MUSCAT: Oman qualified for the AVC Continental Cup Finals after it beat Thailand at the Asian Volleyball Confederations (AVC) Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Semifinals at Ningbo Banbianshan Beach Volleyball Center in Ningbo, Xiangshan, China on Tuesday.
AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup offers an additional route for Oman spikers to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games according to the FIVB Beach Volleyball Qualification System.
Hood al Jalaboubi and Mazin al Hashmi outclassed Pithak Tipjan and Poravid Taovato by 2-1 in the final clash. The sets ended at 21-18, 18-21 and 11-15. Earlier, Hood and Mazin stunned Kazakhstan’s Aldash and Gurin by 2-0. Both sets ended at 16-21. They also managed to edge Kazakhstan’s second pair Yakovlev and Bogatu by 2-1. The sets finished at 14-21, 21-19 and 10-15 in the thrilling match.
Oman’s second pair Haitham al Shereiqi and Ahmed al Hosni suffered a 2-1 loss against Thailand’s Pithak Tipjan and Poravid Taovato. The sets ended at 21-17, 20-22 and 20-18 with Thailand securing its first win thanks to the outstanding performance of Pithak Tipjan and Poravid Taovato. The Thai duo, who captured their first Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour medal in the Philippines in 2022, a Subic Bay Futures gold, and picked up silver at their next appearance on the Tour at the Coolangatta Futures in March and April, faced a tough match against Al Shereiqi and Ahmed Al Housni. But with greater experience and form, they overcame the rivals’ strong challenge to beat the Omanis in a hard-fought three-set thriller of 21-17, 20-22, 20-18.
Eight teams qualified for the men’s AVC Continental Cup Finals. These include hosts China, defending champions Australia, winners from five zones Indonesia (Southeast Asia), Iran (Central Zone), Japan (Eastern Zone), New Zealand (Oceania) and Qatar (Western Zone), and Oman, the winners from the semifinals. The action will begin on Sunday in China.
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