08/04/2017 15:35
Dostalova set to add yet another accolade to showcase of her sporty family
2017 CEV Snow Volleyball European Tour
Kronplatz / Plan de Corones, Italy, April 8, 2017. Anna Dostalova and partner Michaela Knoblochova know already they will be crowned the 2017 ‘Queens of the Snow’ on Sunday – none can steal this title away from them, yet they are extremely motivated and determined to finish their campaign on snow with another top honour. On Saturday, they had a bye in the first round before they rallied to two consecutive 2-1 wins to book their spot in the semis of the end-of-season tournament at Kronplatz / Plan de Corones.
The ‘Queen of the Snow’ title will add yet another accolade to the impressive showcase of Dostalova’s family, which includes brother Josef, an Olympic silver and bronze medallist in canoeing from the Rio 2016 Games. Anna’s father and mother were successful sportspeople as well, with mom Eva being a former member of the Czechoslovak Volleyball national team and bronze medal winner from the European Championship. Anna’s dad, on the other hand, is a former kayaker.
“It sounds like we followed in the footsteps of our parents, since my sister Magdalena is playing Beach Volleyball too, but it does not mean that mom and dad told us what to do, we just decided it on our own,” Anna admits. “It all happened quite naturally. Of course, Josef is the big star in the family because of his Olympic medals, but our parents have always been equally supportive to each one of their children. Last summer Magdalena came back from Finland with a silver medal from a CEV Satellite tournament, which was a big achievement for her and Czech Beach Volleyball in general, but we joked that her silver medal was not that worth since Josef had one from the Olympics,” she recounted with a big smile on her face.
Anna first played Snow Volleyball three years ago in Spindleruv Mlyn together with Michaela Knoblochova – and she immediately fell in love with the game. “Actually, I think the first time I saw Volleyball played on snow was some 15 years ago when we went to Austria for skiing holidays with the whole family,” she said. “Two years ago I was injured and could not play – I had surgery and seeing pictures from Snow Volleyball events being posted on Instagram and Facebook, I felt sad I could not play – and at the same time I promised myself I would come back.”
She did so in 2016 when she participated in the Czech and Italian stops of the tour – and this year Dostalova and Knoblochova have competed at five of seven events, thus skyrocketing to the top of the European Ranking. “We just like it very much, it’s so much fun that we feel sad the season is ending,” Knoblochova said. “I would encourage everyone to come and play – and to enjoy the social side that goes with the tournament, especially the players’ parties!”
Dostalova continued: “Sometimes players can’t make it because it is quite expensive to travel and to pay for the accommodation, especially in countries like Switzerland or Liechtenstein. However, they should not be afraid of any injury! My sister, for instance, does – but it is so much fun to play on the snow, because of the music, the ambiance and the crowd. We know we will finish the season on top of the rankings but we want to do well here in Kronplatz as well. And we will come back again next year. That is for sure!”
The top-seeded Czechs are one of two teams to have secured their spot in the semis – the other being Russia’s Ksenia Khakimzanova and Ekaterina Syrtseva. Teams from Italy, Austria and Germany are also still in the race for the medals at the final stop of this year’s European Tour.
For further information on the European Tour, click here or visit SnowVolleyball.com.
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