News

Lausanne, Switzerland, June 25, 2005 – Defending champions Brazil will be hoping to complete a hat trick of victories in the opening weekend of the 2005 World Grand Prix Preliminary Round when they play hosts and fellow unbeaten side Japan on Sunday.

Five teams, including Italy and Cuba in Reggio Calabria and China in Ningbo, are unbeaten after two days and they will be looking to keep it that way on the final day, especially in Italy where the hosts take on Cuba.

In Saturday’s results, Brazil beat Poland 3-0 (25-22, 25-10, 25-23) and Japan beat Korea 3-0 (26-24, 25-14, 25-18) in Tokyo to sit on top of their group with a 2-0 record, with Poland and Korea yet to win a match.
Pic: China's Hao Yan tries to beat the Netherlands' block of Ingrid Visser & Manon Flier
In Ningbo, China, the Netherlands, who beat USA on Friday, suffered their first defeat after Olympic champions China eventually stormed past them 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-5). The other match between the first day losers saw U.S.A. beat Thailand 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-22).

In Reggio Calabria, Italy, last year’s silver medalists, continued where they left off at the scene of last year’s Final Round with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-23) win over Germany while Cuba beat the Dominican Republic 3-0 (28-26, 25-17, 25-18). The clash between the two unbeaten sides on Sunday will be riveting while winless Germany and the Dominican Republic face off in the earlier match.