Reigning champion...

The Netherlands also won the 15th edition of the U19 JWC. In a busy sports centre Leek, filled with about 1.200 people, the Dutch team won the final against Chinese Taipei in a game rich in scores, final score 26-17. Chinese Taipei had reached the finals by beating the Belgium team with 15-8, much to their surprise. In the games during the group phase, the Dutch and Chinese Taipei team had to compete as well. In a spectacular game the Dutch won with 20-16. With this place in the final, Chinese Taipei emphasize their coming on in international korfball. Belgium claimed the third place by defeating Portugal by 15-9, Portugal who surprisingly reached the last four of the tournament. As one got along the talent teams of East and North competed each other as well, resulting in a win for the east team 15-11.

In the final, the Dutch team had a very good start and within five minutes they took a 5-0 lead. Around half time, the athletic Chinese Taipei team had managed to fight back through fabulous shots of their female players, making the audience very enthusiastic for their game, resulting in a lead for the Dutch of only two goals 14-12. At 15-13 Chinese Taipei missed a penalty, but managed to keep track until 16-14, but against the end had to acknowledge the superiority of the Dutch team 26-17. The referees Dave Mertens and Tim Meeuwsen were in the lead during this game.

 

Portugal had to play against Belgium for the third place. Belgium didn't reach the final due to a loss to Chinese Taipei. By 6-2 and 7-3 the Belgium team took the lead during the first half. The Portuguese however showed mentality after being behind by 11-6, making it 11-9, but the Belgium team took matters into their own hands and made it an easy 15-9 win.

England came back with a strong performance for their bad tournament start. It ended in fifth place by defeating the Czech team 6-12. catalonie that fell behind after they knew a good start in the tournament, also had to acknowledge the superiority of Germany by 8-14. The ranking 11th and 12th place was decided by a golden goal after there was an 11-11 equal score for Poland and Hungary after regular time. During the extra time it became 12-12, but the Hungarians scored the golden goal 13-12.

Just like last year South Africa and Romania ended in the last places, South Africa won the match against Romania with 10-7.

 

A jury, represented by Michiel Gerritsen, Annelies Schuitema, Rianna Echten and Friso Boode of Nic./alfa college, voted for Ya-Wen Lin (Chinese Taipei) as best female player and Richard Kunst (Netherlands) as best male player of the tournament. Jet Hendriks scored 19 goals during the tournament and Jarno Peeters 20, being the most productive players of the tournament. The prizes were handed out by IKF-President Jan Fransoo and mayor B. Hoekstra of Leek.

The organization of the tournament was very well done by three clubs; Sparta Zevenhuizen, OWK Oostwold-Westerkwartier and Rodenburg Leek. They worked closely together with the District group International Korfball.

 

The 16th edition of the U19 JWC will be held in Leek during the Easter weekend of 2011, 21-24 April.

 

Final ranking of u19jwc: