Cuba's Diaz Gomez Nivaldo Nadir and Sergio Reynaldo Gonzalez Bayard seized their first World Tour gold medal today ©FIVB

Cuba’s Diaz Gomez Nivaldo Nadir and Sergio Reynaldo Gonzalez Bayard and United States’ Emily Stockman and Kimberly Dicello took the respective male and female spoils at the first International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Malaysia Open at Pantai Cenang in Langkawi today. 

It marked a first victory on the FIVB World Tour for each pair.

The Cuban duo showed superb form in winning their final 21-17, 21-18 against Austrian opponents Florian Schnetzer and Peter Eglseer.

It followed a superb recovery from a set down to take an earlier semi-final 19-21, 21-13, 15-13 over Estonians Mart Tiisaar and Klusti Nolvak.

Nivaldo and Gonzalez excelled in reaching the quarter-finals at last year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but had never won so much as a World Tour medal before today.

Tilsaar and Nolvak recovered to win bronze with a straight sets 21-17, 21-17 victory over Serbians Lazar Kolaric and Djordje Klasnic.

Americans Emily Stockman and Kimberly Dicello also claimed a first World Tour victory today ©FIVB
Americans Emily Stockman and Kimberly Dicello also claimed a first World Tour victory today ©FIVB

Stockman and Dicello showed superb form in the toughest moments during the corresponding women's event.

They fought through two tie breakers to triumph 22-20, 22-24, 17-15 over Czech Republic’s Martina Bonnerova and Sarka Nakladalova.

It secured their first World Tour gold, improving upon a fifth place finish in Sydney last month.

The Czechs could not quite maintain their momentum after a spectacular 14-21, 21-14, 15-9 semi-final win over Austrian twin sister duo Nadine and Teresa Strauss.

Cornelia Rimser and Lena Plesiutschnig then beat the Strauss sisters 21-18, 21-13 in the all-Austrian bronze medal bout. 

World Tour action is due to resume on Thursday (April 20) when the Xiamen Open begins in China.