VOLLEYBALL – SENIOR men’s squads from across the continent have begun arriving in the kingdom ahead of their participation in the sixth AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup 2025.
Australia’s national team were the first to reach the island yesterday as the days continue to count down to the highly anticipated event, which begins on Tuesday next week and continues until June 24.
The Australian delegation was received at Bahrain International Airport by officials from the Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) and in accordance with the operational plan approved by the tournament’s executive committee.
Members of the tournament’s public relations, reception, and transportation committees welcomed the kingdom’s visitors and assisted them in their arrival formalities before accompanying them to Downtown Rotana in Manama, which is the official residence of the national teams taking part in the championship.
The other squads set to compete in Bahrain are scheduled to arrive in the kingdom within the next two days.
Twelve senior men’s national teams will be competing for top honours in the event, which is being organised by the BVA in cooperation with the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and Volleyball World.
It is to be held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Bahrain are in Pool A for the tournament’s opening round along with Thailand and Indonesia. Pool B features defending champions Qatar, Australia, and Kazakhstan; Pool C is composed of last year’s silver-medallists Pakistan, Chinese Taipei, and the Philippines; and Pool D includes the 2024 bronze-medallists South Korea, Vietnam, and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, BVA secretary general and the tournament’s executive committee chairman Feras Al Helwachi confirmed that the technical and organisational preparations for the championship are progressing well towards full readiness.
He noted that the working committees are now prepared to launch this major continental event, thanks to the continuous efforts and high professionalism that Team Bahrain has acquired through its hosting of numerous international and continental championships in recent years.
Al Helwachi noted that the competition’s supreme organising committee, headed by BVA president Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, has been keen from an early stage to accelerate the pace of work in gearing up for this prestigious AVC event, which the kingdom is staging for the second straight year.
He added that this strengthens Bahrain’s position as a major volleyball hub in Asia and it enhances the efficiency of Team Bahrain as organisers.
Regarding the national team’s preparations, Al Helwachi said that the BVA aspires for the squad to repeat their achievement from the tournament’s 2023 edition in Chinese Taipei, when they won the silver medals. He said that the national team has the potential to put in a strong showing in the competition, especially in light of the development of its technical level and the renewed ambitions of the players and technical staff.
Games are to be held at Isa Bin Rashid Arena, located at Isa Sports City in Riffa. Four fixtures are scheduled for each day of play, starting from 11.30am and the last beginning no earlier than 7pm.
The supreme organising committee has announced that entrance to all matches will be free of charge.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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