VOLLEYBALL – PERFECT Bahrain were last night crowned champions of the 24th Arab Men’s Volleyball Championship, which came to a close in Amman, Jordan.
The kingdom’s senior men’s national team captured the coveted title for the second straight edition – and fourth time overall – after outclassing their counterparts from Oman 3-0 (25-16, 26-24, 25-14) in both teams’ concluding fixture in the six-nation tournament, which was played in league format.
The Bahrainis completed their pristine campaign having won all five of their games while never conceding a single set.
Their triumph against the Omanis yesterday added to their earlier straight-set victories against Kuwait, hosts Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria.
Oman were also unbeaten heading into last night’s title-deciding clash, but Bahrain proved that they were in a class of their own with their sensational performance to close out the competition.
Bahrain’s 2026 Arab crown added to their championships from the previous edition in 2024, which was hosted by the kingdom, as well as from 2008 and 1992.
In attendance during last night’s affair and later joining the officials who awarded the trophies and medals were Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) and Arab Volleyball Association (AVA) president Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, along with BVA and AVA secretary general Feras Al Helwachi. BVA vice-president Habib Mohammed was also on hand for the post-game festivities.
Joining Bahrain and Oman on the podium were bronze medal winners Saudi Arabia. The Saudis completed their schedule with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-22) win against Algeria in yesterday’s other fixture. Both teams finished with two victories apiece from their five-match campaign but the Saudis held the tie-break.
A number of individual awards were handed out during the prize presentation. Five Bahraini players were amongst those honoured, including Mahmood Alafyah, Abdulla Mohammed Jaafar, Hasan Haider, Mahmoud Abdulwahed, and Mohammed Yaqoob, who was marking his first tournament back in action following a lengthy absence due to injury.
In their win last night, the nationals were in control from the start and four unanswered points midway through the opening set helped them build a 14-8 gap.
Ahmed Mohammed Saleh later gave the nationals a 23-16 lead and then Abdulwahed fired in an ace.
An Oman error in attack closed the set out to gift the Bahrainis the early match advantage.
In the second frame, Bahrain took a 9-4 lead but Oman roared back and briefly took charge.
The Bahrainis fell behind by as many as three, 12-15, during that stretch, but then it was their turn to fight back and they drew level at 17-all.
The Omanis were not helping their cause with repeated mistakes, keeping the nationals in the fight.
Yaqoob then showcased his impressive throughout the tournament with a spike and later an ace that gave Bahrain a 22-19 lead, but after an Abdulwahed spike made it 24-22, the Omanis scored on the next two rallies to extend the proceedings.
The kingdom’s squad didn’t need long, however, to seal the period.
Abdulwahed connected with another smash which was followed by a clinching attack by Jaafar off a brilliant dig by libero Ayman Harwana to earn the Bahrainis the two-set cushion.
Smelling blood in the water, Bahrain went in for the kill and were dominant in set three.
They built a quick 5-0 lead to set the tone, and later a Yaqoob block put them in double digits at 10-4.
They continued to cruise to the finish as a Jaafar foray at the net made it 19-7, and then a double block by Haider and Abdulwahed put the nationals up 20-7.
Later, Mahmood Abdulhussain sent in an ace, which was followed by a Sayed Hashem Issa smash that made it 23-11.
A block out on an Issa attack then put them on championship point, and that was delivered on an Oman service error to wrap things up.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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