VOLLEYBALL – THE video challenge system will be utilised at the upcoming 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Men, the Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) confirmed yesterday.
The prestigious Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) tournament is scheduled to be hosted by the kingdom from June 2 to 9, with 12 of the continent’s leading national teams taking part.
It will only be the second time that the system will be used in a major international volleyball competition in Bahrain. The first was during the 2023 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship.
The system was then also used during the recently concluded national volleyball season, which included matches in the Crown Prince’s Cup and the Isa bin Rashid Bahrain Volleyball League. These important steps have come as part of the BVA’s initiatives to improve the local game, as well as when hosting international, continental, and regional championships, the BVA said.
The application of the video challenge system in assisting referees during matches is one of the requirements for hosts in organising the AVC Challenge Cup for Men.
Preparations for the tournament have stepped up. BVA president Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa recently chaired a meeting, with BVA secretary general Feras Al Helwachi in attendance, with heads of the working committees to follow up on the all aspects of the orginsation of the event.
The kingdom’s senior men’s volleyball national team are in Pool A for the tournament’s preliminary round together with the Philippines and world number 31 China. Pool B consists of the Thais, Kazakhstan, and world number 49 Pakistan, while Pool C features world number 28 South Korea, Indonesia, and world number 22 Qatar. Pool D comprises world number 35 Australia, world number 43 Chinese Taipei, and Vietnam.
Games will be played at Isa Sports City’s Isa bin Rashid Volleyball Arena.
The 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Men is the first of two top volleyball events set to be hosted by the kingdom this year. Bahrain will also be staging the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship from July 28 to August 4, which is set to feature 16 youth national squads.
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