The main draw of the FIVB Beach Yangzhou Open has been decided after the qualification round was held today ©FIVB

Brazilian and Russian pairs were successful in the qualifying round of the International Volleyball Federation Beach Yangzhou Open in China and have progressed to the main draw.

In the women's competition, three Brazilian pairs went through at the four star event, held at the Yangzhou Beach Volleyball Sports Forest Park

Ana Patricia Silva and Rebecca Cavalcanti won 21-16, 21-7 over Canada’s Caleigh Cruickshank and Anna Dunn-Suen, Angela Lavalle and Carol Horta beat Michaela Kubickova and Michala Kvapilova of the Czech Republic 21-18, 21-11 and Taina Silva and Victoria Lopes Pereira were triumphant over Japan's Sakurako Fujii and Samaa Miyagawa 21-9, 21-14.

"We always play each other in the Brazilian Championships and there is always tough competition, we are happy because of the challenge," Silva said.

"For our team, I cay say that we are brave and never give up easily. 

"We are glad that we were able to win and improve, and we hope we can show our best tomorrow."

Ukrainian, Thai and American pairs also progressed.

Valentyna Davidova and Ievgeniaa Shchpkova of Ukraine overwhelmed the Thai pair of Thanarattha Udomchavee and Yodsaphat Pakham 21-11, 21-17.

It was Thailand that was triumphant over Ukraine in another match, however, with Varapatsorn Radarong and Khanittha Hongpak beating Diana Lunina and Maryna Samoday 13-21, 21-18, 15-12.

Three Brazilian pairs made it into the main draw of the FIVB Beach Yangzhou Open ©FIVB
Three Brazilian pairs made it into the main draw of the FIVB Beach Yangzhou Open ©FIVB

In the men's competition, two Russian pairs made it to the main draw. 

Maxim Sivolap and Artem Yarzutkin won 17-21, 21-17, 15-17 against Japan’s Takumi Takahashi and Yusuke Ishijima, while Taras Myskiv and Valeriy Samoday were victorious against France’s Youseff Krou and Edouard Rowlandson 21-18, 21-17.

"It was tough match especially in the third set," Yarzutkin said. 

"Both teams ended up very tired after that intense match. 

"We had a very good opponent and they played with excellent technique and they had a good sideout game."

Poland’s Jakub Szalankiewicz and Maciej Rudol beat Ukrainians Vladyslav Iemelianchyk and Denys Denysenko 21-14, 29-27, 15-9 in a tight contest.

Ukraine did have a pair progress in Sergiy Popov and Iaroslav Gordieiev, who were victorious against Brazil’s Oscar Brandao and Luciano Ferreira 21-17, 21-16.

The main draw will start tomorrow.