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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 19, 2002

Americans Win China Open Beach Volleyball

American Kerri Walsh and Misty May won the 2002 FIVB China Open to capture their fifth gold medal of the year, defeating compatriots Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs 2-1 (13-21, 21-15, 19-17) in Maoming on Sunday.


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Americans Win China Open Beach Volleyball
American Kerri Walsh and Misty May won the 2002 FIVB China Open to capture their fifth gold medal of the year, defeating compatriots Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs 2-1 (13-21, 21-15, 19-17) here on Sunday.

The holders of the Speedo Gold Tops underlined once more that they are the uncontested number one pair this year.

The final was a real thriller with spectacular rallies on both sides. Walsh-May lost the first quickly and clear, but then fought back in the second. In the tiebreaker they were finally tested to the limit which they eventually won 19-17.

The holders of the Gold Tops needed five match balls to burst out in cries of joy. "This was soexciting. We cannot believe it!,"said May.

The teammates praised each other. The disappointment of compatriots McPeak-Youngs was big. "We know that we can win and a silver medal will never satisfy us," said McPeak.

The bronze medal went to Olympic Champions Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottarst who knocked out Adriana Behar and Shelda Bruno Bede2-0 (21-17, 22-20) in a match played earlier.

The season so far wasn't the best one for the world champions and last year's top ranked team. The team missed their dynamic andskillfull play, maybe handicapped by some back problems of Adriana.

The Australians won their fourth Bronze Medal this year, but are still not satisfied with their placement. "We are already very tired, after a long season," said Pottharst.

In the preliminary rounds, local heroes Tian Jia and Wang Fei were stopped by eventual winners Walsh-May, but the Chinese fans can be satisfied with the performances of their compatriots, who will be among the future top nations in beach volleyball.

One qualifier team managed to break through to the world elite,Inga Pulina and Inguna Minusa, for the first time in their career they made it out of their pool and adavanced to the Round of 16.

The young Latvians finally finished ninth. "We never expected that tohappen," said a happy Minusa.

It was the second time that an international Beach Volleyball event was held on the beach of Maoming and the fifth Chinese tour stop over all.

The tropical weather with hot temperatures as well as high humidity forced players to their utmost to perform world class.

The women now have two weeks off the beach, before their secondlast tournament of the 2002 FIVB World Tour in Palma de Mallorca, Spain from September 3-7.


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