Bangkok, Thailand, June 16, 2024 – The AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Semifinals will get underway at Ningbo Banbianshan Beach Volleyball Center in Ningbo, Xiangshan, China from June 17 to 18, with eight teams (NFs) including four apiece in men’s and women’s events setting their sights on a slot on offer for each gender in the highly-anticipated Finals.
Technical Delegate Mr Srinivasan Jayaraman from India, middle, and Referee Delegate Ms Mariko Satomi from Japan, right, jointly conduct the General Technical Meeting. Ms Nattalida Sumdangdech from AVC Beach Volleyball Department, far left, also attends the meeting.
The AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup has featured the participation of a total 65 National Federations and acted as an additional route through which NFs are able to qualify one beach volleyball team per gender for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, according to the FIVB Beach Volleyball Qualification System for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
However, only the winners (NFs) in the men’s and women’s Finals are guaranteed their places in the quadrennial sports extravaganza in France later this year.
With the eventual winners (NFs) from each zone (Central Asia, Eastern Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia and Western Asia) through to the Finals from June 21 to 23, second places from those zones assembled in Ningbo for the Semifinals to fight for the lone berth up for grabs in each gender in the Finals.
Five teams (NFs) apiece had qualified in the men’s and women’s Semifinals, with the former comprising Hong Kong, China (second runners-up of Eastern Zone), India (first runners-up of Central Zone), Oman (first runners-up of Western Zone), Thailand (first runners-up of SEA Zone) and Vanuatu (first runners-up of Oceania).
The qualified women’s teams (NFs) feature Hong Kong, China (first runners-up of Eastern Zone), Indonesia (first runners-up of SEA Zone), Kyrgyzstan (first runners-up of Central Zone), Qatar (first runners-up of Western Zone)and Vanuatu (first runners-up of Oceania).
However, the men’s team from Hong Kong, China and the Qatari women bowed out of the competition, leaving only four teams (NFs) apiece in each gender in bid for the Finals contention. In addition, Kazakhstan (third-placed NFs from Central Zone) and Solomon Islands (third-placed NFs from Oceania) respectively replaced India and Vanuatu following their withdrawal from the men’s Semifinals.
To make things clear that all is set for the Semifinals from June 17 and 18, the General Technical Meeting took place on Sunday at Yixian Hall inside Worker’s Banbianshan Hotel in Ningbo, with AVC Technical Delegate Mr Srinivasan Jayaraman from India and AVC Referee Delegate Ms Mariko Satomi from Japan jointly conducting. Also in attendance were Ms Nattalida Sumdangdech from AVC Beach Volleyball Department and team officials and players from all participating teams.
According to the main draw results, Thailand are top seeds in the men’s event and will take on fourth seeds Solomon Islands in their campaign opener on June 17, with second seeds Kazakhstan challenging third seeds Oman on the same day.
In the women’s category, top seeds Vanuatu will kick off their campaign against fourth seeds Kyrgyzstan on June 17, while second seeds Hong Kong, China will fight it out with third seeds Indonesia.
Only the winning teams (NFs) from the two encounters in each gender will set up men’s and women’s showdowns on June 18 when the eventual winners will secure their berth in the Finals to be held a couple days later at the same venue.
Meanwhile, the Finals are set to take place from June 21 to 23. Qualified teams (NFs) in the men’s event comprise hosts China, defending champions Australia and winners from five zones consisting of Indonesia (Southeast Asia), Iran (Central Zone), Japan (Eastern Zone), New Zealand (Oceania) and Qatar (Western Zone). The remaining slot will come from the eventual winners from the Semifinals.
In the women’s event, the qualified teams feature hosts and defending champions China and winners from five zones featuring Japan (Eastern Zone), Kazakhstan (Central Zone), Lebanon (Western Zone), New Zealand (Oceania) and Thailand (Southeast Asia). As a result, top two teams from the women’s Semifinals will secure the remaining slots for the eight-team Finals.
MAIN DRAW
MEN
WOMEN
MATCH SCHEDULE
MEN
WOMEN
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