2015-11-11 12:25:00 CET
While the Australians dominated the Asian Championships in Hong Kong and the Oceania Continental Cup on the Cook Islands, the Gambians are preparing for the second round of the African Continental Cup. No matter where in the world - every team is focusing on Rio 2016.
Asian Beach Volleyball Championships in Hong Kong
Louise Bawden and Taliqua Clancy have successfully defended their Asian Beach Volleyball title in October with a straight set win in Hong Kong. The Australians defeated Vanuatu’s Linline Matauatu and Miller Pata 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) in the gold medal match after fellow Australians Nicole Laird and Mariafe Artacho del Solar had won the bronze medal. Laird and del Solar lost to Linline and Pata the semifinals, but defeated China’s Ma Yuanyuan and Xia Xinyi 2-0 (21-16, 21-14). All Australians will now turn their sights to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. Bawden and Clancy sit ninth in the FIVB Women’s Beach Volleyball World Rankings and as such will qualify among the top 15 teams from the rankings.
Australians also strike at Oceania Continental Cup
The Australian women’s teams of Nikki Laird and Mariafe Artacho del Solar, and Becchara Palmer and Jordan Mowen, also beat Vanuatu 2-0 in the gold medal playoff in the Oceania Continental Cup in November. The Down Under men’s teams of Damien Schumann and Josh Court, and Bo Soderberg and Cole Durant, lost 2-1 to New Zealand.
Although the result has no bearing for Australia on qualification for next year’s Asian Olympic qualifiers, it gave all four Australian teams a chance to experience the competition format against teams that will challenge them for spots at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next year. Australia had already qualified for next year’s qualifiers as host nation. The Oceania Cup was played to a Davis Cup tennis format, with two teams representing each nation, and a “golden game” played if the match was locked at one-all.
Gambia prepares formidable squads for Continental Cup
The Gambian men and women’s beach volleyball teams are up again for the second round of the Continental Cup – a qualification tournament for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – scheduled from November 11 to 16 in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan.
Gambia is paired in Group B along with Ghana, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon and hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the men’s tournament, while they face Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville and Congo RDC in the women’s tournament.
Gambia’s participation in the Continental Cup is fully funded by the Gambia National Olympic Committee under the leadership of Momodou Dibba. Dibba spoke to the national federation executives and expressed his satisfaction on the progress made in the sport as well as the recent exploits in Zone II. He reiterated the support of his board to the team and urged them to make the country proud. “I want to see Gambia in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,” Dibba said. “I am ready to support in all aspects.” Men’s beach volleyball coach Ebrima Nyass assured that they are giving their best effort to have a successful campaign in the Continental Cup.
“We are morally and spiritually prepared to meet any task down in Ivory Coast,” coach Nyass said. “We are at the highest standard. Our recent participation in the 11th All Africa Games gave us more confidence and experience in beach volleyball.
We hope to see loads of African teams at the Swatch Major Series, soon.