WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand proudly claims to excel in international sports, a statement that was validated recently with a series of significant victories across various competitions around the globe.
This assertion was already gaining traction earlier this year, as the nation of approximately 5.2 million secured an impressive 11th place on the medal table at the Paris Olympics, proudly clinching a total of 20 medals, including 10 golds.
In just a span of 48 hours, New Zealand achieved remarkable feats:
The nation triumphed over Great Britain 7-2 in the final match of the 37th America’s Cup, successfully defending the world’s oldest trophy for the third consecutive time. Team New Zealand has become the only squad to secure the trophy three times in a row in the contemporary era.
In cricket, the New Zealand Black Caps defeated India by eight wickets during the first Test match in Bengaluru, marking only their third victory on Indian soil, and their first since 1988. In a remarkable performance, the Black Caps restricted India to a mere 46 runs in their first innings—India’s lowest home score on record.
Additionally, in women’s cricket, New Zealand managed to outplay South Africa by 32 runs, winning the Women’s Twenty20 Cricket World Cup for the very first time, despite being the underdogs. South Africa entered as favorites after managing to beat the six-time champions, Australia, in the semifinals.
Beyond these team sports, individual Kiwis also shone brightly:
Hayden Wilde clinched victory in the final leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series held in Torremolinos, Spain. Meanwhile, Ally Woolaston showcased her talent by winning the women’s omnium event at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, securing her second gold and third medal of the competition.
In canoe polo, the New Zealand women’s team triumphed over Italy with a score of 6-1, effectively taking home the title at the world championships in Deqing, China.
Auckland FC, partially owned by American entrepreneur Bill Foley, celebrated its inaugural victory in Australia’s A-League by defeating the Brisbane Roar 2-0.
Also noteworthy, Liam Lawson made his debut for the F1 season, finishing ninth at the United States Grand Prix after starting from the 19th position.
Sports Minister Chris Bishop remarked on the exceptional nature of the weekend, highlighting the significant achievements of Team New Zealand alongside the successes of the White Ferns, Black Caps, Silver Ferns (netball), and Paddle Ferns (canoe polo).
Bishop acknowledged that many New Zealanders might be feeling the fatigue of a thrilling weekend filled with intense sporting action. However, he expressed hope that they would feel immense pride in their teams’ accomplishments.
“Overall, this past weekend will surely be remembered in New Zealand’s sporting history. Each team can take pride in representing a nation that holds them in high esteem, and sports fans might be forgiven for facing an occasional yawn at work today, given the concentration of thrilling events we’ve witnessed!”