Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan pose for photographs with their bronze medals.
Doha: World No.1 beach volleyball duo Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan clinched Qatar’s third Tokyo 2020 medal when they outplayed their Latvian counterparts 21-12, 21-18 for a bronze in third place play-off yesterday.
By winning the bronze medal with a straight-set win over Martins Plavins and Edgar Tocs at Shiokaze Park overlooking the Tokyo Bay, Cherif and Tijan also went on to create history by becoming the first team in the Middle East to win a medal in beach volleyball.
“It was hard work, patience and discipline. We knew that we had the potential. What we were focused on was how to express those feelings, how to play better year by year. So every year we were trying to evaluate the mistakes we made in the last year. I think so far we are doing great,” Cherif told Volleyball World after yesterday’s win.
“It was not an easy process. It’s a long process. It didn’t start now. It started in 2012. Mentally and physically, it was not easy. It took us maybe six or seven years to build this team. But we trust the process. For sure, the road is going to be very difficult; there will be some ups and downs. But we didn’t give up and we’re thankful to be here,” Cherif, who scored the winning point over block attempt, said.
The Latvians were targeting their second Bronze at Olympics, but for them the World No.1 pair were too difficult to handle.
The Qataris had the upper hand since the start of yesterday’s third place play-off, and swept away their opponents despite an early first-set tie at 8-8. Qatar won the first set with a brilliant nine-point margin.
Plavins, who won beach volleyball bronze at the 2012 London Games, took a stronger approach with Tocs in the second set. The advantage shifted back-and-forth in the second set, but the Qataris took the lead after levelling at 15 and continued towards a straight set win.
“We had a great feeling that we were going to get something, because before the event we were announced as number one in the World Ranking,” Cherif said after the historic win.
“That also pushed us to play. Unluckily, we couldn’t reach the final, losing to the world champions. I think it was a good rival to lose to. Right now, it’s a really great feeling for the people of Qatar. They are really proud of us and that was the goal. Now it’s a dream come true and we are grateful.
“We are in the books forever and Qatar is going to be on the beach volleyball map forever too. Everybody knows about Qatari beach volleyball. That was the goal. But we didn’t start now. Norway didn’t start now; they really have a school of beach volleyball. And Qatar is the same. We have all the facilities. But, like I said, it took us eight years to get here. Can you imagine? Now we are happy, but the marathon continues,” the 26-year-old added.
