SPORT IN 2011

The year has got off to a cracking start, what with England's emphatic victory in the fifth cricket test in Sydney, and Roger Federer's imperious form in winning in Qatar today (I am already looking forward to the Australian Open). Yet the highlight so far must be Russia's performance in winning the under-20 ice hockey world championships on Wednesday. In a stadium packed full of Canadians just over the U.S. border in Buffalo, the Russians staged one of the great comebacks to win 5-3 against their perennial rivals, and take their first junior world championship since 2003.

For most of the first week, the Russians looked like they were going to take an early plane home, losing to both Canada and Sweden in the round robin stage, and only avoiding going to the relegation play-offs by beating the Czechs in their last match. While in the sudden death stage, their poor form was only matched by a series of miraculous escapes. They won 4-3 in overtime to beat Finland in the quarter finals after being 3-1 down with four minutes to play in the third period; and in the semi-finals against Sweden it went to overtime and then penalties, after the Russians had equalised to 3-3 with only 87 seconds left of normal time.

The final was not much better. After six minutes of the second period, Canada were up 3-0 and coasting; and the score was the same at the beginning of the third period. Then suddenly, the Russians found something out of nowhere. Within seven minutes they were level, and two more goals towards the end secured a remarkable 5-3 victory. It was great to watch.

Two names to watch out for in the future. Canada's free-scoring forward Brayden Schenn, named the tournament's most valuable player; and the U.S.' goalkeeper Jack Campbell, voted onto the all-star team for the third year in a row.

Walter Blotscher