The 2025 AVC Beach Volleyball Tour held in Doha showcased an impressive performance by teams from Qatar and Australia, as they claimed all three medals in the men’s division. This achievement highlights the efficacy of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiative in strengthening national beach volleyball programs.

Qatar Dominates on Home Sand

The home advantage played well for Qatari stars Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, who were undefeated throughout the tournament. Without dropping a set in five matches, they clinched the gold medal with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-13) win over Australia’s Paul Burnett and Luke Ryan in the final.

Australia Makes a Strong Showing

Burnett and Ryan also had a solid run, entering the final undefeated, including a tight 2-1 semifinal victory over fellow Australians Ben Hood and Oliver Merritt. The latter pair secured the bronze medal after defeating Thailand’s Netitorn Muneekul and Wachirawit Muadpha 2-1 (18-21, 21-19, 15-10).

Impact of FIVB Empowerment Funding

All three podium teams received support through FIVB Empowerment funding, enabling access to elite coaching and performance resources. Key funding details include:

• Qatar: CHF 72,000 aimed at strengthening technical coaching
• Australia: CHF 324,000 to enhance the national beach volleyball framework

International Participation and Upcoming Events

The Doha leg welcomed 18 teams from nine countries, reflecting strong engagement and competitiveness in Asian beach volleyball. The next stage of the AVC Tour will move to Pingtan, China, scheduled for May 8–11, and will include both men’s and women’s events.

Continued Growth of Asian Beach Volleyball

This event underscores the evolving global competitiveness of Asian beach volleyball. Structured training programs and international collaboration are proving critical in developing high-performance athletes in the region.

For full coverage and more details, visit the official FIVB article.