Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 9, 2016 - Laura Giombini and Marta Menegatti rebounded from an opening setback Sunday to post their first Rio 2016 Olympic win here Tuesday mid-day by defeating Doaa Elghobashy and Nada Meawad of Egypt in a Pool D match.
Competing in the same group with pairs from Germany and Canada, Giombini and Menegatti scored a 2-0 (21-10, 21-13) win in 38 minutes over Elghobashy and Meawad, who qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games via the African Continental Cup competition.
The Egyptians led only once in the match at the start of the first set as Giombini and Menegatti raced to a 13-5 advantage. In the second set, the Italian scored the first seven points against Elghobashy and Meawad.
Both pairs were defeated Sunday in their opening Copacabana matches as Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas of Canada posted a 2-1 (15-21, 21-18, 15-9) win in 57 minutes over the Italians while Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany scored a 2-0 (21-12, 21-15) win in 34 minutes over the Egyptians.
With the Germans meeting the Canadians later Tuesday, Giombini/Menegatti will end pool play Thursday against Ludwig/Walkenhorst while Elghobashy/Meawad meet Broder/Valjas.
