23 Oct 2023
Bellos claim bronze in India
The pair started their campaign not having to go through the preliminary rounds and going straight into the main draw where they were placed against the German pair of Pfretzschner and Winter, the Austrian duo of Hörl and Horst and finally the Polish team of Brozyniak and Janiak.
The pair started fast but had their first set going to a tie break finishing 28-26! This mammoth set however got them into the swing of the tournament in the extreme heat of India with them taking the second set a more comfortable 21-16. Giving the pair the match 2-0.
Their next match up was against the Austrian pair of Hörl and Horst who had been able to dispatch the Polish team 2-0 (21-7, 21-13).
The Brothers knew this would be a tricky match, especially in the thirty-degree heat of India.
They fought hard against the Austrians with the first set going narrowly to them 21-19. The Austrian pair were then able to show their skill and ended up taking the second set 21-16.
Despite this loss, the Polish pair had lost to the German side meaning the Bello’s made it to the round of 16 where they would face the Lithuanians, Stankevicius and Knasas.
The Eastern European squad brought the fight straight to the British pair with the first set going their way 19-21.
However, the Bellos weren’t going to go down without a fight!
They snatched the second set 21-17 giving them the momentum to take the game to a full three sets for the first time for them in the competition.
Stankevicius and Knasas had gone unbeaten in the pool stages only dropping one set to the French team of Bassereau and Lyneel.
However, the Bellos were there to upset that unbeaten run by showing the experience and confidence they have gained from their performances at the EuroBeach Volleyball Championships 2023 where they made it to the quarterfinals.
They took the third set 15-8 giving them a ticket to the quarterfinals against a surprise qualifier of Switzerland who had made it through the qualification rounds and then made it through to the quarters after knocking out their compatriots of Krattiger and Breer.
Heidrich and Dillier had taken all their games to three sets with victory over the United States, Latvia and Australia.
The Bellos didn’t want to continue the pattern of three-setters for the Swiss with the brothers taking the game in straight sets 21-15, 21-17.
This set up a tricky semi-final against Heidrich and Dillier. The Austrian pair had lost their opening match against France however since that blip they then went unbeaten only dropping one set to make it to the semis.
The bello’s fought hard but it wasn’t to be. After battling hard in the first set and taking it 21-18 the Austrian pair wanted to assert their dominance and then took the second set 21-16.
The Bellos still made it tough for the Swiss team with the third set being another close game with the Swiss just pipping the brothers to the win 15-13.
Despite this loss, the team were then set for a bronze medal match which was against the German pair of Pfretzschner and Winter who they had already played against in the pool stages.
Sadly, the German pair had to forfeit the match due to a medical issue which handed the British pairing the bronze medal.
Despite the anticlimax of not being able to play the bronze medal match, the brothers were still able to showcase the experience they have gained this year with all the tournaments they have been part of.
This bronze medal will build the momentum for the pair heading towards the winter period.
This result now puts them in the top 40 in the world ranking (highest for any British pair) and is the best result for any British Beach Volleyball team at this level of competition.
