Top-seeded Zhang Ying and Ji Linjun continued their good form by beating their last group opponents for a third consecutive win at the FIVB beach volleyball women's challenger on Wednesday.

 

Zhang and Ji were hardly troubled when they beat Manisala Yokbeth/Saveriana Rahawarin of Indonesia 21-11, 21-16 in just 29 minutes.

 

But their victory was not the easiest one in the day session as Thailand's third seeds Kamoltip Kulna and Yupa Puklongploy came on the 12,000-seat main court later to see off Americans Renee Smith Cleary and Jennifer Lombardi 21-9 and 21-1 in 25 minutes.

 

The Thai duo pulled off a slow start at the event, losing to Chinese youngsters Zhang Dan and Ma Yuanyuan in the opening match, but finally got through the preliminary round after wrapping up the last two matches.

 

With top ranking points of 647 and the unbeaten run, Zhang/Ji still felt the room for improvement.

 

"We were a bit anxious in the second set, and lost six points in a row after the second side switch," said Zhang, who celebrated her 24th birthday on Wednesday.

 

Zhang is from southeast China's Fujian Province, while 21-year-old Ji comes from Shanghai. The two first teamed up this year.

 

"Their attack and fight-back didn't work effectively enough to threaten their opponents in the preliminaries," said Zhang Zhenxi, coach of the team.

 

"They are the top seeds at the challenger and need to avoid mistakes as much as possible in the remaining matches.

 

"I don't want to push them too hard. We just want to progress step by step at the event and aim to play better in the future."

 

Zhang/Ji's countrywomen Yue Yuan and Zhang Wenwen also advanced into the next round after stunning sixth seeded Camilla Nilsson/Rivia Oliveira from Sweden 23-21, 21-13.

 

At 15-all in the opening set, Zhang used some wonderful spikes to pull away at 17-15 and created two set points while leading 20-18.

 

The Swedish duo squared the match at 20-20 after some lob play before Yue and Zhang claimed the breath-taking set 23-21.

 

There were also day session wins for Mari-Liis Graumann/Natalja Bratuhhina from Estonia and Malaysians Manokharan Iswari/Luk Teng Kee.

 

The August 13-19 tournament is being played at the Olympic beach volleyball venue of Chaoyang park, where 24 teams compete following exactly the Olympic formula, testing each organizing detail which will be repeated one year later on the Olympic beach volleyball day, from 9th to 22nd August, 2008.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2007)