Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan advanced to the semifinals of the AVC Beach Tour Doha Open 2026 after defeating Thailand’s Netithorn and Wachirawit in straight sets in Monday’s quarterfinals at the International Beach Volleyball Centre of Excellence in Al Gharrafa.
The Qatari pair won a closely contested opening set 26–24 before taking the second 21–16, securing their place in the last four and keeping their home-title ambitions on track.
Cherif and Tijan will face Australia’s Joshua Howat and Finlay Bennett in the semifinals at 9:20 p.m. Doha time. The pair are aiming to maintain their strong form and reach the final after finishing top of Pool A with three successive straight-sets victories.
They opened their campaign with a 21–15, 21–19 win over Thailand’s S. Noppadon and T. Poravid, then defeated China’s Li Wei and Yuan Ningfei 21–9, 21–15 before completing the group stage with a 21–13, 21–9 victory over Indonesia’s Firza and Rizqi.
These results reinforce Qatar 1’s title ambitions, supported by Cherif and Tijan’s extensive continental and international experience. The pair recently won gold at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan, adding to their record of beach volleyball achievements.
All-Australian clash in men’s semifinals
Australia’s Oliver Merritt and Jed Walker reached the semifinals with a 21–17, 21–14 quarterfinal victory over Thailand’s S. Noppadon and T. Poravid.
Fellow Australians Solomon Bushby and Justin Schumann also advanced after defeating China’s Li Xiaokai and Sun Xinglong 2–1. The Australians won the opening set 21–8, lost the second 15–21 and took the deciding set 15–12.
Joshua Howat and Finlay Bennett completed the semifinal line-up by beating Lebanon’s Hadi Shbib and Jad Abi Karam 21–17, 22–20.
Merritt and Walker will face Bushby and Schumann in the first semifinal at 8:30 p.m., followed by Cherif and Tijan against Howat and Bennett at 9:20 p.m.
Japan, Thailand and Australia represented in women’s semifinals
Japan’s Rin Matsumoto and Non Matsumoto reached the women’s semifinals after defeating China’s Wei Luqian and Chen Yingshan 21–9, 21–15.
Thailand’s Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn also advanced, beating compatriots S. Samita and K. Somruedee 21–13, 21–18.
Australia’s Milutinovic and Phillips progressed with a 21–17, 21–14 win over Lebanon’s Myrna and Lara, while Japan’s Asami Shiba and Rika Murakami defeated China’s Fu Guirong and Cui Ruixuan 21–10, 21–13.
The women’s semifinals take place this evening, with Thailand facing Japan at 8:30 p.m. and the other Japanese team meeting Australia at 9:20 p.m.
Teams from eight countries
The AVC Beach Tour Doha Open 2026 runs from 10 to 13 October, featuring 27 teams: 16 in the men’s competition and 11 in the women’s event.
The participating teams represent Qatar, Australia, China, Japan, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Indonesia.
The tournament concludes on Tuesday with the bronze-medal matches, men’s and women’s finals, and medal presentations.