Ahmed Tijan (left) and Cherif Younousse celebrate their victory.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Olympic bronze medallists Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan captured the AVC Beach Tour Pingtan Open men’s title at the Beach Sport Base of Pingtan, China, yesterday. The top seeded duo, currently ranked 12th in the world, completed a hat trick of 2025 Asian tour crowns, adding the Pingtan gold to victories in Songkhla’s Samila Open and the Doha Open.
The top-seeded duo overcame Australia’s Ben Hood and Oliver Merritt in the final without much hassle, posting a 21 15, 21 14 victory in 34 minutes.
Younousse and Tijan stormed through the knockout phase without conceding a set. In the quarter finals they brushed aside Thailand’s Banlue Nakprakhong and Durwint Kaewsai 21 15, 21 13 before dismantling of China’s Wang Yanwei and Du Hongjun 21 8, 21 16 in the semi final to set up a championship showdown with surprise finalists Hood and Merritt.
The result preserved their unbeaten run on the 2025 continental tour ahead of next month’s Olympic qualification events.
