Presenting the newest member of the FIVB Athletes’ Commission and three time Olympian
In recent years, Qatar has assembled one of the best beach volleyball teams in the world, featuring Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan. Their historic bronze medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was an important result, not just on a personal level.
“It’s a really great feeling for the people of Qatar,” Cherif said after their breakthrough moment. “Everybody now knows about Qatari beach volleyball. That was the goal.”
“It didn’t start now. It started in 2012. Mentally and physically, it was not easy. It took us maybe six or seven years to build this team. Now it’s a dream come true, and we are grateful,” Cherif added.
Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan celebrate after their 2-0 win over Latvia in the bronze medal match of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Cherif qualified for his first Olympic Games, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016. However, it’s with Ahmed that Cherif has enjoyed the most success on the sand in the maroon and white colours of Qatar.
A bronze medal performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was followed by a fourth-place finish in Paris 2024. Before that, Cherif and Ahmed had won three AVC Asian Beach Volleyball Championship titles and two Asian Games gold medals, all while topping the Beach Pro Tour podiums on several occasions since reuniting as a pair in 2018.
Qatar’s Cherif Younousse mounts a monster block against Latvia in the bronze medal match of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
And success has continued to follow Cherif beyond the sand, as he was recently appointed a member of the FIVB Athletes’ Commission for the period 2024–2028.
“It’s an honour to represent the interests of all athletes around the world at the Athletes’ Commission. Being an active athlete, I will do my best to provide the best feedback and suggest changes that can improve the welfare of all volleyball and beach volleyball athletes worldwide,” Cherif told FIVB.com.
“Communication is key to all the major plans we want to implement. We need to create a platform that athletes can use to communicate more with the commission so their voices can be heard,” added Cherif, who lists ‘blocking machines’ Phil Dalhausser and Ricardo Santos as his role models.
On the sand, Cherif and Ahmed fit like hand in glove, and with the support of the Qatar Volleyball Association, the duo has propelled the Gulf State to the top echelons of beach volleyball.
Qatar’s Cherif Younousse (left) and Ahmed Tijan have formed a formidable partnership on the court.
After a short stint with Ahmed back in 2014, Cherif qualified for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 along with Brazilian-born Jefferson Santos Pereira, and they reached the Round of 16.
When Cherif and Ahmed reunited in 2018 to target qualification for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, their newly formed partnership brought more success for Qatar.
Born just 24 days apart, the Qatari pair, who will both celebrate their 30th birthdays this year, have gone from strength to strength since their historic Olympic Games bronze medal in 2021—Qatar’s first-ever Olympic beach volleyball medal.
They began 2022 with a gold medal performance in the King of the Court prestigious competition held on home sand in Doha before topping the podium in the Beach Pro Tour Elite16 event held in Rosarito, Mexico. They also won the Beach Pro Tour Challenge event held in the Maldives before ending the year on a high with an AVC Asian Beach Volleyball Championship title.
Qatar’s Cherif Younousse dives for the ball during their match against Australia at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
After winning their first Asian Games gold medal as a pair in 2018, Cherif and Ahmed successfully defended their title in the delayed 2022 edition, held in China in 2023.
They almost secured consecutive Olympic Games bronze medals last year in Paris, where they enjoyed a superb run under the Eiffel Tower, finishing the tournament in fourth place.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of their journey to the medal matches was a thrilling 2-1 victory in Pool A against eventual gold medalists David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden.
Qatar’s Cherif Younousse in action against Sweden at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Cherif and Ahmed cruised through the pool phase and into the semi-finals, where, this time, the Swedes were too powerful.
Qatar’s heroes came close but were still lauded for their performance; the Qatar Olympic Committee awarded them the accolade of Team of the Season at the 2024 Sports Excellence Awards.
Cherif’s journey to the top exemplifies his determination, hunger, and pursuit of excellence, making him an invaluable addition to the FIVB Athletes’ Commission.
QUICK LINKS
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
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AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
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