Brazil Wrestle To Women's Gold In Olympic Beach Volleyball

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2024) Top-seeded Brazilian pair Ana Patricia Silva and Eduarda Santos won Olympic gold in the women's beach volleyball on Friday, finally nailing down victory after three tense sets in a bad-tempered game.

The duo beat seventh-ranked Canadians Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson, who will take silver, by 15/10 in a decider match.

The top-seeded pair took a while to get into their stride -- but once they did there was never a dull moment on the sand as the two sides wrestled point-by-point towards gold in front of an illuminated Eiffel Tower.

The match was tetchy at times, with frequent challenges from both sides, repeated booing from the vociferous Brazilian fans, and at one point a row broke out between the four players over the net.

Play was halted while the pair argued and gestured at each other, before the umpire waved a yellow card at both teams, and the venue's DJ played John Lennon's "Imagine" as the four players returned to their halves with reluctant smiles while the crowd sang along.

The Brazilians won a seemingly never-ending first set by 26/24, after a series of match points by both sides were repeatedly denied.

The second set was equally tense as the Canadians started to pull away mid-set, climbing to a nine-point lead to secure their win after a Brazilian ball ran long off the end of the court.

But the Brazilians dominated to claim the decider set by five clear points -- to the delight of thunderous Brazilian fans, who filled the front of the stadium singing, waving flags and dancing.

The pair sank to the sand, resting their foreheads on the ground after sealing the final point.

The four players eventually shook hands and hugged after the game.