Qatar’s beach volleyball champions Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan recently celebrated a victory against the USA’s Chase Budinger and Miles Evans at the Elite16 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour in Gstaad, Switzerland. The duo is now gearing up to compete against Italy’s Paolo Nicolai and Samuele Cottafava in their opening match at the Paris 2024 Games. This highly anticipated Pool A match is scheduled to take place on July 27, in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, starting at midnight Qatar time.
Cherif and Ahmed, who are the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallists, have secured their spot in the Paris Games due to their impressive world ranking. Currently ranked 14th in the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), the pair is determined to excel among the best in the world. This will mark Qatar’s third appearance in beach volleyball at the Olympics, with Cherif and Ahmed aiming to make a significant impact on the global stage.
The journey of Cherif and Ahmed has been nothing short of impressive, with the duo winning the first Asian Games titles for Qatar at the Jakarta 2018 Games and later at the Hangzhou 2023 Games. They have also claimed victory at the AVC Asian Championships and secured silver medals at the Doha-hosted ANOC World Beach Games. After reuniting in 2018 with the goal of qualifying for Tokyo 2020, Cherif and Ahmed have continued to make waves in the world of beach volleyball.
In their recent match at the Elite16 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour in Gstaad, Cherif and Tijan defeated the Olympic-bound American pair Chase Budinger and Miles Evans in straight sets with scores of 21-17 and 21-18. However, their journey faced a setback when they were defeated by the Brazilian World No.2 duo of Andre Loyola and George Wanderley with scores of 19-21 and 17-21. The team is now preparing to compete against USA’s Tim Brewster and Logan Webber in their final Pool B match of the Main Draw.
As the top Asian pair in beach volleyball, Cherif and Ahmed’s journey to the Olympics has been filled with challenges and triumphs. From clinching medals at various international tournaments to securing their spot in the Tokyo 2020 Games, the duo has shown immense dedication and skill in their sport. With their sights set on the Paris 2024 Games, Cherif and Ahmed are poised to make their mark on the world stage once again and represent Qatar with pride and determination.
The upcoming match against Italy’s Paolo Nicolai and Samuele Cottafava in Paris will be a test of skill and strategy for Cherif and Ahmed. With the support of their fans and the determination to succeed, the duo is ready to showcase their talent and compete against some of the best beach volleyball pairs in the world. As they continue their journey towards Olympic glory, Cherif and Ahmed stand as shining examples of Qatar’s athletic prowess and dedication to excellence in sports.
