Binstock y Schachter finish second in Doha

DOHA, Qatar, November 8, 2014 – It’s been a great week for Canada’s Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter. Today the beach team picked up a silver medal at the Doha Open, after last Sunday’s gold at a similar FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event in Argentina. 

“I'm very proud of our second solid result in a row, especially considering it was right on the heels of a grinding tournament in Argentina,” Schachter (pictured, right) said today.

Last Sunday, the Canadians defeated Chilean cousins Marco and Esteban Grimalt in the Parana Open final to win their first World Tour medal. “Josh and I definitely struggled with the time change and no rest in Qatar, and that may have begun to show in the final. I am still very satisfied with our competition level all tournament and we proved to ourselves that the last performance was no fluke.”

In the final today, Binstock, a 2012 Olympian, and Schachter, were defeated by tour newcomers Tim Holler and Jonas Schroder of Germany 2-0 (21-18, 21-13).

“It is unfortunate that we have a sour taste in our mouths from losing the gold medal match, but I am confident it will motivate us moving forward, and fuel us through the off season to keep working and improving,” explained Schachter. 

There will be no rest for the pair from Richmond Hill, Ontario, as they are entered in the NORCECA championship next week, along with other Canadian beach teams.  “We will certainly learn from our last loss and recover for another quick turnaround for our final event of the year, which is next week in Trinidad and Tobago for the NORCECA Continental Championships,” said Schachter.

Canadians Mike Plantinga and Cam Wheelan finished 17th; while Maverick Hatch and Garrett May finished 25th in Qatar. The Doha Open was a men’s only event.