For the second consecutive week, Thailand is hosting a Beach Volleyball World Championship. After U19’s turn the past week, it is the turn of the U21 men and women. Middle Europe is represented by a total of 6 teams (2 Women’s and 4 Men’s) from Czech Republic, Hungary, and Israel.
Two men’s Czech teams have made it to the Round of 16, where they will meet a team from Spain and the first seeded hosts from Thailand in the morning local time in Thailand.
Trousil/Dzavoronok have advanced directly to the Round of 16 after topping their pool with Italy, Switzerland and Germany. Now, they will face Thailand’s number one for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Their countrymen Sepka/Semerad finished their pool just behind the tournament favourites from Sweden, after wining against teams from Russia and Israel. In the elimination phase, they first beat a team from Ecuador to now go against the Spaniards.
The Hungarian team Petik/Dóczi finished 17th after losing to Russia. Hungarian duo had previously secured two wins in the pool to advance to the elimination phase. The Israeli duo Day/Cuzmiciov was eliminated in the pool play by the counterparts from Sweden, Czech Republic and Russia.
On the women’s side the Vasvari sisters from Hungary dominated their pool with three straight sets wins and advanced directly to the round of 16 where they were stopped in a tight match by the Australian duo for a final 9th place.
Also in 9th place finished the Czech team Brinkova/Neuschaeferova who was able to advance from probably one of the toughest pools in the tournament and secure a spot in the elimination round after a strong win against the German team with World Tour experience Müller/Grüne. In the round of 24 the Czech duo secured a win against Canada, before being eliminated by the Spaniards.
WOMEN
Round of 16
Álvarez M/González (ESP) – Brinkova/Neuschaeferova (CZE) 2-0 (21-11, 21-15)
Vasvári, E./Vasvári, Z. (HUN) – Fleming/Mears (AUS) 0-2 (20-22, 18-21)
Round of 24
Meilikhan/Lachapelle (CAN) – Brinkova/Neuschaeferova (CZE) 0-2 (12-21, 11-21)
Pool E
Müller/Grüne (GER) – Brinkova/Neuschaeferova (CZE) 0-2 (19-21, 14-21)
Brinkova/Neuschaeferova (CZE) – Fleming/Mears (AUS) 1-2 (21-18, 19-21, 7-15)
Brinkova/Neuschaeferova (CZE) – Khmil/Lazarenko (UKR) 1-2 (13-21, 24-22, 12-15)
Pool A
Vasvári, E./Vasvári, Z. (HUN) – Ozolina A./Liepajniece (LAT) 2-0 (21-12, 21-16)
S.Apinya/B.Jidapa (THA) – Vasvári, E./Vasvári, Z. (HUN) 0-2 (19-21, 13-21)
Isa/Galindo (BOL) – Vasvári, E./Vasvári, Z. (HUN) 0-2 (15-21, 13-21)
MEN
Round of 16 (local time)
18-Dec 08:50 Gutiérrez M/Viera (ESP) – Sepka/Semerad (CZE)
18-Dec 08:00 Trousil/Dzavoronok (CZE) – N.Phichakon/T.Poravid (THA)
Round of 24
Sepka/Semerad (CZE) – Jurado/Mateo (ECU) 2-0 (23-21, 21-11)
Petik/Dóczi (HUN) – Veretiuk/Arkhipov (RUS) 0-2 (11-21, 9-21)
Pool G
De La Noche /Iraya (PHI) – Petik/Dóczi (HUN) 0-2 (21-23, 19-21)
Nemeth/Gagnon (CAN) – Petik/Dóczi (HUN) 0-2 (16-21, 10-21)
Gentry/Catanzaro (USA) – Petik/Dóczi (HUN) 2-0 (21-18, 21-17)
Pool D
Day/Cuzmiciov (ISR) – Sepka/Semerad (CZE) 0-2 (15-21, 19-21)
Åhman/Hellvig (SWE) – Sepka/Semerad (CZE) 2-0 (21-15, 21-18)
Veretiuk/Arkhipov (RUS) – Day/Cuzmiciov (ISR) 2-1 (18-21, 21-19, 15-9)
Åhman/Hellvig (SWE) – Day/Cuzmiciov (ISR) 2-0 (21-13, 21-17)
Veretiuk/Arkhipov (RUS) – Sepka/Semerad (CZE) 1-2 (21-13, 21-23, 9-15)
Pool C
Dal Corso/Viscovich (ITA) – Trousil/Dzavoronok (CZE) 2-1 (14-21, 21-17, 15-13)
Trousil/Dzavoronok (CZE) – Lorenz/Welsch (GER) 2-0 (25-23, 21-13)
Trousil/Dzavoronok (CZE) – Dillier/Colomb (SUI) 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 15-9)
