Breathtaking actions await volleyball enthusiasts when a total of eight top-flight AVC indoor tournaments will be held this year, with lots for six competitions having been drawn by the Asian Volleyball Confederation at Dusit Princess Srinakarin Hotel here on Monday.
Dr Eom Han-Joo, Chairman of the AVC Sports Events Council, presided over the drawing of lots ceremony, while Mr Somporn Chaibangyang, President of the Thailand Volleyball Association, was guest of honour to deliver a welcome address to all participants.
Also in attendance in the ceremony and press conference were AVC Secretary-General Mr Shanrit Wongprasert, Mr Jaksuwan Tocharoen, TVA Secretary-General and Secretary of the AVC Sports Events Council, Dr Rueangsak Siriphol, General Manager of the AVC Headquarters, AVC Referees Committee Chairman Mr Songsak Charoenpong and representatives from SMM, the Thailand-based multimedia company and AVC’s marketing partner from 2016 to 2019, and Thairath TV, the Thai TV channel which won the rights to broadcast AVC tournaments to every household in Thailand for four years. Local journalists also turned out in large numbers to observe the drawing of lots ceremony.
“With eight major tournaments being held by the AVC this year, I’m convinced this will help promote volleyball across the continent and in Thailand in particular. As the AVC Headquarters is located in Bangkok, we (TVA) are very happy and honoured to be part of the AVC. We will throw our strong support behind the governing body in order that they will gain more achievements in whatever campaign in the near future,” Somporn said in his speech.
A total of eight AVC tournaments will take place this year. However, drawing of lots have already been conducted for two competitions earlier. They comprised the 11th Asian Girls’ U18 Championship to be held in Chongqing, China from March 5 to 13 and the 11th Asian Boys’ U19 Championship due to take place in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar between March 28 and April 5.
Among the six tournaments, of which drawing of lots had been conducted on Monday, four of them will be qualification rounds for future FIVB World Championships.
Results of the drawing of lots are as follows
1. The 2nd Asian Men’s U23 Championship in Ardabil, Iran from May 1 to 9, 2017. A total of 12 teams will take part in the championship.
Pool A: Iran, Philippines, Pakistan
Pool B: Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
Pool C: China, Australia, Malaysia
Pool D: Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka
……………………………
2. The 2nd Asian Women’s U23 Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand between May 13 and 21, 2017. A total of 14 teams will participate in the tournament.
Pool A: Thailand, Macao, Hong Kong
Pool B: Japan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Pool C: Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Australia
Pool D: Philippines, Iran, Malaysia, New Zealand
……………………………..
3. The 2017 Asian Women’s Club Championship in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan during May 25 and 31, 2017. A total of eight teams to compete in the championship.
Pool A: Kazakhstan, Thailand, Iran, Chinese Taipei
Pool B: Japan, China, Vietnam, Philippines
……………………………….
4. The 2017 Asian Men’s Club Championship in Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh, Vietnam between June 28 and July 6, 2017. A total of 14 teams will participate in the tournament.
Pool A: Vietnam, Iraq, Sri Lanka
Pool B: Iran, Chinese Taipei, United Arab Emirates
Pool C: Qatar, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Australia
Pool D: Japan, China, Maldives, Thailand
……………………………………..
5. The 19th Asian Sr. Men’s Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia from July 24 to August 1, 2017. A total of 16 teams will take part in the championship. However, teams in the Western Zone are still competing in the qualification round to vie for the top two slots. The winning team have been drawn in Pool A, with the team finishing second will be in Pool B.
Pool A: Indonesia, Qatar, Kazakhstan, W.Z 1
Pool B: Iran, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, W.Z 2
Pool C: Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka
Pool D: Australia, China, Thailand, Hong Kong
…………………………………………
6. The 19th Asian Sr. Women’s Championship in Manila, the Philippines during August 9 and 17, 2017. A total of 14 teams will compete in the tournament.
Pool A: Philippines, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong
Pool B: China, Japan, Australia
Pool C: Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, New Zealand
Pool D: Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Iran, Maldives