The New Zealand team at the U-19 World Beach Championships in China have finished their competition after the pool phase of the event on Thursday and Friday (NZ time).
New Zealand earned a spot at the event at the age group Asian Championships earlier this year, with Liam Smith and Thomas Vesty teaming up to represent Poirewa Aotearoa in Shangluo.
The duo opened their Pool F campaign on Wednesday with a loss to Uruguay’s Rodriguez/Rubio pairing 21-19, 21-13.
Smith and Vesty’s second match on Thursday was a tight three-set tussle with Italians Zoeschg/Iurisci which saw the Kiwis take the second set 21-19 before falling 15-9 in the third. The Italians finished top of the pool with an unbeaten record.
The pair then backed up later in the day, facing the Chilean pair Brain/Brain and falling 21-16, 21-14 to finish their campaign at the event.
