2019-04-12 13:29:00 CEST
The week in the sands of the world
Action from the men's final in Satun this week
It’s been a busy week of beach volleyball over the past seven days – and it promises to be just as hectic over the next few days as a number of tournaments take precedence around the world.
So without further ado, let’s get on with it!
Smiles in Satun
In the one-star event in Satun, Thailand this week there was gold for Chinese Tapei and Ukrainian pairs in the SMM Pak Bara Beach event.
In the women’s event Nai-Han Kou and Pi Hsin Liu of Chinese Tapei saw off the challenge of Vanuatu’s Miller Pata and Sherysyn Toko in the gold medal match. For Pata and Toko it was a historical moment – it was the first medal the island nation had won on the FIVB World Tour. Meanwhile, Ukrainian pair Diana Lunina and Maryna Samoday won bronze.
The curtain on the men’s event came down with Ukraine’s Denys Denysenko and Vladyslav Iemelianchyk winning gold. The European pair got the better of Iranians Abolhamed Mirzaali and Rahman Raoufi in the final. Completing the podium line-up was Sergey Bogatu and Dmitriy Yakolev of Kazakhstan, who won bronze.
Langkawi calling
As one tournament finished another one began, as the Langkawi Open in Malaysia kicked off this week.
The one-star event will reach its climax on Sunday as both men and women will compete for a prize pool of 5,000 US Dollars.
In the men’s tournament, Ukrainians Denysenko/Iemelianchyk remain in the hunt for a second medal in the space of a week, as the number three seeds have already advanced to the elimination stage. They face a fight to do so, however, with number one seeds from Australia Tim Dickson and Marcus Ferguson and four Japanese tandems also in contention.
In the women’s event, American duo Lara Dykstra and Cassie House are another team hunting a second successive gold medal, having taken top spot last week in Cambodia. The pair remain in contention for a medal, alongside Greece’s Dimitra Manavi and Konstanstina Tspoulou – the team they beat in the final last week.
Lefty with the right-handed cut💪🏻. Sometimes you have to whip out the non-dominant hand to get the point. We play Greece tonight for a spot in the quarters!
416 Likes, 0 Comments - Audrey and Nicole Nourse (@beachvolleyballtwins) on Instagram: "Lefty with the right-handed cut💪🏻. Sometimes you have to whip out the non-dominant hand to get the..."
Also still in the event, as we went to press, are teenage twins, Audrey and Nicole Nourse.
Álvaro & Ricardo eye Brazilian title
Since Alison Cerutti and André Loyola announced their split, the dominoes tumbled around beach volleyball in Brazil. New tandems were subsequently formed with Alison picking Álvaro Filho and André teaming up with fellow young gun George Wanderely.
Etapa de João Pessoa será especial , junto com @alvarofilhovolei estaremos fazendo nossa última participação como time antes dele assumir um novo projeto olímpico com o @alisonmamute . Estou muito feliz de poder competir em João Pessoa e onde poderemos nos tornar campeões da temporada e tornar ainda mais especial a conquista. Let's go Alvaro Filho ....🏆 #cbviews #jampa #fivb #volei #voleibol #esporte #sport #sports #beachvolley #beachvolleyball #volleyball #volley #voleidepraia #joaopessoa #campeao #champion #champions #pallavolo #timebrasil
1,650 Likes, 66 Comments - Ricardo Santos (@ricardobeach1) on Instagram: "Etapa de João Pessoa será especial , junto com @alvarofilhovolei estaremos fazendo nossa última..."
However, this week the next tour stop on the Brazilian national tour takes place in João Pessoa, and with their sights still on collecting the overall national title, Álvaro and former partner Ricardo (you might have heard of him) will be in action again in their bid to rule Brazil.
The event will see André and George make their debut as a team while Alison will partner Oscar Guimaraes to get some match practice.
US pairs set for China
Earlier this week, two American pairs secured their places in the qualification of the four-star Xiamen tournament later this month, via the country quota play-off.
USAV Beach on Twitter
Results from today's CQ for FIVB Xiamen Kerri Walsh Jennings/Brooke Sweat def Kelly Reeves/Brittany Howard - 21-18, 21-19 Walsh Jennings/Sweat def Betsi Flint/Emily Day - 16-21, 21-16, 15 -12 John Hyden/Ryan Doherty def Casey Patterson/Chase Budinger - 22-20, 26-28, 15-13
Kerri Walsh Jennings and Brooke Sweat came through two matches to book their ticket to China, firstly defeated Kelly Reeves and Brittany Howard in straight sets before fighting back from losing the first set to beat Betsi Flint and Emily Day. Kerri has form in Xiamen: in 2013, Walsh Jennings won gold with April Ross. The pair then won bronze in 2016.
In the men’s country quota, veteran duo John Hyden and Ryan Doherty beat Casey Patterson and Chase Budinger in a 22-20 26-29, 15-13 epic. Hyden won bronze with Tri Bourne in Xiamen in 2016.
Social media: Congratulations Elize Maia!
Mãe de menina 👧🏻💕💗 #charevelacao
596 Likes, 91 Comments - Elize Maia (@elizemaia) on Instagram: "Mãe de menina 👧🏻💕💗 #charevelacao"
You know we love baby news here in the Beach Majors HQ, so there were plenty of smiles around when we saw Brazilian star Elize Maia is pregnant and will be soon welcoming a baby girl into the world. Parabéns, Elize!
ICYMI
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