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Sport: Green And Gold Action This Summer

  • July 1st, 2008
  • Posted by Smriti Chawla

kookaburras.jpgSome sporting action in Europe has seen green and gold supporters out in force this week.

The Kookaburras hockey side won the Olympic lead-up tournament, the Men’s Field Hockey Championship trophy – played in the Netherlands, (picture).

In tennis Leyton Hewitt, seeded 20th these days, got himself into round four at Wimbledon, where he went down to Roger Federer, in straight sets.

Smriti Chawla reports.

HOCKEY TEAM SET FOR OLYMPICS

The Australian men’s hockey side have ended up looking strong for the Beijing Olympics, in August, after defeating Spain 4-1, in this year’s Championship final, at Rotterdam.

It was Australia’s ninth win in that competition, equalling a previous record set by Germany.

Six top teams took part: Argentina, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea and Spain — with Argentina the only team not qualified for the 2008 Olympics.

The coach, Colin Batch, told journalists the tournament had been excellent preparation for Beijing, although players and selectors would be in for a hard week, as the team for the Olympics came to be chosen.

FEDERER AND HEWITT

Roger Federer’s win against Leyton Hewitt did not keep the green and gold army waiting too long.

The scores were 7-6 (9-7), 6-2, 6-4; the game took one hour and forty-nine minutes.

However Federer had called his opponent “very dangerous”, after several previous clashes.

The Swiss star had classed him as one of two players, the other being Rafael Nadal, able to beat him on grass.

He would go on to a quarter-finals clash on Wenesday (2.7.08), against Mario Ancic, from Croatia.

The match at Wimbledon was a reminder of Leyton Hewitt’s great days as world Number One, six years ago, as the last man to win there before Federer began his run off victories — five in a row,

Reference:

“Kookaburras claim ninth Championship Trophy title”, Hockey Australia, 29.6.08. www.hockey.org,au, (29.6.08)

“Kookaburras enjoy final laugh”, Courier Mail, Brisbane, 30.6.08. www.msn.com.au, (29.6.08).

“Federer to face Hewitt challenge”, BBC Online, 27.6.08. www.bbc.com, (29.6.08)

“Roger Federer beats Leyton Hewitt to reach quarters”, BBC Online, 29.6.08. www.bbc.com, (29.6.08)

Picture:

Members of the victorious Kookaburras at Rotterdam, Hockey Australia