The Vanutau beach volleyball team in Australia. Photo: Vanuatu Beach Volleyball
The Vanuatu beach volleyball team must win the Asia Continental Cup title in June if they want to qualify for the Paris Olympics, the team's head coach says.
Federica Tonon, who is with the team in Australia preparing for warm-up competitions, says the road has been tough for the team.
Tonon, the Italian coach who mapped the Tuvalu men's rise at the 20203 Pacific Games men's beach volleyball competition in Honiara last November, is back with the Vanuatu side.
She said there had to be changes in the player make-up of the side which has created challenges in their efforts to qualify for the Olympics.
Vanuatu's pairing of Majabelle Lawac and Linline Matauatu have only been together for three tournaments.
Matauatu is the new recruit, replacing Sherysyn Toko.
Toko had been Majabelle Lawac's pair to the Pacific Games last year, where they settled for a bronze medal.
Tonon said it has been tough but they are focusing on what needs to be done.
"The team is new. This is only the third tournament together because these two girls used to play with different partners. So we're building everything day after day," she said.
"All the other teams have been playing much longer together. So we're growing as a team, we know they're really good teams that will fight for that spot, like China, Japan and New Zealand.
"We will have our chances so we are going to try it all."
The players have had to be based in Australia and work between their farm work where they are employed and playing the sport they love.
"They have a really uncommon life for being a top athlete trying to pursue the Olympic Games," she said.
"One is a mom of two children and the other player, she's young, she's only 22 years old, but they're a good combination. They get along together and I see all the progress."
Part of their preparation had included playing in New Zealand and Australia in the last few weeks.
Looking ahead, they will return home next week for a break before they move on to the Philippines and then Thailand.
Vanuatu had finished second to Australia at the Oceania Championship last year and earned the right to play at the Continental Cup.
"If we win there in June we get the Olympic spot guaranteed. So we playing a series of tournaments in preparation for that key tournament to qualify for the Olympics," Tonon added.
