Beach Volleyball

Mol and Sunde claim first Norwegian Futures gold in Warsaw

News

Article Sun, Sep 4 2022
Author: Guilherme Torres

Beach volleyball power Norway had to wait until the last of the 20 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures events held in Europe from May to September, but could finally celebrate a victory on Sunday, with the triumph of Markus Mol and Jo Sunde in the men-only tournament held in Warsaw, Poland.

The Norwegians stand at the top of the podium flanked by teams from Lithuania and Poland

The nation that currently sits at the top of the CEV Country Ranking was yet to win a medal in Futures events in Europe, but did so in great style, with the 20-year-old Mol and the 19-year-old Sunde stepping at the top of the podium in the Polish capital.

Playing together for just the fourth time at the international level, the Norwegians got revenge from Lithuanians Robert Juchnevic and Artur Vasiljev in the gold medal match. After losing to them in pool play, Mol and Sunde came back stronger to win the final in straight sets (21-18, 21-17) and claim the title.

Mol, the younger brother of international superstar and reigning Olympic and world champion Anders, and Sunde had first had success as partners last year, when they took silver at the CEV U20 EuroBeachVolley in Izmir, Türkiye, after starting the tournament in the qualifier. At the Beach Pro Tour, they had only played together in the Futures event in Myslowice, Poland, in July, finishing fifth.

The home team of Michal Kadziola and Michal Korycki completed the podium in third place after they prevailed over Israelis River Day and Kevin Cuzmiciov in the two-set (22-20, 21-19) bronze medal match. Kadziola had won the first Futures event held in Warsaw, in July, with Marcin Ociepski.

The tournament in Warsaw completed a series of 20 Beach Pro Tour Futures events held in Europe since May, providing increased opportunities for teams from the continent to play and earn international points. The 2022 calendar will officially end with a final event set to take place in The Hague, the Netherlands, from December 28-31.

The venue in Warsaw during the last day of competition

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