Germany and Australia trade top honours over two editions
The Hindu
India barely avoids wooden spoon in 2006 and victory over Pakistan only consolation in 2010
2006, Monchengladbach (Sept. 6-17)
Playing at home for the first time, Germany made up for all the lost chances, winning its second consecutive World Cup title, defeating Australia 4-3 in a repeat of the final from four years ago. It also became only the second team to do so after Pakistan and also the second team to win at home after the Netherlands.
The host dominated all the way, without losing a single game and being stretched to the penalties only once, in the semifinal against eventual bronze medalist Spain.
Australia, meanwhile, suffered a single loss — again to Spain — but established its position in the world, Jamie Dwyer being named Player-of-the-Tournament.
India started well, matching Germany till the very end in its opening game before Christopher Zeller struck the winner in the dying seconds. It was all downhill after that, India failing to win a single game and just a draw against South Africa, whom it beat again to avoid the wooden spoon in the competition which went back to being a 12-team affair.
Top three: Germany, Australia, Spain; India: 11th.
2010, New Delhi (Feb. 28-March 13)
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.