Jurmala Challenge champions Schubert and Hodges claim Asian title

Just 11 days after winning their first Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour gold medals, prevailing in the Jurmala Challenge, Australians Zachery Schubert and Thomas Hodges secured another important title, triumphing in the 2023 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship.

The Australians dominated the four-day tournament held in Pingtan, China, giving their country its third title in four years. The women’s champions were China’s Chen Xue and Xinyi Xia, the 2023 Beach Pro Tour Itapema Challenge winners.

Schubert, 27, and Hodges, 28, came out on top of the all-Australian gold medal match on Monday, overcoming compatriots and Commonwealth Games gold medallists Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett in straight sets (21-17, 21-18).

It was the first Asian title for the duo that currently places tenth in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Ranking. Schubert and Hodges had another massive win in the quarterfinals of the tournament, on Sunday, when they knocked out defending champions and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallists Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan in two sets (27-25, 21-19).

The men’s bronze medals were won by Thailand’s Tipjan Pithak and Taovato Poravid, who overcame Iranians Salemi Bahman and Shokati Sina in straight sets (21-17, 21-13) to finish third.

The women’s tournament saw China return to the top of the podium for the first time since 2020 and to do it in front of their home fans. It was the sixth continental title for the 34-year-old Xue and the third for the 26-year-old Xia – the two also won together in the 2016 edition of the tournament.

In the final in Pingtan, the Olympians overcame 2021 Asian champions Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee of Thailand in two sets (21-17, 21-18) to secure the title.

Hosts China had a second team in the women’s podium, with Jingzhe Wang and Aheidan Mushajing topping Japan’s Miki Ishii and Sayaka Mizoe 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) in the bronze medal match.