Doha, Qatar, May 3, 2025 – Beach volleyball stars Cherif Younousse/Ahmed Tijan proved unstoppable once again, outplaying Paul Burnett/Luke Ryan in the highly-anticipated final showdown of the AVC Men’s Beach Tour Doha Open at the Al Gharafa Beach Complex here to capture gold medal in dramatic fashion on Saturday.
The match lived up to expectations, offering a thrilling display of skill and intensity. The sensational 21-19, 21-13 victory over the Australia’s third seeds and gold medallists at the 2nd Nuvali Open in Philippines handed the host country its first-ever AVC Beach Tour title on home soil.
Cherif/Ahmed had already beaten the Aussies 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the 24th Samila Open in Songkhla, Thailand and the Qataris went on to capture the unprecedented title in early April.
Following their well-rounded, unblemished performance in the four-day, men’s only event, the Qataris deserved the win. Cherif/Ahmed showcased their outstanding performance to win consecutive five matches with remarkable unbeaten record and without dropping a set to their respective opponents prior to reigning supreme.
In the pool play, Cherif/Ahmed demolished Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadali Otabekov/Nodirjon Alekseev 2-0 in Pool A on April 30 before going up to beat Ali Marhoon/Abdlla Nasser of Bahrain 2-0 in round of 16 in 24 mins on May 1. In the next two rounds, Cherif/Ahmed overpowered two strong Thai teams after eliminating Dunwinit Kaewsai/Banlue Nakprakhong 2-0 in the quarterfinals and Netitorn Muneekul/Wachirawit Muadpha 2-0 in the semifinals. In the last hurrah in the Doha Open, the Qatari duo mastered the Australia’s third seeds Aussies Burnett/Ryan to capture gold medal.
For Cherif/Ahmed, the great success on home soil could be the similar feat they had repeated in their career. The Qataris had dominated the Asian Championships for three times (2018, 2019 and 2022) aside from clinching Asian Games twice, 2018 in Palembang, Indonesia and 2022 in Hangzhou, China and securing bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020, the first-ever Olympic medal for Qatar in beach volleyball. Last year, they also took bronze medal at the World Beach Pro Tour Finals on home soil.
Cherif/Ahmed proved they remain in great shape this year as they have won key outings. On April 10, they claimed gold medal for Qatar at the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Beach Games Muscat 2025 in Oman and six days after that, they topped the podium at the AVC Beach Tour 24th Samila Open in Thailand.
With this achievement, Cherif/Ahmed earned 320 AVC ranking points and a cash prize of US$2,500, further solidifying their standing among Asia’s elite and signaling strong preparedness for upcoming international competitions. The Australian runners-up received 288 points and a US$2,000 prize money.
In the third-place playoff earlier, Australia’s Ben Hood/Oliver Merritt, who claimed silver medal at the 2nd Nuvali Open, beat Thailand’s Netitorn Muneekul/Wachirawit Muadpha, silver medallists at the last year’s FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships in Phuket, Thailand, for bronze medal, 256 points and US$1,500 prize money.
Mr Ali Ghanem Al-Kuwari, President of both the Qatar and West Asia Volleyball Associations, presided over the awards presentation to give away medals and trophies. In attendance were Secretary General Youssef Ahmed Kano, Assistant Secretary Saeed Salem Al-Jumani and Board Members Mohammed Salem Al-Kuwari and Saeed Jumaa Al-Hitmi as well as Mohammed Anbar Al-Nasser, Member of the Beach Volleyball Committee, and Ms Amna Barakat Al-Kuwari, Chairperson of the Women’s Sports Committee in Qatar and West Asia Associations.
Cherif/Ahmed are set to compete in the next AVC Beach Tour in China from May 8–11, followed by the Beach Volleyball Challenge Tournament, also in China, scheduled from May 14–18.
“The performance by Cherif and Ahmed throughout the tournament was marked by exceptional focus and technical discipline. They managed to outperform strong teams, most notably the Australian pair, known for their prowess in this sport,” Al-Kuwari said.
“This title is the result of a comprehensive team effort, starting from technical planning to intensive preparation programs, and concluding with full administrative and logistical support. We consider this event a key milestone in our build-up toward major upcoming challenges, particularly the West Asia Championship in Doha. Our full support for this team will continue as we strive to meet the ambitions of Qatari volleyball.”
Mohammed Salem Al-Kuwari, QVA Board Member, stated that this victory represents a significant milestone in the development of beach volleyball in Qatar and reflects the success of the association’s investment in local talent and expertise.
“Cherif and Tijan are a model for committed and disciplined Qatari athletes, and we are proud of what they accomplished during this tournament,” he said.
“The success of the event, both technically and organizationally, enhances Qatar’s reputation as a premier destination for hosting Asian and international tournaments. We will continue to work on building a competitive environment that supports the growth of the sport both locally and regionally.”
He concluded by promising fans more achievements in the future, reaffirming the association’s continued support for the national teams in upcoming events.
MATCH RESULTS
FINAL RANKINGS
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