Negombo, Sri Lanka, January 25k 2025 – Hosts Sri Lanka ruled the roost on the action-packed Day 2 of the rescheduled CAVA Beach Volleyball Championships 2024, with their five teams including three women’s pairs advancing to the Sunday morning’s semifinals.
The second day of the three-day event brought intense competition, exhilarating rallies, and a vibrant showcase of athleticism from teams across Central Asia. Being held from January 24 to 26, 2025, the event is hosting both men’s and women’s divisions at the picturesque beaches of Negombo.
The women’s highlights saw Kazakhs Kabulbekova/Ivanchenko solidify their dominance in Pool A with a decisive win over Kyrgyzstan’s Rasulbek Kyzy/Aitbekova in straight sets 21-18, 21-4 in their last Pool A match on Saturday morning. They went on their brilliance in the afternoon following their sensational 2-0 (21-15, 21-8) win against Maldives’ Hawwa/Majidha in the quarterfinals.
The Kazakhstan’s top seeds remained unbeaten with not dropping a set to their respective rivals, demonstrating impeccable coordination and tactical play.
Sri Lanka’s Deepika/Kasuni also continued their strong performance, defeating Maldives’ Zeeniya/Areesha with a confident 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) victory in their last Pool A encounter. The home team’s enthusiasm and crowd support bolstered their performance, as they stunned Kazakhs Ryukhova/Karimova 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) in the quarterfinals to ensure their advancement to the Sunday’s semifinals.
In Pool B, Sri Lanka’s 9th seeds Kasuni/Wasana maintained their unbeaten streak, defeating Bhutan’s Zangmo/Leki with a commanding 2-0 (21-5, 21-12) in their last pool play match.
The host side remained unchallenged in the quarterfinals as they brushed off Maldivians Zeeniya/Areesha 2-0 (21-13, 21-14) for a spot in the semifinals.
Their compatriots, second seeds Shehani/Chathurika, showcased an impressive victory over Kazakhstan’s Ryukhova/Karimova, winning 2-0 (21-10, 21-16) in their pool play match. In the quarterfinals later in the afternoon, the Sri Lankans still proved a tough nut to crack, powering past Kyrgyzstan’s Rasulbek Kyzy/Aitbekova 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) to secure their semifinals berth.
The Saturday’s quarterfinals concluded with clear victories for the Sri Lankan teams, setting up an all-Sri Lankan semifinal clash between Kasuni/Wasana and Deepika/Kasuni. Kazakhstan’s Kabulbekova/Ivanchenko will face Sri Lanka’s Shehani/Chathurika in the other semifinal encounter.
In the men’s category, Sri Lanka’s second seeds Anjana/Sandun continued to impress, securing a dominant win over Maldives’ Ahmed/Ali in straight sets (21-11, 21-14) and finishing it off in their last pool play match with a stunning 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) win against highly-experienced Yakovlev/Bogatu of Kazakhstan to top Pool B with undefeated record.
However, despite the loss, the Kazakh duo finished second in the pool to advance to the quarterfinals, but went down 0-2 (17-21, 18-21) to Gurin/Mokhammad in the all-Kazakh affair, while Anjana/Sandun displayed exceptional agility and control, maintaining their exceptional form to narrowly beat Maldivians Ismail/Adam 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) in the tightly-contested quarterfinals to book their berth in the Sunday’s semifinals.
In Pool A, the Sri Lankan duo of Dileepa/Malith edged past Kazakhstan’s Gurin/Mokhammad in a gripping three-setter (21-15, 28-30, 15-12) in their last pool play match which showcased nail-biting rallies and incredible endurance, making it one of the day’s highlights.
Later in the quarterfinals, Dileepa/Malith enjoyed a comfortable match against Ahmed/Ali, thrashing the Maldivians 2-0 (21-12, 21-12) in 28 minutes for a semifinal spot on Sunday.
Iran’s top seeds GhalehNovi/Abolhassan also emerged victorious in their quarterfinal match against Sri Lanka’s Nalin/Madusha (21-15, 21-14). Their powerful serves and strategic placement overwhelmed the home team in their match.
The Sunday morning’s semifinals promise high-octane matches as Dileepa/Malith face Gurin/Mokhammad in a Pool A rematch, while Anjana/Sandun challenge Iran’s GhalehNovi/Abolhassan for a spot in the finals.
Meanwhile, the Maldives’ players gave spirited performances despite tough contest. In the women’s division, Hawwa/Majidha claimed a victory over Bhutan’s Zangmo/Leki (21-16, 21-8) in Pool B on Saturday, earning valuable experience against higher-ranked teams. However, their journey ended in the quarterfinals, where they lost 0-2 (15-21, 8-21) to Kazakhstan’s Kabulbekova/Ivanchenko.
In the men’s category, Maldives’ Ismail/Adam battled valiantly against Sri Lanka’s Anjana/Sandun but lost in the quarterfinals (19-21, 19-21). Ahmed/Ali showcased potential but were unable to advance beyond Pool B.
As the championships enter the final day on Sunday, excitement is palpable. The semifinals and finals in both divisions are set to deliver thrilling action, with Sri Lanka aiming for a clean sweep on home soil and Kazakhstan and Iran poised to challenge their dominance.
The CAVA Beach Volleyball Championship 2024 has not only highlighted the competitive spirit of Central Asian volleyball but also celebrated sportsmanship and unity among nations. Fans eagerly await the crowning of the champions in Negombo on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
MATCH RESULTS
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WOMEN
POOL STANDINGS
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WOMEN
MATCH SCHEDULE
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WOMEN
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