Doha:Qatar's Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan have advanced to the men's final of the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour in Doha 2026 after an impressive run without dropping a set in five consecutive matches.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari pair secured their spot in the final by defeating Australia's Joshua Howat and Finlay Bennett 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) in the semi-finals. They are set to face another Australian team, Oliver Merritt and Jed Walker, who triumphed over their compatriots Solomon Bushby and Justin Schumann with a 2-0 victory.
Ali bin Ghanem Al Kuwari, President of the Qatar Volleyball Association, praised Younousse and Tijan's performance, emphasizing that their success underscores Qatar's growing competitiveness in Asian tournaments. He also noted the significance of hosting the event in Doha for nurturing local talent and enhancing Qatar's role in the international sports arena.
Cherif Younousse expressed that reaching the final is a significant achievement but stressed the importance of focusing on winning the title. He highlighted the need for full concentration and respect for their Australian opponents. Meanwhile, Ahmed Tijan attributed their unbeaten run to teamwork and consistency, emphasizing the necessity to minimize errors and maintain focus in the final.
In the women's competition, Thailand's Naraphornrapat and Worapiratchakorn reached the final after defeating Japan's Ren and Non 2-1. Japan's Shiba and Reika also advanced after a 2-0 win against Australia's Milutinovic and Phillips. The tournament features 27 teams, with 16 men's and 11 women's pairs, representing countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, Lebanon, China, Thailand, and Indonesia. Qatar is represented by six teams, three in each category.