Jurmala, Latvia, August 22, 2019 – Poland’s Marin Chiniewicz and Michal Korycki are delighted to enter their first FIVB 3-Star main draw at Jurmala after knocking out qualification top seeds, Thailand’s Nuttanon Inkiew/Sedtawat Padsawud, 2-0 (21-19, 21-16).
Under clear skies on Majori Beach, the opening day of the inaugural FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Jurmala event got underway with Chiniewicz/Korycki posting a convincing win against the experienced Thai team.
“I’ve never been so emotional like right now, I can’t believe that we are in the main draw in a 3-Star. For us it’s a very big success and I can’t describe in words,” said Chiniewicz.
“It was difficult because the Thai team play very well in defence, we had to receive very well, but our tactics were good which led to our win,” said Korycki.
Poland's Martin Chiniewicz (left) and Olav Jorn Gamlemoen (NOR)
In their first round qualification match they defeated Norway’s Jorn Olav Gamlemeon/Christian Helland, 2-0 (21-12, 21-16).
“Before we came here, we had a week of no hard training, but did some simple drills to make sure we felt physically good while we are here and it worked out,” said Chiniewicz.
The pair has been playing together since 2017, almost exclusively in Polish tournaments, recently reaching the final four at the Malbork FIVB 1-Star.
“We love to play by the Baltic sea. We have never played in Latvia, but played in Poland a lot and the crowd here has been great and we are looking forward to continue playing,” said Korycki.
Lukas Pfretzschner (right) and Dirk Westphal from Germany
Two German teams enter the main draw with Dirk Westphal/Lukas Pfretzschner upsetting Danish pair Martin Trans Hansen/Kristoffer Abell in their second win of the day, 2-1 (21-19, 13-21, 18-16).
Armin Dollinger/Eric Stadie are also through beating Norway’s Sveni Oddmund Sohaug/Christian Jorgensen, 2-0 (21-18, 21-18).
“It’s amazing, we are playing our first tournament together and we only trained once before, so I think we’re very, very happy and now we want more in the main draw,” said Stadie.
Mart Tammearu (EST) faces Haralds Regza (LAT) during qualification
Estonia’s Timo Anders Lohmus/Mart Tammearu are also through after defeating Latvia’s Toms Smedins/Haralds Regza in a long battle to end the day, 2-1 (21-15, 17-21, 18-16).
Slovenia’s Vid Jakopin/Tadej Bozenk, Lithunia’s Artur Vasiljev/Robert Juchnevic, Mads Rosager/Jacob Stein Brinck from Denmark and Norway’s Daniel Bergerud and Lars Tveit Retterholt are also safely through to Jurmala’s main draw.
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