Cherif Younousse (left) and Ahmed Tijan Janko celebrate after scoring during their quarter-final match yesterday.
Defending champions Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan Janko held their nerves to pull off a nail-biting 2-1 victory over Australia’s Christopher McHugh and Zachery Schubert, and advance into the semi-final of Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Aspire Beach Volleyball Qatar Master 2018.
In yesterday’s first quarter-final which turned out to be the most thrilling contest of the 16-team event at Aspire Park so far, the top seeded Qatari duo had to win tie-breaker to secure a 23-21 victory in the decisive game after the match was levelled at 1-1.
The star Qatari duo went into the match as hot favourites and they looked on track after winning the first game 21-17, before the third seeded Aussies, led by fiery McHugh gave them a run for money. With McHugh taking points off an aggressive display, the Australians edged the hosts 21-19 in the second game to force the decider.
The final game went down to wire and when the scores reached 13-13, it seemed to be anybody’s match. The seasaw battle continued till 21-21 with Cherif and McHugh competing evenly for points, involving tense rallies. But lanky Cherif had the last laugh as he struck the last two winning points with a deadly drop shot and a clinical block to take Qatar through with a 21-17, 19-21 and 23-21 score-line.
“We were expecting a close battle and we were ready for it,” said a jubilant Tijan after winning the quarter-final that lasted for 60 minutes.
“I am very happy with the win and it doesn’t matter who we will play in the semi-final. We are just focusing to win the next two matches and clinch the title, irrespective of the opponents,” he added.
The Qatari duo will take on Japan’s Yuya Ageba and Gottsu Ishijma in the semi-final. The Japanese pair defeated Iran’s Arash Vakili and Bahman Miinjehbo 21-17 and 21-11 in the other quarter-final.
Cherif said Qatar will continue to give their best in the finals.
“Both the matches are must-win, obviously, if we want to retain the title. We are 100 percent confident, but you never know, we will just try to keep the same level as usual, and will try to play our best game,” he added.
“We know everybody is targeting us after we have won two major tournaments in Asia, and we are trying not to give any chance to our opponents in the knock-out stage,” said the Qatari star, who led the team to Asian Beach Volleyball Championship and the Asian Games triumphs this year.
Kazakhstan’s Alexey Sidorenko and Alexander Dyachenko also reached the semi-finals with a 23-21 and 21-19 win over Iran’s Mirza Ali and Rahman Raofi in the other quarter-final. They will meet Australia’s second seed Cole Durrant and Damien Schumann, who edged Oman’s Mazin and Nouh 2-1 with a 18-21, 21-14 and 15-7 score-line.
Earlier, yesterday, Cherif and Taijan continued their perfect run in the first phase of the tournament by outclassing Oman’s Ali Al Shibli and Hood Al Jalabhu 21-11 and 21-9 in their final Pool A match. The Qatar stars defeated Thailand and Japan in their first two matches on the opening day.
Australia’s Durant and Schumann also notched victory in their final Pool B match with a 21-9, 21-7 rout over Qatar’s Nasser Ahmed Al Meer and Hamad Al Kuwari. Aussies Mchugh and Schubert also culminated their Pool C campaign on winning note as they eased past Qatar’s Assam Mahmoud and Tamer Abdelrasoul 21-17, 21-14 in 35 minutes.
Oman’s Mazin and Nouh emerged as winner in longest match of the first round clash as they defeated Japan’s Takahash Takumi and Yoshiumi Hasegawa 21 (21-14, 25-27, 12-15) in 47 minutes.
In final Pool D match yesterday, Iran’s Vakili and Salemi rallied to beat New Zealand’s Nicklin Alania and Hartles Thomas with a 17-21, 21-15, 15-12 score-line.
