France has continued the red-hot form which saw it win a first ever The World Games gold medal last month with two big wins on their opening day of competition in the women’s draw of the 14th ICF Canoe Polo World Championships in St-Omer, France.
France slotted 11 goals past Japan in their opening game, and then followed up with an 11-2 scoreline over USA.
The team were urged on by a capacity crowd at St-Omer, who are hoping this weekend to see France break through for their first ever world championship title.
It’s good energy for us, it gives us a chance to be here, we feel very lucky to have family and friends here, and we just want to make big things for all of us,” French captain Claire Moal said.
We are confident because we know what we can do, but for now we just have to play game for game. Obviously we are here for the win.”
Germany began its quest for a seventh women’s world title, and their fourth in five years, with a 5-1 win against Singapore, while Great Britain reversed its form from last month’s The World Games with an 8-1 win over Sweden and a 3-1 over Chinese Taipei to sit atop Group B.
The top three teams in each group of four will progress to the final 12. The race for qualification is still wide open, with every team still having at least one more match to play.
Denmark sits on top of Group C after beating Ireland 7-2, and then picking up a hard-earned 2-2 draw against Italy. Danish captain Louise Busk Nielsen said the draw against a strong Italian team was a great result after the Danes had a player sent off.
We are feeling great, we really were on top of our game in this game,” Busk Nielsen said.
We are a young team this year, and we’re really showing great form for the future. For us to keep them at 2-2 when we were four against five, amazing.
I cannot explain how happy we are with the 2-2, it gives us an extra point in the group. None of us had expected it, but we can always dream.”
World Games bronze medalists New Zealand opened their campaign with an 8-2 win over Ireland.
