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Aussie pair out as Chelsea hits the beach
SYDNEY, Sept 18 (AFP) - Australia's third-string team of Annette Huygens Tholen and Sarah Straton were Monday eliminated from the Olympic women's beach volleyball tournament. But with the top tier players taking a break much of the attention was on the VIP Gallery at the Bondi Beach Stadium that attracted Chelsea Clinton to take in the action. On the sand Germany's Maike Friedrichsen and Danja Musch defeated the pair from the host nation 15-9 in a series of matches between the first round losers. The Germans, meanwhile, went on to win their next qualifying match against the Greek duo Vasiliki Karadassiou and Effrosyni Sfyri by 15-7 to ensure a second German team in the last 16 alongside Ulrike Schmidt and Gudula Staub. But Friedrichsen and Musch face a tough last 16 showdown with Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede of Brazil, the favourites for gold here. Huygens Tholen admitted she would be contemplating her future. "It's really disappointing for us," said Huygens Tholen. "I'd still love to play, but I think I'll take a break from the international arena for the moment. I don't think I will do any coaching." But Australia are still represented by two pairings in the event where they are expected to face stiff opposition from teams from the United States and Brazil. Kerri Pottharst and Natalie Cook are the top hopes for the host nation but Tanya Gooley and Pauline Manser can not be discounted. Cuba - another strong nation in traditional volleyball although yet to really hits the heights in the sand version - will also be represented after Tamara Larrea and Dalixia Fernandez dispatched China's Zhang Jingkun and Tian Jia 15-12 and then Tzvetelina and Petia Yanchulova of Bulgaria. That set up a meeting with Jennifer Johnson Jordan and Annett Davis, one of two American couples in the medal stakes. But the Cubans pledged not to be overawed, saying: "We have got a lot of confidence. I think we can beat them." Brazil's other leading contenders Sandra Pires and Adriana Samuel will meet Portuguese pair Maria Jose Schuller and Ana Pereira. Pires is hoping to successfully defend the title she won in Atlanta while Samuel hopes to go one better - she was part of the team that had to settle for silver four years ago when Pires was paired with Jackie Silva. Chelsea Clinton, meanwhile, joined a growing list of the glitterati to attend the Beach Volleyball following Bill Gates and with Muhammad Ali also scheduled to make an appearance. Flanked by a phalanx of Secret Service agents the 'First Daughter' declined to talk to the media although she paused to admire a young baby and talk to the parents and acknowledged the greetings of 'La Bola' - a giant Brazilian cheerleader who has become something of an institution at the Bondi. Once again after a spectacular debut in Atlanta beach volleyball is proving a big hit.
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