Ranking

Results & Schedule

Having gained their first WKC win on Wednesday, Brazil showed they have gained the taste for it, though only managed to prevail very late, trailing South Africa for most of the match. Mental pressure took its toll on both in the second half, leading to numerous inaccurate shots, and South Africa missed a penalty that would have put them two up with three minutes left. Brazil came through with greater composure, finally taking the lead with 94 seconds remaining. For South Africa Jean-pierre Cassell was top scorer with six, while for Brazil Leornardo Bernadino again stood out, scoring four. Result: 14-13 for Brazil.

The tournament’s two lowest ranked teams, both late additions after others withdrew, faced off in the day’s final match on court three. Although each is young, both in average age and in korfball experience, Malaysia showed they are the more advanced, quickly taking the game away from the world’s 38th ranked team. Philippines had no response, particularly to Chi Hoe Hovan Chong, and Lee Sze Ng, who scored seven and six respectively. Philippines, still looking for their first win, will have one more chance when they play South Africa to decide 23rd and 24th place. In the meantime, Malaysia came out on top of this by 32-10.

Both will be delighted with their showing at this WKC, neither having previously won a match, Brazil in their second appearance after finishing last in 2015. Malaysia, whose federation was just recognised by the IKF for excellence in governance, has improved through the tournament after being admitted as a late replacement. In an even first quarter both teams looked for weaknesses in the other’s defence. Malaysia appeared more likely to score through the speed of their female players, though did not manage to execute enough of the chances they created. In the second half, the South East Asian team, whose average age is just under 23 years against the South Americans with an average age of almost 30, managed to gain and hold the advantage. En Qi Tea and Leonardo Bernadino top scored for their respective teams with six each, and Malaysia won by 16-13 to secure 21st placing, an excellent improvement on their previous IKF ranking of 28.

With both teams looking to finish the tournament by taking the win that has so far eluded them, South Africa edged a free scoring first half with the ageless Werner Basson picking up more than his share of their goals, while for the Phillipines Jason Jim Sam Juan caught the eye. South Africa pulled ahead in the third quarter gaining a seven goal advantage, holding onto that margin for the rest of the match, which finished at 21-14, giving South Africa their first win at this WKC and the tournament’s 23rd placing.