Roundup: Chinese Tian/Wang, U.S. Walsh/May-Treanor to fight for gold

Wang Jie (R) and Tian Jia of China celebrate after winning the women's semifinal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games beach volleyball event against Xue Chen and Zhang Xi of China in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Wang Jie and Tian Jia (R) of China celebrate after winning the women's semifinal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games beach volleyball event against Xue Chen and Zhang Xi of China in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tian Jia and Wang Jie of China won over their compatriots Zhang Xi and Xue Chen in the semifinals of beach volleyball tournament at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday.

    Tian/Wang needed to play three sets before downing their fellow Chinese duo.

    Zhang/Xue won the first set 24-22. They trailed at the beginning of the second sect but were able to come from behind. The two sides traded set points in the latter part of the second set and scored the highest points in the beach volleyball tournament at the Beijing Olympics. The set ended 29-27 in favor of Tian/Wang.

    The third set went in the advantage of Tian/Wang, who beat the younger duo 15-8.

    "Both of us played to our best standard in the match. I hope both of our two teams will have good performance in our next matches," said Tian after the match.

Zhang Xi (L) of China smashes the ball during the women's semifinal with Xue Chen at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games beach volleyball event against Wang Jie and Tian Jia of China in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Wang Jie and Tian Jia won the match 2-1 and advanced to final. (Xinhua/Sadat) Photo Gallery>>>

    "My partner (Wang Jie) played excelently in the match. It seemed she was not for the first time at the Olympics," she added.

    "I have done my best in the match. I have played and practiced beach volleyball for eight years and all that has been for the Beijing Olympics," the 24-year-old Zhang said at the press conference.

    Her parter Xue Chen was sustained a waist injury when she tried to save but failed to touch the last ball.

    About the loss of the third set, Zhang said, "We lack experiences and they captured our gaps and curbed our ways of offensive."

    "I hope Tian and Wang would play better in the final against the United States and I hope I can give my strength to them," she said.

    On the coming final against defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, Wang said, "They are a very strong team, both in experience and techniques. We are going to face big difficulties in the match."

    "We'll do our best and we don't think about the result," she added.