Fuzhou, China, April 28, 2014.  Reigning world champion Robert Meeuwsen from the Netherlands should be able to recover from his knee injury in about three weeks, according to Dutch coach Gijs Ronnes.

Meeuwsen, who injured his right knee two weeks ago, did not show up at last week’s FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Fuzhou Open in China.  His usual partner, Alexander Brouwer, teamed up with Michiel van Dorsten and were knocked out in the quarterfinals by eventual winners Paolo Nicolai / Daniele Lupo of Italy.

Meeuwsen / Brouwer will also skip the 2014 CEV Beach Volleyball Satellite Antalya in Turkey from May 6 through 10 and will not be able to follow up on their silver medal from the 2013 edition of this tournament.

“Robert has been out of training and he still needs three more weeks to get fit,” Ronnes said. “He will probably be back at the Puerto Vallarta Open in Mexico.”

Ronnes said he felt satisfied with the performance of Brouwer and his current partner van Dorsten.

“They did pretty good, and I think they did better every game,” he said.

When asked about the Dutch team’s goal for the 2014 season, Ronnes said, “To medal at the European Championship, also in Mexico, and some other World Tour events. That is where our goals are.”