Europeans claim five medals at Alanya Challenge
Beach Pro Tour
European teams were extremely successful in the first Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge tournament held on the continent in the 2025 season, claiming five out of the six medals in play in Alanya, Türkiye, including gold in both genders.
Swiss Olympians Anouk and Zoé Vergé-Dépré were the winners of the women’s tournament, with reigning world champions Ondřej Perušič and David Schweiner of Czechia prevailing among the men. Duos from Italy and France also made it to the podium in the Turkish tournament.
The women’s event had all three medals going to European duos. A new team in the 2025 season, the Vergé-Dépré sisters secured their first title by defeating Italians Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth 2-1 (21-15, 12-21, 15-13) in the gold medal match. It was their third Beach Pro Tour medal in five events, after claiming silver in a Futures event in Spiez and taking bronze in an Elite tournament held in Ostrava.
Anouk Vergé-Dépré“I’m super happy. It was such a hard fight. We’re exhausted, we gave it our all, and it feels amazing. The atmosphere got better and better every day, and the crowd was cheering all the time. It was a lot of fun to play here.”
Swiss Beach Volleyball Player
The bronze medal match in Alanya also featured two European teams, but wasn’t completed as Italian Giada Bianchi got injured during the second set and couldn’t return to the court to join partner Claudia Scampoli, giving French Clémence Vieira and Aline Chamereau a forfeit victory.
World champions win second title in the season
On the men’s side, world champions Perušič and Schweiner defeated French Téo Rotar and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat 2-0 (21-13, 23-21) in the gold medal match to win their second title in the season – the Czechs also triumphed in the season-opening Yucatán Challenge, in March.
David Schweiner“It was a very special experience to play here. The atmosphere was amazing and the match was a great one, but I’m glad it’s over because it was really tough to play in this heat. I’m proud of the work of our entire team because teamwork makes the dream work, right?”
Czech Beach Volleyball Player
The next Beach Pro Tour Challenge event of the 2025 season will also be held in Europe, with the Polish city of Warmia Mazury hosting a tournament from June 25-29.