Doha, October 13, 2026 : Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan have secured a place in the men’s final of the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour (Doha 2026), extending their unbeaten run to five consecutive matches without dropping a set.
The Qatari pair booked their place in the final with a straight-sets victory over Australia’s Joshua Howat and Finlay Bennett, winning 21-18, 21-18 in the semi-finals.
They will face Australian duo Oliver Merritt and Jed Walker in the final after the pair defeated their compatriots Solomon Bushby and Justin Schumann 2-0.
Qatar Volleyball Association President Ali bin Ghanem Al Kuwari praised the duo’s performance, noting that their qualification reflects Qatar’s growing competitiveness in Asian beach volleyball. He also highlighted the tournament’s role in developing local talent and strengthening Qatar’s presence on the international sporting stage.
Younousse described reaching the final as an important achievement, but said the team’s focus remained on winning the title. He stressed the importance of maintaining concentration and respecting their opponents.
Tijan said the pair’s unbeaten campaign reflected strong teamwork and consistency, adding that minimizing errors, maintaining coordination and staying focused under pressure would be crucial in the final.
In the women’s competition, Thailand’s Naraphornrapat and Worapiratchakorn reached the final after defeating Japan’s Ren and Non 2-1. Japan’s Shiba and Reika also advanced after recording a 2-0 victory over Australia’s Milutinovic and Phillips.
The tournament features 27 teams, comprising 16 men’s pairs and 11 women’s pairs from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, Lebanon, China, Thailand and Indonesia. Qatar is represented by six teams, with three competing in each category.
Source: QNA
