It’s a Star Line Up ready to return to the sand in Birmingham

Taliqua and Mariafe were confirmed as Australia’s female pairing for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where the duo aims to go one step better than they did at the inaugural Games beach volleyball event on the Gold Coast in 2018.

Clancy, the first Indigenous beach volleyball player and a Wulli Wulli and Goreng Goreng woman from Kingaroy, paired with Peru-born del Solar, 28, for the first time in 2017 and has since continued to perform with excellence for the green and gold since then.

The Australian Olympic duo then went on to claim silver medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with their outstanding performances that captured hearts all over Australia throughout the tournament.

A gold medal at Birmingham would further enhance their glowing reputation as Australian athletes of global renown.

“I’m grateful for another chance to wear the green and gold, and to represent my people,” Clancy said.

“Sport is an incredible place to showcase our beautiful culture, and the Commonwealth Games is no different.

“Mariafe and I really want to turn our silver from the Gold Coast in 2018 into gold.

QAS Chief Executive Chelsea Warr is confident the duo will represent the nation with distinction at the Birmingham Games.

“Congratulations to the two QAS supported athletes Taliqua and Mariafe on their selection to represent the green and gold at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games,” Warr said.

“It’s so amazing to see these athletes win yet another opportunity to show off their amazing partnership on the world stage and represent Australia. Their achievements continue to inspire us and we know that Australia is a very proud nation right now.

“The selection of these four athletes is a sign that our country's finest are up for anything on the world stage. We know they'll do us proud this year and continue to inspire others with their performance."

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held from Thursday 28 July to Monday 8 August with the Beach Volleyball competitions to be conducted from Saturday 30 July through Sunday 7 August, with the competitions to be held at Smithfield in the heart of Birmingham city.