Volleyball: Russian women's team has won the world championship

16 Nov, 2006 03:43 / Updated 17 years ago

Russian women's volleyball team have been crowned world champions after they beat Brazil in five sets in the final match in Japan. Russia became the first team to defeat Brazil in official competitions for more than 18 months.

They beat Brazil in a dramatic five-set match that lasted more than two hours. Russia started badly losing the opening set by 10 points, but hit back to take the next two. Brazilians managed to respond forcing things to a fifth and deciding set. And it was the Russian team who held their nerve in a nailbiting finish: 15-13 the score in the decider. It's the 6th World Championship win for Russia, but the first since the USSR won it back in 1990. Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov even interrupted the Government's meeting to congratulate the team.