Doha:Qatar's Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan have advanced to the men's final of the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour in Doha, achieving this feat by winning five consecutive matches without losing a set.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari pair secured their place in the final after defeating Australia's Joshua Howat and Finlay Bennett 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) in the semi-finals. They are set to compete against another Australian team, Oliver Merritt and Jed Walker, who overcame Solomon Bushby and Justin Schumann with a 2-0 victory.
Qatar Volleyball Association President Ali bin Ghanem Al Kuwari commended Younousse and Tijan's performance, noting that their success highlights Qatar's growing competitiveness in Asian sports. He also emphasized the significance of hosting such events in Doha for the development of local talent and enhancing Qatar's role in international sports.
Younousse remarked that reaching the final is a significant accomplishment, but the main objective remains winning the title. He stressed the need for complete focus and respect for their Australian opponents. Tijan echoed this sentiment, attributing their success to teamwork and consistency, and noted that the final would demand minimizing errors and maintaining coordination.
In the women's competition, Thailand's Naraphornrapat and Worapiratchakorn reached the final by defeating Japan's Ren and Non 2-1. Meanwhile, Japan's Shiba and Reika advanced after a 2-0 win over Australia's Milutinovic and Phillips. The tournament involves 27 teams, comprising 16 men's and 11 women's pairs, representing countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, Lebanon, China, Thailand, and Indonesia. Qatar is fielding six teams, three in each category.