Quang Ninh, Vietnam, May 16, 2022 – Defending champions Thailand and Philippines continued their unbeaten streak at the 31st SEA Games Beach Volleyball Tournament following their convincing 2-0 wins against hosts Vietnam and Malaysia respectively in the women’s event at Tuan Chau Beach here on Monday.
Thailand’s Asian champions Taravadee Naraphornrapat/Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee, fresh from stunning the 2018 Asian Games bronze medallists Dhita Juliana/Putu Utami of Indonesia in their main draw first clash on Sunday, proved too strong for Nguyen Vu Ngoc Lan/Nguyen Le Thi Tuong Vy to brush off the Vietnamese duo in easy straight sets 21-13, 21-12.
Teammates Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee, who won silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games beach volleyball tournament in Incheon, Korea, also did not let her supporters down as the Thai duo combined well to storm past Truong Duong Thai My Huyen/Nguyen Thi Thanh Tram 21-12, 21-11.
Thailand on Tuesday are due to take on Malaysia, with Taravadee/Worapeerachayakorn pitted against Aina Ahmad Nizar Farwizah/Jia Yin Beh Maegan and Varapatsorn/Tanarattha up against Foo Sin Xi/Yee Sin Sing.
Philippines powered past Singapore 2-0 on Sunday and repeated the similar feat the following day with scintillating wins against Malaysia. Cherry Ann Rondina/Bernadeth Pons ousted Aina Ahmad Nizar Farwizah/Jia Yin Beh Maegan 21-11, 21-9, while Jovelyn Gonzaga/Floremel Rodriguez outclassed Foo Sin Xi/Yee Sin Sing 21-14, 21-9. The Filipinas next strut their stuff against Indonesia.
Meanwhile, in the men’s event, title-holders Indonesia stunned old foes Thailand in the golden match. Ade Rachmawan/Mohammad Ashfiya, silver medallists at the 2018 Asian Games beach volleyball tournament, gave the Indonesians a 1-0 advantage following the exceptional 21-15, 21-17 win against Surin Jongklang/Banlue Nakprakhong, but Pithak Tipjan/Poravid Taovalo saved the day for Thailand as they narrowly edged Gilang Ramadhan/Rendy Licardo 2-1 (22-20, 14-21, 18-16) for a 1-1 tie.
However, Ade Rachmawan/Mohammad Ashfiya lived up to expectation as they demolished Banlue and Poravid 2-0 (21-14, 28-26) to give Indonesia an eventual 2-1 win against Thailand.
Malaysia and Cambodia made their marks to respectively shut out Laos and Singapore 2-0 to keep their hopes of advancing in the semifinals alive.
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