Bahrain set for qualifiers
Aug 30, 2013 (Menafn – Gulf Daily News – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) –BAHRAIN will need to overcome a pair of tough opponents in order to book a berth in next year’s FIVB Men’s World Volleyball Championship.
The nationals have been drawn alongside Iran and Indonesia, making up pool ‘B’ in the final round of Asian qualification for the global showcase, which is set to take place in Poland.
The qualifiers will be taking place from September 11 to 13 at Azadi Volleyball Hall in Tehran.
Only the top team at the end of the three-day competition will earn a place in the world championship.
Bahrain will have to win both their matches in order to claim first place on the division standings.
They take on Indonesia in their opening match on September 11, and then play their next game against powerhouses Iran on September 13.
Iran and Indonesia go head to head on September 12.
Bahrain are aiming for their first-ever appearance in the worlds, and they are as close as they have ever come before in qualification.
There are three other groups in the final round.
Teams
Pool ‘A’ features Thailand, Kazakhstan, Kuwait and hosts Australia; pool ‘C’ comprises India, Chinese Taipei, Saudi Arabia and hosts China; while pool ‘D’ features Japan, South Korea, Qatar and New Zealand.
Bahrain made it through to the final round after going undefeated in the first two rounds of qualification.
They finished atop Western Three division from the opening phase, where they played Qatar and the UAE. They won both their games in style.
Then, they went on to the next stage in Western Five category, where they played Kuwait and Iraq and again won both contests.
The Bahrainis now hope to continue their winning run into the final round and come away with a place in next year’s worlds. Bahrain are coached by Tunisian Nezar Al Shakili. Some of their best players are Jassim Al Nabhan, Fadhel Abbas, Younes Abdulkarim, Mahmood Hassan, Mirza Abdulla, Ali Al Suraifi, Ali Ebrahim, Jaffar Al Haiki and libero Ayman Haroona, to name a few. A total of 24 teams from all across the globe will feature in next year’s worlds. Besides the four slots for Asian teams and the one for the hosts, Europe will qualify another eight teams; North and Central America, along with the Caribbean, will have five countries; while South America and Africa will each feature three teams.
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