World Tour beach volleyball to begin today
Sweden and Israel are the final participants of the FIVB Tuan Chau Ha Long Open after winning their qualification matches on May 9 in Quang Ninh Province.
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Fanny Lindstrom and Sara Malmstrom (of Sweden) defeated fellow player Talar Kirkor and Anniken Radstrom 21-19, 21-14 in the first match. Sofia Starikov and Noy Chorin (of Israel) knocked out Russia’s Ekaterina Filina and Mariia Kontorskaia 21-11, 21-13 in the second match.
Sweden and Israel will join 14 other pairs to compete in the Main Draw, which will begin today with pool play matches, scheduled to start at 8.30am local time.
The single elimination bracket round will take place on May 11, with the semi-final and final on May 12.
Matches will be aired live on VTV6 channel.
The Main Draw will see top two seeds of the tournament, both from Japan, taking on local sides who are World Tour debutants.
No. 1 seeds Sayaka Mizoe and Suzuka Hashimoto will lead the charge against Do Thi Hau and Hoang Thi Thanh Huyen. The Japanese pair are fresh from a silver medal at the two-star Phnom Penh event last week, their best finish together in an FIVB World Tour tournament.
No. 2 seeds Yui Nagata and Minori Kumada will clash with Phan Thi Ha Nhi and Bich Vi.
The tournament has been recognised as a World Tour event this year after being an Asian competition for many years.
