Morocco achieved remarkable success at the recent Arab Beach Volleyball Championships held in Batroun, Lebanon, securing both gold and silver medals. This impressive performance was significantly bolstered by support from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program.
Women`s Triumph: Gold for Siad & Yakki
In the women’s competition, the formidable duo of Mahassine Siad and Imane Yakki clinched the gold medal. They triumphed over Lebanon’s Lara Al Nahi and Cheikho Mirna, who earned silver, and Algeria’s Melissa Soualmi and Hassaine Ikram, who secured the bronze medal.
Siad and Yakki showcased exceptional skill, winning all six of their matches in Batroun in straight sets. Their path to gold included a decisive 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) victory against Algeria’s Melissa and Ikram in the semifinals, followed by a masterful 2-0 (21-13, 21-16) win over Lebanon’s Lara and Cheikho in the final showdown.
Lara and Cheikho had secured their spot in the final after an all-Lebanese semifinal, where they defeated Mira Adra and Lea El Chabib 2-0 (21-7, 21-13). Melissa and Ikram later secured the bronze medal by beating Mira and Lea 2-0 (21-12, 21-18).
Men`s Silver: El Gharouti & Saber
On the men’s side, Soufiane El Gharouti and Anass Saber proudly claimed the silver medal. They finished as runners-up to Algeria’s Kallouche Mohamed-Islem and Souadi Mohamed. The bronze medal in the men’s tournament went to Qatar’s Saifeddine Binaziz Elmajid and Assam Ahmed Mahmoud.
Morocco’s El Gharouti and Saber finished as Pool B runners-up with an impressive 4-1 win-loss record. They then secured their place among the top two in the final standings by earning a 2-0 (21-14, 21-15) victory over Lebanon`s Paul Bou Akl and Charbel Khoueiry.
The men`s gold was ultimately won by Algeria`s Kallouche and Souadi. Despite finishing third in Pool B, they showed incredible resilience, winning all three of their playoff matches. This included a challenging 2-1 (27-25, 19-21, 15-13) semifinal win against Qatar’s Saifeddine and Assam, and a dominant 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) victory against El Gharouti and Saber in the final.
After a three-set battle against Paul and Charbel, Saifeddine and Assam successfully clinched the bronze medal with a 2-1 (21-23, 21-19, 15-6) comeback win.
Empowerment Support for Moroccan Beach Volleyball
The Royal Moroccan Volleyball Federation received substantial financial and developmental assistance. This included USD 42,000 in coach support for their national beach volleyball teams, operating under the expert guidance of Italian specialist Ezio Goia. Furthermore, Moroccan beach volleyball benefited from USD 18,000 for knowledge transfer programs and an additional USD 11,500 for essential beach volleyball equipment.
Championship Overview
The Arab Beach Volleyball Championships in Batroun featured a total of eight women’s and twelve men’s pairs. Competitors hailed from various nations, including Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Qatar, showcasing regional talent and sportsmanship.
Finley Blackwood 
Jasper Thornfield