Hosts China, led by Beach Pro Tour Futures Wenzhou Cangnan champions Ha Likejiang/Wu Jiaxin, captured the men’s tile, as Japan mastered a 2-0 shutout of Hong Kong, China to take the women’s crown in the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Eastern Zone in Tangshan, China on Friday.
Following their sensational 2-0 win against Japan in the men’s showdown and the convincing 2-0 triumph over Hong Kong, China in the women’s event, eventual winners China and Japan have secured their berths to next prove their prowess in Phase 3.
In the men’s event, Chinese veterans Ha and Wu, current FIVB World No.41 who have already captured four titles this year including the AVC Beach Tour Samila Open in Thailand on April 14, Beach Pro Tour Futures Coolangatta Beach in Australia on March 29 and Beach Pro Tour Futures Mt Maunganui Beach in New Zealand on March 16, powered past Japanese pairing of Shiro Furuta/Kai Kurokawa 2-0 (21-11, 21-14) to hand the host side the first win.
The second match saw Chinese Wang Yanwei/Li Jie, fresh from winning the Beach Pro Tour Futures Qidong on home soil on August 17, completely end the visitors’ challenge following their 2-0 (21-15, 21-19) win against Japanese Kosuke Fukushima/Dylan Hiroki Kurokawa.
The exceptional 2-0 win handed China a place in Phase 3 (Finals) during the week of June 21-23, 2024 which features the five winning NFs per gender from Phase 1, one Host NF, one 2021 Continental Cup Champion NF and one winning team NF from Phase 2, totaling 8 NFs per gender.
Japan finished second and will have to prove their talents in Phase 2 due to be played in no later than June 2024, which inclueds the 1st runner-up NFs per gender from Phase 1 (5 NFs), plus one Host NF, totalling maximum 6 NFs per gender
Earlier on Thursday, Japan cruised to a 2-0 shutout of Hong Kong, China. Kai/Furuta won the first match for Japan after 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) win against Kan Sze Hang/Lau Chuek Yin Hong Kong, China 1. Dylan/Fukushima handed Japan the second win following their 2-0 (21-11, 21-14) rout of Hong Kong, China 2’s Yiu Ming Kam/Lee Lit Fung.
Meanwhile, the women’s event saw Japan see off Hong Kong, China 2-0 on Thursday.
Suzuka Hashimoto/Akiko Hasegawa demolished Lo Wai Yan/Au Yeung Wai Yan 2-0 (21-15, 22-11) to give Japan the first win and Reika Murakami/Yurika Sakaguchi repeated the teammates’ feat following their 2-0 (21-15, 21-16) win against Wing Tung/Tsang Ngok Ling.
Japan will go through Phase 3 (Finals), with Hong Kong China strutting their stuff in Phase 2.
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