VOLLEYBALL – Bahrain are set to play three challenging games in as many days in their Pool B preliminary round campaign of the AVC Boys’ U18 Volleyball Championship 2026, set to take place July 12 to 18 in Haikou, China.
The Bahrainis are one of 16 youth men’s volleyball national teams in the event, which is being organised by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).
The tournament was originally set to be hosted by the kingdom, but was forced to relocate due to the unfortunate events in the region.
The kingdom’s squad are in the same group as India, the Philippines, and Iran.
Pool A features defending champions China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.
Pool C is composed of Pakistan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan; while Pool D includes Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.
The AVC released the tournament’s schedule of matches following the completion of the field, with the Philippines and Indonesia the last two teams to qualify.
Bahrain begin their title bid against their Indian counterparts on opening day.
That contest is scheduled for a 5am start, Bahrain time.
The nationals then play their Filipino opponents on July 13 at 8am, before completing their opening stage schedule against Iran on July 14 at 5am. Both times are also Bahrain.
At the end of the single round-robin, the top two teams from each pool move on to the quarter-finals.
Bahrain have been preparing for Haikou with training under the supervision of head coach Yousuf Khalifa.
They will be playing for only the third time in the AVC’s under-18 competition.
The kingdom’s youth squad made their debut in 2014 in Sri Lanka, where they finished ninth from 15 teams; and also competed in the previous edition in 2024, which was held in the kingdom and where Bahrain made it to the quarter-finals to finish seventh overall.
This year’s AVC Boys’ U18 Volleyball Championship will be its 16th edition.
The tournament will serve as a qualifier for the 2027 FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship, with the top four finishers earning their right to represent the continent on volleyball’s biggest youth stage.
The hosts for the under-19 worlds have yet to be announced by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
Bahrain have played in the championship twice – first in 1991 where they finished 11th from 12 nations and then again as hosts in 2017, when they ranked 13th from 20 countries.
In the last edition of the tournament, China secured the gold medals after beating Iran in a five-set final at Isa bin Rashid Volleyball Arena, located at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
Pakistan joined them on the podium as silver-medallists.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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