Qatar’s celebrated beach volleyball duo Cherif Younousse & Ahmed Tijan have already made history for their nation. Their bronze medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was a landmark achievement, marking the first Olympic beach volleyball medal ever won by an Asian team. Four years later, they confirmed their place among the world’s elite with a fourth-place finish in Paris 2024, further establishing their reputation as one of the most consistent and dynamic pairs on the world stage.
This year, Cherif & Ahmed have maintained their winning form on the Beach Pro Tour, capturing gold medals at some of the most competitive stops. Their victories in Gstaad, Rio de Janeiro and Newport Beach showcased their trademark mix of power, control and composure, with Cherif earning the Best Blocker award in the United States event.
Each result has reinforced their position among the world’s leading pairs and underlined their readiness for the season’s biggest stage in Adelaide.
Ahmed Tijan sets the ball during a match at the Beach Pro Tour Elite16 Rio.
While their talent and experience have always placed them at the top, Volleyball Empowerment support has played a key role in sustaining that level of excellence. Through consistent coaching and performance funding, Qatar’s men’s beach volleyball programme continues to strengthen its foundation for long-term success.
The initiative supports national team development with expert guidance, led by Argentinean coach Pablo Bernardi, whose tactical insights and technical refinement have helped keep the team in peak form.
The Empowerment support amounts to USD 84,000 for the men’s programme, within a total of USD 294,000 committed to Qatar’s overall beach volleyball structure. This funding ensures access to high-level training environments and international competition opportunities, helping the athletes maintain their world-class standards while inspiring the next generation of Qatari players.
Cherif Younousse tosses the ball on a serve in their Beach Pro Tour Elite16 match in Rio de Janeiro.
Now, as the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2025 approach, the focus turns to Adelaide, Australia, where the Qatari stars will lead Pool J in the preliminary round.
Their group stage schedule includes matches against Cuba’s Damian Gomez & Eblis Veranes on 15 November, Switzerland’s Yves Haussener & Julian Friedli on 16 November and Austria’s Timo Hammarberg & Tim Berger on 17 November.
The pair enter the competition with confidence and motivation to capture the one major title missing from their record, a World Championship medal.
Cherif & Ahmed’s story reflects a programme built on persistence, vision and trust in long-term development. The duo continue to set the standard for excellence in men’s beach volleyball programmes. Their pursuit of a World Championship medal in Adelaide symbolises the enduring strength of a team built to compete and to inspire.
