|
SWATCH-FIVB WORLD TOUR RETURNS TO OSAKA |
|
 After
a two-year absence, Osaka returns to the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour calendar by
staging its 13th event. Dubbed Japan’s “second city”, Osaka has hosted the most
international Beach Volleyball stops since the start of the women’s FIVB circuit
in 1992. The French Mediterranean port city of Marseille ranks second on the
list with 10 events. Rio de Janeiro tops the men’s list with 14 SWATCH-FIVB
World Tour events since the start of the men’s circuit in 1987. After teams from
the United States and Australia combined to win the first three Osaka stops,
Brazilian tandems have won the last nine events led by legendary pair of Shelda
Bede and Adriana Behar. After placing third in 1997, Shelda and Adriana won six
of the next eight Osaka events as the South Americans placed second in 2003 and
third in 2005. Shaylyn Bede, Shelda’s younger sister, captured the 2005 Osaka
gold medal with Ana Paula Connelly, who teamed with Sandra Pires to defeat
Shelda and Adriana for the 2003 crown. The best finish by the host country was a
silver medal in 2000 by Mika Teru Saiki and Yukiko Takahashi, who finished
fourth at the Sydney Olympic Games for Japan. Osaka is one of nine new sites in
2008 on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour calendar along with Adelaide (Australia),
Guaruja (Brazil), Sanya (China), Prague (Czech Republic), Myslowice (Poland),
Moscow (Russia), Barcelona (Spain) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates).
Osaka is as an attractive, user friendly city and several new museums and other
attractions have been added in recent times, all of which have helped to add to
the overall cultural feel of the place. Leafy promenades abound beside fresh
water and many people enjoy strolling along the riverbanks and relaxing in
scenic splendor. Furthermore, each summer one can enjoy the amazement of what is
known as the ‘Tenjin Matsuri’, a spectacular sailing festival containing
decorated ships.
|
|
PAST JAPANESE WOMEN’S PODIUM
PLACEMENTS |
|
Medals - Brazil 18, USA 9,
Australia 6, Germany 1, Japan 1, Switzerland 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site |
Year |
Gold Medal |
Silver Medal |
Bronze Medal |
|
1.
Osaka |
1994 |
Barbra Fontana/Lori Forsythe,
USA |
Isabel Salgado/Roseli Timm,
BRA |
Karolyn Kirby/Liz Masakayan,
USA |
|
2.
Osaka |
1995 |
Holly McPeak/ Nancy Reno, USA |
Linda Hanley/Angela Rock, USA |
Sandra Pires/Jackie Silva,
BRA |
|
3.
Osaka |
1996 |
Natalie
Cook/Kerri Pottharst, AUS |
Danalee Bragado/Pat Keller,
USA |
Liane Fenwick/Sarah Straton,
AUS |
|
4.
Osaka |
1997 |
Monica
Rodrigues/Adriana Samuel, BRA |
Maike Friedrichsen/Danja
Musch, GER |
Shelda Bede/Adriana Behar,
BRA |
|
5.
Osaka |
1998 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Pires/Samuel, BRA |
Lisa Arce/McPeak, USA |
|
6. Osaka |
1999 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Cook/Pottharst, AUS |
Ana Paula/Silva, BRA |
|
7. Osaka |
2000 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Mika Teru Saiki/Yukiko
Takahashi, JPN |
Cook/Pottharst, AUS |
|
8. Osaka |
2001 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Misty May /Kerri Walsh, USA |
Fontana/ Elaine Youngs, USA |
|
9. Osaka |
2002 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Ana Paula/Tatiana Minello,
BRA |
May/Walsh, USA |
|
10. Osaka |
2003 |
Ana
Paula/Pires, BRA |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Cook/Nicole Sanderson, AUS |
|
11. Osaka |
2004 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Cook/Sanderson, AUS |
Simone Kuhn/Nicole Schnyder,
SUI |
|
12. Osaka |
2005 |
Shaylyn Bede/Ana Paula, BRA |
Juliana Felisberta
Silva/Larissa Franca, BRA |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
|
Asian Women’s
SWATCH Stops
- The 2008 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour women’s calendar features seven
stops within the Asian Continental Federation with three events in
China, and one stop each Australia, Korea, Japan and
Thailand. It is the most events in Asia since five stops where held
in 2001 at Macau, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Australia. The ABC’s
of women’s Beach Volleyball (America, Australia, Brazil and China)
have won 38 of the previous 39 events. The only title won by a
European team in Asia was at a 2003 in China where Rebekka Kadijk
and Marrit Leenstra of the Netherlands captured the gold medal. |
|
SWATCH-FIVB WORLD TOUR - ASIAN WOMEN'S
PODIUM PLACEMENTS - 39 events |
|
Total Medals - Brazil 48, USA 32,
Australia 13, China 11, Germany 4, Japan 2, Cuba 1, Czech Republic
1, Greece 1, Italy, 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 1 and Switzerland 1 |
|
Site |
Year |
Gold Medal |
Silver Medal |
Bronze Medal |
|
1.
Osaka |
1994 |
Barbra Fontana/Lori Forsythe, USA |
Isabel Salgado/Roseli Timm, BRA |
Liz Masakayan /Karolyn Kirby, USA |
|
2.
Pusan |
1995 |
Holly McPeak/Nancy Reno, USA |
Kirby/Masakayan, USA |
Sandra Pires/Jackie Silva, BRA |
|
3.
Osaka |
1995 |
McPeak/Reno, USA |
Linda Hanley/Angela Rock, USA |
Sandra/Jackie, BRA |
|
4.
Bali |
1995 |
McPeak/Reno, USA |
Sandra/Jackie, BRA |
Kirby/Rock, USA |
|
5.
Brisbane |
1995 |
McPeak/Reno, USA |
Sandra/Jackie, BRA |
Beate Buhler/Danja Musch, GER |
|
6.
Osaka |
1996 |
Natalie Cook/Kerri Pottharst, AUS |
Danalee Bragado/Pat Keller, USA |
Sarah Straton /Liane Fenwick, AUS |
|
7.
Pusan |
1996 |
Lisa Arce/McPeak, USA |
Yuki Ishizaka/Yukiko Takahashi, JPN |
Adriana Samuel/Monica Rodrigues, BRA |
|
8.
Jakarta |
1996 |
Shelda Bede/Adriana Behar, BRA |
Maike Friedrichsen/Musch, GER |
Sandra/Jackie, BRA |
|
9.
Melbourne |
1997 |
Sandra/Jackie, BRA |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Arce/McPeak, USA |
|
10.
Osaka |
1997 |
Adriana/Monica, BRA |
Friedrichsen/Musch, GER |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
|
11.
Pusan |
1997 |
Arce/McPeak, USA |
Adriana/Monica, BRA |
Cook/Pottharst, AUS |
|
12.
Osaka |
1998 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Sandra/Adriana Samuel, BRA |
Lisa Arce/McPeak, USA |
|
13.
Dalian |
1998 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Arce/McPeak, USA |
Pauline Manser/Pottharst, AUS |
|
14.
Osaka |
1999 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Cook/Pottharst, AUS |
Ana Paula Connelly/Jackie, BRA |
|
15.
Dalian |
1999 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Annett Davis/Jenny J. Jordan, USA |
Arce/Fontana, USA |
|
16.
Osaka |
2000 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Mika Teru Saiki/Yukiko Takahashi, JPN |
Cook/Pottharst, AUS |
|
17.
Dalian |
2000 |
Masakayan/Elaine Youngs, USA |
Misty May-Treanor/McPeak, USA |
Ron Chi/Zi Xiong, CHN |
|
18.
Sydney (OG) |
2000 |
Cook/Pottharst, AUS |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Sandra/Adriana Samuel, BRA |
|
19.
Macau |
2001 |
Cook/Pottharst, AUS |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
May-Treanor/McPeak, USA |
|
20.
Osaka |
2001 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Misty May /Kerri Walsh, USA |
Elaine Youngs/Fontana, USA |
|
21.
Maoming |
2001 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Tatiana Minello/Sandra, BRA |
Cook/Pottharst, AUS |
|
22.
Hong Kong |
2001 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh, USA |
Daniela Gattelli/Lucilla Perrotta, ITA |
|
23.
Brisbane(GWG) |
2001 |
Sandra/Tatiana Minello, BRA |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Fontana/Youngs, USA |
|
24.
Osaka |
2002 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Ana Paula/Tatiana, BRA |
May/Walsh, USA |
|
25.
Maoming |
2002 |
May-Treanor/Walsh, USA |
McPeak/Youngs, USA |
Cook/Pottharst, AUS |
|
26.
Osaka |
2003 |
Ana Paula/Sandra, BRA |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Cook/Nicole Sanderson, AUS |
|
27.
Lianyungang |
2003 |
Rebekka Kadijk/Marrit Leenstra, NED |
Suzanne Lahme/Musch, GER |
Cook/Sanderson, AUS |
|
28.
Bali |
2003 |
Jia Tian/Fei Wang, CHN |
Dalixia Fernandez Grasset/Tamara Larrea Peraza, CUB |
Eva Celbova/Sona Novakova, CZE |
|
29.
Shanghai |
2004 |
McPeak/Youngs, USA |
Davis/Johnson Jordan, USA |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
|
30.
Osaka |
2004 |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Cook/Sanderson, BRA |
Nicole Schnyder/Simone Kuhn, SUI |
|
31.
Shanghai |
2005 |
Juliana Felisberta Silva/Larissa Franca, BRA |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Ana Paula/Shaylyn Bede, BRA |
|
32.
Osaka |
2005 |
Shaylyn/Ana Paula, BRA |
Juliana/Larissa, BRA |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
|
33.
Bali |
2005 |
Talita Antunes Renata Ribeiro, BRA |
Shelda/Adriana, BRA |
Thalia Koutroumanidou/Maria Tsiartsiani, GRE |
|
34.
Shanghai |
2006 |
Chen Xue/Xi Zhang, CHN |
Jia Tian/Jie Wang, CHN |
Juliana/Larissa, BRA |
|
35.
Phuket |
2006 |
Xue/Zhang, CHN |
Tian/Jie Wang, CHN |
May-Treanor/Walsh, USA |
|
36.
Shanghai |
2007 |
Tian/Jie Wang, CHN |
Nila Ann Hakedal/Ingrid Torlen, NOR |
Talita/Renata, BRA |
|
37.
Singapore |
2007 |
TalitaRenata, BRA |
Tian/Jie Wang, CHN |
Xue/Zhang, CHN |
|
38.
Seoul |
2007 |
Tamsin Barnett/Cook, AUS |
Tian/Jie Wang, CHN |
Juliana/Larissa, BRA |
|
39.
Phuket |
2007 |
May-Treanor/Walsh, USA |
Nicole Branagh/Elaine Youngs, USA |
Tian/Jie Wang, CHN |
|
Teams
Osaka
2008
Women's Open
