Beach volleyball: Upstarts humble continental stars

Gaudencia Makokha (left) and Naomi Too in a training session. [File]

Veronica Adhiambo and Naomi Too beat Africa's big shots to win the national beach volleyball tour titles at Kaiti River in Makueni on Sunday.

Beach Commission of Kenya used the two-day event to select players for the Africa Commonwealth Games qualifiers scheduled for Ghana next month.

In finals, Adhiambo and Too showed little respect for reigning Africa champions Gaudencia Makokha and Brackcides Khadambi as they beat them 2-1(18-21, 21-17, 15-10) to win the second circuit.

Makhoha and Khadambi, who represented Africa in 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, won the first set before the pair of Adhiambo and Too easily grabbed the second to level terms and went ahead to win the third set.

En route to the finals, Adhiambo and Too edged out experienced and national players Phoscah Kasisi and Yvonne Wavinya 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) while Makokha and Khadambi silenced Gladys Wangui and Judith Tarus 2-0 (21-13, 21-10).

In men's category, David Neeke joined forces with Juliard Mbappe to beat Prisons Kenya duo of Jairus Kipkosgei and Elphas Makuto 2-1 (18-21, 21-18, 15-7) in the final.

The first circuit of the eight-legged league was held last month in Homabay. Beach Commission of Kenya Secretary Sammy Mulinge said the third circuit will be held in Mombasa in March.