Brazil and Chile triumph in first round of South American Beach Volleyball Circuit

The duos of Brazil and Chile triumphed in the first round of the annual South American Beach Volleyball Circuit, played last weekend at the Patricio Mekis Sports Complex in Rancagua, Chile.

Brazilians Tainá Silva Big and Victoria Lopes Pereira Tosta won the first round of the tournament

After 54 matches with 32 duos from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Ecuador and Chile (16 men’s and 16 women’s teams), the Brazilians Tainá Silva Big and Victoria Lopes Pereira Tosta won the title undefeated by overcoming the Paraguayans Erika Mongelos and Michelle Valiente 2-0 (21-17, 21-13). In third place were Chileans María Francisca Rivas and Chris Vorpahl.

In the men's competition, Esteban and Marco Grimalt of Chile also reached the final undefeated. The pair emerged victorious in the final after beatingArgentina’s Nicolas and Tomas Capogrosso 2-0 (22-20, 21-14). The bronze medals went to Vinicius Rezende Freitas and Saymon Barbosa Santos from Brazil.

Chile’s star men’s beach volleyball team won the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 event in Gstaad., Switzerland last year

Since 2019, the Chilean duo and National Federation have been benefitting from coach and volleyball equipment support under the FIVB’s revolutionary programme of Volleyball Empowerment. The FIVB recently increased its investment in beach volleyball in Chile, providing beach volleyball and nets after the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, in addition to further coach support, which has all contributed towards the team’s recent successes.

The next round of the circuit is scheduled for 10-12 February in San Juan, Argentina. The competition is set to be hotly contested, with points counting towards the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Ranking. Points are in high demand with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on the horizon, while teams are also vying for a place at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2023 set for Mexico on 6-15 October.

South American Beach Volleyball Circuit - Competition Schedule

1st Round – 20-22 January in Rancagua, Chile

2nd Round – 10-12 February in San Juan, Argentina

3rd Round – 17-19 February in Malargüe, Argentina

4th Round – 24-26 February in Santiago, Chile

5th Round – 21-23 March in Río Hondo, Argentina

6th Round – 28-30 April in Lima, Peru

7th Round (Final) – 18-20 May in Uberlândia, Brazil