Qatar Teams Begin Campaign at Asian Open Beach Volleyball Tour- Doha 2026

Qatar's national teams began their campaign in the Asian Open Beach Volleyball Tour- Doha 2026, which got underway today on the courts of the International Centre of Excellence at the Al Gharafa Beach Volleyball Training Centre, with 14 matches. Competition continues tomorrow, Sunday, with 20 group-stage matches: 16 in the men's event and four in the women's event.

The opening day brought a strong start for Qatar 1 and Qatar 2 in the men's competition, with both teams winning their first matches, while Qatar 3 lost to its Australian opponents.

Qatar 1, comprising Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, opened its campaign with a straight-sets victory over Thailand's Nobphadon Sukphuwong and Poravid Taovato, winning 21–15 and 21–19 in Pool A.

The victory marked an ideal start for the Qatari pair in their first appearance since winning gold at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. They achieved the historic feat of securing a third consecutive gold medal following their triumphs at Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and Hangzhou 2022.

Qatar 2, comprising Mousa Al Khair and Mohamed Ehab, the silver medallists from the third West Asia Tour in Doha, defeated Saudi Arabia's Wafi Al-Jasser and Ali Al-Awami in straight sets, 21–6 and 21–11, in Pool C.

Qatar 3, comprising Saif Al Deen Al Majid and Mahmoud Essam, lost to Australia's Joshua Howat and Finley Bennett in three sets. The Qatari pair won the first set 21–19 before losing the second 15–21 and the deciding set 11–15.

In the other men's matches, Lebanon's Hadi El Chabib and Jad Abi Karam defeated Japan's Takumi Takahashi and Jumpei Ikeda in straight sets, 21–18 and 21–18, in Pool B.

Thailand's Netitorn Muneekul and Wachirawit Muadpha defeated Indonesia's Imam Ahmad Faisal and Fairuz Bayhaqly 21–12 and 23–21, while Australia's Oliver Merritt and Jed Walker beat China's Xiaokai Li and Xinglong Sun 21–18 and 21–10.

Australians Solomon Bushby and Justin Schumann defeated China's DONG Shaoquan and HONG Weiqiang in straight sets, 21–18 and 21–15. China's Wei Li and Nengfei Yuan recorded the same scores in their victory over Indonesia's Firza and Rizky.

In the women's competition, Qatar 2, comprising Shaghaf Ismail and Malak Hashem, lost to Japan's Ren Matsumoto and Non Matsumoto in straight sets, 4–21 and 5–21, in Pool B. Qatar 3, featuring Aisha Al Alawi and Nelly Amr, lost 0–2 to Thailand's Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee, 7–21 and 5–21, in Pool C.

Competition continues tomorrow with 16 men's matches across three courts. Three matches begin at 4:00 pm, with Qatar 2 facing Australia's Oliver Merritt and Jed Walker on the main court in Pool C, China's Xiaokai Li and Xinglong Sun meeting Saudi Arabia's Wafi Al-Jasser and Ali Al-Awami on court two, and Japan's Takumi Takahashi and Jumpei Ikeda playing Australia's Solomon Bushby and Justin Schumann on court three in Pool B.

At 4:50 pm, Qatar 3 will face Indonesia's Imam Ahmad Faisal and Fairuz Bayhaqly on the main court in Pool D. Thailand's Netitorn Muneekul and Wachirawit Muadpha will meet Australia's Joshua Howat and Finley Bennett on court two, while Lebanon's Hadi El Chabib and Jad Abi Karam will play China's DONG Shaoquan and HONG Weiqiang on court three in Pool B.

At 5:40 pm, Qatar 1, comprising Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, will meet China's Wei Li and Nengfei Yuan on the main court in Pool A. Thailand's Nobphadon Sukphuwong and Poravid Taovato will face Indonesia's Firza and Rizky on court two.

Matches continue at 7:30 pm, when Qatar 2 faces China's Xiaokai Li and Xinglong Sun on the main court in Pool C. Australia's Oliver Merritt and Jed Walker will meet Saudi Arabia's Wafi Al-Jasser and Ali Al-Awami on court two.

At 8:20 pm, Qatar 3 will meet Thailand's Netitorn Muneekul and Wachirawit Muadpha on the main court in Pool D. Australia's Joshua Howat and Finley Bennett will face Indonesia's Imam Ahmad Faisal and Fairuz Bayhaqly on court two, while Australia's Solomon Bushby and Justin Schumann play Lebanon's Hadi El Chabib and Jad Abi Karam on court three in Pool B.

The men's programme concludes at 9:10 pm with three matches. Qatar 1 will face Indonesia's Firza and Rizky on the main court in Pool A, China's Wei Li and Nengfei Yuan will meet Thailand's Nobphadon Sukphuwong and Poravid Taovato on court two, and Japan's Takumi Takahashi and Jumpei Ikeda will face China's DONG Shaoquan and HONG Weiqiang on court three in Pool B.

Four women's matches will be played, beginning at 5:40 pm when Japan's Ren Matsumoto and Non Matsumoto face Thailand's Samitta Simarongnam and Somruedee Koedkaew on court three in Pool B.

At 6:30 pm, Qatar 1, comprising Haya Abu Essa and Laila Mohamed, will face Australia's Jana Milutinovic and Tara Phillips on the main court in Pool D. Thailand's Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee will meet China's WEI Luoqian and CHEN Yingshan on court two in Pool C, while Japan's Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami play Lebanon's Mirna Cheikho and Lara Al-Nahi on court three in Pool A.

The tournament features 27 teams, with 16 competing in the men's event and 11 in the women's event. They represent eight countries: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, Lebanon, China, Thailand and Indonesia.

Qatar is represented by six teams, with three in each of the men's and women's competitions, aiming to maintain positive results and compete strongly for the leading positions.

Source: QNA

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