Rotterdam, Netherlands, July 21, 2018 – World No.7 Russia became world champions for the first time after recording a very impressive 3-1 (18-25, 27-25, 26-24, 26-24) win over 2016 Paralympic champions USA in the World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball Women’s World Championship final at Luxour Theatre on Saturday.

In a final, which will remain long in the memory for some stunning rallies, the European champions showed amazing character and determination to fight back from one set down and deny the world No. 1 Americans, who had beaten Russia in straight sets in pool play earlier in the tournament and were also hoping to pick up their first world title.

For Russia, the gold medal adds to the bronze medal they won in 2014 while for USA, it’s the third edition in a row they have picked up the silver medal after losing the World Championship final to China in 2014 and 2010. Both teams had already qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics having reached the final.

In one of the biggest rivalries between two countries that goes far beyond the Sitting Volleyball court, the match was synonymous with amazing rallies right from the start of the match.

The battle at the net especially between the tournament Most Complete Player Iuliia Mednikova of Russia and USA captain and tournament Best Blocker Katie Hollaway was a joy to watch, with both players fully committed on attack and defence.

Mednikova had able lieutenants in Olga Arbatskaia and Irina Panina while Heather Nicole Erickson and Nicole Nieves were great attacking options for the US.

Earlier in the day, defending two times world champions China beat Italy 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-12) to win the bronze medal while Brazil finished fifth after beating the Ukraine 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-21) and Canada finished seventh following a 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 19-25, 27-25) win over hosts the Netherlands.

The podium of Russia, USA and China was a repeat of the first ever World Super 6 Women played in Hangzhou, China last year.

Men
In the men’s tournament, it will be the world champions versus the Paralympic champions in the final after Rio 2016 gold medallists Iran showed why they are consistently ranked as one of the top teams in the world as they qualified with a convincing 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-13) win over the Ukraine.

They will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final after the three-time world champions beat Brazil in the second semifinal 3-1 (21-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-16).

Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Iran in the 2006 final before the result was reversed in 2010. Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Brazil for the title four years ago.

In reaching the final Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

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