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SHANGHAI, China, July 27. THE women's water polo medal matches have been set with Greece and China setting up a showdown in two days at the FINA World Championships with semifinal wins.
Greece kept its gold medal hopes alive with a 14-11 win over Italy in the semifinals. Antigoni Roumpesi, Angeliki Gerolymou and Stavroula Antonakou each collected a hat trick for Greece. Meanwhile, Roberta Bianconi and Giulia Rambaldi Guidasci each tallied three goals for Italy.
China moved on as well with a 13-12 edging of Russia in the final match of the day. Sun Yating and Wang Yi had strong games for China with four goals each, while Ma Huanhuan chipped in three goals for China as well. Nadezhda Fedotova and Ekaterina Tankeeva both tallied hat tricks for Russia in the loss.
USA doubled up Canada, 8-4, in the first 5th-8th place semifinal match. Heather Petri led a balanced attack for the U.S. with two goals as seven players scored for the Stars and Stripes. Emily Csikos accounted for half of Canada's offense with two goals.
Australia downed The Netherlands, 12-7, in the other 5th-8th place semifinal. Bronwen Knox went four-for-four in the win for the Aussies, while Iefke van Belkum posted three goals for The Netherlands in the loss.
Hungary topped Cuba, 12-7, in the 9th-10th place classification match. Dora Czigany led the way for Spain with a hat trick in the win, while Hirovis Hernandez Consuegra and Danay Gutierrez More each tallied three goals for Cuba.
Spain smashed New Zealand, 15-7, to win the 11th-12th place classification match. Bianca Gil Sorli and Maria Del Carmen Garcia Godoy were unstoppable with seven and six goals, respectively. Kelly Fiona Mason and Lauren Jane Sieprath led New Zealand with two goals each.
