CEV Challenger one more time in Novi Sad
Next week and for the second year in a row, the Volleyball Federation of Serbia and Vip mobile will organize prestigious beach volleyball tournament of the European Volleyball Confederation - CEV Challenger.
From July 21st to 25th, Novi Sad will gather one more time the best beach volleyball players of our continent, who will have the opportunity to compete for points at CEV and FIVB rankings and valuable prize money. For the second time now, Serbia has the honour to host participants of this tournament owing to very successfully organized CEV Challenger last year as well as the Balkan Championship in beach volleyball held in 2008 and series of traditional Vip Beach Masters tournaments of National Championships organized in Serbia.
At this year’s CEV Challenger tournament, 64 teams from 25 countries will compete for the title of the best: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Serbia, Switzerland, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine. Direct participation in the Main Draw was secured by 16 teams, including two local teams and one team that will enter based on wild card, while 32 teams will compete for 8 remaining positions through qualification matches. This year as well, Vip mobile provided EUR 12.000 prize fund intended for the 24 teams that qualify for the Main Draw.
At this prestigious tournament, Serbia will be presented by 8 teams. Based on the highest number of points at the CEV ranking, participants of the Main Draw are Basta - Nikolic and Tesic - Mutapcija, while teams Antonic - Galetin, Tatic - Radic, Ivankovic - Mladenovic, Galesev - Simeunovic, Stanojcic - Markovic and Acic - Maric have to try to enter the qualifications through the state quota. Being the host country, Serbia is permitted to have four representatives at the tournament, out of which two will compete in the Main Draw, and two in qualifications.
"I am very glad that we are going to participate in the Main Draw, as the best ranked host team. The Challenger in Novi Sad will gather a large number of exceptionally high-quality teams and it is great that we will have the opportunity to play against them. Of course, we are aware that we are a young team and that we still need a lot of experience, but we'll do our best and hope to play as many matches as possible and thus acquire the best possible ranking", Stefan Basta, the best ranked Serbian player said.
Last year, CEV Challenger in Novi Sad gathered total of 31 teams from 17 European countries. Out of four local teams who played against the best European beach volleyball players, three of them competed in the Main Draw. The final match turned into a true spectacle for the 1.500 spectators at the Stadium and a large number of those who followed the game live broadcast by the national TV (RTS). After an hour of uncertainty and struggle to win, the Latvian team Toms Smedins / Artis Caics claimed victory over a team of Litva / Varga from Slovakia with the 2-1 score (20-22, 21-18, 15-13), and thus reached the first place without a single defeat in the tournament.
The entrance to CEV Challenger is free for all visitors, with matches and entertainment programme during the whole day. Tournament organizers promise a lot of fun and invite all sport fans to come to Stand beach and give support to the Serbian representatives, while enjoying attractive matches, performance of cheerleaders, great music and variety of prize winning games.
From July 21st to 25th, Novi Sad will gather one more time the best beach volleyball players of our continent, who will have the opportunity to compete for points at CEV and FIVB rankings and valuable prize money. For the second time now, Serbia has the honour to host participants of this tournament owing to very successfully organized CEV Challenger last year as well as the Balkan Championship in beach volleyball held in 2008 and series of traditional Vip Beach Masters tournaments of National Championships organized in Serbia.
At this year’s CEV Challenger tournament, 64 teams from 25 countries will compete for the title of the best: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Serbia, Switzerland, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine. Direct participation in the Main Draw was secured by 16 teams, including two local teams and one team that will enter based on wild card, while 32 teams will compete for 8 remaining positions through qualification matches. This year as well, Vip mobile provided EUR 12.000 prize fund intended for the 24 teams that qualify for the Main Draw.
At this prestigious tournament, Serbia will be presented by 8 teams. Based on the highest number of points at the CEV ranking, participants of the Main Draw are Basta - Nikolic and Tesic - Mutapcija, while teams Antonic - Galetin, Tatic - Radic, Ivankovic - Mladenovic, Galesev - Simeunovic, Stanojcic - Markovic and Acic - Maric have to try to enter the qualifications through the state quota. Being the host country, Serbia is permitted to have four representatives at the tournament, out of which two will compete in the Main Draw, and two in qualifications.
"I am very glad that we are going to participate in the Main Draw, as the best ranked host team. The Challenger in Novi Sad will gather a large number of exceptionally high-quality teams and it is great that we will have the opportunity to play against them. Of course, we are aware that we are a young team and that we still need a lot of experience, but we'll do our best and hope to play as many matches as possible and thus acquire the best possible ranking", Stefan Basta, the best ranked Serbian player said.
Last year, CEV Challenger in Novi Sad gathered total of 31 teams from 17 European countries. Out of four local teams who played against the best European beach volleyball players, three of them competed in the Main Draw. The final match turned into a true spectacle for the 1.500 spectators at the Stadium and a large number of those who followed the game live broadcast by the national TV (RTS). After an hour of uncertainty and struggle to win, the Latvian team Toms Smedins / Artis Caics claimed victory over a team of Litva / Varga from Slovakia with the 2-1 score (20-22, 21-18, 15-13), and thus reached the first place without a single defeat in the tournament.
The entrance to CEV Challenger is free for all visitors, with matches and entertainment programme during the whole day. Tournament organizers promise a lot of fun and invite all sport fans to come to Stand beach and give support to the Serbian representatives, while enjoying attractive matches, performance of cheerleaders, great music and variety of prize winning games.