The dynamic duo from the Netherlands, Lisa Luini and Benthe Essink, have secured the gold medal in the women's category at the 2026 Alanya Futures. This marks a remarkable achievement as it's their second win in just three Beach Pro Tour events together. Their success follows an earlier triumph at the Sibiu Futures this year. The Netherlands Volleyball Federation has significantly benefited from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, receiving vital funding and coaching resources that support athletes like Luini and Essink.

In the same event, Riko Tsujimura and Mayu Kikuchi from Japan earned silver in their debut as a team on the Beach Pro Tour. Meanwhile, the German pair Nele Barber and Tabea Schwarz claimed the bronze medal. In the men's category, the German qualifiers Julian Hikel and Kalle Pieper captured gold after progressing from the qualification rounds. Turkish favorites Yusuf Ozdemir and Batuhan Kuru secured silver, and the Hungarian pair Artur Hajos and Lukas Niemeier captured bronze, marking their first appearance on the Beach Pro Tour podium.

The Role of FIVB Volleyball Empowerment

The FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program plays a crucial role in advancing beach volleyball on a global scale by providing essential support to federations, such as those in the Netherlands, Japan, and Hungary. The Alanya event effectively highlighted the outcomes of strategic investment in coaching and athlete development, which was evident in the strong performances seen on the podium.

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