Al rayyan: Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah will begin their campaigns on Wednesday in the 4th West Asian Men's Volleyball Club Championship, hosted by Kuwait. The tournament, featuring 11 of the region's top clubs, will run until February 14.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Rayyan will face Oman's Majees in a match where they aim to secure a victory and continue their winning streak, striving to retain the title they have won in the last three editions of the championship. Al Rayyan boasts extensive experience in such tournaments, having consistently reached the final stages. They rely on a talented group of players and a coaching staff that has worked diligently to prepare the team both physically and technically.
Al Wakrah, meanwhile, face an equally challenging encounter against Bahrain's Al Ahli in a highly anticipated match. The team hope to deliver strong performances that reflect their improved form in recent years and strive to go as far as possible in the tournament. Al Wakrah, currently leading the Qatari Volleyball League, hopes to capitalize on its players' enthusiasm and fighting spirit to achieve a positive start that will give them a morale boost to continue their journey with confidence.
The Qatari participation is attracting significant attention, given the strong reputation Qatari clubs have gained in West Asian championships in recent years. This places a responsibility on Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah to maintain their positive results and bring honor to Qatari volleyball. The tournament draw placed Al Rayyan of Qatar in Group A, alongside Majees of Oman and Gas Al Janoub of Iraq. Group B includes Al Wakrah of Qatar, Shabab Al-Batroun of Lebanon, Kuwait SC of Kuwait, and Al Ahli of Bahrain. Group C comprises Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, Dar Kulaib of Bahrain, Al Seeb of Oman, and Burgan of Kuwait.
The tournament will be played in a single round-robin format, with points being accumulated to determine the final standings from first to last. Al Rayyan of Qatar won the third edition of the tournament last February, defeating Al Salam of Oman 3-0 in the final. Al Arabi of Qatar finished second with 13 points and also won the 2023 and 2024 editions, aiming to retain the title.
Mohammed Salem Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the West Asian Volleyball Federation, stated that the tournament has consistently achieved success. He noted the high level of competition among the participating teams, especially as the tournament serves as a qualifier for the upcoming Asian Club Championship, which gives it significant technical importance and reflects the development of the level of competition among clubs in the region. Al Kuwari praised Al Rayyan's achievements in winning the title three times consecutively and expressed his confidence in Al Wakrah's ability to perform well in their first appearance in the tournament, given their current lead in the Qatari Volleyball League.