In a landmark victory for Qatari beach volleyball, the seasoned Olympic duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan have finally reached the pinnacle in Gstaad, securing the gold medal at the prestigious Elite16 tournament. This win marks their first triumph in the Swiss Alps, a location they`ve visited seven times together on the professional circuit. It also represents their second title of the 2025 Beach Pro Tour season, signaling strong form as the season progresses.
The path to gold led them through a challenging final against the formidable Swedish pair, Jacob Hölting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson. The match unfolded over two tightly contested sets, concluding with a score of 21-19, 22-20 in favor of the Qataris. The second set provided a moment of high drama, arguably a brief test of nerve, as the Swedish team mounted a remarkable comeback from a significant 20-15 deficit, saving multiple match points to level the score at 20-20. However, demonstrating characteristic composure under pressure, Cherif and Ahmed scored two crucial consecutive points to seal their historic win.
As Cherif wisely noted afterwards, “They had been playing very well since the tournament started, so we were ready for everything. Their comeback in the second set was crazy, but we knew they were able to do it. There are no easy matches at this level and you need to expect anything.”
This victory is particularly sweet given their history in Gstaad. Since first competing together here in 2018, this was indeed their seventh attempt to stand atop this specific podium. The scenic venue, nestled in the Swiss Alps, has long been a staple of the international beach volleyball calendar, and conquering it holds significant weight for any team. Cherif also made a point to acknowledge the crucial role of the local support:
“We need to thank the fans here in Gstaad. Since 2021, every time we play here, it doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the net, they always support us.”
Their 2025 season saw a slightly later start compared to some competitors, following a bronze medal performance at the previous year`s Beach Pro Tour Finals. Their competitive season kicked off in May with a gold medal finish at the Xiamen Challenge, followed by a respectable fifth-place finish at the Ostrava Elite event in June, setting the stage perfectly for this significant Gstaad win.
Boermans and de Groot Secure Bronze in Birthday Battle
Meanwhile, the battle for third place also delivered compelling action for the fans. The Dutch duo, Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot, claimed the bronze medals after a hard-fought tie-breaker against the experienced Brazilian Olympic medalists, André Loyola and George Wanderley. The match concluded with scores of 21-23, 21-17, 15-10, highlighting the close competition even outside the final.
Adding a personal touch to their victory, the bronze medal served as a well-timed birthday present for Yorick de Groot, who turned 25 on the final day of the tournament. De Groot reflected on the moment, stating, “Of course, I would prefer to play in the final, but to be able to compete on Sunday, on my birthday, it`s really special. The venue is incredible here, and to win bronze against a really strong Brazilian team is amazing.”
With the Gstaad Elite16 now concluded, the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour circuit looks ahead to its next major stop in Montréal, Canada, scheduled from August 13-17, where teams will once again vie for crucial ranking points and podium finishes.
