Chinese Taipei v Australia

Chinese Taipei's momentum towards their Pool B clash looks to reaching Tsunami proportions by Day 2 as they set about destroying Asian Oceanic rivals Australia in impressive form.  Taipei stormed to a 9 - 0 by the 18th minute with a goal every two minutes and it was not until the 19th minute that Australia managed get on the score sheet with a goal from Michelle Duffin.

The IKF match report seems to suggest that Australia did not start with their strongest line up, which if true seems bizarre.
Bearing in mind that the two are Asia Oceanic rivals and Australia's reputation in the world of sports it would seem strange to put it mildly if they chose to throw in the towel at such a game. 

Four more goals from Taipei with Wu Chun Hsun scoring 4 goals in the first half alone confirmed their domination and with the game effectively over and Taipei heading into the break leading 13 - 1 Australia's misery was compounded by a penalty miss by Adam Robertson in the dying seconds.

Chinese Taipei came flying off the blocks in at the 2nd half with 2 goals in 2 minutes from Chen Ping Fong and with the game won Taipei looked to rest Wu Chun Hsun who was replaced with Hsiao Yi Wei.  More Taipei goals and substitutions followed as Taipei cruised to an emphatic 25 - 7 victory with Chen Ping Fong scoring 6 for the Taipei side.

By all accounts Australia were outclassed by Taiwan, known formally in international athletics competitions as Chinese Taipei, in every department and Taiwan looks set to make Korfball history this week as they look to step up to A nation status.

Unlike when the Czech's caught Belgium napping in a major championships, Chinese Taipei have thrown down the gauntlet to China and the question is know how will Belgium respond.  The fact that the Belgians look to lack Taipei's attacking firepower means that may well find themselves on stopping Taipei defensively, a role they have been familiar with over the years in the expected clashes with the Dutch

This time of course it is looking like things may work a little differently and former GB coach Dirk Sercu believes that Belgium will not be strong enough this time round, I view that possibly other in Belgian Korfball privately hold.

If Korfball history is made this week it will be a great shame if we are unable to witness and we can only hoe that the 'rights' mess the sport seems to got itself into over video coverage does not extend to the release of historic video once the tournament ends.

(Note - For those not familiar with the structure of Chinese names the family name comes first followed by the other names.)

Russia v The Netherlands

While hosts Chinese Taipei have been stealing all of the limelight with their destruction of their former B nation opponents, Russia's performance against the Netherlands suggests that they still have a big part to play in this Championships and could well still be in with a chance of a medal.

The Netherlands were off to their customary flying start going into a 5 - 1 lead in the opening 10 minutes and as they head into the half time break leading 11 - 3 it looked like the game would descend into somewhat of a landslide.

The fact that the Russians made 4 substitutes at half time seems to suggest they did not start with as strong a team as they could have done and the fact that they 'lost' the 2nd half 10 - 7 tends to point to that being the case.  The damage however had been done in the first half and despite the impressive 2nd half showing by the Russian side the result was never in question.

Ilona van der Berg was the highest scorer for the Netherlands with 6 whilst Alexander Vyunnik scored 4 for Russia.

So the the Dutch were at least forced to work hard on this occasion as they continue on their cruise to the finals wondering only who it will be they face when they get there.

South Africa v The Czech Republic

The clash between South Africa and the Czech Republic, both destined for no higher than 5th place at best in this tournament, looked to be a somewhat dull affair compared to some of those the preceded it on the opening two days.

South Africa took the lead in the 1st minute with a close range goal from Elsandri van Niekerk but that would be the only time the South Africa side would lead and it lasted no more than a minute as Roman Veznik equalised for the Czech's.

At half time the game looked dead with the Czech Republic leading 10 - 4 and the second half was to be no different, with the IKF reports had all but conceded the game in the minutes passed. 

Two late goals from Liandri Tehyse and Elsandri van Niekerk (who had the first and the last say in the game) made the score line slightly more respectable for South Africa who on this showing will find themselves battling it out at the bottom end of the tournament in the play off games.  Zdenek Milichovsky was the leading scorer for the Czech side with 4 goals, with  Elsandri van Niekerk scoring a hat trick for South Africa.