2019-03-08 12:55:00 CEST
It’s that time of the week… the latest news from the sands of the world
It’s the weekend and that means one thing: Beach Shorts! There are two FIVB World Tour events taking place over the weekend with crucial ranking points up for grabs.
We take a look at who’s in the running for glory in both events, plus we wrap up all the latest news from the world of beach volleyball!
Enjoy – and have a great weekend!
Stars out in Sydney
Through to top 10! 😃 Seguimos con todo! 💪🏾👊🏾 Vamoss! Also! #happyinternationalwomensday 💕Grateful to play a sport where men and woman receive equal rights in all aspects
566 Likes, 6 Comments - Mariafe Artacho del Solar (@mariafe_beach1) on Instagram: "Through to top 10! 😃 Seguimos con todo! 💪🏾👊🏾 Vamoss! Also! #happyinternationalwomensday 💕Grateful..."
There’s a strong field Down Under as a number of Beach Major Series regulars are in Australia competing at the three-star event in Sydney, Australia.
A strong contingent are in town from the United States, where Kerri Walsh Jennings and Brooke Sweat are among the high-profile names in action. They face competition from home favorites Mariafe Artacho and Taliqua Clancy and German teams Bieneck/Schneider and Borger/Sude.
The men’s tournament is now at the quarter-final stage, where the top two seeds from the USA, Taylor Crabb and Jake Gibb and John Hyden and Ryan Doherty, remain in contention for gold. They also have the company of countrymen Billy Allen and Stafford Slick.
Direction les 1/4 de finale à Sydney 🔥🤘 #OnLacheRien #RKStrong #TeamFrance #BeachVolley #ChiensDeLaCasse
144 Likes, 6 Comments - Rowlandsonkrou (@rowlandsonkrou) on Instagram: "Direction les 1/4 de finale à Sydney 🔥🤘 #OnLacheRien #RKStrong #TeamFrance #BeachVolley..."
France’s Youssef Krou and Edouard Rowlandson, Chilean Grimalt cousins Esteban and Marco and Italy’s Adrian Carambula and Enrico Rossi are also challenging for a place in the last four. Kusti Nolvak and Mart Tiisaar of Estonia and Russian fourth seeds Taras Myskiv and Valeriy Samoday are also in the mix.
Elimination time in Cambodia
The pool play is over in Kampong Speu as the men only one-star tournament in Cambodia reaches its knockout phase.
Russia have a strong hand with two World Tour regulars through to the elimination rounds in the shape of Maxim Sivolap/Artem Yarzutkin and Sergey Gorbenko/Vasilii Ivanov.
There is also a former Olympian in action – Grant Goldschmidt represented South Africa at the 2012 Games in London. The Cape Town native hasn’t been seen on the World Tour regularly since 2015 before making a comeback in The Hague in January this year. The 35-year-old is partnering Leo Williams, 33, in this event.
Anders Mol to miss Doha
The Player of the 2018 Season, Anders Mol, has been ruled out of next week’s four-star event in Doha due to injury.
Due to @andybmol 's unfortunate injury situation, a new Viking team will compete in Doha next week ⚔️🇶🇦 @hendriknmol and @christiansorum are making a comeback from the 2014 U21 World Championships and will play their 2nd tourney ever together 🙌 . . Send @andybmol your best wishes for a speedy and healthy recovery! ☺️ #setbacksareforcomebacks #VikingStrong
1,956 Likes, 34 Comments - Beach Volley Vikings (@beachvolleyvikings) on Instagram: "Due to @andybmol 's unfortunate injury situation, a new Viking team will compete in Doha next week..."
Christian Sørum will partner Anders’ older brother, Hendrik, in Qatar. The Norwegian pairing have played together just once before in the Beach Volley Vikings constellation, when the pair finished fourth in the Under-21 World Championships in 2014.
Social media: Family time
With a number of the top men’s teams preparing to jet off to Qatar next week, now’s the time (if they’re not in Sydney) for them to spend some time with their loved ones before a week away.
One of those is Dutchman Alex Brouwer, who together with Robert Meeuwsen will be out to defend the title they won 12 months ago. The Olympic 2016 bronze medalist posted on Instagram a photo with four-month old son Boas Ole and wife Hanneke. Melts your heart, right?
Last day at home🥰 Tomorrow we leave for Doha, Qatar to defend our title💪🏼 #family #voorelkaar
395 Likes, 4 Comments - Alexander Brouwer (@alexander_brouwer) on Instagram: "Last day at home🥰 Tomorrow we leave for Doha, Qatar to defend our title💪🏼 #family #voorelkaar"
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