VOLLEYBALL – BAHRAIN has been praised as “one of the great hosts in Asia” by a top volleyball official following its successful staging of the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup 2025.
The prestigious eight-day competition came to a close on Tuesday night at Isa Bin Rashid Arena, located at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
Eleven senior men’s national teams from across the continent took part, and all were pleased with the event’s “five-star” organisation, says the tournament’s control committee president Mohamed Latheef from the Maldives.
“On behalf of Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) president Ramon Suzara, I would like to thank Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) president Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa for the kind hospitality given to AVC officials, and especially to all the teams that participated in this competition,” said Latheef, who is also an AVC executive vice-president and is president of both the Central Asian Volleyball Association and the Volleyball Association of Maldives.
“The BVA has organised this competition at a five-star level,” he continued. “The players stayed at a five-star hotel, and we never received any complaints from the delegations.
“This is excellent management, and Bahrain is one of the great hosts in Asia.
“On behalf of AVC officials and our volleyball family, we thank the BVA’s hard-working team.”
The BVA received a rating of excellence from the AVC in the tournament’s official report. The signing of the document was done in a ceremony attended by Shaikh Ali, Latheef, BVA secretary general and the competition’s executive committee chairman Feras Al Helwachi, and other AVC and BVA officials.
The report highlighted the quality of the BVA’s hosting of the tournament in accordance with the requirements and standards of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), Volleyball World, and the AVC.
“On behalf of the BVA, I’d like to express my thanks and appreciation to the AVC for the trust we built together to host this prestigious championship in Bahrain,” said Shaikh Ali during the ceremony.
“Thank you to the AVC and to Mr Latheef for his support to us as organisers. We felt that during this championship, we are working together as a team to provide everyone with a high standard of organisation.
“Thank you to the AVC and we would like to continue doing this kind of championship and gain experience in organising different competitions, and to further enhance our trust with the AVC.”
This year’s AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup was 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.
It was the second year in a row that the kingdom hosted the competition. In 2024, it was known as the AVC Challenge Cup for Men.
Bahrain were crowned as this year’s champions after defeating Pakistan in four sets in a stunning final. It was an historic first-ever title for the kingdom in any AVC event.
The competition also featured Qatar, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and New Zealand.
Four of the kingdom’s players also came away with individual awards, including Mohammed Yaqoob, who bagged the Most Valuable Player and Best Outside Hitter honours. Ali Ebrahim was named Best Opposite Spiker, Mahmood Alafyah was Best Setter, and Ayman Harwana was Best Libero.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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