Qatar’s Tijan-Cherif pair beat Saudi Arabians in Asian Beach Volleyball
Doha: Qatar’s Ahmed Tijan and Younousse Cherif defeated Saudi Arabia’s Mahmoud Ali and Alkhawaher Dhia 21-12, 21-14 to start their Asian Beach Volleyball campaign in Satun, Thailand, in fine style.???????
The Asian Games champions later thrashed Singapore Kingsley Tay ZHK and Shen Fan Yang 21-15, 21-11.
“First of all, thank God that we won. The weather condition is not easy to play two games in one day as it is quite windy here. It is really great that we won two games in a row, but we still have not shown our best level. To win the tournament, we still have many tough games coming. Against Oman tomorrow, we will try to beat them to capture the top spot in our pool,” Charif said.
Meanwhile another Qatari pairing of Thamer Issa and Mahmoud Essam, who progressed through qualifiers, lost to top seeds and home favourites Nuttanon Inkiew and Sedtawat Padsawud (18-21, 21-15, 15-12) after a tough fight.
The Qataris then defeated Hong Kong’s Chui Kam Lung/Wong Pui Lam (21-12, 17-21, 15-9)