Julius Brink (foreground) and Jonas Reckermann claimed bronze in last year's Prague Open but will now not take part in this year's event following an injury to Reckermann's thigh
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Czech Republic, Prague, May 17, 2011 – Germany’s Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann have pulled out of the Prague Open, the first men’s single gender tournament on the FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour 2011 after Reckermann strained a muscle in his thigh while training.
The 2009 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch world champions were seeded third in the tournament and took the bronze medal last year.
However following Reckermann's injury the side will now sit out the competition. It is still unsure as to when they will return.
The Prague Open began on Tuesday with the country quota matches. Wednesday will see the qualification matches begin ahead of the main draw on Thursday.
The
FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour is visiting Prague for the third
time in its two-decade history. In 2008 Gibb/Rosenthal won the event
while last year Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser clinched the title as Brazilians
Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego took silver and Brink/Reckermann were
rewarded with bronze.
The $190,000 Prague Open 2011 will be played from May 17 and 22 with the
semifinals held on Saturday and the medal matches scheduled for Sunday.
After that the FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour will return to
China for the first Grand Slam of the year in Beijing from June 6 to 11,
before returning to Europe for the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch
World Championships in Rome from June 13 to 19). The only other 2011
FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour single-gender men’s event will
be held in October in Agadir, Morocco.
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