(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Australia Shine and South Africa Clinch Overall SVNS Title as Season Ends in Bordeaux
Australia capped off a strong season by winning the Bordeaux leg of the HSBC SVNS World Championship, defeating New Zealand in a high-intensity final at Stade Atlantique. The result added another major title to Australia’s impressive campaign and confirmed their status as overall world champions.
Co-captain Isabella Nasser praised her team’s performance, highlighting their resilience throughout the tournament and their ability to deliver under pressure against top opposition.
Women’s Competition Highlights
Australia overcame New Zealand in the final to secure the tournament crown, while Canada finished in third place after defeating the United States.
Spain’s performance secured them a place in next season’s main HSBC SVNS Series, replacing Great Britain, who dropped out of the top tier.
The confirmed women’s teams for next season’s main series include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, France, Fiji, Japan, and Spain.
Men’s Competition Overview
In the men’s event, hosts France delivered a strong performance in Bordeaux, defeating New Zealand 14-5 in the final to claim the tournament title.
France’s campaign was notable for a strong recovery after a difficult start in the pool stage. Their victory was celebrated by a large home crowd, marking an important achievement for the squad as they continue rebuilding toward future international competitions.
South Africa, despite finishing fourth in the final tournament, were crowned overall HSBC SVNS World Championship winners after an impressive season that included multiple tournament victories.
Spain secured third place in the event with a win over South Africa in the playoff match.
The USA also had a notable finish in fifth place, earning a place in next season’s main HSBC SVNS Series, while Great Britain were relegated to HSBC SVNS 2.
Season Summary
The season concluded with South Africa, New Zealand, Spain, Australia, Argentina, Fiji, France, and the USA confirmed as the teams competing in next year’s main HSBC SVNS Series.
