Stage set for junior worlds semis

TDT | Manama              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The stage is set for the semi-final battles this evening in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship, currently being hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Defending champions Italy take on contenders Bulgaria in an all-European clash scheduled for a 5pm start. That will be followed by 2019 titlists Iran going up against South American powerhouses Argentina at 8pm in another mouth-watering final-four contest.

Both games will be played in Court A at the Isa Sports City Arena in Riffa. All are welcome to attend. Entrance is free of charge. The two semi-finals are the highlights of another action-packed spectacle of volleyball.

Today’s programme marks the penultimate day of play in this 16-nation Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) competition, which is being 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.

The winners will move on to the final, scheduled for 8pm tomorrow night, while the losers will face off for the bronze medals. The tournament’s closing ceremony and awards presentation will then be held after the championship match.

Also taking place today will be the first games for final classification. In the fifth-to-eighth ranking, Poland will be going up against Belgium while Brazil will play Thailand. For ninth to 12th, the Czech Republic will take on India and Canada will face off with Egypt; while for 13th to 16th Bahrain take on the US and Mexico play Tunisia. Based on today’s results, the match-ups for tomorrow will be determined.