Israel cruise to final phase of the #BeachNationsCup, finishing unbeaten in Protaras, Cyprus

From the stunning Fig Tree Bay beach in Protaras, Cyprus, straight to Budapest – the Israel men’s team secured qualification for the Final Phase of the CEV Beach Volleyball Nations Cup 2026. The Israeli squad, consisting of Omer Gozlan/Yanay Goldshmid Fisher and Tamir Hershko/David Lanciano, prevailed in Sunday’s showdown against Poland and completed Pool B with a perfect record of six wins in as many matches.

Everything was decided in the opening clash between the two nations, where Omer Gozlan and Yanay Goldshmid Fisher defeated youngsters Alan Robak and Igor Gliszczyński 2-0. The first set sent adrenaline levels soaring, ending in a dramatic 29-27 thriller after a heart-stopping battle.

Poland finished second in the final standings with a record of three wins and three losses, followed by Bulgaria (two wins, four losses), who defeated hosts Cyprus in the tournament’s final two matches.

Cypriot athletes Anninos-Alexios Chrysostomou/Alexis Savvidis and Marios Strugarevic and Stamatis Savvidis once again fought hard and completed the tournament with one victory and plenty of positives, earning warm applause from the spectators as a reward for their efforts.

The CEV Beach Volleyball Nations Cup qualifying pool was delivered with outstanding success by the Cyprus Volleyball Federation, with the trust of the CEV and the valuable support of the Municipality of Paralimni-Deryneia, the Cyprus Sports Organisation, main sponsor Allwyn, official airline partner Cyprus Airways, sponsors Scaffolding Solutions, Charalambides Christis Ltd and Vassos Eliades Ltd – Nuii, as well as the hotels Flamingo Paradise Beach Hotel, Silver Sands Beach Hotel, Vangelis Hotel & Suites, Vrissaki Beach Hotel and Capo Bay Beach Hotel. 

The event became the most significant Beach Volleyball tournament ever hosted in Cyprus, paving the way for even bigger international sporting events in the future.

SUNDAY, MAY 10 RESULTS

POL2 vs ISR2 0-2 (27-29, 17-21)
(Alan Robak / Igor Gliszczyński vs Omer Gozlan / Yanay Goldshmid Fisher)

POL1 vs ISR1 0-2 (14-21, 8-21)
(Mikolaj Kaczmarek / Witold Witkowski vs Tamir Hershko / David Lanciano)

CYP2 vs BUL2 0-2 (11-21, 18-21)
(Marios Strugarevic / Stamatis Savvidis vs Alexander Tsanev / Boris Georgiev)

CYP1 vs BUL1 1-2 (21-18, 13-21, 13-15)
(Anninos-Alexios Chrysostomou / Alexis Savvidis vs Dimitar Mehandzhiyski / Dimitar Kalchev)