07/04/2015 22:29
Finnish Beach Volleyball teams hope to make history as they set their sight on spot for 2016 Olympic tournament
2014-2016 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup - Men & Women
Helsinki, Finland, April 7, 2015. It’s been a long and cold winter up there in Finland but Beach Volleyball does not stop drawing the attention of sports fans in the country. The popularity of the sport is additionally testified by the five indoor halls which were opened throughout the last ten years thereby offering to elite players and stars in the making the opportunity to train all year around. That is also why Finnish players have been so successful in recent times, especially in age-group competitions.
Twins Erika and Emilia Nyström remain Finland’s most successful Beach Volleyball players to date with two age-group European titles on their resume and a bronze medal from the ‘big’ European Championship Final held in 2010 in Berlin. The Finnish twins have been a regular feature in many FIVB and CEV events since 2001 and top the charts of a special classification for FIVB tournaments with as many as 153 entries as a pair.
However, Erika and Emilia are no longer the only ones to carry Finland’s hopes for glory in this sport. Riikka Lehtonen, by far Finland’s most successful Volleyball player, has switched to the sand and together with the young and talented Taru Lahti has set her sight on qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, a goal that she shares with the Nyström twins.
These four ladies and another two men’s teams are set to represent Finland in the third round of the 2014-2016 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup scheduled for early May in Cyprus. This is where their quest for a spot at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will continue. Lehtonen/Lahti and the Nyströms will be playing in the same pool as the Netherlands, hosts Cyprus and Latvia. The men – who last year topped the charts of the first round pool held in Kardzhali, Bulgaria – will take on teams from the Netherlands, Cyprus and Israel. Finland will be represented by Timo Haavisto/Toni Vahela and Jyrki Nurminen/Pekka Piippo.
Though some indoor halls are available at home, the Finnish teams are preparing for their debut this season in places where they can get some sun and the right weather conditions. Lehtonen and Lahti have been practicing in South Africa lately (see picture) whilst the Nyströms have based their camp in France. The men’s pairs are going to travel to Turkey to finalise their preparations before their Continental Cup matches.
The Finnish ladies will make their 2015 debut at the FIVB Open in Fuzhou, China. Thanks to their good results in late 2014, Lehtonen and Lahti will start straight from the main draw whilst Erika and Emilia Nyström will take on the qualification matches. This is going to be the most important season for Finland’s Beach Volleyball family with the ultimate goal being for all girls the qualification to Rio 2016.
Click here for further information on the 2014-2016 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup
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