in future. Columbia have much to celebrate in their growing development, and will be sure to appear ever higher on the standings in future, with players such as Luna Umana and Isabella Ruiz Bustos who led this tournament with 7 and 6 points respectively.
Mexico will feel disappointment today having lost to a resurgent Italy in the later stages of this tournament. A 5-0 loss will be tempered by them placing 6th in the tables, setting up a stronger seeding for next year, and proving their hard work is helping them climb ever higher in this greatly talented international scene. Players … and … will feel pride in contributing so much to their efforts this year. Italy will be doubly pleased to have secured 5th, and at least recover from a tournament that may have held more promise for them. But no team stays still, and the improvement across all levels means that even the greats from the past must work harder to maintain their position. Joanna Rojas will be praised for her outstanding contribution of 12 points in this tournament.
All eyes now turn towards the medal matches tomorrow, where the story of David and Goliath may be experienced in the fight for Bronze. Team USA were one of the strong favourites for the Gold final, so they will surely bring everything to the table to ensure their suitcases will contain a medal to bring home. Watch for Camille Corbin and Laura Veharanta to step up their tournament leading record. They will face the Argentina team, who will have 5 players on the rink, and thousands more in the arena, watching live on stream and listening everywhere for their tournament heroes to make the difference for them, and secure a stunning bit of bronze jewellery that all Argentina will cheer. If team leaders like Iara Haiek play her best, she will be hailed as a hero from the River Plate to the Pampas!
But this year, First time gold medal winners France, who have dominated in the tournament so far, will face an equally fierce, energetic and talented European side, with similar Inline pedigree throughout the team. This is set to be a classic match, to be remembered for a generation, and will seal the reputation of the French as rulers of Inline, or turn the crown over again to the Iberians. If French players like Pauline Bernard, Lena Rault and Marina Corbeil play their best, it will be 2 golds back to back. But they must stop Blanca Lopez and Jana Reventos Presmanes who lead Spain this tournament in points.
All is set for a most spectacular event tomorrow. As always, join World Skate for all the action. Tune in and watch with Worldskategames.tv live, and follow along with scores, standings and results on Worldskate.rsportz.
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Words Pete Wirt
Photo Credit: Marco Guariglia
Photogallery of the day
World Championship Junior Men - Saturday 29th October 2022
Pav. Africa - Final 9th/10th place - 8:00 - Argentina x Brazil = 1-2
Pav. Africa - Final 7th/8th place - 10:00 - Korea x Italy = 0-6
Pav. Africa - Final 5th/6th place - 12:00 - Colombia x France = 1-2 (after overtimes)
World Championship Senior Women - Saturday 29th October 2022
Pav. Europe - Final 7th/8th place - 10:00 - Canada x Colomiba
Pav. Europe - Final 5th/6th place - 12:00 - Mexico x Italy = 0-5
World Championship Junior Men - Sunday 30th October 2022
Pav. Africa - Final 3rd/4th place - 13:00 - Czech Rep. x Camibia - Live Streaming www.worldskategames.tv
Pav. Africa - Final 1st/2nd place - 17:00 - Chinese Taipei x U.S.A. - Live Streaming www.worldskategames.tv
World Championship Senior Women - Sunday 30th October 2022
Pav. Africa - Final 3rd/4th place - 15:00 - Argentina x U.S.A. - Live Streaming www.worldskategames.tv
Pav. Africa - Final 1st/2nd place - 19:00 - France x Spain - Live Streaming www.worldskategames.tv