2006 World Championships
Azerbaijan complete remarkable double with third round victory (FIVB)
07/03/2005
Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2005 – Azerbaijan, ranked 32nd
in the world, achieved the extraordinary feat on Sunday
of winning the 2006 Women’s World Championship third
round tournament - Europe Pool G event in Moscow, just
over a month after winning a second round tournament at
home in May.
Their 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-11) win over world
number six Russia on Sunday capped a remarkable World
Championship journey for the Eastern European team,
after both Russia and Azerbaijan sealed their places in
the final round on Saturday.
Unbeaten after two days of the four-team tournament,
Azerbaijan and Russia were left to play for tournament
honours on Sunday and Azerbaijan’s victory completed the
remarkable achievement of winning two successive World
Championship tournaments. Pic: Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin applauds the
action at the 2006 Women’s World Championship in
Moscow
Meanwhile, Bulgaria, ranked 16th in the world, advanced
to a playoff with Poland and another third placed team
in the third and final European third round tournament -
which will be played in August - after beating the Czech
Republic (26th in the world) 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 29-27,
25-16) in the earlier match on Sunday.
Russia and Bulgaria started the tournament as favourites,
having been automatically seeded into the third round
pool, while Azerbaijen and the Czech Republic both
advanced having won and finished second in their
respective second round tournaments.
The next 2006 Women’s World Championship tournament sees
Kenya, Algeria, then Dem. Rep. of Congo, Congo and
Eritrea compete in a African first round tournament,
which will decided the third and final African women’s
team to reach the final round. Egypt and Cameroon have
already booked their places after winning their
respective tournaments in March and April.
