Bangkok, Thailand, March 22, 2021 – Al-Rayyan, Al-Gharafa, Al-Wakrah and Al-Khor advanced to the quarterfinals of the 43rd Qatar’s Amir Volleyball Cup 2020-2021 season after finishing top two in their respective group round-robin qualifying round which came to an end on March 21.
The quartet will now join top four teams from the Qatar Senior Men’s Volleyball League, namely Police, Al-Ahli, Al-Arabi and Qatar SC in the quarter-finals of the Amir Volleyball Cup at the Qatar Volleyball Association Hall from March 25 to April 7 to vie for the eventual title.
Teams ranked 5th to 10th in the Qatar Senior Men’s Volleyball League took part in the qualifying round, which was held behind closed doors. Al-Sadd, Al-Gharafa and Al-Rayyan had been drawn in Group A, with Group B comprising Al-Shamal, Al-Wakrah and Al-Khor.
On March 15, the opening day of the qualifying round, Al-Rayyan got off to a brilliant start to breeze past Al-Gharafa in comfortable straight sets 25-17, 25-22, 25-14, while Al-Wakrah produced an epic comeback for hard-fought five-set win 19-25 17-25 30-28 25-17 15-8 against Al-Khor.
Al-Khor revived their fortunes to beat Al-Shamal in straight sets 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 on March 19, with Al-Gharafa coming from behind to beat Al-Sadd 3-1 (19-25 25-18 25-21 25-21).
On March 21, the final day of the group round-robin contest, Al-Rayyan made it two in a row following their convincing 25-14, 25-20, 25-18 win over Al-Sadd. Al-Wakrah were also in good form to power past Al-Shamal in straight sets 25-20, 25-14, 25-22.
At the end of the qualifying round, Al-Rayyan made a clean sweep in Group A with 6 points from two straight wins, followed by Al-Gharafa with 3 points from one win against one loss. Al-Sadd lost them all to come in third place in Group A.
Al-Wakrah topped Group B with 5 points from two consecutive wins. Al-Khor finished second with 4 points from one win against one loss, while Al-Shamal came in third place after losing both matches.
As a result, Al-Rayyan and Gharafa from Group A and Al-Wakrah and Al-Khor from Group B qualified for the quarterfinals, where
Police, Al-Ahli, defending champions Al-Arabi and Qatar SC as top four teams from the Qatar Senior Men’s Volleyball League have automatically advanced earlier.
QUALIFYING ROUND RESULTS
March 15
Al-Rayyan b Al-Gharafa 3-0 (17 22 14)
Al-Wakrah b Al-Khor 3-2 (19-25 17-25 30-28 25-17 15-8)
March 19
Al-Khor b Al-Shamal 3-0 (18 19 18)
Al-Gharafa b Al-Sadd 3-1 (19-25 25-18 25-21 25-21)
March 21
Al-Rayyan b Al-Sadd 3-0 (14 20 18)
Al-Wakrah b Al-Shamal 3-0 (20 14 22)
Related links of AVC
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: https://twitter.com/avcvolley
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation