Qatar’s Younousse and Tijan Storm into Asian Beach Volleyball Tour Final in Doha
DOHA – Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan have powered their way into the men’s final of the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour – Doha 2026, maintaining a flawless record of five consecutive victories without dropping a single set.The Qatari stars secured their place in the final with a commanding straight-sets victory over Australia’s Joshua Howat and Finlay Bennett, winning 2–0 (21–18, 21–18) in the semi-finals.They will now face another Australian pairing, Oliver Merritt and Jed Walker, who booked their place in the title decider with a 2–0 victory over compatriots Solomon Bushby and Justin Schumann.Qatar Volleyball Association President Ali bin Ghanem Al Kuwari praised the duo’s outstanding performances, noting that their progression to the final underscored Qatar’s growing competitiveness on the Asian beach volleyball circuit.He also highlighted the significance of hosting the tournament in Doha, emphasizing its role in nurturing local talent, providing valuable competitive experience and further strengthening Qatar’s position on the international sporting stage.Younousse described reaching the final as an important achievement but stressed that the team’s ultimate objective was to lift the title.He underlined the importance of maintaining maximum concentration and approaching the Australian opponents with the respect they deserve as the Qatari pair prepare for the decisive encounter.Tijan, meanwhile, attributed their unbeaten run to strong teamwork and consistency, stressing that minimizing unforced errors, maintaining effective coordination and remaining composed under pressure would be crucial to their chances of securing the championship.In the women’s competition, Thailand’s Naraphornrapat and Worapiratchakorn advanced to the final after overcoming Japan’s Ren and Non 2–1. Japan’s Shiba and Reika also progressed, defeating Australia’s Milutinovic and Phillips 2–0.The tournament brings together 27 teams, comprising 16 men’s pairs and 11 women’s pairs, representing Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, Lebanon, China, Thailand and Indonesia. Qatar is represented by six teams, with three competing in each category.