Doha:The Qatari beach volleyball team of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Doha 2026 Asian Beach Volleyball Tour after successfully topping Group A with three consecutive straight-set victories.
According to Qatar News Agency, Younousse and Tijan began their campaign with a win against Thailand's Nalphadon and Puravich, securing a 21-15, 21-19 victory. They continued their strong performance by defeating China's Li Wei and Yuan Ningfei with scores of 21-9, 21-15, followed by a victory over Indonesia's Firza and Rizki, 21-13, 21-9.
The duo's dominant group stage performance, remaining unbeaten and without dropping a set, highlights their readiness for a strong title run. Their participation has attracted attention due to their recent successes, including a gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, marking their third consecutive victory following wins in Jakarta and Palembang in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2022.
Younousse and Tijan also claimed gold at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games and were recognized as Asia's Best Men's Beach Volleyball Players for the 2025-2026 season. They currently lead the men's team standings with 4,660 points, entering the competition with significant experience and success at both continental and international levels.
In contrast, Qatar 2's team of Mousa Al-Khair and Mohammed Ehab was eliminated in the group stage after straight-set losses to Australia's Oliver Merritt and Jade Walker and China's Li Xiaokai and Sun Xinglong. Similarly, Qatar 3, represented by Saif Al Din Al Majid and Mahmoud Essam, exited after two three-set defeats against Indonesia's Imam and Firouz and Thailand's Nittithorn and Watcharawut.
