Waterpolo

Italy will be able to defend its Olympic crown in women's waterpolo at the Beijing Games after reaching the semi-finals of the final qualifier. Italy defeated Spain 10-7 in front of an ecstatic home crowd in Imperia. Greece, silver medallists in 2004,...

Italy will be able to defend its Olympic crown in women's waterpolo at the Beijing Games after reaching the semi-finals of the final qualifier.

Italy defeated Spain 10-7 in front of an ecstatic home crowd in Imperia. Greece, silver medallists in 2004, also qualified by beating Canada 5-2 in the quarter-finals.

The two join Russia and Hungary, who qualified after winning their groups, in the eight-team competition at the Olympics.

China, the US, Australia and the Netherlands had already qualified for the Aug. 8-24 Games.

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