New Zealand celebrates weekend sporting success

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand boasts that it is superior to its competitors in international sports and backed up that claim over the weekend with success around the world and across multiple sports.

That claim has already gained some credence this year, when the country of 5.2 million finished 11th in the medal standings at the Paris Olympics with 10 gold medals and 20 medals overall.

In the last 48 hours, New Zealand:

Beat Great Britain 7-2 in the final of the 37th America’s Cup to win the world’s oldest trophy for the third time in a row. New Zealand are the only team in the modern era to have won the trophy three times in a row.

Beat India by eight wickets in the first cricket Test in Bangalore, winning for only the third time in India and the first time since 1988. The New Zealand Black Caps are only the fourth team to beat India at home this century. New Zealand bowled out India for 46 in the first innings, their lowest ever at home.

Beat South Africa by 32 runs to win the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup for the first time as an underdog. South Africa were favorites after beating six-time champions Australia in the semi-finals.

Besides:

New Zealand’s Hayden Wild won the final stage of the Triathlon World Championships in Torremolinos, Spain.

Ellie Woolaston won the women’s omnium at the World Track Cycling Championships, claiming her second gold and third medal of the championship.

The New Zealand women’s team beat Italy 6-1 in the final of the Canoe Polo World Championships in Deqing, China.

Auckland Football Club, part-owned by American businessman Bill Foley, won its first match in the Australian Football League, beating Brisbane Roar 2-0.

New Zealander Liam Lawson finished ninth at the Formula One United States Grand Prix in his first race of the season, having started from 19th on the grid.

“There haven’t been too many sporting weekends in New Zealand’s history like the one we’ve just seen, with epic wins for Team New Zealand, the White Ferns, the Black Caps, the Silver Ferns (netball team) and Paddle ferns.” (canoe polo team),” New Zealand Sports Minister Chris Bishop said.

“I know many New Zealanders will be bleary-eyed today after a few long nights of watching our teams take on the best. But I’m willing to bet they’re just as excited about the results and proud of our teams as I am.

“Overall, I think this weekend will go down in the annals of New Zealand sporting. All five teams should know that their country is extremely proud of them. And I think Kiwi sports fans can be forgiven if they get caught yawning. at work today after so much sports excitement packed into one weekend!”

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