VOLLEYBALL – Bahrain take on Oman today in both sides’ concluding fixture in the preliminary round of the AVC Volleyball Men’s Continental Championship 2026, currently being played in Fukuoka, Japan.
The kingdom’s senior men’s volleyball national team face a must-win in the clash, which is scheduled for a 4am start, Bahrain time, at Kitakyushu City General Gymnasium.
The Bahrainis are currently in last place in Pool A having lost their previous games so far to Australia and defending champions Japan, but a victory today could keep their hopes – although slim – alive in making it through to the tournament’s quarter-finals.
It will also depend on the results of games from the preliminaries’ two other pools, as only the top two from each of the three groups make it into the knockouts alongside the two best third-placers.
Japan and Australia have already booked their spots from Pool A. The Japanese secured first place following their 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-21) triumph over the Aussies yesterday.
In other matches, India swept past New Zealand 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-21) in Pool B and South Korea outclassed Qatar 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-15) in Pool C.
Today is the final day of the opening stage. Chinese Taipei face Thailand in Pool C followed by Iran taking on China in Pool B.
The quarters are then slated for tomorrow and Friday, while the semi-finals will be held on Saturday.
They will set the stage for the gold and bronze medal games, which will bring the curtain down on the championship on Sunday.
Bahrain are coached by Ivan Joksimovic from Montenegro, who has a 13-player roster in Fukuoka.
They include middle blockers Mohammed Abdulla, Hassan Haider, and Ali Yusuf; opposite spikers Ali Ebrahim and Abdulla Mohammed Jaafar; outside hitters Sayed Hashem Issa, Mahmood Abdulhussain, Mahmoud Abdulwahed, and Ahmed Mohammed Saleh; setters Mahmood Alafyah and Ali Habib; and liberos Abbas Sultan and skipper Ayman Harwana.
The elite senior men’s continental championship features 12 of Asia’s best in the sport.
They are vying not only for the coveted title, but also for the sole direct quota place in the men’s volleyball tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
In addition to this, the competition’s top three will secure berths in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Cup 2027.
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