Joy for Polish stars but disappointment for reigning champions

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Photocredit: Samo Vidic

There were contrasting emotions for both sets of players in the Qatar Open’s bronze medal match last week.

Polish pair Piotr Kantor and Bartosz Losiak continued their excellent form so far in 2016 by taking third place – but only following the dramatic withdrawal of defending gold medallists Markus Böckermann and Lars Flüggen.

We’re only in April yet Kantor and Losiak have already brought home their first gold – in the Rio de Janeiro Grand Slam – and a bronze at the Kish Island Open in February. Now that’s what we call a decent start to the season!

The Poles are keeping their fingers crossed that their form continues in the coming months as they eye a place in Rio.

A delighted Losiak told FIVB.org: “It is a medal and for us it is a big tournament.

“This is our third medal of the year and it means we have had a very good start to 2016.

I hope this isn’t our last medal of the year!”

Next stop on the Road to Rio is the Xiamen Open in China between 12-17 April where valuable ranking points are up for grabs ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games.

Sand will definitely be flying with so much at stake with the Olympics just around the corner, so stay tuned for news, photographs and results from China on swatchmajorseries.com and across our social networks this week!