Sport in Argentina

Pato is the national sport in Argentina.

The practice of sports in Argentina is varied due to the population's diverse European origins and the mostly mild climate. Association football is the most popular discipline and other sports played both professionally and recreatively include athletics, auto racing, basketball, boxing, cricket, cycling, field hockey, fishing, golf, handball, mountaineering, padel tennis, polo, roller hockey, rowing, rugby union, sailing, skiing, swimming, tennis and volleyball. Argentine achievements can be found both in team sports such as association football, basketball, field hockey and rugby union, and individual sports such as boxing, golf, tennis and rowing. Pato, the national sport, is not very popular.

Argentina is one of the most important sport powers in the region, ending at the top of the medal count at the South American Games since 1978, exceptions being 2002 and 2010. In the all-time medal table of the Pan American Games, Argentina holds first place among South American countries and fourth place in the Americas, behind the United States, Canada and Cuba. Despite a relative lack of success at the Olympic level in more traditional sports like athletics, swimming, and gymnastics, Argentina has had successful participations in other sports like association football, basketball, boxing, field hockey, tennis and volleyball.

Football (Soccer)

Main article: Football in Argentina

Association football is the most popular sport in Argentina and part of the country's culture. The sport is played by children during breaks at school and by grown-ups on the plenty of both indoor and outdoor fields located throughout the country.

The national team has won the FIFA World Cup twice (in 1978 and 1986), successive Olympic gold medals (in 2004 and 2008), fourteen Copas América, one Confederations Cup and six World Youth Championships. Argentine clubs have won the Copa Libertadores, the top continental competition, a record 22 times and the Intercontinental Cup or FIFA Club World Cup 8 times, a record shared with Brazilian clubs. The Argentine Primera División is the top level domestic competition. The country's most famed football idol is Diego Maradona.

Argentina's fiercest rival is Brazil and their rivalry is sometimes known as the "Battle of the South Americans". They have played each other numerous times in the Copa América and the Confederations Cup, and their clubs have met several times in the Copa Libertadores finals. Argentina is one of the few national teams in association football that have beat Brazil on a regular basis. Argentine and Brazilian national youth teams have also met at various tournaments. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, the under-23 teams met in the semi-finals, with Argentina winning 3–0 in a hard-fought game. In addition, the aforementioned Maradona has been often compared with Brazilian iconic player Pelé.

Women's football is far behind in terms of popularity and professionalism. However, the women's national team has competed in the South American Championship since 1995, finishing as runner-up three times before winning the competition in 2006 with a 5–0 victory over Brazil. The national team also played in the 2003 and the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cups, but finished last in its group on both occasions.

Basketball

Former President Néstor Kirchner (left) with national team player Manu Ginóbili in 2005.

Basketball is a very popular sport, mostly in the provinces of Argentina. The Basketball Clubs' Association organizes the Liga Nacional de Básquet, the top level league in the country. Although the national team won the first FIBA World Championship in 1950, the sport did not gain country-wide popularity until the 2000s, when the national team conquered the Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and had a good performance in the 2002 and 2006 World Championships, finishing on the second and fourth position respectively.The national team also won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics . Argentine NBA star Manu Ginóbili also won NBA Championship rings in 2003, 2005, 2007 & 2014 as a member of the San Antonio Spurs, the 2007 victory included compatriot Fabricio Oberto.

Although women's basketball is not professional in Argentina, the national team participates in most international competitions, reaching their highest point at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women where they finished in the 9th place.

Rugby union

Ignacio Corleto, on his way to score a try against France at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby union is a popular and largely amateur sport. However, despite this amateurism, the national team have become one of the most powerful in the sport, finishing third in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and rising as high as third in the IRB World Rankings immediately after. Since November 2004, Argentina have picked up at least one win over all the participants in Europe's Six Nations Championship, drawn with the British and Irish Lions and narrowly lost to the All Blacks, who were forced to survive a last-second assault on their try line. In particular, the Pumas have enjoyed a dominating record in recent years against France, going 7–2 since 2000, with a total points against of 7.

The most important Argentine players emigrate to Europe (mainly to England and France), where they play professionally. Probably the best known players are Hugo Porta (who played during the 1970s and the 1980s), current captain Felipe Contepomi, his immediate predecessor as captain Agustín Pichot, current star utility back Juan Martín Hernández, current head coach and 1990s star Santiago Phelan and Marcelo Loffreda, who coached the team during their 2007 World Cup run before leaving to take up the coaching post at English club power Leicester Tigers.

In 2012 Argentina joined New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in the Tri Nations Championship, which then became the Rugby Championship. In 2014 Argentina took their first victory in this competition, against Australia in the first round.

Handball

Handball is a firmly growing sport in Argentina, with the men's antional team regularly qualifying for the World Championship. Argentina has started producing world class talent, such as Diego Simonet

Tennis

David Nalbandian and fans at the 2006 Australian Open.
Main article: Tennis in Argentina

Tennis has been quite popular among people of all ages since the 1970s, after both Guillermo Vilas and later Gabriela Sabatini in the 1980s reached the number 2 position and won several Grand Slams. Even though no Argentine player has thus far reached the first place at the ATP Rankings, many Argentines have been among the most important in the circuit. During the 2000s a number of Argentine players were among the top 10, and the 2004 French Open featured an all-Argentine final. At the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup, David Nalbandian defeated world number 1 Roger Federer, and the tournament gathered 4 Argentine players, an all-time record for any nationality. Most recently, Juan Martín del Potro has emerged as one of the leading players in the world, having won the 2009 US Open a few days before his 21st birthday. Argentina has won the World Team Cup four times, in 1980, 2002, 2007 and 2010, and has reached the semifinals of the Davis Cup 7 times in the last 10 years, losing the finals against Russia in 2006 and Spain in 2008 and 2011; the Argentine team also played the final in 1981, where they lost against the United States.

Field hockey

Las Leonas

The women's national team, Las Leonas, is one of the usual top contenders in the premier tournaments in field hockey and has conquered the World Cup in 2002 and 2010. In the Olympics, they have won the silver medal in 2000 and 2012, as well as bronze in 2004 and 2008. Also, Las Leonas have won the annual Hockey Champions Trophy on six occasions, in 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

The men's national team has won the hockey tournament at the Pan American Games on 8 occasions and the 2005 and 2007 Champions Challenges, and are usually positioned among the top ten teams in the world.

Rink hockey

Rink hockey is mainly played in the Cuyo region (especially in San Juan Province). Argentine players have an international quality, with the men's national team winning 4 Rink Hockey World Championship titles. The women's national team is the world's most successful team, having won 5 FIRS Women's Roller Hockey World Cup titles. Argentine Clubs such as Olimpia and UVT have also won international titles.

Boxing

For a list of Argentine boxers, see Category:Argentine boxers
Luis Firpo throws Jack Dempsey out of the ring in 1923; this was the basis for artist George Wesley Bellows' famous portrait.

Pascual Pérez was Argentina's first world boxing champion. There are Argentine boxing legends such as Carlos Monzón, Santos Laciar, and Juan Martin Coggi, who held the world champion's title in their categories. Argentine boxers have, as of 2004, earned 24 Olympic medals, including seven gold medals.

Argentine boxer Victor Galindez was the third Latin American to win the world's Light-Heavyweight title (after Puerto Rico's José Torres and Venezuela's Vicente Rondon, WBA-recognized champion during the middle of the 1970s). Galindez died after he was run over by a car during an auto racing competition in which he took part.

In 1994, WBA world Middleweight champion Jorge Castro knocked out John David Jackson in the ninth round to retain his title in Monterrey, Mexico. Since Castro was on the brink of suffering a technical knockout loss when he won the fight, the punch with which he beat Jackson has become known as boxing's version of Diego Maradona's Hand of God goal.

Marcela Acuña is a world champion female boxer, and arguably one of the most popular fighters of the 2000s in Argentina.

Other fighters, such as Oscar Bonavena, Juan Roldán, and Luis Firpo, did not win world championships, but were also popular among boxing fans during their years as professional fighters.

On 17 April 2010, Sergio Martínez outpointed American Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City to become the lineal Middleweight champion of the world.

Volleyball

Volleyball has a professional male league. Argentina national volleyball team's best achievements are the bronze medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics and 1982 FIVB Men's World Championship. The male team is usually ranked by the FIVB among the top 10 national teams in the world. The boys volleyball team are ranked number one in the world, and they won a silver medal at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.

Female volleyball is not played professionally. The female team is less important internationally than its male counterpart (FIVB's 17th place).

Auto racing

From rallying to Formula One, auto racing is a sport followed by a number of fans in Argentina. Formula one legend Juan Manuel Fangio was five time world champion, and has held the record of most victories for many years. Years after Fangio's career was over, Carlos Reutemann was the best known Argentine driver of the 1970s. Argentine competitions include the TC 2000 and Turismo Carretera road racing series, as well as Rally Argentina of the World Rally Championship. Argentina has also hosted the 2009 and 2010 edition of the Dakar Rally, along with Chile. And did it again in 2011. Former events include the defunct Formula One Argentine Grand Prix and World Sportscar Championship's 1000 km Buenos Aires.

Golf

Among the best in South America, important Argentine golfers include Antonio Cerdá, José Cóceres, Roberto DeVicenzo, Eduardo Romero, Ángel Cabrera, Andrés Romero, and Ricardo González. DeVicenzo and Cerdá won the 1953 Canada Cup. In history, Argentine golfers won three Majors, DeVicenzo the British Open in 1967, and Ángel Cabrera the U.S. Open in 2007, and the Augusta Masters in 2009.

Polo

Argentine Polo Open Championship.
The Argentine Olympic polo team in 1936.

Argentina's polo team won their first Olympic gold medal in 1924. Adolfo Cambiaso, Gonzalo Pieres, his brother Facundo, the Novillo Astrada brothers, the Heguy's, and Tommy Iriarte are currently ranked amongst the best polo players in the world. The three most important polo tournaments in the world, the Argentine Open, the Hurlingham Open, and the Tortugas Open are held in Argentina. Historically, Argentina has always been a leading country in this international handicapped sport, and have been uninterrupted world champions since 1949, and Argentine players comprise most of the world's top ten players.

Cricket

Argentine cricket players, before their first wicket in 1949.
Main article: Cricket in Argentina

Cricket has been played in Argentina since 1806, with the international side making its first appearance in 1868, against the Uruguayan national team. The sport regained some popularity, due to the national team's participation at the World Cricket League, and the Argentina national women's cricket team at the Women's version of the ICC Americas Championship. Though cricket is a minor sport, Argentina is the strongest team in mainland South America, and are currently playing in division 4 of the World Cricket League. There is a huge scope of development of the sport in this country, given that there are a large number of British descendants in Argentina.

Olympic Games

Argentina was one of eight founding members of the International Olympic Committee, and first participated in the Olympic Games in 1900 with one single athlete. Argentine Olympic competitors have, from 1900 to 2012, garnered 70 medals (18 gold, 24 silver, 28 bronze); from 1924 to 1952, its athletes had good showings, giving the Argentine delegations global ranks of between 16th and 19th. From 1956 to 2000, however, Argentina did not win any gold medals, a situation that was reversed in 2004, when it acquired two and further so, in 2008 and 2012.

On July 4, 2013, Buenos Aires was selected as host city for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics.[1]

Sailing

Argentina won 9 Olympic medals in sailing (4 silver, 5 bronze), and Argentinian experience and level in this sport are high, even between young children competing in optimist class boats.

Padel tennis

Padel tennis is played by four and a half million amateur players in thirty five thousand courts; it is the most participated sport in Argentina. Professional players compete in national circuit of tournaments and Argentinian professional wrestling.

Pétanque

Pétanque is a popular sport played by more than half a million amateurs, whom 4,000 have a licence from the Argentinean federation. There is no professional players. Argentina plays in international competitions and world championship. In 2009, Argentina was 15th in the world ranking among 62 countries. Despite good performances in World Championship, Argentina has not won any World Champion titles. The Federation of Argentina became a member of the Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal in 1950.

Team nicknames

Sport Team Nickname Translation Ref.
Association football Men's La Albiceleste The White and Sky Blue [2]
Basketball Women's Las Gigantes The Giants [3]
Cricket Women's Las Flamingos The Flamingos [4]
Field hockey Women's Las Leonas The Lionesses [5]
Women's u-21 Las Leoncitas The Little Lionesses [6]
Paralympic association football Men's Los Murciélagos The Bats [7]
Roller hockey (Quad) Women's Las Águilas The Eagles [8]
Rugby union Men's Los Pumas The Pumas [9]
Men's second team Los Jaguares The Jaguars [10]
Men's u-20 Los Pumitas The Little Pumas [11]
Team handball Men's Los Gladiadores The Gladiators [12]
Tennis Men's La Legión The Legion [13]
Volleyball Women's Las Panteras The Panthers [14]

International events

Argentina has hosted a wide range of international competitions, among them:

Key
A: Partially or wholly hosted in Avellaneda
B: Partially or wholly hosted in Buenos Aires
C: Partially or wholly hosted in Córdoba
E: Partially or wholly hosted in Esperanza
J: Partially or wholly hosted in Jujuy
LP: Partially or wholly hosted in La Plata
MP: Partially or wholly hosted in Mar del Plata
M: Partially or wholly hosted in Mendoza
N: Partially or wholly hosted in Neuquén
Q: Partially or wholly hosted in Quilmes
R: Partially or wholly hosted in Rosario
S: Partially or wholly hosted in Salta
SJ: Partially or wholly hosted in San Juan
SF: Partially or wholly hosted in Santa Fe
TA: Partially or wholly hosted in Tandil
TI: Partially or wholly hosted in Tigre
TU: Partially or wholly hosted in San Miguel de Tucumán
V: Partially or wholly hosted in Villa Ballester
Sport Event Year A B C E J LP MP M N Q R S SJ SF TA TI TU V
Amateur wrestling FILA Wrestling World Championships 1969 No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football Copa América 1916 Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football Copa América 1921 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football Copa América 1925 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football Copa América 1929 Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football Copa América 1937 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football Copa América 1946 Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football Copa América 1959 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football Copa América 1987 No Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No
Association football Copa América 2011 No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No No No No
Association football FIFA U-20 World Cup 2001 No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No No No No No
Association football FIFA World Cup 1978 No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Yes No No No No No No No
Association football South American Youth Championship 1988 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football South American Youth Championship 1999 No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No Yes No No No
Association football South American Women's Championship 1998 No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
Association football South American Women's Championship 2006 No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
Athletics South American Championships 1918 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Athletics South American Championships 1924 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Athletics South American Championships 1931 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Athletics South American Championships 1941 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Athletics South American Championships 1952 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Athletics South American Championships 1967 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Athletics South American Championships 1983 No No No No No No No No No No No No No Yes No No No No
Athletics South American Championships 1997 No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
Athletics South American Championships 2011 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Basketball FIBA Americas Championship 1995 No No No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No Yes No
Basketball FIBA Americas Championship 2001 No No No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No
Basketball FIBA Americas Championship 2011 No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
Basketball FIBA Basketball World Cup 1950 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Basketball FIBA Basketball World Cup 1990 No Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes
Basketball FIBA Under-21 World Championship 2005 No No Yes No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
Field hockey Hockey Champions Challenge 2009 No No No No No No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No
Field hockey Hockey World Cup 1978 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Field hockey Women's Hockey Champions Trophy 1995 No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
Fencing World Fencing Championships 1962 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Fencing World Fencing Championships 1977 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Field hockey Women's Hockey Champions Trophy 2004 No No No No No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No
Field hockey Women's Hockey Champions Trophy 2007 No No No No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No
Field hockey Women's Hockey Champions Trophy 2012 No No No No No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No
Field hockey Women's Hockey World Cup 1981 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Field hockey Women's Hockey World Cup 2010 No No No No No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No
Motorsport Formula One 1953-1998 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Shooting ISSF World Shooting Championships 1903 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Shooting ISSF World Shooting Championships 1949 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Volleyball FIVB Volleyball World Championship 1982 No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Volleyball FIVB Volleyball World Championship 2002 No Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes No No No No
Multi-sport event South American Games 1982 No Yes No Yes No No No No No No Yes No No Yes No No No No
Multi-sport event South American Games 2006 No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
Multi-sport event Pan American Games 1951 Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No Yes No No
Multi-sport event Pan American Games 1995 No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No

References

  1. ↑ Buenos Aires elected as Host City for 2018 Youth Olympic Games
  2. ↑ "El fervor cordobés y los buenos antecedentes" [The fervor of Córdoba and the good antecedents]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 11 July 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2012. Y en algunos de ellos los goleadores aparecieron: tres tantos hizo Gabriel Batistuta en el 5 a 0 a Bosnia, en 1998, y los dos tantos con los que la albiceleste venció 2 a 0 a Ghana, en 2009, pertenecieron a Martín Palermo.
  3. ↑ "Polideportivo" [Sports news]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 1 October 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2012. El seleccionado argentino femenino, las Gigantes, consiguió una inolvidable victoria por 61-59 sobre Canadá y se clasificó para la final del FIBA Américas, que se juega en el Coliseo de Neiva, Colombia, en la que se medirá con el ganador del duelo que anoche sostenían Brasil y Cuba; el campeón del torneo obtendrá la única plaza directa para los Juegos Olímpicos de Londres 2012, mientras que los otros semifinalistas se aseguraron un lugar en el repechaje.
  4. ↑ "¡Campeonas invictas!" [Undefeated champions!]. Asociación Argentina de Cricket (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). Retrieved 20 August 2012. Finalmente, el Seleccionado Femenino Argentino, ganó todos sus partidos en el Primer Sudamericano para quedarse con el torneo.
  5. ↑ "La fiesta inolvidable" [The unforgettable party]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 13 September 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2012. Misión cumplida: las Leonas ya eran campeonas mundiales y para ellas llegaba el instante mágico de la distensión total, del desahogo infinito; de vivir y palpitar la fiebre del sábado por la noche.
  6. ↑ "Ante Holanda, llegó el día decisivo para las Leoncitas" [Against the Netherlands, the decisive day has come for the Little Lionesses]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 16 August 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2012. Las Leoncitas buscarán concretar hoy el gran sueño de campeonas: desde las 16.30 de nuestro país, jugarán la final del Mundial Sub 21 ante Holanda.
  7. ↑ "Kirchner, con los murciélagos" [Kirchner, with the Bats]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 4 December 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2012. El presidente Nestor Kirchner recibió esta mañana y felicitó al seleccionado de fútbol de ciegos bautizado como Los Murciélagos, que se acaba de consagrar bicampeón del mundo, y lo consideró como "un tremendo honor para todos los argentinos".
  8. ↑ "Las Aguilas golearon y se quedaron con el título" [The Eagles thrashed and grabbed the title]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 3 October 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2012. En el año de los mundiales, el hockey le dio a la Argentina su segunda gran alegría del año. Claro que esta vez la hazaña no fue sobre el césped, como lo habían sabido lograr las Leonas en Rosario, sino sobre los patines de las Águilas, el seleccionado femenino que ayer se consagró en España y consiguió el cuarto título mundial para la Argentina en la disciplina.
  9. ↑ "Otra actuación consagratoria llevó a la Argentina a un sitial de privilegio" [Another act of consecration took Argentina to a place of privilege]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 8 October 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2012. Pero si hay algo que dignifica al seleccionado es la opulencia de arrojo. Así fue, entonces, cómo los del Cardo se estrellaron con el coraje de los Pumas, responsables de otro hito del deporte argentino.
  10. ↑ "Los Jaguares abrieron su gira con una gran actuación" [The Jaguars opened their tour with a great performance]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 11 October 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2012. El segundo seleccionado argentino rindió en gran forma y no tuvo problemas para golear a Estados Unidos Select XV (57-10).
  11. ↑ "Los Pumitas batieron a Tonga y definirán el pase a semifinales con los All Blacks" [The Pumitas beat Tonga and will attempt to secure their passage to the semi-finals against the All Blacks]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 11 June 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2012. Fue una tarde soñada para los Pumitas. El seleccionado juvenil derrotó por 30-10 a Tonga, con 17 puntos del apertura del SIC, y definirá el sábado próximo el pase a las semifinales con Nueva Zelanda, que ayer goleó a Irlanda por 65-10 en el cierre de la segunda fecha de la Zona A.
  12. ↑ "Los Gladiadores se dieron el gusto y ante el local" [The Gladiators gave themselves the satisfaction and against the locals]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 3 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012. El mérito de los Gladiadores fue haber superado esa prueba frente a los anfitriones, a quienes vencieron por 32-21 en el tercer compromiso del Grupo A.
  13. ↑ "Copa Davis: el sueño argentino" [The Davis Cup: Argentina's dream]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 18 November 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2012. Para la Legión argentina , esa enorme generación de jugadores que comanda David Nalbandian y a la que acaba de sumarse la juventud de Juan Martín del Potro, será la revancha de la final perdida hace dos años frente a Rusia, en Moscú.
  14. ↑ "Rusia se benefició con el éxito de Holanda" [Russia benefited from the success of Holland]. La Nación (in Spanish) (Buenos Aires). 16 August 2002. Retrieved 20 August 2012. El seleccionado argentino femenino consiguió la tercera victoria en la gira europea que está realizando, como antesala de su participación en el Mundial de Alemania. Las Panteras, tal como se las conoce, superaron a Kazajstán por 3 a 2 (parciales de 25-14, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25 y 18-16), en un match disputado en Varna, Bulgaria.