Manama, Bahrain, February 16, 2025 – Formidable Al Rayyan captured the West Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship title for consecutive three times as the Qatari powerhouses finished unbeaten on top of the leaderboard with 15 points at the end of the single round-robin competition at Sheikh Isa bin Rashid Hall on Friday.
Al Rayyan capture the title
Al Arabi SC, also from Qatar, secured a victory over Bahrain’s Al Ahli with a 3-0 (25-14, 24-26, 25-17, 21-25) win on the final day, earning them second place over with 13 points from 4 wins against one loss to Al Rayyan.
Al Arabi finish second place
Al Ahli Bahrain finished in third place with 9 points.
Al Ahli take third position
The third edition of the annual championship came to a fruitful close in the Kingdom of Bahrain after 10 days of thrills-packed action from February 5 to 14, featuring six top-tier clubs from the region consisting of Al Ahli (Bahrain), Al Rayyan (Qatar), Al Arabi (Qatar), Masafi Al-Shamal (Iraq), Al Qadsia (Kuwait), and Al Salam (Oman) to vie for top honour.
The championship followed a single-round league format, where the teams competed throughout the tournament to determine the winners based on the highest number of victories.
Al Rayyan showcased an outstanding performance, led by their professional players who dominated throughout the competition, securing yet another prestigious title for the club.
The inaugural West Asian Men’s Club Championship in 2023 in Jordan, the Qatari side underlined their supremacy with unbeaten record including 3-0 victory against Kuwait Club in the final showdown. Al Rayyan successfully defended their title last year following their 3-0 triumph over Kuwait’s Al-Kuwait to celebrate their second zonal crown.
With this victory on Friday, Al Rayyan reaffirmed their status as one of the top volleyball teams in West Asia and a tough nut to crack in international club competitions.
Bahrain also successfully delivered a well-organized and competitive tournament, earning praise from all participants and spectators.
The tournament received widespread acclaim from officials and participating teams. Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa emphasized that Bahrain’s successful hosting of the championship reflects the country’s strong organizational capabilities. He also noted that the competition saw a high level of play, highlighting the continuous growth of volleyball in the region.
Final Standings:
- Al Rayyan (Qatar) – Champions
- Al Arabi (Qatar) – Runners-up
- Al Ahli (Bahrain) – Third Place
- Al Salam (Oman) – Fourth Place
- Masafi Al-Shamal (Iraq) – Fifth Place
- Al Qadsia (Kuwait) – Sixth Place
Individual Awards:
The tournament also honored the best players in various positions, with Al Rayyan and Al Arabi players receiving most of the accolades:
- Best Setter: Borislav Georgiev (Al Arabi – Qatar)
- Best Opposite Hitter: Mohammed Annan (Al Ahli – Bahrain)
- Best Outside Hitters:
- Marcos Vinícius (Al Rayyan – Qatar)
- Nicholas Hoag (Al Arabi – Qatar)
- Best Middle Blockers:
- Pape Magueye (Al Rayyan – Qatar)
- Ibrahim Saeed (Al Arabi – Qatar)
- Best Libero: Hussein Abdullah (Al Ahli – Bahrain)
- Most Valuable Player (MVP): Oliver Venno (Al Rayyan – Qatar)
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the tournament, the West Asia Volleyball Association (WAVA) Board of Directors convened a meeting on the final day in Bahrain.
The meeting was opened with a welcome speech by WAVA President Ali bin Ghanem Al Kuwari, followed by remarks from Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Volleyball Association.
Key topics discussed included:
- Team Rankings: Agreement to adopt international ranking criteria for qualification to Asian competitions.
- Tournament Calendar: Approval of the competition schedule through 2028, ensuring continued participation of clubs and national teams.
- Beach Volleyball Circuit: Approval of six annual beach volleyball tournaments.
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