Day 1 of the 2024 WPV Beach ParaVolley Men’s World Championship in Chongqing, China, delivered a thrilling start to the tournament, with standout performances and intense matches. Poland 1 and India emerged as the day’s top contenders, each securing double victories.
India kicked off the tournament with a dominant 2-0 (21-11, 21-12) win over Australia. Their strong start and ability to capitalise on key moments set the tone for their campaign. Meanwhile, Poland 2 faced a tougher challenge but managed an exhilarating comeback against Slovakia. Despite losing the first set, rallying to win 2-1 (20-22, 21-8, 15-7), showcasing their ability to make tactical adjustments.
Poland 1 continued the Polish momentum with a straight-set victory over Latvia, winning 2-0 (21-18, 21-8) and showcasing their readiness to compete at the highest level.
India’s second match of the day was a test of tenacity, as they overcame a first-set defeat to beat Slovakia 2-1 (17-21, 21-15, 15-8), underlining their brilliance.
The much-anticipated all-Polish showdown between Poland 1 and Poland 2 lived up to the hype, with Poland 1 emerging victorious in a hard-fought 2-1 match (16-21, 21-10, 15-9), with their comeback win highlighting their skill and clutch game that helped extend their unbeaten run.
Latvia, after their earlier loss, rebounded with a strong performance against Australia, securing a 2-0 victory (21-14, 21-15).
Meanwhile, in her opening ceremony speech, WPV President Lori Okimura warmly welcomed everyone to the first-ever WPV Men’s Beach ParaVolley World Championship, expressing her gratitude to the organisers in Yunyang for their excellent preparations.
She thanked the Yunyang County People’s Government, the Chongqing Disabled Persons Federation, and the Chongqing Sports Bureau for their support, as well as other organisations that contributed to the event operations.
Okimura acknowledged the hard work of the World ParaVolley International Technical Officials, led by Technical Delegate David Cox of Norway and Jeffrey Brehaut of Great Britain, who have been pivotal in delivering the historic event.
“We hope the experience here in China is a productive and positive one for the participants of this historic event,” Okimura said, emphasising the importance of the world championship in establishing beach paravolley and aspiring for its inclusion in the Paralympic Games.
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