The Peninsula
Brazil brought an end to Qatar’s dream run in the event as they edged the hosts 2-1, while Spain defeated Sweden with the same set score to advance to the final.
Qatar still have a chance of a podium finish as they will play Sweden for the bronze medal match ahead of the final today.
The semi-final between Qatar and Brazil yesterday attracted a large number of spectators, backing the home side. Qatar Olympic Committee President HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani also attended the match.
Qatar went into the semi-finals with six straight victories and were favourite to enter the final but Brazil displayed a gutsy show to stun the hosts.
It was a sea-saw battle throughout, with Brazil winning the first set 15-14. Owing to some good defence by goalkeepers Ali Garba and Rasheed Yusuff and fine execution by Mohamed Hassan and Hani Kakhi, Qatar bounced back to win the second set 14-10.
Brazil returned as a better side in tie-breaker, clinching the decisive set 7-4 to book their ticket for the final.
The first semi-final was also a closely-contested match, with Spain emerging as the winner with a 22-20, 16-17, 9-8 score-line.
Sweden after losing the first set did well to make a comeback, but the experienced Spaniards overcame the second set hiccup to win the tie-breaker. Denmark and Hungary to face off in women’s final
In the women’s final today, Denmark will take on Hungary, targeting a gold medal after defeating Brazil 23-20, 20-16, 7-4 in a tough semi-final yesterday. Denmark’s Melanie Fuglsbjerg said her team played the semi-final as a final.
“I just think that we made an agreement that we had to put everything into this, like it was the final, and just do whatever we could and try to change up things during the match, and luckily it was a victory,” said Fuglsbjerg.
“It was a little bit physical today but they [Brazil] are also bigger than us, so we need to put a little bit more into it. But it’s been fair play. The strategy is to keep the same energy, to keep fighting for every ball and every second of the match and to believe in our concept. Hopefully it will get a gold medal,” she said.
Hungary, in the meanwhile, enjoyed a comfortable 25-14, 16-12 victory over Vietnam, who will now meet Brazil for bronze medal.