Australia were in fine form last weekend as they claimed both the men’s and women’s 2023 Asian U21 Beach Volleyball Championships crowns in Thailand. The four-day championships served as a qualifier to the FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships set for November 7 to 12 this year.
The pair of Lucas Josefsen/Ben Hood won the men’s title while Jasmine Fleming/Stefanie Fejes were crowned women’s champions after the final matches played on Sunday at Ban Nong Ya Ma Community School in Roi Et, Thailand.
It was the second consecutive gold medal for Fejes at the event after winning the 2021 tournament in Nakhon Pathom alongside Alisha Stevens, her partner then. Fleming upgraded her bronze from the previous edition to gold having teamed up with Jesse Mann at that time.
Fleming and Fejes stunned Thailand’s top seeds Patcharaporn Seehawong and Jidapa Bunongkhun 2-0 (21-13, 24-22) in the women’s final that lasted 39 minutes to ensure Australia successfully defended their title.
Australia and Thailand battle it out during the women’s final match of Asian U21 Beach Volleyball Championships in Roi Et, Thailand (Photo credits: AVC)
To qualify for the final, Patcharaporn and Jidapa beat compatriots Suchinna Choemphun and Tassanee Chongyoklang 2-0 (21-14, 21-16) while Fleming and Fejes pulled off a comfortable 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) win against Thailand’s 10th seeds Salinda Mungkhon and Samitta Simarongnam in the second semi-final.
Salinda and Samitta secured the bronze medal after powering past Suchinna and Tassanee 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) in an all-Thai third-place playoff match.
In the men’s final, second seeds Josefsen and Hood emerged victorious following a 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) win over Kazakhstan’s fourth seeds Ivailo Todorov and Klim Ryukhov.
It was Australia’s second men’s gold medal in the Asian U21 Championships after Paul Burnett and Marcus Ferguson won the 2017 edition held in Roi Et, Thailand.
Men’s champions Lucas Josefsen/Ben Hood from Australia in action during the final match of Asian U21 Beach Volleyball Championships against Kazakhstan’s Ivailo Todorov and Klim Ryukhov in Roi Et, Thailand (Photo credits: AVC)
Chinese 15th seeds Xu Zongqi and Zhou Yongji overcame Lebanese 11th seeds Abi Karam Omar/El Chabib Hadi 2-0 (21-15, 21-13) to return with the bronze medal.
The top five teams in both genders earned direct qualification to the main draw of the FIVB U21 World Championships in Roi Et, Thailand.
Qualified teams
Men: Australia, Kazakhstan, China, Lebanon and Iran.
Women: Australia, China, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Source : fivb.com
Cet article est repris de son site d'origine, où vous trouverez la version complète.
Lire l'article sur fivb.com
