Manama : Under the patronage of Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the SCYS, Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), Bahrain will host the 15th Asian Under-18 Volleyball Championship on Thursday, with 16 Asian teams participating. The matches will be held at the Bahrain Volleyball Association and Bahrain Table Tennis Association halls at Isa bin Rashid Sports City in Riffa.
The event underscores Bahrain’s prominent status in the global volleyball community, following two decades of successful tournament hosting. This championship aligns with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), aiming to make Bahrain a global sports hub, with support from His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Firas Jawad Al Halwachi, Executive Committee Chairman and Championship Director, said that preparations are well underway, with all logistical and organisational aspects in place.
The tournament will see the debut of the ” Video Challenge” technology in Bahrain’s youth volleyball events. A local team has been trained to handle this technology, reflecting Bahrain’s commitment to high standards in sports event hosting.
Zahra Mahfoudh Thamer, the Head of the Executive Committee’s Secretariat, has been selected by the Asian Volleyball Confederation to join the adjudication panel for the Asian Championship. This selection is based on her competence and experience, recognised by the Confederation’s representatives during past Asian championships hosted by Bahrain. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for the Bahrain Volleyball Association, being the first such honour since its establishment in 1974, the Executive Committee Chairman said.
In the current edition, 16 teams are divided into four groups. Group A includes Bahrain, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Australia. Group B comprises Japan, Chinese Taipei, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan. Group C features Iran, China, Lebanon, and the Philippines. Group D consists of India, South Korea, Kuwait, and Pakistan.
