Bahrain squad named for worlds

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Bahrain’s final 12-player team that will be flying the Kingdom’s flag in the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship 2023 was announced yesterday.

The tournament is set to be hosted on the island from Friday this week until July 16 at Isa Sports City in Riffa.

All are welcome to attend and watch the games.

The Bahrainis are one of 16 teams taking part in the event, to be held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy president, General Sports Authority chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Bahrain’s squad, guided by head coach Saber Abdulwahed, includes Hassan Al Warqa, Ali Abdulwahab, Hussain Ehsan, Sayed Hashem Isa, Hassan Alaiwi, Sadeq Marhoon, Ali Al Arab, Hussain Abdulredha, Ali Al Bosta, Sayed Ahmed Murtadha, Abbas Ehsan and Mohammed Hassan.

The Bahrainis are in Pool A along with Iran, Thailand and Tunisia.

Pool B features defending champions Italy, Brazil, Egypt and Mexico. Pool C consists of Poland, Bulgaria, Canada and India; while Pool D comprises Argentina, Belgium, the Czech Republic and the US.

The top two teams from each pool will advance to round-robin Pools E and F of the second phase, while the rest will move to Pools G and H to continue the battles for classification from ninth to 16th.

The winners and runners-up of Pools E and F will progress to the semi-finals and eventually determine the medallists.

Eight games a day are to be held between two playing courts at the Isa Sports City.

The preliminary round will take place from this Friday to Sunday, after which a rest day will be held ahead of the next stage, which will also be played over three days from July 11 to 13.

After another rest day, the semi-finals and classification play-offs are scheduled for July 15, followed by the gold and bronze medal matches, along with the final classification contests, on the final day on July 16.

On each day, the first fixtures are scheduled for 11am starts, with the last games set to begin no earlier than 8pm.

Bahrain kick off their campaign against Tunisia on opening night Friday, and then face off against Thailand the next evening.

The nationals then complete their preliminary round campaign against Iran on Sunday.

This year’s event will be the fourth time the prestigious junior competition is being held in Bahrain.

It also took place here in 2019, 1997 and 1987.