Two podiums, a victory and a second place, embellish the weekend of Italian beach volleyball, on the eve of the first Italian tournament of the season, which will be played next weekend in Cervia. The Romagna Marco Caminati and the Emilian of Ukrainian origin Davis Krumins win Madrid and they triumph in their first tournament together, while Bianchin/Scampoli come close to winning in China at Pingtan surrendering only to the hosts Bai/Wang at the end of a tournament that may have restored confidence in the Italian pair, after a start to the season below expectations.
Marco Caminati confirms himself as the man of the first and last times. He won on his international debut in the World Tour in 2015 paired with Ranghieri in Lucerne, he obtained his second success in the World Tour in the last tournament played together with Enrico Rossi in Alsmeer in the Netherlands in 2018 and today he obtained his third seal in the Spanish future debuting as a couple with the Modena native of Ukrainian origins Davis Krumins. Even for Krumins, the true driving force of Mutina Beach in Modena, it is a first ever: debut paired with Caminati and success.
The Azzurri have won one daring semi-final against the French Chouikh/Altwies, beaten at tie break at the end of a match played on a swing between the two couples. The transalpine pair won a one-sided first set 21-12 but the Azzurri immediately turned the corner by dominating the second set 21-11. In the third set all the emotions of the match were concentrated with the Azzurri who managed to get the better of the advantages: 17-15. In the final Caminati/Krumins beat the Danish Møllgaard/Houmann 2-0, also in their first career final. The Italian pair won rather clearly with a double 21-17 and will try to give an encore on their home sand next weekend in Cervia.
In Pingtan, however, things didn’t go so well in the final for Margherita Bianchin and Claudia Scampoli, who were unable to get the better of the hosts Bai/Wang, who, like Caminati/Krumins, also succeeded in their first tournament played together. In the first set the Italians fail to take advantage of some favorable situations and are defeated 24-22. In the second set the Italian couple clearly dominated and evened the score with a clear 21-15. In the third set again great balance and another sprint victory for the Chinese with the score of 15-13.
MADRID MEN’S TOURNAMENT
Semifinals: Møllgaard/Houmann (DEN)-Rudol/Lejawa (POL) 2-1 (17-.21, 21-17, 15-12), Krumins/Caminati (ITA)-Chouikh/Altwies (FRA) 2-1 (12-21, 21-11, 17-15)
Final 3rd place: Rudol/Lejawa (POL)-Chouikh/Altwies (FRA) 2-1 (16-21, 21-16, 15-11)
Final 1st place: Møllgaard/Houmann (DEN)-Krumins/Caminati (ITA) 0-2 (17-21, 17-21)
PINGTAN MEN’S TOURNAMENT
Final 3rd place: Pearse/Burnett (AUS)-Day/Katriel (ISR) 2-0 (21-12, 21-13)
Final 1st place: MacNeil/Russell (CAN)-Pedro/Henrique (BRA) 1-2 (12-21, 21-13, 11-15)
PINGTAN WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT
Final 3rd place: Matauatu/Lawac (VAN)-Julhia/Marcela (BRA) 0-2 (12-21, 18-21)
Final 1st place: Bianchin/Scampoli (ITA)-Bai/Wang (CHN) 1-2 (22-24, 21-15, 13-15)
