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11 Aug’ 2018
Qatar volleyball team qualify to AVC Cup semifinals
Taipei, August 12, 2018 –The Qatari volleyball team qualified to semi-finals of the 2018 AVC Cup after thrashing Korea 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-22) in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
The beginning set saw both sides come up with great defense to level at 7-7 before Qatar's height advantage in blocking forced the Koreans to make more mistakes and go down the first set 25-19.
The second set turned out to be a similar script as the Qataris remained in awesome form, holding the Koreans off with their solid blocks to win a comfortable set 25-14.
Trailing with just two points behind at 6-8, Korea fought hard for a comeback in the third set. Narrowing to one-point margin at 22-23, Korea called a timeout to set blocking tactics against Qatar. However, Qatar rejected to be chased and won the set with three straight points.
In the semifinals, Qatar will take on Japan after two-day rest.
“We did a great job today. We performed excellently and felt better and better day by day. We need to do more research and pay more effort to win next game," said Qatar head coach Soto Camilo.
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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.
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