LookAtVietnam – Thailand’s Tenpaksee Usa and Sannok Jarunee beat compatriots Kulna Kamoltip and Phokongploy Yupa 2-0 in yesterday’s international women’s beach volleyball final at Ocean Park in Vung Tau City.

Made in the shade: Players celebrate on the podium during the prize-giving ceremony of the 2009 international women’s beach volleyball tournament in Vung Tau.

Usa and Jarunee came from a set down to beat Xianling and Donghe in a semi-final as did Kamoltip and Yupa against Yang and Anna.

The first set of the final went well for the winners and they looked comfortable in the second until their rivals grabbed three straight points to level at 20-all. After it was 24-all, Usa and Jarunee scored two straight points to win.

Usa and Jarunee received US$2,500 and a trophy while Kamoltip and Yupa pocketed $1,800 and Lin Xianling and Lin Donghe $1,500.

The Filipino pairing of Johanna Carpio and Michelle Carolino and Indonesia’s Devota Saveriana Rahawarin and Ayu Chahy Aningsiam shared fifth while the host’s two teams shared seventh.

The best player was Sannok Jarunee, who was paired with Kulna Kamoltip when fourth at Asiad in Doha in 2006.

The progressive young player was the host’s Nguyen Thi Mai while the Miss Volleyball title went to Kazak Bogatu Lyubov.

“I am pleased with the Vietnamese players, especially the pairing of Do Thi Hau and Ngo Vo Thanh Loan, who had a good match against the Chinese pair Xianling and Donghe,” said Le Hoang Son, head of the beach volleyball section of the Viet Nam Volleyball Federation.

“This is a good chance for Vietnamese players to improve their ability, especially Mai and Yen, who will contest the SEA Games in Laos in December, when they face strong opposition,” said Tran Duc Phan, the federation’s general secretary.

“All players will continue in the 2009 International Ha Long Beach Volleyball Tournament, which will be graded to Asian Tour,” Phan said.

Fourteen teams from eight Asian countries were involved at Vung Tau City.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News