Teams from Bulgaria, France, Kazakhstan and Türkiye compete with several Chinese squads in Fukang City
- The second edition of the Belt and Road • The Silk Road Journey International Snow Volleyball Invitational Tournament serves off in Fukang City
- Teams from five countries – Bulgaria, China, France, Kazakhstan and Türkiye – participate in the grand event
- Eight men’s and six women’s teams take to the snow courts at the Tianshan Tianchi ski resort
The second edition of the Belt and Road • The Silk Road Journey International Snow Volleyball Invitational Tournament is already in full swing in China with 14 teams from five different countries participating. The high-level competition started on Sunday, February 23, at the Tianshan Tianchi ski resort in Fukang City, Changji in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China.
In the men’s tournament, the national teams of Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and defending 2024 winners France are competing with the Chinese teams of Inner Mongolia and Ningxia, as well as hosts Xinjiang 1, Xinjiang 2 and Xinjiang 3. On the women’s side, the Turkish national team and two squads representing Kazakhstan are challenging three home teams of Xinjiang.
The opening ceremony was conducted under the chairmanship of Li Xingchen, Mayor of Fukang City. Leaders from China Volleyball Association (CVA), Xinjiang Sports Bureau, Changji Prefecture and Fukang City, as well as all referees, athletes, coaches, media and other personnel were also present at the grand event.
“The charm of the winter sports lies in passion and collaboration. Let us join hands and strive to thrive!” stated Changji Prefecture Deputy Governor Zhu Hongtao in his welcoming speech. “Changji is open to guests from all over the world and always welcomes everyone to visit this beautiful, enthusiastic, open and inclusive prefecture.”
“This is the second consecutive time this tournament is held in Xinjiang, showcasing the vibrant social landscape and abundant ice-snow resources of China’s Xinjiang while fostering mutual understanding and cultural integration among nations,” said CVA Deputy Secretary General Li Guodong. “Moreover, it provides a platform for athletes, referees, and sports professionals from the Belt and Road countries and regions to deepen exchanges, strengthen friendships, and collectively advance the development and prosperity of sports culture.”
Last year’s winners of the men’s tournament France started their new campaign in Pool B with a 2-1 (14-16, 15-12, 7-3) comeback victory against Bulgaria (pictured in the main photo), despite the absence of one of their star players, Nicolas Salmon, who suffered a knee injury during training and had to get back home to France for treatment and recovery. In the other Pool B match of the first leg, Xinjiang 1 achieved a 2-0 (15-7, 15-13) win over Ningxia.
In the men’s Pool A, Kazakhstan produced a 2-0 (15-9, 15-7) sweep of their opening game against Xinjiang 2, while Xinjiang 3 claimed a 2-0 (15-7, 15-4) victory over Inner Mongolia.
In the single round-robin format of the women’s competition, last year’s silver medallists Kazakhstan 1 mastered a 2-0 (15-10, 15-11) win over Xinjiang 3, Kazakhstan 2 delivered a 2-0 (15-12, 15-6) victory over Xinjiang 2, and Türkiye entered the tournament with a 2-0 (15-10, 15-7) shutout of Xinjiang 1.
The tournament continues until Wednesday, February 26, when the 2025 podiums will be populated.
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