VOLLEYBALL – BAHRAINIS Ali Kadhem and Sami Sowayed will be amongst the team of international referees who will be officiating in the upcoming sixth AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup 2025.
The tournament is scheduled to get underway on Tuesday next week and will continue until June 24.
Twelve senior men’s national teams will be competing for top honours in the event, which is being organised by the Bahrain Volleyball Association (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.
Kadhem was nominated by the BVA referees’ committee, with the support of the BVA board, headed by BVA president Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa. He is a prominent referee in Bahraini volleyball, having previously officiated numerous key matches in local tournaments, in addition to international competitions, which reflects his extensive experience and capability.
Sowayed, meanwhile, was also selected by the BVA following the withdrawal of an international referee from New Zealand.
The others participating are from Australia, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
This reinforces the AVC’s confidence in the competence of Bahraini referees in the Asian volleyball arena.
The involvement of two referees at this major continental event is a testament to the advanced status of Bahraini referees in the continental game.
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.
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. Entrance for all matches is free of charge.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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