Our look-back at the 2016 season continues

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Alex and Adrian were roaring with delight in Doha back in April. Photocredit: Armin Walcher.

After coming agonizingly close to winning a medal in the Vitoria Open in March, Italians Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula were grinning from ear to ear in Doha as they were crowned champions of the Qatar Open back in April.

The entertaining beach boys were beaten into fourth place in Brazil on the FIVB World Tour’s previous stop in Vitoria but they made no mistake in Qatar when beating Austria’s Huber/Seidl in a gripping final.

Victory was doubly important for the Net Patroller and Mr. Skyball with important ranking points to play for in their quest to reach the Olympics and Swatch World Tour Finals.

And the same could be said of gallant runners-up Huber/Seidl, who were more than happy with their silver medals in what was their first FIVB World Tour final.

In the men’s-only tournament there was yet more joy for Polish pair Kantor/Losiak as their impressive start to 2016 continued with another medal. After storming to gold in the Rio Grand Slam and picking up a bronze at Kish Island, the duo were on the podium in Doha in third place. The Poles underlined their ability with a quarterfinal victory over American number one seeds Gibb/Patterson.

But they weren’t the only Polish team to impress, however, as their young, up-and-coming fellow countrymen Bryl/Kujawiak reached the quarterfinals, beating Austrians Doppler/Horst along the way before they were beaten by Huber/Seidl.

Next stop on the tour was a double-header in China…