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2004 OLYMPIC
GAMES
VOLLEYBALL /
WOMEN
China
crowned 2004 Olympic champions
 Athens,
Greece, August 28, 2004 – World number three China
pulled off a miraculous comeback from two sets down to
beat Sydney 2000 silver medalists Russia 3-2 (28-30,
25-27, 25-20, 25-23, 15-12) and claim the ultimate prize
– the gold medal – in a stunning final at the 2004
Olympic Games women’s Volleyball competition in the
Peace and Friendship Stadium on Saturday. It is China’s
second Volleyball gold medal following their first
triumph in 1984 and is a vast improvement on their fifth
place finish in Sydney four years ago. For Russia (formerly
the USSR) they miss out on their fifth women’s Olympic
Volleyball gold having won the title already in 1968,
1972, 1980 and 1988 and it is their second successive
silver after losing to Cuba at Sydney 2000.
More Pic: China's defence was an amazing
against a powerful Russian attack
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Gold
awaits for China or Russia
 ATHENS,
27 August – Sydney 2000 silver medalists Russia and
World Cup title holders China will face off in a
fascinating clash for gold in the final of the Olympic
women’s Volleyball competition on Saturday.While Russia
finished second four years ago, China were silver
medalists in Atlanta in 1996. This time one of the two
will celebrate winning the gold medal. Russia will start
as favourites with their taller and more physical
approach likely to be a daunting obstacle to overcome
for a Chinese side, which relies on agility and team
work to undo the best defence and offence. The great
setting from captain Feng Kun is also a match winner.
More Pic: Russia's impressive defence at work
against Brazil
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New
champ guaranteed as Cuba gets beaten
 Athens,
Greece, August 26, 2004 – Sydney 2000 silver medalists
Russia will have the chance to go one better against
world number three China in the final of the 2004
Olympic Games women’s Volleyball competition after both
teams won breathtaking semifinal matches on Thursday.
In the first semifinal, Russia made an incredible come
back from two sets down to beat favourites Brazil 3-2
(18-25, 21-25, 25-22, 28-26, 16-14).
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Russia,
Brazil kick off semifinals
 ATHENS,
25 August – Sydney 2000 silver medalists Russia go
head-to-head with world number two Brazil when the
semifinals of the Women's Olympic Volleyball tournament
get underway at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on
Thursday at 19:30.
The opening match promises to be a thrilling contest
with World Grand Prix champions Brazil led by scoring
machines Erika COIMBRA and Virna DIAS, while Russia are
guided by Ekaterina GAMOVA and Lioubov SHASKOVA, who are
the two best scorers of the tournament.
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China,
Russia, Cuba, Brazil through to semifinals
 Athens,
Greece, August 24, 2004 – World Cup title holders China,
world number six Russia, defending champions Cuba and
World Grand Prix title holders Brazil all reached the
semifinals of the 2004 Olympic Games women’s Volleyball
competition after quarterfinal victories on Tuesday. All
three medalists from Sydney 2000 have reached the
semifinals while China are guaranteed to improve upon
their fifth-place finish four years ago. The semifinal
action on Thursday begins at 19:30 with Brazil taking on
Russia followed by Cuba playing China at 21:30.
More Pic: China's defence against Japan was
excellent
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Volleyball providing another great experience
 Athens,
Greece, August 24, 2004 – Volleyball at the Olympics
gathers all the qualities of team sport - participation,
discipline and the Olympic spirit making for a
magnificent experience for all concerned. The 28th
Olympiad in Athens has welcomed teams from right around
the world bringing together different playing styles,
cultures and personalities. These elements are part of
the special mix that makes the Olympics such a
challenging yet spectacular event to participate in.
Pic: Kenya captain Violet Barasa said the level of
games are higher compared to Sydney
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Russia’s Gamova leads player rankings
 ATHENS,
23 August – Ekaterina GAMOVA of Russia is the most
dominant player of the women’s tournament so far
according to the Player Rankings by Skills. Every player
in the competition has been ranked according to their
individual skills and at the end of the Preliminary
Round and GAMOVA is one of two Russians who lead the
Best Scorer ranking. The 23-year-old Gamova, with 115
points at an average of 23 per match, leads her teammate
Lioubov Shashkova who has 96 points. USA’s Logan Tom is
third with 90 points.
More Pic: Russia's Ekaterina Gamova
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USA and
Japan claim final Quarterfinal spots
 Athens,
Greece, August 22, 2004 – A straight sets win over Cuba
in the last match of the Preliminary Round on Sunday
saved world number one USA from being eliminated from
the 2004 Olympic Games women’s Volleyball competition
after they qualified with Japan on the final day of the
Preliminary Round for next week’s quarterfinals.
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The
Fans View
Athens, Greece,
August 22 - Volleyball is celebrating is 10th
anniversary at the Olympic Games and fans from right
around the world are coming to the Peace and Friendship
Stadium to take in the spectacle.
Here’s what they think about one of the most popular
sports at the 2004 Athens Games:
Svetlana 41, Russia
 “I came to Athens to support the athletes of my country.
To tell the truth I didn’t have any strong intention to
watch Volleyball until I heard a lot of positive
comments about what takes place at Peace and Friendship
Stadium. So I experienced it and I have the best
impressions for the organization and for the
performances.”
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Two
Quarterfinal spots still to be determined
 ATHENS,
22 August – The final day of the Women’s Preliminary
Round will determine which two teams will join the six
teams already qualified for the quarterfinals and
continue their cruise for Olympic glory. With one game
remaining for each team, Greece and Japan face must win
matches against Italy and Keya respectively in Pool A
while in Pool B, anyone from USA, Germany and the
Dominican Republic can still qualify. Pic: USA
need to beat Cuba in the day's final match
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Two
Volleyball Greats take in Olympic spectacle
 Athens,
Greece, August 21, 2004 – The two captains of the first
Volleyball teams to win Olympic gold are here at the
Peace and Friendship Stadium taking in the 10th edition
of Volleyball at the Olympics Games. Ms. Masae Nakamura
(nee Kasai), 70, the former Japanese women’s captain,
and former Russian men’s captain Mr. Yuri Chesnokov,71,
are now participating in the 28th Olympiad in different
functions but in 1964 they led their respect teams to
the inaugural Olympic gold medal in Volleyball.
More Pic: The first Olympic Volleyball gold
medalists from 1964 - Japan's Masae Kasae (left) and
Russia's Yuri Chesnokov
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Six
teams confirmed for quarterfinals
 Athens,
Greece, August 20, 2004 – With one day remaining in the
Preliminary Round of the 2004 Olympic Games women’s
Volleyball competition six teams – China, Cuba, Brazil,
Italy, Korea and Russia – have confirmed their places in
the quarterfinal round after they all recorded victories
on Friday. Brazil’s straight sets (25-22, 25-22, 25-11)
win over hosts Greece saw the World Grand Prix champions
collect their fourth straight win in Pool A to confirm
their favouritism for the next phase.
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All eyes
on USA-Russia match up
 ATHENS,
20 August – With only two matches remaining in the
Women's Preliminary Round the focus is on the final
match on Friday where world number one USA needs to beat
old foes Russia to maintain a strong hope of reaching
the quarterfinals.
The Americans currently sit at the bottom of Pool B,
equal with Germany and the Dominican Republic, needing a
win from their remaining two matches – against Russia
and Cuba – to keep alive their chances of reaching the
next phase.
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Brazil repeat Grand
Prix triumph to go clear in Pool A
 Athens,
Greece, August 18, 2004 – World Grand Prix champions
Brazil followed in the footsteps of their men’s team and
repeated their victory in August’s Grand Prix final by
beating Italy on Wednesday in an exhilarating
come-from-behind five set (19-25, 25-13, 22-25, 25-16,
15-13) win in the final match of Day Three of the
women’s Volleyball competition at the Peace and
Friendship Stadium on Wednesday.
After yesterday’s marathon men’s match the women turned
on a similar display with an action-packed affair
stretching nearly two hours, much to the enjoyment of
the fans coated in yellow, green and blue.
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Two
derbys feature on Day Three
 ATHENS,
17 August - Day Three of the Women's Olympic tournament
offers two great match-ups and a crucial fight for a
place in the quarterfinals.
At 09:00 the United States are the heavy favourite in
the match against the Dominican Republic. The US are
looking for a good placing in Pool B, while the
Dominicans are still searching for their first set.
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Cuba
repeats Sydney final result
 Athens,
Greece, August 16, 2004 – Sydney Olympic champions Cuba
repeated their gold medal winning performance against
Russia with a stirring 3-2 (26-24, 19-25, 25-27, 25-19,
15-13) victory on day two of the women’s Volleyball
competition at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on
Monday. In what was a superb encounter of exhilarating
quick play matched with dynamism and athleticism Cuba
eventually claimed the victory to open their account in
Pool B after suffering a shock loss to Germany on the
opening day. The result was a mirror image of the Sydney
Olympics where the two teams contested a 3-2 (20-25,
25-21, 21-25, 25-12, 15-12) match in the Preliminary
Round in favour of Russia before Cuba claimed victory in
the final with another stunning five-set (25-27, 32-34,
25-19, 25-18, 15-7) performance.
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Repeat
of Sydney's final feature match on Day Three
 ATHENS,
15 August – Olympic title favourites Brazil takes on
Kenya in the opening match on the second day of the
Women’s Volleyball tournament on Monday, and anything
other than a straight-sets victory for the Brazilians
would be a big surprise. The ‘Celecao’ is looking to
double their victory tally in Pool A, while Kenya will
be hoping to take as much as they can out of a match
expected to be of most benefit to the South Americans.
More
Pic: Brazil beat Japan 25-21, 25-22, 25-21 on the
opening day
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Scorers