Tian Jia of China saves the ball during the women's gold medal match against Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor of US at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games beach volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. Wang Jie and Tian Jia got the silver medal in the event. (Xinhua/Sadat)

BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States captured the Beijing Olympic beach volleyball gold medal on Thursday.

The American pair defeated China's Tian Jia and Wang Jie 21-17 and 21-18, and the Chinese duo got the silver medals.

The two sides traded points in the first set to 17-17 before the U.S. duo reap four points in a row to win the first set 21-17.

In the second set, the Americans led at the beginning while the Chinese came from behind and traded points for a tit-for-tat battle. After the visitors reach the match point 20-18, a dink spike by the U.S. duo finished the gold medal match.

In an earlier match, China's Zhang Xi and Xue Chen captured the bronze medal, defeating Brazilian pair Talita Antunes/Renata Ribeiro in straight sets.

Misty May-Treanor (L) of US spikes during the women's gold medal match against Wang Jie and Tian Jia of China at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games beach volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor of US won the match 2-0 and got the gold medal. (Xinhua/Sadat)