Phuket, Thailand, December 19, 2021 – Thailand’s hosting of the 2021 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships ended on a high note on Sunday with the awards presentation being highlights of the closing ceremony.
Phuket Governor Mr Narong Woonciew and Thailand Volleyball Association President Mr Somporn Chaibangyang jointly presided over the awards and colourful closing ceremony after six days of intense competition at Bang Tao Beach here.
Last week, Phuket welcomed the world’s best of both genders in the U19 age category and the top-flight competition came to a fruitful conclusion. A couple days later, the biggest island in southern Thailand organised another world-class tournament in the U21 event, with 66 pairs (34 men’s and 32 women’s duos) from 27 different countries taking part in the competition from December 14 to 19.
A total of 31 teams in the women’s main draw (Pool B featured only 3 teams) and 32 teams in the men’s main draw were split into eight round-robin pools. The pool winners advanced straight to the round of 16, while the pool runners-up and the third-placed pairs also had the chance to make it there through the round of 24.
Among those participants in the main draw were seven women’s teams from Asia comprising three teams from hosts Thailand and two apiece from Australia and Kazakhstan. The men’s main draw saw two teams apiece from hosts Thailand and Australia qualified, while only one team each from Kazakhstan, Qatar and the Philippines made it to the pool battles.
Thailand’s Netitorn Muneekul/Wachirawit Muadpha, who snatched historic silver medal at the last week’s U19 Worlds, and Australia’s Jasmine Fleming/Kayla Mears emerged as the best team in Asia in respective men’s and women’s events after making it to the quarterfinals before both crashing out of the competitive competition.
On Sunday, the final day of the U21 World Championships in Phuket, Sweden’s David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig underlined their supremacy in the men’s event, with Italy’s Gianluca Dal Corso/Marco Viscovich and Russia’s Dmitrii Veretiuk/Aleksei Arkhipov picking up silver and bronze medals respectively.
Ukraine’s Anhelina Khmil and Tetiana Lazarenko captured the women’s title, while Daniela Alvarez Mendoza/Sofia Gonzalez Racero of Spain and Switzerland’s Menia Bentele/Leona Kernen claiming respective silver and bronze medals.
During the awards presentation and closing ceremony, Technical Delegate Mr Oguz Degirmenci from Turkey and Referee Delegate Ms Maria Amelia Villas Boas Da Fonseca from Brazil joined a parade of pretty dancers in traditional Chao Lay costumes. Also, there was a beautiful show performed by young dancers.
After end of the closing ceremony, TVA President Mr Somporn Chaibangyang and Technical Delegate Mr Oguz Degirmenci expressed their sincere thanks to all volunteers for their tireless devotion during the past six days.
Oguz and Maria also presented certificates and mascot dolls to representatives of those volunteers and shortly after that, all posed for group photos.
The U21 World Championships had been made possible in a smooth, successful run thanks also to collaboration with FIVB, Thailand Volleyball Association, Asian Volleyball Confederation, Phuket Province, Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and Angsana Laguna Phuket.
MEN’S RESULTS
WOMEN’S RESULTS
MEN’S FINAL RANKING
WOMEN’S FINAL RANKING
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