Brouwer/Meeuwsen the comeback kings of Doha

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Robert Meeuwsen (left) and Alex Brouwer now have two medals from three competitions this season (Photo credit: FIVB)

Dutch duo Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen showed why they are one of the best teams in the world as they fought back to clinch their first gold medal of the season in Doha, Qatar.

Just a week after the pair finished fifth in the Fort Lauderdale Major, the Europeans battled back to beat Russian rising stars Oleg Stoyanovskiy and Igor Velichko in three sets in the desert.

Olympic bronze medalists of 2016, Brouwer/Meeuwsen beat the Russians in the knockout stages in Florida a week ago. The Dutchmen fell a set behind in the final, losing the first set 20-22 having had a five-point lead at one point.

Stoyanovskiy and Velichko couldn’t keep up the heat in the second set as the pair from the Netherlands turned the screw and levelled the final up with a 21-14 second set.

With confidence now soaring through their veins, the Brouwer/Meeuwsen, the 2013 World Champs, stepped up a gear in the decider. An ace from Brouwer was enough to seal the deal for the Dutchmen who took home their second medal of the season after winning bronze in The Hague in January. It was the pair’s first gold medal since clinching top spot in Xiamen in April last year.

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Big ace from Brouwer means he and Meeuwsen win gold at #KataraBeachVolley2018 #beachvolleyball https://t.co/1wOm3VNVTH

In the bronze medal match their was to be no joy for Fort Lauderdale Major champions Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena. The Americans struggled in the scorching heat against home side Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, as the Qatari team won in three sets to claim third place.

The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour now heads south of Doha to Oman, for a one-star event which will begins in March 14.