Greece vs China - Credit: Giorgio Scala

Greece was a deserved winner but China would also have been deserved. It continues the host nation’s surge up the rankings to a career-best two from last year’s three and with London waiting in the wings.

Russia added another bronze medal to its cabinet, just holding off a rampaging Italy 8-7.

Russia led 5-0 in the second quarter but as captain Sofia KONOUKH was ejected from the game in the third period and three others joined her, Italy came back to 8-7 by the end of that period. Italy also had three excluded for the game and captain Elisa CASANOVA gave a parting shot to the referees after her exclusion in the last minute, gaining a suspension foul. But by then the game was lost.

Surprisingly, no goals came in the quarter and Russia adds bronze to those won in 2003, 2007 and 2009. Italy has to be content with two titles, one silver and one bronze in a stellar history at this level.

Russian Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA scored twice to lift her tournament tally to 18 while Roberta BIANCONI was her team’s best with 17.

In the play-off for fifth and sixth there was a repeat match-up of last year’s FINA World Cup finalists in Christchurch, New Zealand. This time, instead of USA heading Australia by six goals, it was the Aussie Stingers turning the tables on Team USA, leading by six goals at 10-4 early in the final quarter before the USA closed the scoring for a 10-5 loss. Australia’s Bronwen KNOX stepped up for four goals, top-scoring with her team-mate Rowena WEBSTER on 16 each for the championship.

In the seventh-eighth classification match, Olympic champion Netherlands held off a late-charging Canada 8-7. Iefke VAN BELKUM’s two goals lifted her to 17 for the tournament, three ahead of fellow Olympic champion Mieke CABOUT with 14, twice a scorer today.

The Media All Star Team was headed by Most Valuable Player MA Huanhuan, who played an integral part in her team’s fantastic run in Shanghai. She was joined by her centre-forward team-mate SUN Yating (CHN), the tournament’s highest scorer with 25 goals, Blanca GIL (ESP), Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA (RUS), Roberta BIANCONI (ITA), Antigoni ROUMPESI (GRE) and goalkeeper Elena KOUVDOU (GRE) Saturday finalises the water polo competition with world champion Serbia playing Italy in the gold-medal final at 21:00.

Hungary clashes with Croatia for bronze at 16:00 with the minor placings five to eight from 09:30.