BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Louise Bawden and Becchara Palmer will begin their campaign for Australia in a match with Germany at Horse Guard’s Parade on Sunday.

Bawden, 30, is competing in her second Olympics, having played indoor volleyball at the Sydney games in 2000. Twenty-four-year-old Palmer is making her Olympic debut. The pair joined forces in 2009 and quickly built a great understanding. They are Australia’s top pair, having won last year’s national title.

Palmer and Bawden have performed strongly on the world tour this year, winning 20 of their 31 matches and making the quarter-finals in events in China and Russia to automatically make the Olympics by finishing the qualification period ranked in the world’s top 16.

Bawden could be in for a double celebration if the pair survive deep into this event. She will turn 31 on August 7, the day of the women’s semi-finals.

Greg Prichard
olympics.com.au