Iran receive the men’s Champions Trophy during the awards presentation
Iran and Kazakhstan shared honours in the 2023 AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Central Zone at the iconic Cox’s Bazar Beach on the southeast coast of Bangladesh on Monday, with the former powering past India in the men’s final clash and the latter too strong for Kyrgyzstan in the women’s showdown.
Kazakhstan receive the women’s Champions Trophy
The four-day event, a double-gender competition for teams representing Asian federations with the eventual winners qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, was held between September 8 and 11, with five federations apiece in each event vying for top honor.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, India and hosts Bangladesh strutted their stuff in the women’s event, while the men’s competition saw Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Bhutan and Bangladesh strive for their success. The eventual winning federation in each men’s and women’s events at Cox’s Bazar will qualify for the Final Phase, with the eventual winners qualifying for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The second place at Cox’s Bazar will make it through to the Phase 2.
On Monday, the final day of the 2023 AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Central Zone in Bangladesh, Iran, which downed Kazakhstan 2-0 in the first semifinals on Sunday, took the men’s title and the Final Phase slot following their 2-0 demolition of India, which earlier beat Bhutan 2-0 in the quarterfinals on September 8 and cruised past hosts 2-0 in the Sunday’s second semifinal clash.
Bahman Salemiinjehboroun, who teamed up with Rahman Raoufi to seal the 2017 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship title in Songkhla, Thailand, partnered Sina Shokati Shekarsaraei as fourth place at the 2023 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship to brush off Indians Kashinath Sawant Nitin/Krishna Dhawaskar Rama 2-0 (21-15, 21-10) for the Iran’s first win.
Abbas Pourasgari/Alireza Aghajanighasab handed Iran a clean sweep following their lopsided 2-0 (21-9, 21-7) win against Indians Somu Barath/Ravi Robin in the second encounter.
India receive trophy after a second place finish in the men’s event
In the third-place playoff earlier, Kazakhstan claimed bronze medal after a 2-0 shutout of Bangladesh.
Veterans Dmitriy Yakovlev/Sergey Bogatu came from behind to beat Biswas Horosit/Ahmed Sheikh Shiban 2-1 (19-21, 21-9, 15-13) for the Kazakhstan’s first win. Aidash Burdos/Gurin Kirill repeated the feat after beating Ahmed Ratul/Haider Mohammad Imaran 2-0 (21-15, 26-24) to end the hosts’ challenge.
In the women’s showdown on Monday, Kazakhstan, which earlier outclassed India 2-0 in the quarterfinals and downed Uzbekistan 2-0 in the Saturday’s semifinals, proved their superiority over Kyrgyzstan 2-0 for the eventual title and the Final Phase berth. Earlier on the same day, Kyrgyzstan stunned hosts Bangladesh 2-0 in the other semifinal encounter.
Alina Rachenko/Anastassiya Ukolova got Kazakhstan off to a brilliant start after sensational 2-0 (21-9, 21-13) win against Kyrgyzstan’s Kim Karina/Rasulbek Kyzy Roza in the first match.
Kyrgyzstan’s comeback efforts in the second clash were denied when Kazakhstan’s Nadezhda Ivanchenko/Laura Kabulbekova comfortably put it past Ogulai Kudaikulova/Adina Mamatzhan Kyzy 2-0 (21-11, 21-14).
Kyrgyzstan receive trophy following their second-place finish in the women’s event
In the Monday’s third place playoff clash, Uzbekistan b Bangladesh 2-0.
Komila Kuchkorova/Nodira Sultanbaeva demolished Khatun Mst Lucky/Khatun Most Sabina 2-0 (21-15, 21-19) for the Uzbekistan’s first win. The second match was one-way traffic, with Uzbekistan’s Malikabonu Olimova/Mukhlisakhon Jaldova mercilessly crushing Asha Most/Munny Afsana Mim 21-4, 21-7).
Following their wins in AVC Continental Cup Central Zone at Cox’s Bazar, Iran men’s and Kazakhstan women’s teams qualified for the Final Phase due to be held during the week of June 21-23, 2024, featuring 8 federations to vie for top honor and the only one ticket on offer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The participating 8 teams in the Final Phase comprise 5 winning NFs per gender from Phase 1 plus Host NF, one 2021 Continental Cup Champions NF and one Winning NF from Phase 2.
Second place at Cox’s Bazar, India men and Kyrgyzstan women’s teams will next compete in Phase 2 due to take place in no later than June 2024. The participating 6 teams in Phase 2 consist of the 1st runner-up NFs per gender from Phase 1 (5 NFs) and Host NF.
MEN
MATCH RESULTS
FINAL RANKING
WOMEN
MATCH RESULTS
FINAL RANKING
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