FIVB President Graca launches ‘9 Goals’ strategic plan

Fort Lauderdale, USA, October 4, 2015 – FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° officially launched the FIVB’s 9 goals today at the SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals, as the global federation looks to build on recent success and achieve its vision of becoming the number one family entertainment sport in the world.

The 9 goals are part of a long term strategic plan developed by President Graça and the FIVB to help direct the future work of the federation and ensure it realises the sport’s huge global potential. The 9 goals were devised through a collaborative, internal process which looked at the main areas of development and progress and were approved by the FIVB Board of Administration earlier this year.

The FIVB has experienced great success in the past couple of years, with record attendances at the World Championships in Poland and Italy last year and one of the most memorable beach volleyball men’s and women’s World Championships in the Netherlands this year. Volleyball and beach volleyball continue to set the benchmark for dynamic and innovative family sport entertainment and the 9 goals will ensure this upward trajectory of success is maintained.

When asked about its significance, President Graça said:

“Today represents a historic and exciting milestone for the FIVB.  Our success has been built on the foundation of a strong vision: to make volleyball the number one family sport entertainment in the world and these 9 goals will help us achieve this vision.

“These goals are fundamental to the ongoing growth and development of volleyball and beach volleyball as we look to engage with the sport’s ever growing global fan base and become the world’s leading family sport entertainment.”

The FIVB’s 9 goals are:

1. To move volleyball from group 2 to group 1 in the IOC rankings by 2020

The FIVB takes its role in the Olympic Movement very seriously and is committed to being a loyal partner to the IOC. Volleyball is set to be a flagship event at Rio 2016 and the federation hopes to use the Games as a springboard for further development and expansion.

2. To reach 2 million users on FIVB Digital Platforms by 2016

The FIVB is committed to harnessing the power of digital media to engage and interact with its young, global fan base.

3. To increase the cumulative TV audience by 20% in 2016 and by 100% in 2020

Volleyball is followed by hundreds of millions of people around the world and the FIVB wants to ensure as many fans as possible can enjoy the sport they love from the comfort of their own homes. This is particularly important as volleyball looks to become the “number 1 family sport entertainment in the world”.

4. To sign 4 new global sponsors by 2020 with a goal of 10 million per year

The FIVB’s global partners are key to improving the worldwide visibility of the sport and introducing volleyball to new markets around the world.

5. To grow the average FIVB annual income from 31 million to 66 million by 2020

The development of volleyball and its key properties will significantly enhance revenue generation and allow the FIVB to reinvest into the development of the sport from grassroots to elite level around the world

6. To have a competitive, effective and sustainable bidding process by 2018 for all FIVB main events

The FIVB is committed to operating in a transparent manner in line with Olympic Agenda 2020. As the sport develops around the world more and more cities are showing interest in hosting the FIVB events and the FIVB is working to ensure that this bidding process is as effective and fair as possible

7. To make available a TV or internet feed for FIVB key events to all 221 National Federations by 2016

As one of the largest sports federation in the world, the FIVB has a duty to ensure that all its members have access to the sport across different platforms. This is part of the FIVB aim to expand the ways in which volleyball is offered to fans around the world.

8. To increase the number of licensed/ amateur players by 2018

The FIVB has begun a “Volleyball Your Way” programme which is intended to grow its global fan base, promote its values worldwide and encourage people young and old to practise the sport. The movement was started to show that volleyball is an inclusive sport that can be practiced anywhere, at any time.

9. To become the number 1 sport that serves the needs of humanitarian organisations in their programmes

Sport plays an important role in state, community and peace building activities. The FIVB’s partnership with key humanitarian agencies will go a long way in increasing the effectiveness of sports programmes in post conflict countries around the world.

Australia make a perfect sweep in AVC Beach Volleyball Tour – Indonesia Jogjakarta Open

Jogjakarta, Indonesia, October 11, 2015 – Australia sweep both titles on offer in the 2015 AVC Beach Volleyball Tour – Indonesia Jogjakarta Open, with Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird powering past Chinese Tang Ningya/Chen Chunxia in comfortable showdown 21-13 21-15 to capture the women’s crown.

In the semi-finals earlier, Australian second seeds Peruvian-born Artacho Del Solar/Laird, who finished third place at the recent AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship in Hong Kong, pulled off a scintillating 21-19 21-16 win over the Thai third seeds Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee, silver medallists at the last year’s Asian Beach Games on home soil and the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

Chinese Tang Ningya/Chen Chunxia smashed Australia’s dreams of setting up an all-Australians final to outclass Jordan Mowen/Becchara Palmer 21-14 21-15 in the other semi-final encounter.

Against Chinese Tang/Chen in the women’s showdown, Artacho Del Solar/Laird performed well offensively and defensively. After taking the first set without difficulty 21-13, the Australians remained in smashing form in the second set, with Artacho Del Solar attacking devastatingly. Tang and Chen tried to improve their fortunes by tightening their defence, but their attempts did not last long. The Aussies went on their splendid performance to win the second set 21-15, the match and the championship.

The eventual winners Artacho Del Solar/Laird captured the Champions Trophy plus US$4,000 and 280 world ranking points, while silver medallists Tang and Chen claimed US$3,000 and 252 points.

The third-place playoff saw Thailand’s Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee come from behind to beat Australians Jordan Mowen/Becchara Palmer in hard-fought three-set thriller 18-21 21-18 15-11.

In the men’s event, Australians Cole Durant/Bo Soderberg and Indonesians Fahriansyah Fahriansyah/Ashfiya Mohammad powered their ways into the final showdown with the similar fashion.

Durant/Soderberg came from behind to beat Iranians Bahman Saleminjehboroun/Rahman Raoufi 18-21 21-19 15-13 in the semi-finals, while Fahriansyah/Ashfiya did likewise to produce a comeback 2-1 (28-30 21-12 15-7) win over Kazakhstan’s Sergey Bogatu/Alexandr Dyachenko in the other semi-final clash.

In the men’s showdown, Aussies Durant/Soderberg came up with brilliant form to stun Indonesians Fahriansyah/Ashfiya and their home crowds in straight sets 21-14 21-11 to clinch the men’s title. Durant/Soderberg landed the Champions Trophy plus US$4,000 cash prize and 280 world ranking points.

In the third-place playoff, Iranians Bahman Saleminjehboroun/Rahman Raoufi hit back from the first-set down 16-21 to win the remaining two sets 21-19 15-12 in a thrilling clash against Kazkhstan’s Bogatu/Dyachenko.

 

SUNDAY’S FINAL RESULTS

SEMI-FINALS

MEN: Fahri/Ashfiya (Indonesia) b Bogatu/Dyachenko (Kazakhstan) 2-1 (28-30 21-12 15-7); Durant/Soderberg (Australia) b B.Salemi/R.Raoufi (Iran) 2-1 (18-21 21-19 15-13)

WOMEN: Tang Ningya/Chen Chunxia (China) b Mowen/Palmer (Australia) 2-0 (21-14 21-15); Artacho Del Solar/Laird (Australia) b Radarong/Udomchavee (Thailand) 2-0 (21-19 21-16)

 

THIRD-PLACE PLAYOFFS

MEN: B.Salemi/R.Raoufi (Iran) b Bogatu/Dyachenko (Kazakhstan) 2-1 (16-21 21-19 15-12)

WOMEN: Radarong/Udomchavee (Thailand) b Mowen/Palmer (Australia) 2-1 (18-21 21-18 15-11)

FINALS

MEN: Durant/Soderberg (Australia) b Fahri/Ashfiya (Indonesia) 2-0 (21-14 21-11)

WOMEN: Artacho Del Solar/Laird (Australia) b Tang Ningya/Chen Chunxia (China) 2-0 (21-13 21-15)

FINAL RANKINGS

MEN

1. Durant/Soderberg (Australia) 280 points

2. Fahri/Asfiya (Indonesia) 252 points

3. B.R.Salemi/R.Raufi (Iran) 224 points

4. Bogatu/Dyachenko (Kazakhstan) 196 points

5. Court/Schumann (Australia); Li Zhuoxin/Li (China); Houshmand/A. Pourasgari (Iran); Jefferson/Mahmoud (Qatar) 168 points

9. Ha Likejiang/Bao J (China); Licardo/Candra (Indonesia); Shiratori/Hasegawa (Japan); Takahashi/Ageba (Japan); Yakovlev/Sidorenko (Kazakhstan); O’Dea/Watson (New Zealand); Haitham/Ahmed (Oman); Kittipat/Sukto (Thailand) 140 points

17. Young/Becaldo (Philippines); Naresh/Raju (India); Shiunaz/Anil (Maldives); Kapa/Seymour (New Zealand); Nouh/Mazin (Oman) 112 points

25. Shing/Fung (Hong Kong); Dian/Giland (Indonesia); Soares/Fernandes (Timor Leste); Santosa/Ramadhan (Timo Leste)

 

WOMEN

1. Artacho Del Solar/Laird (Australia) 280 points

2. Tang Ningya/Chen Chunxia (China) 252 points

3. Radarong/Udomchavee (Thailand) 224 points

4. Mowen/Palmer (Australia) 196 points

5. Dhita/Putu (Indonesia); Ishii/Murakami (Japan); Kusano/Hasegawa (Japan); Mashkova/Tsimbalova (Kazakhstan) 168 points

9. Ayu/Yokebed (Indonesia); Thirumahalakshmi/Maheswari (India); Samlikova/Lassyuta (Kazakhstan); Numwong/Hongpak (Thailand) 140 points

13. Desi/Bela (Indonesia); Corte Real Tlman Maria Dircia/BeloKezia Deolinda (Timor Leste) 126 points

Two women’s Australian pairings book semi-finals, with men’s top four seeds eliminated in Indonesia Jogjakarta Open

Jogjakarta, Indonesia, October 10, 2015 – Two Australian pairings cruised their ways into the semi-finals in the women’s event, as top four seeds failed to make their mark in the men’s competition on the third day of the US$37,000 AVC Beach Volleyball Tour – Indonesia Jogjakarta Open at the Sepanang Beach on Saturday.

Australian second seeds Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird, bronze medallists at the last week’s AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship in Hong Kong, pulled off an effortless 21-12 21-10 victory over Japanese Ayumi Kusano/Akiko Hasegawa in 35 minutes to storm their ways into the do-or-die semi-finals, where they are due to take on Thai third seeds Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee, second place at the last year’s Asian Games in Incheon, Korea and the Asian Beach Games on the same year in Phuket, Thailand.

The Thai duo on Saturday overpowered Kazakhstan’s Bakhtygul Samalikova/Yekaterina Lassyuta 21-14 21-13 in the elimination round. Radarong/Udomchavee still shone through their exceptional form in the quarter-finals to stun crack Japanese rivals Miki Ishii/Megumi Murakami 22-20 21-14 for a semi-final spot.

Australian fifth seeds Jordan Mowen/Becchara Palmer also proved a strong team to be reckoned with in this top-fight competition. The Aussies first breezed past Indonesians Ayu Siam/Eka Yokebed 21-12 21-16 in the elimination phase and pulled off a stunning comeback 18-21 21-18 16-14 win in a hard-fought thriller against Kazakh top seeds Tatyana Mashkova/Irina Tsimbalova, gold medallist at the last year’s Asian Beach Games in Thailand.

The consecutive two wins have carried the Australian duo to the semi-finals, where they are due to challenge Tang Ningya/Chen Chunxia. The Chinese tandem were in devastating form on Saturday. After a convincing 21-12 21-7 win in a totally lop-sided 24-minute battle against Indians Rajan Thirumahalakshmi/Maheswari Jayaraman, the Chinese produced a magnificent come-from-behind 14-21 21-1915-9 win over local hopefuls Dhita Juliana/Putu Utami, bronze medallists at the last year’s Asian Beach Games.

In the men’s competition, Indonesians Fahriansyah Fahriansyah/Ashfiya Mohammad will take on Kazakhstan’s Sergey Bogatu/Alexandr Dyachenko, with Iranians Bahman Saleminjehboroun/Raoufi Rahman going up against Australians Cole Durant/Bo Soderberg in the Sunday’s morning semi-finals.

Earlier in the Saturday’s elimination phase, Indonesians Fahriansyah/Ashfiya annihilated Japanese Katsuhiro Shiratori/Yoshiumi Hasegawa 21-19 21-14 before powering past Qataris Jefferson Santos Pereira/Mahmoud Assam Ahmed 23-21 21-12 in the quarter-finals. The Qatari duo surprised Kazakh top seeds Dmitriy Yakovlev/Alexey Sidorenko 21-13 21-17.

Kazakhs Bogatu/Dyachenko brushed off New Zealand’s second seeds Sam O’Dea/Michael Watson 21-9 21-18 to next stun Australian fourth seeds Joshua Court/Damien Schumann 21-16 21-13 in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Iranians Saleminjehboroun/Raoufi shattered Ha Likejiang/Bao Jian’s dreams of advancing to the next round by coming from behind to beat the Chinese duo 19-21 21-15 15-11. Saleminiehboroun/Raoufi later powered past Saber Houshmand/Abbas Pourasgari in the all-Iranians quarter-final clash for a spot in the semi-finals.

Australians Durant/Soderberg struggled to beat Indonesians Candra Ade Rachmawan/Rendy Licardo 13-21 22-20 15-9 to stun Chinese third seeds Li Zhuoxin/Li Jian 17-21 22-20 15-11 in a hard-fought quarter-final encounter.

The semi-finals will be held on the Sunday morning, with the winners advancing to the afternoon’s final showdown and the two losers battling it out in the third-place playoff.

Strong teams show glimpses of blistering form on second day of Indonesia Jogjakarta Open

Jogjakarta, Indonesia, October 9, 2015 – Strong teams powered past less-ranked rivals to stay in contention on the second day of the US$37,000 2015 AVC Beach Volleyball Tour – Indonesia Jogjakarta Open at Sepanang Beach on Friday.

Top seeds Tatyana Mashkova/Irina Tsimbalova from Kazakhstan, gold medallists at the last year’s Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand, pulled off a magnificent come-from-behind 19-21 21-17 15-13 victory over Japanese Ayumi Kusano/Akiko Hasegawa and later received a bye to storm their ways into the Saturday’s quarter-finals.

Australian second seeds Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird, who finished third place at the recent AVC Women’s Championship in Hong Kong, had already outclassed Chinese Tang Ningya/Chen Chunxia on their Thursday’s opening clash. The Aussies also secured a quarter-final berth following their 21-14 21-17 victory over Indonesians Ayu Siam/Eka Yokebed.

Thai third seeds Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee, silver medallists at the last year’s Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand and the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, keep their hopes of making it to the quarter-finals alive as they struggled to beat Kazakhstan’s Bakhtygul Samalikova/Yekaterina Lassyuta 24-22 21-18

Indonesians Dhita Juliana/Putu Utami continued their remarkable unbeaten run in the top-flight tournament on Friday. After a comfortable 21-6 21-7 win in a totally one-sided battle against Indians Rajan Thirumahalakshmi/Maheswari Jayaraman on the previous day, Dhita/Putu on Friday registered straight two victories. The Indonesians first mercilessly crushed Timor Leste’s Corte Real Tilman Maria Dircia/Belo Kezia Deolinda 21-9 21-2 in just 21 minutes to next stun Australians Jordan Mowen/Becchara Palmer in straight sets 22-20 21-16 to advance to the Saturday’s knock-out round.

Meanwhile, in the men’s competition, powerful spikers from Kazakhstan and China performed impressively to maintain their good run on the second day of the competition.

Kazakh top seeds Dmitriy Yakovlev/Alexey Sidorenko showed no mercy to Daniel Young/Jade Becaldo of the Philippines, thrashing them in easy straight set 21-12 21-13 in 26 minutes, while another Kazakh pairing, Sergey Bogatu/Alexandr Dyachenko involved a little problems in overcoming Maldives’ Abdul Waahid Shiunaz/Ahmed Anil Naseer 21-18 21-12.

Chinese Ha Likejiang/Bao Jian brushed off Kiwis Rene Kapa/Morgan Seymour 21-11 21-16 and upped their tempo to stun strong Australians Cole Durant/Bo Soderberg in thrilling battle 21-18 21-19, with team-mates Li Zhouxin/Li Jian toppling Hong Kong’s Lau Tsz Ho Kelvin/Wong Pui Lam 21-14 23-21.

Japanese spikers also proved their talents on Friday with sensational wins. Katsuhiro Shiratori/Yoshiumi Hasegawa tamed Santos Soares Narciso de Jesus/Fernandes Serzito of Timor Leste 21-12 21-16, but struggled to beat Iranians Saleminjehboroun Bahman/Rahman Raoufi 23-21 21-18 in exhausting 47minutes, while Takami Takahashi/Yuya Ageba also claimed two wins on the same day. After outclassing Indians Ram Dhawaskar/Prhalad Dhawaskar 21-15 21-12, Takahashi/Ageba went on their good show following a hard-fought 21-16 21-18 victory over Qataris Jefferson Santos Pereira/Mahmoud Assam Ahmed.

The elimination round will be held on Saturday morning, with all the winning teams advancing to the round of last eight teams. The winners in the afternoon quarter-finals will book Sunday’s semi-final berths.

Australians rule the 2015 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship Hong Kong

Hong Kong, China, October 6, 2015 – Australians Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy of Australia 1 thrashed Vanuatu’s top seeds Linline Matauatu/Miler Pata in comfortable straight sets 21-16 21-15 to capture the 2015 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship Hong Kong on Sunday. For the victory, Bawden/Clancy claimed US$10,000 cash prize plus 500 world ranking points, while the Vanuatu’s duo collected US$7,500 cash plus 450 points. The third place went to Australia 2’s Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird, who powered past China 2’s 21-16 21-14 in the playoff. The Australians claimed US$5,000 plus 400 points.

Hong Kong, China, October 6, 2015 – Australians Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy of Australia 1 thrashed Vanuatu’s top seeds Linline Matauatu/Miler Pata in comfortable straight sets 21-16 21-15 to capture the 2015 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship Hong Kong on Sunday. For the victory, Bawden/Clancy claimed US$10,000 cash prize plus 500 world ranking points, while the Vanuatu’s duo collected US$7,500 cash plus 450 points. The third place went to Australia 2’s Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird, who powered past China 2’s 21-16 21-14 in the playoff. The Australians claimed US$5,000 plus 400 points

Australians Bawden/Clancy reign supreme at 2015 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, China, October 4, 2015 – Australians Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy stamped their authority in the 2015 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship Hong Kong following their scintillating 21-16 21-15 victory over Vanuatu’s top seeds Linline Matauatu/Miller Pata in the Sunday’s final showdown.

In the semi-finals earlier, in-form Bawden and Clancy, who finished fifth at this year’s FIVB Beach Volleyball Women’s Championships in the Netherlands, stunned China 2’s Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi, who captured the gold medal at the last year’s Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, 21-16 21-13, while Matauatu/Pata powered past Australia 2’s duo of Peruvian-born Mariafe Artacho Del Solar and Nicole Laird 21-17 21-15.

Against the talented Matauatu/Pata, who last year claimed two titles in Thailand consisting of the Pattaya Challenger in Chon Buri and the Asian Tour Samila Open in Songkhla, Bawden and Clancy performed well, using their greater experience and form to foil the Vanuatu rivals’ determined fightback in the final showdown

The 183cm Bawden, who represented Australia in the 2012 London Olympics with Becchara Palmer but did not qualify from the pool stage, and Clancy, 184cm tall, combined well to penetrate the Vanuatu’s defence with their spectacular attacks and deceptive drops to win the first set without much effort 21-16.

The second set was still dominated by the Australians, who shone through their exceptional skills defensively and offensively. Bawden/Clancy captured the second set 21-15, the match and the championship. For the victory, Bawden and Clancy claimed 500 world ranking points, with Matauatu/Pata collecting 450 points

It was the year’s first victory of Bawden/Clancy after they finished fourth at the Long Beach Grand Slam in the USA onAugust 23 and a disappointing 25th position at the Oisztyn Grand Slam in Poland on the same month. Last year, the Australian duo clinched the Binz Beach Volleyball Tournament in Germany aside from landing the AVC Beach Volleyball Championship in China.

In the third-place playoff earlier, Australia 2’s Mariafe Artacho Del Solar and Nicole Laird pulled off a convincing 21-16 21-14 win over Chinese Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi to secure the third place of the tournament. Attach Del Solar/Laird claimed 400 points and the Chinese duo collected 350 points.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Semi-Finals

Linline Matauatu/Miller Pata (Vanuatu) b Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird (Australia 2) 2-0 (21-17 21-15)

Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy (Australia 1) b Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi (China 2) 21-16 21-13)

Third-place playoff: Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird (Australia 2) b Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi (China 2) 2-0 (21-16 21-14)

Final: Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy (Australia 1) b Linline Matauatu/Miler Pata (Vanuatu) 2-0 (21-16 21-15)

Final Ranking

1. Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy (Australia 1) 500 points
2. Linline Matauatu/Miller Pata (Vanuatu) 450 points
3. Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird (Australia 2) 400 points
4. Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi (China 2) 350 points
5. Chen Chunxia/Tang Ningya (China 1); Dhita Juliana/Putu Dini Jasita Utami (Indonesia 1); Miki Ishhii/Megumi Murakami (Japan 2); Tatyana Mashkova/Irina Tsimbalova (Kazakhstan 1) 300 points

9. Cat/Wong Yuen Mei (Hong Kong 2); Lo Wai Yan/Tam hing Ching (Hong Kong 3); Takemi Nishibori/Sayaka Mizoe (Japan 1); Bakhtygul Samalikova/Yekaterina Lassyuta (Kazakhstan 2); Julia Tilley/Shaunna Polley (New Zealand); Rumpaipruet Numwong/Khanittha Hongpak (Thailand 2); Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee (Thailand 1); Liu Pi Hsing/Chang Ya Chu (Chinese Taipei 2) 240 points

17. Tatiana Sablan/Kendra Byrd (Guam 1); Jasmine Wenzel/Kristi Hammond (Guam); To Wing Tun/Koo Yung Yung (Hong Kong 1); Law W.S./Leong O.I (Macao); Lei S.K./Lei W.S. (Macao); Kou Nai Han/Tsai T.J. (Chinese Taipei); Do Hong Loan Huynh/Cam Thi Tran (Vietnam) 180 points

Photos taken in semi-finals

Linline Matauatu/Miller Pata (Vanuatu) against Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird (Australia 2)

Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy (Australia 1) against Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi (China 2)

Overseas teams set up training camps at FIVB DC in Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand, October 4, 2015 – The  New Zealand women’s junior volleyball team have been in training camp for one week at the FIVB Development Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.

The team arrived in Thailand on September 28 and have been training at the FIVB DC until October 5. During their training stints in Thailand, the Kiwi girls had an opportunity to sharpen their expertise and develop new skills with four Thai women’s junior teams from Satrinonthaburi School, Bodindecha School, Bangkok Sports School and Nakornnon Sports School.

Aside from strengthening cordial ties, the friendly matches among them are also aimed at encouraging idea and experience sharing as well as learning cultures of both sides. Not only the Kiwi players, but also their staff coaches have been highly satisfied with the Thai hospitality and their training in particular in Bangkok.

This year, the FIVB Development Centre in Bangkok, Thailand has already served several teams for their training camps at the development centre. They included junior teams from Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand and national teams from Maldives and Australia.

Thailand has become volleyball hub of Asia since the inauguration of the AVC Headquarters in Bangkok last year and the establishment of the FIVB Development Centre in Bangkok many years ago. Several teams have already arrived for training camps at the FIVB DC and increasing teams are expected for years to come.

Two Australian teams join Vanuatu and China in semi-finals of 2015 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, China, October 3, 2015 – Two Australian pairings advanced to the Sunday’s semi-finals of the 2015 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship Hong Kong, with Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird taking on Vanuatu’s Linline Matauatu/Miller Pata and Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy pitted against Chinese Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi.

Contesting the quarter-finals on Saturday, top seeds Matauatu/Pata, who combined well to win two titles in Thailand last year consisting of the Pattaya Challenger in Chon Buri and the Asian Tour Samila Open in Songkhla, had a little problems in thrashing Indonesia 1’s Dhita Juliana/Putu Dini Jasita Utami in straight sets 21-11 21-19, while Peruvian-born Artacho/Laird of Australia 2 produced a magnificent come-from-behind 17-21 21-11 15-13 victory over Japan 2’s Miki Ishii/Megumi Murakami.

The other quarter-final matches saw Australia 1’s Bawden/Clancy power past China 1’s Chen Chunxia/Tang Ningya 22-20 21-15 and China 2’s Ma/Xia stun Kazakhstan 1’s Tatyana Mashkova/Irina Tsimbalova, gold medallists at the last year’s Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand, 21-14 21-17.

In the Sunday morning’s semi-finals, Vanuatu’s Matauatu/Pata will go up against Australia 2’s Artacho/Laird, gold medallists at the last year’s World Under 23 Beach Volleyball Championships in Poland, while Australia 1’s Bawden/Clancy will challenge China 2’s Ma/Xia, champions at the last year’s Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

The two losers will battle it out in the Sunday afternoon’s third-place playoff, with the two winning teams advancing to the afternoon final showdown.

Meanwhile, Thailand 1’s Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee, silver medallists at the last year’s Asian Beach Games on home soil and the Asian Games in Korea, failed to make their mark to go down 16-21 9-21 to much stronger Bawden/Clancy from Australia 1 in the elimination round. Team-mates Khanittha Hongpak/Rumpaipruet Numwong also faced the similar fate when they were beaten by Japanese Miki Ishii/Megumi Murakami in a totally one-sided battle 9-21 10-21.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

ELIMINATION ROUND

Linline Matauatu/Miller Pata (Vanuatu) b Julia Tilley/Shaunna Polley (New Zealand) 2-0 (21-14 21-13)

Dhita Juliana/Putu Dini Jasita Utami (Indonesia 1) b Bakhtygul Samalikova/Yekaterina Lassyuta (Kazakhstan 2) 2-0 (21-12 21-15)

Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird (Australia 2)  b Lo Wai Yan/Tam Hing Ching (Hong Kong 3) 2-0 (21-12 21-11)

Miki Ishii/Megumi Murakami (Japan 2) b Khanittha Hongpak/Rumpaipruet Numwong (Thailand 2) 2-0 (21-9 21-10)

Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy (Australia 1) b Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee (Thailand 1) 2-0 (21-16 21-9)

Chen Chunxia/Tang Ningya (China 1) b Liu Pi Hsin/Chang Ya Chu (Chinese Taipei 2) 2-1 (21-15 16-21 15-9)

Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi (China 2) b Cat/Won Yuen Mei (Hong Kong 2) 2-0 (21-14 21-10)

Tatyana Mashkova/Irina Tsimbalova (Kazakhstan 1) b Takemi Nishibori/Sayaka Mizoe (Japan 1) 2-1 (21-10 19-21 15-12)

QUARTER-FINALS

Matauatu/Pata (Vanuatu) b Dhita/Putu (Indonesia 1) 2-0 (21-11 21-19)

Artacho Del Solar/Laird (Australia 2) b Ishii/Murakami (Japan 2) 2-1 (17-21 21-11 15-13)

Bawden/Clancy (Australia 1) b Chen Chunxia/Tang Ningya (China 1) 2-0 (22-20 21-15)

Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi (China 2) b Mashkova/Tsimbalova (Kazakhstan 1) 2-0 (21-14 21-17)

MATCH SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2015

SEMI-FINALS

Match 37: Matauatu/Pata (Vanuatu) v Artacho Del Solar/Laird (Australia)

Match 38: Bawden/Clancy (Australia) v Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi (China 2)

THIRD-PLACE PLAYOFF: Losers Match 37 v Match 38

FINAL: Winners Match 37 v Match 38

Strong teams enjoy comfortable wins on opening day of 2015 AVC Women’s BV Championship in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, China, October 1, 2015 – The 2015 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship Hong Kong kicked off on Thursday with strong showings by big guns, thrashing their respective rivals in comfortable straight sets.

Vanuatu’s top seeds Miller Pata/Linline Matauatu, who captured two titles last year in Thailand consisting of the Pattaya Challenger in Chon Buri and the Asian Tour Samila Open in Songkhla, lived up to their top billing to mercilessly crush Law Weng Sam/Leong On Ieng 21-5 21-4 in just 22 minutes in Pool A. The Macao 2’s duo suffered the second loss at the hands of Kazakhstan 2’s Bakhtygul Samalikova/Yekaterina Lassyuta after going down tamely 10-21 13-21 in 26 minutes.

The same script was written in Pool B when Macao 1’s Lei Sing Kuan/Lei Weng Si lost twice on the same day. They first went down to Japan 1’s second seeds Takemi Nishibori/Sayaka Mizoe 4-21 5-21 in just 25 minutes before succumbing their second defeat to Hong Kong 3’s Lo Wai Yan/Tam Hin Ching Rachel 18-21 12-21.

In Pool C, third seeds Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy of Australia 1 tasted their first victory in the four-day event following their convincing 21-13 21-11 triumph over Chinese Taipei 2’s Liu Pi Hsin/Chang Ya Chu. However, the Taiwanese pairing made amends to brush off Hong Kong 1’s To Wing Tung/Koo Yung Yung 21-6 21-16 in their second clash.

Kazakhstan 1’s fourth seeds Tatyana Mashkova/Irina Tsimbalova, gold medallists at the last year’s Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand, got their Pool D campaign off to a flying start with sensational 21-12 21-13 win over Chinese Taipei 1’s Kou Nai Han/Tasai Tsui Jung. The Taiwanese duo continued their losing streak following the bitter 9-21 12-21 loss to Japan 2’s Miki Ishii/Megumi Murakami in their second encounter.

In Pool E, Australia 2’s fifth seeds Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird powered past Indonesia 2’s Desi Ratnasari/Ayu Cahyaning Siam 21-11 21-20, while New Zealand’s Julia Tilley/Shaunna Polley added to the Indonesians’ same wounds with another agony after beating Desi/Ayu in hard-fought straight-set encounter 21-18 21-17.

Sixth seeds Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee, silver medallists at two major tournaments last year comprising the Asian Beach Games on homes soil in Phuket and the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, gave Thailand something to cheer in Pool F when the Thai pairing thrashed Guam 1’s Tatiana Sablan/Kendra Byrd 21-5 21-4 in 26 minutes. The Guam’s pairing tried to improve their form in their second clash against Chen Chunxia/Tang Ningya. Still, the Chinese proved too much for the hapless rivals, overwhelming them with power and superb form to win the one-sided match 21-7 21-9.

Vietnam’s Do Hong Loan Huynh/Cam Thi Tran failed to make their mark in Pool G to go down straight two losses. They suffered their first loss 15-21 16-21 at the hands of the Incheon Asian Games gold medallists Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi of China 2 before losing 17-21 11-21 to Thailand 2’s Khanittha Hongpak/Rumpaipruet Numwong.

In Pool H, Hong Kong 2’s Ng Tin Lai/Wong Yuen Mei pulled off a comfortable 21-12 21-5 win over Guam 2’s Jasmine Wenzel/Kristi Hammond. The Guam duo’s second encounter saw them beaten in straight sets 8-21 11-21 by Indonesia 1’s Dhita Juliana/Putu Dini Jasita Utami.

The pool round-robin preliminaries continue through Friday before the drawing of lots will be made for teams advancing for the next round.

MATCH SCHEDULE

Friday, October 2, 2015

Linline Matauatu/Miller Pata (Vanuatu) v Bakhtygul Samalikova/Yekaterina Lassyuta (Kazakhstan 2)

Takemi Nishibori/Sayaka Mizoe (Japan 1) v Lo Wai Yan/Tam Hing Ching (Hong Kong 3)

Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy (Australia 1) v To Wing Tung/Koo Yung Yung (Hong Kong 1)

Tatyana Mashkova/Irina Tsimbalova (Kazakhstan 1) v Miki Ishii/Megumi Murakami (Japan 2)

Mariafe Artacho Del Solar/Nicole Laird (Australia 2) v Julia Tilley/Shaunna Polley (New Zealand)

Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee (Thailand 1) v Chen Chunxia/Tang Ningya (China 1)

Ma Yuanyuan/Xia Xinyi (China 2) v Khanittha Hongpak/Rumpaipruet Numwong (Thailand 2)

Ng Tin Lai/Wong Yuen Mei (Hong Kong 2) v Dhita Juliana/Putu Dini Jasita Utami (Indonesia 2)

2015 AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship Hong Kong kicks off October 1

Hong Kong, China, September 30, 2015 – A total of 24 teams from 13 countries will strut their stuff in the 2015 AVC Beach Volleyball Tour – Hong Kong Open Women’s Championship between October 1 to 4.

The team briefing and drawing of lots were held on Wednesday, with AVC Secretary-General Mr Shanrit Wongprasert presiding over the ceremony. Also joining the meeting were Referee Delegate Mr Stephen Giugni, Technical Supervisor Mr Anthony Liao, Mr Cheung Chi Wai, Director of Volleyball Association of Hong Kong China, and Executive Chairperson Mr Thomas Chang.

According to the draw, the 24 teams have been split into eight groups (A to H) of three teams. The participating countries comprise Vanuatu, Kazakhstan, Macao, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Guam and Vietnam.

The pool plays will be held on Thursday morning, with Vanuatu’s Linlin Matauatu/Pata Miller, who captured last year’s Pattaya Challenger in Chon Buri, Thailand and this year’s Samila Open Asian Beach Volleyball Tour in Songkhla, Thailand, taking on Macao’s Law W.S/Leong O.I in Pool A, Japanese Takemi Nishibori/Sayaka Mizoe will play Macao’s Lei S.K/Lei W.S in Pool B, while Thailand’s Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee, silver medallists at the last year’s Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand, and silver medallists at the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea on the same year, set up their first clash against little-known players from Guam in Pool F.

The pool round-robin competition will take place from October 1 to 2 before the draw will next be held for teams competing in the second round.

Afghanistan organises successful central zone championship

Kabul, Afghanistan, September 30, 2015 – The Afghanistan Volleyball Federation took another leap in the development of their programmes after they have successfully conducted the Central Zone Volleyball Championship from September 2 to 8.

Sixteen volleyball teams from eight provinces participated in the one-week championship.

The tournament climaxed with the final match between National Security Directorate (NDS) and World Sport, where NDS prevailed in four sets.

The Deputy Director General for Sport awarded the championship trophy to NDS, while the vice president of the National Olympic Committee gave the runners-up trophy to World Sport.

After earning the top two spots in the championship, NDS and World Sport have qualified for the Afghanistan Volleyball Champions League, which will be on October 15.

FIVB Coaches Course Level III concludes in Thailand

FIVB Coaches Course Level III concludes in Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand, September 28, 2015 – The FIVB Coaches Course Level III came to a close at the FIVB Development Center in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday, with Thailand Volleyball Association’s President Mr Somporn Chaibangyang, presiding over the closing ceremony and presenting attestations to all course participants.

The development course kicked off on September 20 with ultimate aims of improving the knowledge and competence of coaches so that they may gain recognition as future FIVB coaches aside from exchanging ideas and valuable experiences among them.

The course was conducted practically and theoretically, with Mr Miloslav Ejem from Czech Republic being the Course Director and Mr Zhao Shanwen from China the Course Instructor.

A total of 22 men’s coaches from 15 countries joined the eight-day course consisting of two Philippines, three each from Hong Kong, Japan and Macau and one apiece from Bahrain, China, Cambodia, Hungary, Iran, Kenya, Morocco, Malaysia, Qatar, Zimbabwe and Thailand.

To participate in the Level III course, which has been regarded as the coaching course of high-level teams and preparation or direction of national coach programes, the coaches must have passed Level II.

Aside from TVA’s President Mr Somporn Chaibangyang, AVC’s Secretary-General Mr Shanrit Wongprasert and Chairman of the AVC Referees Committee Mr Songsak Charoenpong also joined the closing ceremonyon Sunday as guests of honour.