Beirut, Lebanon, August 3, 2019 – Hosts Lebanon and Oman set up a final showdown of the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Phase 1 Western Zone Qualification Tournament at Naji Beach North Lebanon on Saturday, fighting for the top honour and the lone ticket to the Final Phase.
Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and hosts Lebanon are competing in the three-day event, with participating teams compulsorily fielding two teams (Team 1 and Team 2) apiece to play under the country’s banner.
Lebanon 1’s Abi Chedid Elias/El Kazzi Joe got the host nation off to a flying start after a convincing 2-0 (21-11 21-13) win against Kuwait 1’s Abdulmajieid Sultan/Bin Eid Yaqoub in a 29-minute opening clash on Thursday, while Oman also registered their first win when Al Jalbouri Nouh/Al Hachmi Mazen thrashed Saudi Arabia 1’s Al Khawaher Diaa/Mahfouz Ali 2-0 (21-15 21-14).
In their second encounter, hosts Lebanon remained in superb form when their Team 2’s Fares Nader/Saliba Shafic powered past Kuwait 2’s Taha Farhan/Abdelaziz Al Dachti 2-0 (21-15 21-15). With two wins in a row, Lebanon advanced to the final clash, while Kuwait contested the third-place playoff.
Oman also proved a strong team to be reckoned with in the four-team tournament as their Team 2’s Al Charifi Haysam/Al Hosni Ahmad mercilessly crushed Saudi Arabia 2’s Abdelbaki Hassan/Al Khalif Ayman in a totally one-sided battle 21-11 21-6 in 24 minutes.
As Oman are due to battle it out with Lebanon in the Saturday’s final showdown, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait battled it out for the bronze medal.
In the Friday’s third-place playoff encounter, Saudi Arabia 1’s Al Khawaher Diaa/Mahfouz Ali pulled off a scintillating 2-0 (21-17 21-16) win against Kuwait 1’s Abdulmajieid Sultan/Bin Eid Yaquoub to give Saudi Arabia a 1-0 advantage. However, Kuwait taught Saudi Arabia victory never comes easily as their Team 2’s Taha Farhan/Abdelaziz Al Dachti lost the first set 19-21 to Saudi Arabia 2’s Abdelbaki Hassan/Al Khalif Ayman, but recovered to take the second set 21-15, forcing Saudi Arabia to play in the decider. However, Saudi Arabia still fought well against the tough rivals in the deciding set, which they won 15-12.
Saudi Arabia finished third, while Kuwait returned with a well-earned fourth place. Oman and Lebanon will fight for the lone berth on offer for the Western Zone to compete in the Final Phase.
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