Chinese athletes compete in the 2024 Volleyball World Beach Tour in Qidong, Nantong, Jiangsu province. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The 2024 Volleyball World Beach Tour in Qidong, Nantong, Jiangsu province concluded on Sept 8, with China claiming the women's championship. The victorious duo, Yan Xu and Zhou Mingli, both hailing from Nantong, secured their second title at the Qidong stop of the tournament.

In the semifinals on the morning of Sept 8, Yan and Zhou faced another Chinese pair, Wang Jing and Liang Yunjia. Yan and Zhou's powerful serves forced their opponents into an early timeout, but Wang and Liang struggled to counter the aggressive play. Yan and Zhou won two straight sets, advancing to the final.

The final saw Yan and Zhou compete against fellow Chinese players Yu Tong and Jiang Kaiyue. After splitting the first two sets, both teams traded leads in a tense third set. Ultimately, Yan and Zhou triumphed with a 2-1 victory, securing the championship, while Yu and Jiang finished as runners-up.

In the men's division, Latvia took the top spot, followed by Thailand in second and Germany in third.

Qidong has successfully hosted national and international beach volleyball competitions for seven consecutive years, gaining recognition for its expertise and organizational capabilities. This year's event not only solidified its position as a significant hub for beach volleyball but also contributed to the growth of sports in Qidong.