beach volleyballers

RNZI reports Czech duo Marketa Slukova and Barbora Hermannova defeated top seeds Chen Xue and Xinyi Xia from China 15-12 in the golden set to take the first semi final 2-1.

They will compete in Pool B in Rio, alongside teams from Brazil, Spain and Argentina.

Hosts Russia prevailed in the second semi final with Ekaterina Birlova and Evgenia Ukolova taking the golden set in emphatic style 15-3 to confirm their place in Pool A in Rio, alongside teams from Brazil, Poland and the USA.

RNZI reports the Melanesian duo finished in a share of 17th place at the Vitoria Open in Brazil at the weekend and remain just adrift of the top 15, which would earn direct entry.

After winning their first two pool matches, Vanuatu were beaten by top seeds and eventual champions Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca before another straight sets defeat by the Swiss ninth seeds, to miss out on the top 16.

RNZI reports the Melanesian duo beat 2012 Olympians Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler from Germany 21-17 21-14 in their opening pool match.

They backed up that performance, beating the 32nd-seeded qualifiers Janne Kongshavn and Vilde Solvoll of Norway 21-14, 21-10.