Qatar have been placed in the Group B of the Arab Volleyball Championship, which is scheduled to start in Kuwait City on November 25.
Other teams in the Qatar’s group are former champions Kuwait, last edition’s bronze medal winners Libya, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have won three medals each in the championship, including one silver.
While Qatar finished runners-up in 1996 and followed it up with two bronze medals in 2000 and 2008, Saudi Arabia were second to Tunisia in the 2006 edition and both their bronze medals were achieved in the first two editions – 1997 and 1980.
The Group A looks quite strong with the presence of three-time winners Algeria, twice champions Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq and Palestine.
Egypt, who emerged the champions once long back in 1986, were third in 2002, while Iraq’s lone silver medal came when they lost the final to Egypt.
Tunisia, the most successful team of the Arab world with seven titles in 10 finals, are not playing in this edition.
Qatar’s overseas preparations came to an end recently and now the probables are fine-tuning their game at home under Argentine coach Juan Manuel Cichello.
The domestic season has already started with the Federation Cup and due to absence of the national team probables, this is going to be a good opportunity for other players to showcase their talent.
The Qatar Volleyball Association, under the presidency of Khalid Ali al Mawlawi, has added another event to the domestic calendar – the Super Cup. It will be played by League champions Al Rayyan Club and Emir Cup winners Al Arabi Club on December 12.
The new event is aimed at providing extra boost to the clubs so that they can work hard in their bid to win either the League or the Emir Cup in the upcoming season. The winners of the Super Cup will earn QR100,000, while the runners-up stand to gain QR50000.