Tuan Chau, Vietnam, May 12, 2018 - Top seeds Sayaka Mizoe / Suzuka Hashimoto of Japan captured gold at the one-star FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Tuan Chau HaLong Open 2018 - but it took them two tie-breaks in the medals round to reach the top step of the podium and lead an all-Japan 1-2-3 finish in the Vietnam event.
Mizoe / Hashimoto rallied from a set down in the semifinals to knock down fellow-Japanese Yukako Suzuki / Kaho Sakaguchi 2-1 (18-21, 21-15, 15-10). They then edged second-seeded Yui Nagata / Minori Kumada 2-1 (25-23, 18-21, 15-13) in the all-Japan final. At 53 minutes, the final was the longest match of the tournament.
Earlier on the closing day, Saturday, Nagata / Kumada had shut out Israel's Sofia Starikov / Noy Chorin - the only non-Japanese team in the top four - 2-0 (21-15, 21-13) in the first of the semifinals.
Starikov / Chorin then fell to Suzuki / Sakaguchi 2-1 (21-18, 17-21, 15-13) in the battle for bornze.
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