Pavan & Bansley still unbeaten at Rio 2016 beach tournament
Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley remain undefeated in the Rio 2016 beach volleyball tournament after a midnight victory over Switzerland in the earliest hour of Wednesday.
After winning the Olympic opener on Sunday, the Canadian duo continued strong in the competition and defeated Swiss pair Joana Heidrich and Nadine Zumkehr2-0 (21-18, 21-18).
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Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley celebrate a victory over Switzerland at Rio 2016 / Photo via FIVB
With the victory, Pavan & Bansley are almost guaranteed a spot in the elimination stage, since the Canadian duo now sits atop of Group E with four points.
Before the Round of 16 action, Pavan/Bansley will close the group stage facing Germany’s Karla Borger and Britta Buthe on Thursday.
On that same day, Chaim Schalk and Ben Saxton will face Cuba’s Nivaldo Diaz and Sergio Gonzales, while Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas will play Doaa Elghobashy and Nada Meawad, from Egypt.
Canada’s Sarah Pavan, right, and Heather Bansley, left, celebrate winning a point during a women’s beach volleyball match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Before that, on Wednesday, Canada returns to Copacabana beach, when Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter will meet Austrians Clemens Doppler and Alexander Horst.
The Round of 16 matches will take place on August 12-13. The quarterfinals will follow on August 14 (women’s) and 15 (men’s).
After the semifinals on August 16, the medal matches will take place on August 17 (women) and 18 (men’s).
