Alkass Digital
Reigning champions Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan yesterday kicked off their title-retention campaign in dominant fashion, winning both of their Pool B matches on the opening day of the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championship.
At the Beach Sport Base of Pingtan in Fuzhou, China, the Qatari players who have already clinched the title three times, showcased their formidable skills against China's Aihemaiti Salamu and Lyu Lin in the opening match. Cherif and Ahmed recorded a resounding 2-0 win, with a scoreline of 21-17 and 21-15.
The Olympic bronze winners showcased their exceptional teamwork, powerful serves, and strategic plays again in the second match and went on to defeat Iran’s Salemi Bahman and Shokati Sina in straight sets, with scores of 21-16 and 21-12.
While favourites Cherif and Ahmed took centre stage, Qatar’s second pair at the Asian Championship, Ibrahim Nassim Abdullah and Zaki Mohamed Ihab, faced a mix of results in the pool stage.
In their first match, they encountered a formidable Indonesian duo, Efendi Sofyan Rachman and Pribadi Danangsyah, who went on to win 2-0, with scores of 9-21 and 19-21.
However, Ibrahim and Zaki bounced back in their next match, against Jude Garcia and James Buytrago of the Philippines to claim their first win, with scores of 21-12 and 22-20.
As the continent’s top beach volleyball event continues, all eyes are on the former World No.1 pair Cherif and Ahmed who clinched their third Asian title Asian title in Bandar Abbas, Iran last year when they stunned title-holders Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett in the final showdown.
Cherif and Ahmed will take on Japan’s Shiro Faruta and Dylan Hiroki Kurokawa in their third Pool match today, eying a place in the next round.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim and Zaki will be looking to build on their first victory and will target a place in the next round when they take on Oman’s Ahmed Alhousni and Haitham Alshereiqi today.