Qatar 1’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan continued their strong campaign at the AVC Beach Tour Doha Open 2026, finishing top of Pool A with three consecutive victories.
Their qualification came at the end of Sunday’s second day of competition, which featured 20 matches: 16 in the men’s event and four in the women’s competition.
The Qatari pair strengthened their position with a 21–9, 21–15 victory over China’s Li Wei and Yuan Ningfei, before defeating Indonesia’s Firza and Rizqi 21–13, 21–9.
Qatar 1 had opened their campaign by beating Thailand’s S. Noppadon and T. Poravid 21–15, 21–19.
In men’s Pool C, Qatar 2’s Moussa Al Khair and Mohamed Ihab lost to Australia’s Merritt and Walker 13–21, 17–21, before suffering a second straight-sets defeat against China’s Li Xiaokai and Sun Xinglong, 24–26, 13–21.
In the same pool, Li Xiaokai and Sun Xinglong defeated Saudi Arabia’s Wafi Al Jasser and Ali Al Awami 21–7, 21–14. Merritt and Walker also beat the Saudi pair, winning 21–8, 21–13.
In Pool D, Qatar 3’s Saifeddine Al Majid and Mahmoud Essam lost a three-set contest to Indonesia’s Imam and Firouz, with the match finishing 21–18, 13–21, 23–21 in favour of the Indonesian pair.
Australia’s Howat and Bennett defeated Thailand’s Netithorn and Wachirawit 30–28, 19–21, 15–12.
The Thai pair then beat Qatar 3 by 21–16, 17–21, 15–13, while Howat and Bennett overcame Imam and Firouz 21–19, 21–18.
In Pool B, Lebanon’s Hadi Shbib and Jad Abi Karam defeated China’s Dong Shaoquan and Hong Weiqiang 2–1. The Lebanese pair won the opening set 21–18, lost the second 11–21 and secured the deciding set 15–10.
Australia’s Bushby and Schumann recorded two victories in the same pool, beating Japan’s Takahashi and Ikeda 21–15, 21–13, then defeating Shbib and Abi Karam 21–18, 21–15.
The final Pool B fixture between Takahashi and Ikeda and China’s Dong Shaoquan and Hong Weiqiang was recorded as a 2–0 walkover, with no sets played.
In Pool A, Thailand’s Noppadon and Poravid lost to Indonesia’s Firza and Rizqi after winning the opening set 21–13, before conceding the next two 19–21, 13–15.
The Thai pair also defeated China’s Li Wei and Yuan Ningfei 21–18, 23–21.
Women’s competition
Four matches took place in the women’s event.
In Pool B, Japan’s Rin and Non defeated Thailand’s Samita and Somruedee 22–20, 11–21, 15–7.
In Pool D, Australia’s Milutinovic and Phillips beat Qatar’s Haya Abu Issa and Layla Mohamed 21–11, 21–7.
Thailand’s Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn defeated China’s Wei Luqian and Chen Yingshan 21–11, 21–16 in Pool C.
The women’s programme concluded with Japan’s Asami Shiba and Rika Murakami beating Lebanon’s Myrna Cheikho and Lara El Nahi 21–17, 21–7 in Pool A.
Men’s pool standings
Qatar 1’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan finished top of Pool A with three wins from three matches and six points.
Australia’s Bushby and Schumann topped Pool B with the same perfect record. Lebanon’s Hadi Shbib and Jad Abi Karam finished second with two wins, one defeat and five points.
In Pool C, Australia’s Merritt and Walker took first place with three wins and six points. China’s Li Xiaokai and Sun Xinglong finished second with two wins, one defeat and five points.
Qatar 2’s Moussa Al Khair and Mohamed Ihab placed third with one win, two defeats and four points.
Australia’s Howat and Bennett topped Pool D with three wins and six points. Thailand’s Netithorn and Wachirawit finished second with two wins, one defeat and five points.
Qatar 3’s Saifeddine Al Majid and Mahmoud Essam finished fourth after losing all three matches.
Women’s pool standings
Japan’s Asami Shiba and Rika Murakami topped Pool A with two wins and four points. Lebanon’s Myrna Cheikho and Lara El Nahi finished second with one win, one defeat and three points.
In Pool B, Japan’s Rin Matsumoto and Non Matsumoto finished first with two wins and four points. Thailand’s Samita and Somruedee placed second with one win, one defeat and three points.
Qatar 2’s Shaghaf Ismail and Malak Hashem finished third without a victory.
Thailand’s Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee topped Pool C with two wins and four points, followed by China’s Wei Luqian and Chen Yingshan with one win, one defeat and three points.
Qatar 3’s Aisha Al Alawi and Nelly Amr finished third without a win.
In Pool D, Australia’s Milutinovic and Phillips finished first with two wins and four points. China’s Fu Guirong and Cui Ruixuan placed second with one win, one defeat and three points.
Qatar 1’s Haya Abu Issa and Layla Mohamed finished third without a victory.