Teams receiving coaching support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment dominated the women`s Busan Gwangalli Futures event on the Beach Pro Tour, sweeping all podium spots. Japan`s Ren and Non Matsumoto secured their second consecutive gold medal, following their win at the Qidong Futures in June. Norway`s Nina Pavlova and Sunniva Helland-Hansen earned silver, with Czechia`s Anna Pospisilova and Daniela Mokra completing the top three by taking bronze in Korea.
The success highlights the impact of FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiatives. The Japan Volleyball Association`s beach volleyball program received $84,000 in funding, enabling their national teams to train with American coach Steve Anderson. Norway`s national federation, Norges Volleyballforbund, was allocated a substantial $252,000 for their national beach volleyball teams, with Bendik Gabriel Huus leading the women`s pairs. An additional $6,000 was provided for a coach development knowledge transfer program. Similarly, the Czech Volleyball Federation benefited from $168,000 in coach support for their women`s teams and an extra $24,000 for coach development, with their athletes trained by Argentinean coach Sebastian Menegozzo.
Tournament favorites Ren and Non Matsumoto demonstrated exceptional form, achieving four straight-set victories on their path to the final. They decisively won their semifinal against Czechia`s Anna Pospisilova and Daniela Mokra (21-16, 21-15). In the gold medal match against Norway`s Nina Pavlova and Sunniva Helland-Hansen, the Japanese pair faced their only set loss of the tournament. However, they mounted a comeback to secure a 2-1 (17-21, 21-9, 15-11) win, marking their second gold medal on the Beach Pro Tour. They also hold two silver medals from previous Tour events.
The seventh-seeded Norwegian duo, Pavlova and Helland-Hansen, advanced to the final despite an earlier pool play loss. They secured their spot by defeating fifth-seeded Majabelle Lawac and Sherysyn Toko of Vanuatu 2-0 (21-15, 22-20) in the semifinals. This achievement marked the pair`s inaugural Beach Pro Tour medal, and it was particularly significant for Pavlova, who was competing in only her second Tour event. For Helland-Hansen, a more seasoned player, this also represented her first medal on the Beach Pro Tour.
In the bronze medal match, Pospisilova and Mokra engaged in a tough battle against Lawac and Toko, ultimately prevailing 2-1 (21-16, 18-21, 16-14). This hard-earned victory secured their first-ever Beach Pro Tour podium finish as a team.
A total of 25 women`s teams from nine countries participated in the Busan Gwangalli Futures event. Upcoming Futures tournaments are scheduled for Bujumbura, Burundi (August 20-23) and Brno, Czechia (August 21-24).
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood