Chinese duo Xue Chen and Zhang Xi beat compatriot team Tian Jia and Wang Jie on Sunday in the resort island Phuket of south Thailand, to win the title for Phuket 2006 Women's Open, a FIVB World Tour women's professional beach volleyball tournament.

 

The Phuket Open 2006, held from Nov. 1 to 5 at the island's Karon Beach, is the biggest beach volleyball tournament in Asia, with prize money of 200,000 U.S. dollars. Nearly 50 teams from 25 countries participated in the event.

 

Zhang and Xue, the world No. 3 team, beat the world second-ranked pair Tian and Wang by 21-18 and 21-15 in Sunday's final match.

 

In the bronze play-off before the final, the reigning Olympic beach volleyball champions, Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor from the United States defeated Norwegian Nila Ann Hakedal and Ingrid Torlen by 21-15, 21-13. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2006)