Global Cup 2016: USA stretch lead, late surge by Russia
Russia cruised to a convincing win in the October monthly table of the Global Cup, the ranking of the world’s best sporting nations, thanks chiefly to finishing second to Argentina in the Futsal World Championships and third in the Shooting World Cup.
The Global Cup leaders, the USA, had a lacklustre month – by their exalted standards – finishing in seventh place but, since all of their closest rivals, France, Germany and Great Britain, finished well behind them, the USA have now opened a huge gap of nearly 3000 points between them and second-placed France.
Russia’s late surge means they are now much closer to Great Britain in fourth place overall and, with France pretty sure of their first-ever runners-up spot in the Global Cup, come 31st December any of four countries could still claim the eventual third place in the ranking.
There are only 207 points between sixth-placed China, who won the Shooting World Cup in October, and third-placed Germany, and few big tournaments still to play for, including the Archery World Cup, the Davis and Federation Cups in Tennis and the PGA and the European Tours in Golf, so get ready for a tight race to the finish.
In the Per Capita Cup, the ranking of the world’s sportiest nations, New Zealand are edging closer to their third-ever victory. While second-placed (and four-time Per Capita Champions) Jamaica are extremely unlikely to score more points this year, the main threat for the plucky Kiwis could come from Norway, currently third, and possibly either Slovenia or Serbia.
