Intro:

German pair Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst won Beach Volleyball's Shanghai Grand Slam event.

They beat Wang Fan and Yue Yuan of China 23-21, 19-21, 15-9.

Script:

Dark skies and heavy rain are hardly ideal conditions for Beach Volleyball, but the final of the Shanghai Grand Slam event took place on schedule with a meeting between German number two seeds Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst and the number ten seeds from China, Wang Fan and Yue Yuan.

Both pairs had beaten Brazilian opposition in the semis and were looking to win their first gold medals at FIVB Grand Slam level.

Wang and Yue got off to a great start and led 12-6 in the first set, but the German duo fought back, forcing extra points and eventually taking the opener by 23 points to 21.

To their credit, Wang and Yue put the disappointment behind them and levelled the match at one set all.

They could not maintain that form though, as Ludwig and Walkenhorst powered through the decider.

A powerful spike from Ludwig was a fitting conclusion as the German pair ran out 23-21, 19-21, 15-9 winners.

After winning two silver medals and a bronze each in Grand Slams in 2013, Ludwig and Walkenhorst finally got their gold.

Wang and Yue had to settle for silver, with Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas De Freitas taking bronze for Brazil, edging out Brazilian compatriots Talita Antunes and Taiana Lima.