Pereira, Cherif lose in last 16

QATAR beach volleyball team’s dream run at Rio ended in the round of 16 with a defeat to Russia at the Copacabana Beach Arena.

Qatar’s Jefferson Pereira and Cherif Younousse, who were making their debut at the Games, did their best, but Konstantin Semenov and Viacheslav Krasilnikov proved too good for them. The Russians won 21-13, 21-13.

Krasilnikov and Semenov had won both their previous meetings against Pereira and Cherif, including one at FIVB Rio Grand Slam in March this year.

Despite the defeat, the Qatari duo, who are the Asian champions, conquered many hearts in Brazil.

“We were trying to make history. I’m disappointed we couldn’t enter the quarterfinal. Still, it was great to play in front of such a sporting crowd. Their support was enormous, we felt this energy and started to play for them,” said Pereira, who is a Rio native.

Qatar’s Brazilian coach Pedro Paulo Costa also dwelled on the positives.

“In the group stage, we came back twice from losing positions. In four years time, this team will go places,” he said.