Nanjing, China, July 11, 2018 – Chinese top seeds Cao Shuting/Zeng Jinjin began their hunt for the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championship title with a win over Hungary’s Orsolya Orban/Nikolett Tatrai on Wednesday.
Sh.T. Cao/J.J. Zeng won 2-0 (21-16, 21-13) against the Hungarians opening women’s pool play at the Tangshan International Beach Sports Park to lead in Pool A, followed by Argentina’s Delfina Villar/Brenda Ailen Churin, who defeated Kazakhstan’s Alina Rachenko/Yelizaveta Yeropkina 2-0 (21-15, 21-16).
Another Chinese pair – Dong Jie/Hang Ting – claimed a straight-set (21-17, 21-13) win over Ecuador’s Ariana Castro Jarrin/Karelys Simisterra Ortiz to place second in Pool H standings behind Thailand’s Pawarun Chanthawicha/Thatsarida Singchuea who overwhelmed Japan’s Rina Seki/Mayu Miyoshi 2-0 (21-8, 21-6).
USA are likewise well-represented in victories as Devon Newberry/Lindsey Sparks and Maya Harvey/Megan Kraft recorded 2-0 and 2-1 winning results, respectively.
Newberry/Sparks routed Israel’s Noga Maor/Maya Ben Shlomo (21-12, 21-4) to lead top spot in Pool D, ahead of Canada’s Erika Vermette/Dana Roskic who came up with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-13) win over Indonesia’s Ragil Ningtyas/Vitria Rahayu.
Harvey/Kraft rallied from a set down to claim a 2-1 (10-21, 21-16, 15-8) win over the Czech Republic’s Karin Zolnercikova/Sarlota Svobodova in Pool E, while Sarah Strong/Tiaan Smith also prevailed in tie-break (19-21, 21-17, 15-8) against Morocco’s Aziza Mallal/Maryem Rachki.
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FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships
In Pool B, Spain’s Aina Munar Galmes/Sofia Gonzalez Racero have a three-match winning start after they stunned second seeds Thamela Coradello Galil and Anne Karolayne Figueredo Gois of Brazil 2-0 (22-20, 21-16), while Poland’s Julia Gierczynska/Patrycja Jundzill cruised to a 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) win over Peru’s Medalyn Mendoza/Lizbeth Allcca Merino.
Italy’s Claudia Scampoli/Nicol Bertozzi, the Czech Republic’s Mariia Bocharova/Maria Voronina, and New Zealand’s Ella Akkerman/Maya Dickson all triumphed in straight sets, while the Netherlands’ Raisa Schoon/Emi van Driel, Germany’s Lea Sophie Kunst/Anna-Lena Grune and Switzerland’s Mara Betschart/Celine Baumann prevailed in three sets.
The women’s pool play matches will continue on July 12, Thursday, starting at 08.00 local time.