Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei, August 23, 2024 – Strong contenders lived up to their expectations to pull off sensational wins against lower-ranked sides on action-packed Day 1 of the double-gender “Taichung Bank” AVC Beach Tour Taoyuan Open at Dayuan Beach Volleyball Court here.
A total of 28 teams from 10 countries featuring 15 men’s teams and 13 women’s pairings started their pool-play campaign on Friday to vie for top honours and AVC accumulated points in both events.
Australia ruled the roost in the women’s competition on Friday, with their three teams demolishing their opponents in respective pools.
Top seeds Stefanie Fejes/Georgia Johnson, winners at the 2024 World Beach Pro Tour Futures – Krakow in Poland and gold medallists at this year’s Samila Open in Songkhla, Thailand, proved too strong for Jidapa Bunongkhun/Salinda Mungkhon to power past the Thai duo 2-0 (21-14, 21-17) in Pool A. However, Jidapa/Salinda made amends to mercilessly crush Macao, China’s Leong On Ieng/Law Weng Sam in totally one-sided battle 21-11, 21-7 in 26 minutes.
Fejes/Johnson will next take on Macao, China’s Leong On Leng/Law Weng Sam on Saturday.
In Pool B, the match between Australia’s second seeds Jasmine Fleming/Jana Milutinovic and Shin Jieun/Si Eun-Mi became one-way traffic when the Australian tandem overwhelmed the Koreans 2-0 (21-9, 21-11). Shin Jieun/Si Eun-Mi suffered another setback when they succumbed to 0-2 (5-21, 9-21) defeat to Thailand’s seventh seeds Patcharaporn Seehawong/Samitta Simarongnam.
The Aussies will next go up against Patcharaporn/Samitta on Sunday.
Thailand’s third seeds Charanrutwadee Patcharamainaruebhorn/Woranatchayakorn Phirachayakrailert produced comeback 2-1 (18-21, 21-9, 15-8) win against Chinese Taipei’s Wang Sin Ting/Xie Yi-Ran in Pool C. The host side suffered two losses in a row following their 12-21, 13-21 defeat to Philippines’ Genesa Jane Eslapor/Mary Klymince Orillaneda.
The Filipinas will next test their mettle against Thailand’s Charanrutwadee/Woranatchayakorn on Saturday.
Pool D encounters saw Chinese Taipei’s fourth seeds Liu Pi-Hsin/Wu Shu-Fen brush off Korea’s Jeon Hari/Kim Seyeon 2-0 (21-10, 21-15). The Korean duo lost two in succession following their 6-21, 10-21 loss at the hands of Australia’s fifth seeds Tara Phillips/Elizabeth Alchin, who earlier recorded their first win against Malaysians Goh Chiao Huey/Qi Min Siah IRene 2-0 (21-10, 21-9).
In the men’s event, teams with higher…
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