Battling Brazil claim beach volleyball bronze

LONDON (AFP) –

Brazil’s Larissa Franca (top) and Juliana Silva celebrate at the end of the women Beach Volleyball bronze medal match against China’s Xue Chen and Zhang Xi on the Centre Court Stadium in Horse Guards Parade, for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Larissa/Juliana won the bronze medal.

Brazil’s Juliana Silva and Larissa Franca came back from the brink to beat China’s Zhang Xi and Xue Chen on Wednesday, giving them the bronze medal in the women’s Olympic beach volleyball tournament.

Beaten by America’s Jen Kessy and April Ross in the semi-finals, the top-seeded Brazilian pair initially conceded the initiative to the Chinese and found themselves a set down at a sun-splashed Horse Guards Parade.

Bronze medallists in Beijing four years ago, the Chinese duo closed to within two points of victory by going 19-16 up in the second set, but Brazil fought back to level the match and then prevailed 15-12 in the decider.

Kessy and Ross meet defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings in the final later on Wednesday, when May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings will be seeking to win a third consecutive Olympic title.