2012 Olympic Bay Sanya Open Recap
Gold: Talita-Antonelli (BRA) $30,000
Silver: Larissa-Juliana (BRA) $21,000
Bronze: Xue-Zhang Xi (CHN) $11,200
4th: Montagnolli-Hansel (AUT) $11,200
Gold Medal Match: Larissa-Juliana 1-2 Talita-Antonelli (17-21, 21-17, 13-15)
Bronze Medal Match: Xue-Zhang Xi 2-0 Montagnolli-Hansel (21-16, 21-17)
Semifinals:
Talita-Antonelli 2-0 Montagnolli-Hansel (21-14, 21-17)
Xue-Zhang Xi 0-2 Larissa-Juliana (17-21, 16-21)
Sanya is once again at the beginning of the calendar in 2012, welcoming players from April 24-29. Renowned for its tropical climate, the women’s event is the first single-gender stage on the tour and will be held at the Sanya Bay Resort. The first of five tournaments set to take place in China this year, the tour will also feature two double-gender events in the country, firstly in Shanghai for the ninth year in a row and then in Beijing. Home duo Chen Xue and Xi Zhang could not follow up on their 2010 victory as Larissa França and Juliana Felisberta Da Silva took gold. Maria Antonellie and Talita Antunes made it two Brazilian teams on the podium after they beat two-time Olympic champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.
(images: FIVB)