Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan Reach Asian Championship Round of 16 with Perfect Record

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September 3, 2026
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3-September-2026

Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan Reach Asian Championship Round of 16 with Perfect Record

Shangluo, China: Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2026 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in Shangluo, China, after topping Pool B with a perfect record of three consecutive victories.

Cherif and Tijan secured their third win by defeating Thailand’s Nitithorn and Poravid 2–0 (21–18, 21–11), completing the pool stage unbeaten.

The Qatari pair had opened their campaign with a straight-sets victory over Malaysia’s Teh and Yong Jian, before overcoming New Zealand’s Sam and Ben O’Dea in their second match.

With three wins from three matches, Cherif and Tijan finished top of Pool B and secured their place in the Round of 16 as they continue their challenge for the continental title.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Mousa Al Khair and Mohammed Ehab Zaki concluded their pool-stage campaign with a 2–0 (21–12, 21–12) victory over the Hong Kong pair, recording their first win of the championship. They had earlier lost 2–0 to China’s Wang and Du Hongjun and 2–0 (21–19, 21–18) to Thailand’s Pitak and Watchirawit.

The championship features 24 teams divided into six pools of four, with each pool played in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each pool, along with the two best third-placed teams, advance directly to the Round of 16, while the remaining four third-placed teams contest playoffs for the final two places.

The knockout stage begins on Friday with the playoffs and Round of 16. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held on Saturday, before the championship concludes on Sunday with the bronze-medal match and final at the central court of the Shangluo Sports Complex.

Cherif and Tijan enter the knockout rounds with an impressive record that includes bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, fourth place at Paris 2024, three Asian titles and two Asian Games gold medals. The pair also claimed gold at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games in April.