Tue, Sep 28 10 10:53 PM
Chennai, Sept 28 (PTI) Three Indian men''s teams today qualified for the main draw of the SRM Cup-FIVB Chennai Challenger Beach Volleyball Championship here. The three teams are Mohan P and John M Pradeep, Shasi and Raju and Siva and Dhamu. The 32 team mens draw will comprise 24 direct entries and eight qualifying teams, while the 24 squad womens event will have 20 direct entries and three qualifiers. In a qualifying tie, Mohan and Pradeep played the toughest three-set game against Fijis Raratabu Aisake and Elliot Qilu (of the Drifters team) to sail into the main draw. The Indian women, however, found the conditions (including the two-piece bikini dress code) too hot to handle. The demolition of M S Swapna and R Anitha in the centre court by the athletic Kazhak pair of Issayeva Lyudmilla and Rakhmatulina Inna exposed the gap between the two teams. The Kazhaks, however, met their Waterloo in Malayasias Shun Thing Beh and Teck Hua Luk. Our girls lack stamina as they are more used to the six-team volleyball. They practice beach volleyball only a month before a major tournament and that is not sufficient, Indian coach Rathi, a former beach volleyball player, opined. At the outset, we are hindered by the dress code. It is not possible for us culturally to accept the FIVB norm of playing in a two-piece bikini. So we are confined to playing regular volleyball, whereas the foreigners train specifically for beach volleyball, she explained. The Malaysian pair that knocked out the Kazhaks was really excited at making the main draw. We are happy that we are assured of some prize money. We want to play in Indonesia, China and Thailand ahead of the Asian Games, Shun Thing and Teck Hua said. Results: Qualifiers: Women: Second round: Karla Borger and Britta Buthe (Ger) beat Sagari Gunasinghe and W W Sujeewa 21-12, 21-13. Heather Hughes and Michelle Moriaty (USA) beat Ana Maria Vidal Bouza and Maria Jose Corral Bouza (Spn) 21-14, 21-16, Joanna Papageorgiou and Christina Roubanis (Gre) beat Ashya Basam A Roselin J Christy (Ind) 21-5, 21-8. Shun Thing Beh and Teck Hua Luk (Mas) Issayeva Lyudmilla and Rakhmatulina Inna (Kaz) 23-21, 13-21, 15-9. Men: Second round: Shasi and Raju (Ind) beat Sara-Saravanan (Ind) 21-14, 21-13. Chong Long and Rafi (Mas) beat Keawwonsai and Prigbangkhem (Tha) 21-16, 21-11. Mohan and John (Ind) beat Raratabu-Drifters (Fij) 23-21, 14-21, 15-11. Siva and Dhamu (Ind) beat Ray and Michael (Hkg) 21-14, 21-7. R Naeini and R Raouf (Ira) beat Anurak and Cheamnithurakan (Tha) 21-9, 21-17. Perera and Rathnapala (SL) beat Karukhin Samoshkin (Rus) 21-18, 14-21, 17-15. P Farrokhi and A Salagh (Ira) beat Okasha and Atta (Egy) 21-17, 21-16.
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