The Cuban women, who needed four sets in the Atlanta final against China, jumped ahead 7-0 in the beginning but had to come back from behind in the following two sets to score a 15-4, 16-14, 15-12 victory.

It was their sixth straight major title after winning the 1991 World Cup, the Barcelona Olympics, the 1994 World Championships, the 1995 World Cup and the Atlanta Olympics.

The Cubans have also won the 1978 World Championships and the 1989 World Cup.Earlier, Russia avenged their loss to Brazil in the Atlanta Olympics by scoring a four-set win to take the bronze medal.

The Russian women, who crashed to Brazil in the third-place playoff at Atlanta, used high blocking to turn the wave round from a first-set deficit for a 13-15, 15-6, 15-11, 15-13 victory.