I chanced upon the World Beach Volleyball championship (FIVB) match between the Chinese and German women teams on TV yesterday and I could tell you that it was the most exciting match I've ever seen.
Both teams have tenacity and were gunning for their first World Championship, which have been long dominated by the US and Brazil.
In the end, the Chinese duo of Xue Chen and Zhang Xi won, becoming the first first Asian team to win the gold. In fact, it was the first women’s pair from a country other than Brazil or the U.S. to win gold.
Xue and Zhang, the 2008 Olympic and 2011 world bronze medalists, beat Germany’s Karla Borger and Britta Buthe 18-21, 21-17, 21-19.
Players:
Xue Chen (height: 6'3")
Zhang Xi
Karla Borger
Britta Buthe
Xue Chen and Zhang Xi have won 9 titles as a duo, while Borger and Buthe have not won a title. The experience of the Chinese team clearly gave them the advantage, but the German team gave them a big fight.
