Japanese duo Ren Matsumoto and Non Matsumoto have achieved a career milestone, securing their first-ever Beach Pro Tour gold medal at the 2025 Qidong Futures. The second-ranked team showcased remarkable skill and resilience, emerging undefeated throughout the tournament. In a gripping final match, they triumphed over Hungary’s Stefania Kun and Lilla Villam with a scoreline of 2-1 (21-19, 26-28, 15-13).
This victory signifies more than just a gold medal for the pair; it comes on the heels of two prior silver medals at the Songkhla Futures and marks their third straight semifinal performance on the international circuit. Their campaign in Qidong was marked by consistent excellence, including a commanding straight-sets win in the semifinal against Brazil’s Quemile Vieira de Souza and Emanuely Pereira Cardoso.
Highlights from the Qidong Futures
- 16 women’s teams and 21 men’s teams from 14 different countries competed.
- Belgium’s Kyan Vercauteren and Joppe Van Langendonck took home their third straight men’s gold.
- England’s Frederick Bialokoz and Issa Batrane earned bronze, continuing their strong season.
Volleyball Empowerment Support
Both the Japanese team and the English men’s team have benefitted from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiative, which aims to foster the development of elite performance through targeted investment.
- Japan’s national federation received $84,000 in coaching support.
- England’s beach volleyball program was awarded over $300,000 to enhance coaching and athlete development.
Looking Ahead
The next event on the Beach Pro Tour calendar is the women’s Futures tournament in Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled for June 26–29, 2025. It presents another opportunity for teams to build momentum ahead of more competitive events later in the season.
For more details, you can read the full article on the official FIVB website.
