Ren and Non Matsumoto showed understated dominance, calmly dispatching Thailand’s Mungkhon Salinda and Seehawong Patcharaporns, 21-14, 21-13, on Tuesday in the women’s beach volleyball semifinals at the Asian Beach Games.
Awaiting them in the final match are Thailand’s Kongphopsarutawadee Worapeerachayakorn and Naraphornrapat Taravadee, who pulled off a dramatic victory, 19-21, 21-16, 15-11, over China’s Dong Jie and Jiang Kaiyue, silencing at Tianya Hiajiao center court.
The Matsumoto sisters, winners of two straight Beach Pro Tour Futures titles last year, finally let the big smiles shine through at the mixed zone after a clinical outing. They stayed composed whether leading or trailing, allowing themselves some moments of celebration as they methodically erased a four-point deficit.
The Japanese pair sealed the win in 31 minutes.
Ren said they are ‘very happy’ and are bracing for another stern test from Thailand.
‘Tomorrow will also be difficult, she is very tall,’ Ren said, referring to the 6-foot-3 Kongphopsarutawadee.
Good movement around the court will be key, according to the 26-year-old Ren, noting the Thais’ strength at the net.
Kongphopsarutawadee and Naraphornrapat, silver medalists in the Asian Championships in 2023 and part of the team that placed second to the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last year, look to secure a statement victory in the finale.
The Thais fought tooth and nail against a determined Chinese team being egged on by the home crowd and took control in the second set 5-1 and held on to force a deciding set.
It was nip and tuck in the third, but the Thai pair strung up three consecutive points for a 13-10 lead on the way to victory in one hour and one minute.
Dong and Jiang will battle Mungkhon and Seehawong for the bronze medal.