New Zealand’s men’s and women’s Beach Volleyball Teams have dug deep to each win a historic bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.
The New Zealand women’s team of Tineke Hinton and Kiana Stevenson were first up in Trinidad and Tobago, taking on Kenya. The opening game was tight, with the Kiwis ultimately more composed at the end to win 22-20. The Kiwi pair learnt from the first game and were more clinical in the second for a 21-16 win, to take the match 2-0.
“I’m so stoked and proud,” said Hinton. “We definitely had to adapt to win that game but we did so really well and quickly and that helped us get that win.”
“We fought right to the end, it means so much to win a medal for our country,” added Stevenson.
The men’s game against Cyprus was a closer battle. The Cypriots were ruthless in their first game against Kiwi pair Calum Stewart and Juraj Krajci, winning 21-12. The New Zealanders bounced back and improved, taking the next two games 19-21 and 14-16 to win bronze.
“That was a crazy three setter to finish the tournament,” said Krajci.
“It feels so great to win this medal and I can’t wait to call my mum and tell her.”
It’s the first time New Zealand's Beach Volleyballers have ever won a medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.