Ahli to face tough opposition in Asian volleyball

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Bahrain’s Al Ahli Club have learned of their opponents in the 2023 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship, set to be held in the Kingdom from May 14 to 21.

The Kingdom’s representatives are one of 16 teams from across the continent taking part in the tournament, which is being organised by the Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) in cooperation with the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).

The draw for the event had already been held last month, with the Bahrainis being drawn against outfits from South Korea, Australia and Indonesia in Pool A.

Those three participating teams have now been confirmed by the AVC, with Korean Air Jumbos Pro-Volleyball Club representing South Korea, Canberra Heat competing from Australia and Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi taking part from Indonesia.

Pool B is set to feature Shahdab Yazd from Iran, South Gas Sports Club from Iraq , Taichung Bank from Chinese-Taipei and Kam Air from Afghanistan.

Pool C comprises Suntory Sunbirds from Japan, Diamond Food Fine Chef-Air Force from Thailand, Bayankhongor Crownd Geo VC from Mongolia and Khaypil Sports Club from Yemen.

Group D features Atyrau VC from Kazakhstan, Police Sports Team from Qatar, Aspiring Volleyball Team from Hong Kong and Kuwait Sporting Club from Kuwait.

Ahli are set to be led in the competition by local stars Naser Anan, Mohammed Anan, Abbas Al Khabbaz, Ali Alsairafi, Sayed Mohammed Alabbar and Mahmood Abdulhussain, among others. It is still unclear if they will be signing any other players for the Asian event.

Ahli recently captured the bronze medals in the 2022/2023 Isa bin Rashid Bahrain Volleyball League, and will be hoping to add another accolade to their season.

Aside from being a continental championship, the winners of the annual tournament qualify for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship.

This year’s event will be the second time the Kingdom has staged the competition.

It previously held the 2007 edition , which was won by Paykan Tehran of Iran.

A Bahrain club has yet to step onto the podium in the tournament.

Last year’s competition was also won by Paykan at home, where they defeated Japan’s Suntory Sun.