Team Qatar set for Asian Men's Volleyball Cup in Bahrain
Manama
Team Qatar are intensifying their preparations in Bahrain for the sixth edition of the Asian Men's Volleyball Cup, which runs through June 24, with high hopes of defending the continental title it won in 2024 and further cementing Qatar's strong presence on the Asian volleyball scene.
Under the leadership of Argentine coach Camilo Soto, the team is focusing on boosting both technical and physical readiness. The current phase follows a comprehensive training program that began in Doha, including specialized drills and high-level friendly matches, most notably against Japan—one of Asia's volleyball powerhouses.
Although Qatar's scheduled opening match against Kazakhstan was canceled following the latter's official withdrawal from the tournament for personal reasons, the coaching staff opted not to arrange a replacement fixture. Instead, they decided to maintain the pre-set preparation schedule to avoid any disruption to the team's rhythm or mental focus. The decision reflects the squad's strong commitment to achieving optimal readiness ahead of their upcoming clash with Australia on June 19—a match that will likely determine the top spot in Group B.
Both Qatar and Australia have already advanced automatically to the quarter-finals due to Kazakhstan's withdrawal, making the showdown between the two a decisive step toward the title.
The knockout stage is set to begin on June 21, followed by the semi-finals on June 23, and the final on June 24, all taking place at Isa bin Rashid Hall in Riffa.
This year's tournament features three groups, with most groups comprising three teams each following Kazakhstan's withdrawal, reducing the total number of participating teams to 11. The top two teams from each group will advance to the single-elimination quarter-finals.
Team Qatar enters the tournament as the reigning champions, having won the 2024 edition—also held in Bahrain—when the event was known as the Asian Challenge Cup, following a well-deserved victory over Pakistan in the final. Now, the team is looking to build on that triumph and pursue back-to-back continental titles.
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