Bangkok, Thailand, June 17, 2024 – Thailand and Oman will fight it out for the men’s berth, with Vanuatu setting up the women’s showdown with Indonesia in the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Semifinals at Ningbo Banbianshan Beach Volleyball Center in Ningbo, Xiangshan, China on Tuesday, having their sights firmly set on getting through to the Finals all of them have been through before at the previous edition four years ago in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
In the men’s semifinals on Monday, top seeds Thailand pulled off convincing 2-0 victory against fourth seeds Solomon Islands, which finished third place in Oceania but replaced first runners-up Vanuatu following their withdrawal, while third seeds Oman struggled to beat second seeds Kazakhstan, third-placed National Federation in Central Zone which replaced the withdrawn first runners-up India, in the electrifying Golden Match.
The women’s semifinal encounters saw top seeds Vanuatu outclass fourth seeds Kyrgyzstan, first runners-up of Central Zone, 2-0 and third seeds Indonesia managed a 2-0 shutout of second seeds Hong Kong, China, first runners-up of Eastern Zone.
With their exceptional victories on Monday, Thailand, Oman, Vanuatu and Indonesia have moved a step closer to the eight-team Finals, the last stop which will determine the only champions in each gender to qualify one team (National Federation) for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In the men’s semifinals, Pithak Tipjan/Poravid Taovato, who captured their first Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour medal in the Philippines in 2022, a Subic Bay Futures gold, and backed it up with silver at their next appearance on the Tour, at the Coolangatta Futures in March and April, handed Thailand the first win following their 2-0 (21-11, 21-16) demolition of Tam Teriba/Ray Quan of Solomon Islands.
Another Thai duo, Netitorn Muneekul/Wachirawit Muadpha, also made their mark to pull off convincing 2-0 (21-12, 21-15) triumph over Jim Kaipua Maitaki/Junior Navere for the Thailand’s eventual 2-0 win against Solomon Islands to advance to the final showdown of the Continental Cup Semifinals.
Thailand will next go up against Oman, which narrowly beat Kazakhstan 2-1 on Monday. Dmitriy Yakovlev/Sergey Bogatu put Kazakhstan ahead 1-0 after their hard-fought win in the three-set thriller 21-17, 22-24, 15-13 against Haitham Alshereiqi/Ahmed Alhousni.
However, the Kazakhstan’s delight did not last long when Omanis Hood Al Jalaboubi/Mazin Alhashmi upset Nurdos Aldash/Kirill Gurin 21-16, 21-16 in the second match, leaving both sides to revive their fortunes in the Golden Match.
The decider saw Hood/Mazin in great form to beat Kazakhs Yakovlev/Bogatu in another three-setter 21-14, 19-21, 15-10 to help Oman secure their final berth in the Continental Cup Semifinals.
In the women’s event, the first semifinal clash saw in-form Vanuatu prove too strong for Kyrgyzstan to seal a fantastic 2-0 victory.
Experienced Sherysyn Toko/Majabelle Lawac had a little problem in powering past Ogulai Kudaikulova/Adina Mamatzhan Kyzy 2-0 (21-9, 21-15) in 31 minutes to give Vanuatu the first win and Loti Joe/Linline Matauatu routed Aiturgan Aitbekova/Roza Rasulbek Kyzy 2-0 (21-8, 22-20) to help Vanuatu stop the Kyrgyzstan’s run in the tournament.
Vanuatu will next go up against Indonesia, which stunned second seeds Hong Kong, China 2-0 in the second semifinal encounter.
Desi Ratnasari/Nur Sari Atika handed Indonesia the first victory following their 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) win against To Wingtung/To Wingman, while Bernadetta Shella Herdanti/Josephine Selina Anasthsya Kaize survived a strong challenge from Wong Manching/Tsang Ngokling to beat the second pair from Hong Kong, China 2-1 (21-18, 18-21, 15-12) in a closely-contested match for the Indonesia’s 2-0 win.
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