Kazakhstan marked their best-ever surface at the Paralympic Games by beating Brazil 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-19) in the males’s sitting beach ball competition of Paris 2024 on Wednesday at North Paris Arena.

Yerlan Bitemirov led the charge, boosting his group with 11 points, consisting of 4 aces and 7 attacks, as Kazakhstan protected their historical success in their very first Paralympic look considering that Atlanta 1996.

Bitemirov’s efficiency was matched by Perdebay Namuratov and Erik Kaskabayev, who contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. Namuratov worked with 8 attacks, one block and 2 aces, while Kaskabayev included 7 attacks and 4 aces. Despite strong efforts from Brazil’s Thiago Costa dos Santos Rocha, who led all scorers with 12 points, and Luis Fabiano de Oliveira, who included 10 points, Brazil might not match Kazakhstan’s power at the service line. Kazakhstan’s 10 service aces were an essential consider the success, as they kept their unforced mistakes to a minimum with simply 16.

In the very first set, Kazakhstan discovered momentum early on and pulled ahead, thanks to a series of mistakes from Brazil and Bitemirov’s definitive assaulting play. From ball game of 17-13, Kazakhstant extended the result in 23-16 on Namuratov’s attack. Brazil’s Wellington Anunciacao da Silva made an attack oversight to hand Kazakhstan the set at 25-19.

The 2nd set saw Kazakhstan take control when again, with Bitemirov scoring from both the service line and attacks to offer his side a benefit. Brazil closed the space to 18-12 on Renato Leite’s swing, however Kazakhstan kept the pressure on, with Kaskabayev’s attack bringing them to set point. Bauyrzhan Sartayev completed it off with an effective spike to seal a 25-18 win.

Brazil pressed hard in the 3rd set, leveling ball game at 18-18. However, Kazakhstan rapidly restored their composure, with Bitemirov providing 2 crucial service indicate develop a space. Brazil dedicated a mistake, permitting Kazakhstan to close the set 25-19 and protect the match success.

Photo: WPV/Sinisa Kanizaj.