Ukrainians, Germans lead Race in Kish Island Qualification

Kish Island, Iran, February 20, 2018 – Ukrainian and German pairs led the race in the qualification round of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour MICA Mall Kish Island 3-star, with two teams earning two victories each to move to the main draw at the Kish Marine Recreation Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Vladyslav Iemelianchyk/Sergiy Popov gave Ukraine their positive start with a 2-0 (21-11, 21-17) win over Switzerland’s Adrian Heidrich and Mico Gerson, while compatriots Iaroslav Gordieiev/Evgen Zhuravel and Oleksii Denin/Denys Denysenko followed suit to keep their bid intact in the second round.

The Germans also had three teams in the first round but only Alexander Walkenhorst/Sven Winter and Julius Thole/Clemens Wickler made it through, as seasoned player Jonathan Erdmann and his partner Max Betzien bowed out of the tournament in a three-setter against Italy’s Tiziano Andreatta/Andrea Abbiati.

In the second round, Iemelianchyk/Popov kept their momentum going as they beat Indonesia’s Gilang Ramadhan/Danangsyah Pribadi 2-0 (21-18, 21-13), while Denin/Denysenko concluded the day with a hard-fought 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) win over Thailand’s Nuttanon Inkiew/Sedtawat Padsawud.

Walkenhorst/Winter eliminated Gordieiev/Zhuravel 2-0 (21-16, 23-21), while Thole J./Wickler beat Turkey’s Murat Giginoglu/Hasan Huseyn Mermer to stay in contention.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Konstantin Semenov/Ilya Leshukov came up with two victories to be among the teams that will advance to the next round. Semenov’s entry to the Kish Island 3-star marks his return to active duty in beach volleyball since his fourth-place finish at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“After the Olympic Games, I had a long talk with my wife because it was very difficult to give time for my family because of competition and training, that is why I considered playing volleyball,” Semenov said. “It was very difficult because I had some minor injuries on my leg. That convinced my wife that I should play the discipline that I love, which is beach volleyball.

“I am very happy that I am back playing beach volleyball. I will try to give each match and each day 100 per cent. I am very happy to get two victories in the qualification round. I have a young partner, but we will try to be better and we will work hard to get medals.”

France’s Olivier Barthelemy/Romain Di Giantomasso, Lithuania’s Arnas Rumsevicius/Lukas Kazdailis and Italy’s Abbiati/Andreatta rounded up the teams made it through to the next round.