Brazilian team wins final of beach volleyball c'ship
JAKARTA (JP): Brazil's Roberto Lopes da Costa celebrated his 30th birthday with a victory in the ninth leg of the Men's World Beach Volleyball Championship final yesterday.
Da Costa and his partner Franco Jos Vieira Neto, who won last year's World Championship title, beat American Christopher St. John "Sinjin" Smith and Carl Henkel 12-7, 12-8 in the final.
"It's a special present for my birthday. I'm very happy," da Costa told reporters in broken English after the medal presentation ceremony.
Da Costa and Franco bagged the winning prize of US$20,000 cash, while Smith and Henkel pocketed $13,000.
Andr Faria Gomes and Emanuel Fernando Scheffer Rego eased past Rogrio "Par" Ferreira de Souza and Guilherme Luiz Marquez in the playoff between two Brazilian teams for third place and $8,000.
Da Costa and Neto, who beat countrymen de Souza and Marquez 15-10 in the semifinals earlier yesterday, had no trouble taking the first set, which was delayed for more than an hour due to heavy rain.
The Brazilians were leading 10-6 when the game was stopped.
Smith, dubbed the king of the beach, inspired a brilliant comeback in the second set, which saw the American duo take a 7-5 lead. However, they failed to keep up with the Brazilians.
Da Costa and Neto needed three match points to seal the match.
Only 1,000 people turned out to watch yesterday's matches held on a sand court at Senayan's tennis complex. State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman, National Sports Council Chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar and chairwoman of the Indonesian Volleyball Association, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, were among the notable fans at the final.
Most of the spectators, wearing T-shirts from sponsors, used the rain as an excuse to go home and to avoid the soccer enthusiasts watching the final Indonesian league match at the neighboring stadium.
The organizers announced that door prizes would be given after the closing ceremony, but only a few people were willing to stay.
The venue will host the more anticipated Women's World Championship next month. (yan)