Worlds a ‘valuable learning experience’

TDT | Manama              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s junior national volleyball team are learning valuable lessons as they take on the best young talent from across the globe in the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship 2023, currently being hosted by the Kingdom.

This is highlighted by Bahrain head coach Saber Abdulwahed, who says that despite the Bahrainis being unable to qualify for the competition’s top eight, there are plenty of positives to take from.

“For us, as Bahrain, we have organised this world championship to have valuable experience and to have contact with the biggest teams in volleyball,” said Abdulwahed, who is from Tunisia.

“It is always good for us to be in a competition like this. “We are learning a lot, and we are here to learn and to improve for the future.” The nationals are now set to compete for their best ranking from ninth to 16th. They are in Pool G along with Canada, India and Tunisia, whom they also faced in their opening fixture of the preliminary round and won in straight sets.

The Bahrainis begin this next stage against India tonight, and then have a rematch against the Tunisians tomorrow. They complete their Pool G campaign against their Canadian counterparts on Thursday, and then have their concluding classification games on Saturday and Sunday following a rest day on Friday.

Abdulwahed is set to have another memorable occasion when he guides Bahrain against the Tunisians. “It is a very specific match for me, whenever I face my country,” he explained. “It’s like a special emotion, but I am professional. In the game, I am with Bahrain for sure, and after the game I come back to Tunisia again [laughs].”

Bahrain’s squad includes 12 players, namely Hassan Warqaa, 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. This year’s event is the fourth time the prestigious junior competition is being held in Bahrain. It also took place here in 2019, 1997 and 1987.