Canadians continue Parana form at Doha Open

DOHA, Qatar, November 5, 2014 – Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter won twice on the opening day of the inaugural Doha Open to maintain the form that earned them a maiden FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour title at the Parana Open three days ago. 

The Canadian duo started with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-13) victory over Qatar’s Assam Mahmoud and Sultan Asif and then followed up with another 2-0 (21-13, 21-12) win, this time against Martin Olesen and Peter Dilling Kildegaard Andersen of Denmark.

“We weren’t sure what it would be like playing in the afternoon and evening, but there is a nice breeze,” Binstock said. “We arrived last night and are a little jet-lagged, but it is a good start to the tournament and hopefully we can keep it going. 

“We’re feeling pretty good and we want to get as many matches as possible under our belts because we’ve only played six FIVB tournaments together and even though we’re not in our best form we want to see what we’re like when we’re not at our best.”

Binstock and Schachter teamed up midway through 2013 and after getting to know each other’s game they began to serve notice of their potential with a fourth place finish at the FIVB Sao Paolo Grand Slam and gold, silver and bronze medals on the NORCECA Continental Tour. 

Previously the 33-year-old Binstock played at the London 2012 Olympic Games with Christian Reader, while the 24-year-old Schachter is one of the rising stars of the beach volleyball scene, having won gold at the 2010 FIVB U21 World Championships, alongside Garrett May. 

In Parana they impressed in the final where they defeated Chilean cousins Marco and Esteban Grimalt 2-0 (21-14, 21-12). It also proved to be a prelude to a dash across the Atlantic Ocean to arrive in time for the Doha Open.

“We aren’t there yet, but we knew we wouldn’t be at the same level right away,” Binstock added. “We wanted to learn how to win even when we’re not at our best and as we move up the ranks find a way like the best teams do.

“Sao Paolo gave us the confidence that we could beat anyone in world and we went to Rio before both tournaments and when you’re surrounded by that level before a tournament it gives you that confidence. Now we feel we can beat anyone in the world if we play at our best.”