Nagoya: Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, the reigning champions, are on a quest for their third consecutive gold medal in beach volleyball at the Asian Games. They showcased their dominance in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 by advancing to the quarterfinals after a decisive victory over Vietnam on Tuesday.
Impressive Win Secures Quarterfinal Spot
The Qatari duo demonstrated their skill and strategy from the very first serve, claiming a powerful straight-set win with scores of 21-9 and 21-16. This commanding performance allowed them to secure a spot in the last eight of the tournament. Their relentless approach has made a strong statement in their pursuit of another gold.
In the quarterfinals, Younousse and Tijan will face Iran’s Abbas Pouraskar and Alireza Aghajani, who progressed after a tense match against Japan’s Juntaro Tachiya and Yusuke Ishijima, winning 2-1. The upcoming match promises to be an exciting encounter as the Qatari champions aim to maintain their stellar performance.
Unbeaten Streak in Preliminary Round
Younousse and Tijan have maintained an impressive unbeaten record throughout their campaign so far. They topped Group A in the preliminary stage, showcasing their prowess with victories against the Philippines’ Abdila and Francisco, winning comfortably 21-7, 21-10. They followed this up with a narrow win over Oman’s Hood Al Jalboobi and Mazen Al Hashmi, finishing with scores of 21-19, 21-19.
The seasoned champions, who clinched gold at the Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022 events, are now only three wins away from achieving a remarkable hat-trick of Asian Games titles. Their experience and synergy on the court make them a formidable force as they advance deeper into the tournament.
Mixed Outcomes for Qatari Teams
While Younousse and Tijan thrive, their compatriots Moussa Al Khair and Ehab Mohamed faced a more challenging path in the tournament. Their journey came to an end in the round of 16, where they suffered a defeat with scores of 13-21, 16-21 against China’s Song Jinyang and Wang Yanwei.
Al Khair and Mohamed initially secured their spot by finishing as runners-up in Group D, where they battled through matches that included a straight-set victory over South Korea’s Sangbin and Jeongtaek, followed by a hard-fought 2-1 win against Sri Lanka’s Sadun and Delipa. However, they encountered a setback when they lost to Thailand’s Purawit and Pithak in their final group match, which ultimately relegated them to second place.
As the tournament progresses, the spotlight remains on Younousse and Tijan, whose quest for gold aims to solidify Qatar’s presence in beach volleyball on an international stage, while Al Khair and Mohamed prepare for future competitions, aiming to build upon their experiences.